Ghost hunting has come to the masses with Phasmophobia. This title by Kinetic Games is a four-person co-op experience that allows you to explore a haunted home or building to determine if there is an active spirit in the area. You and your team will go on a set of missions to prove the existence of ghosts there.
This is definitely not a game for those who scare easily. If you are successful, you will get money for more sweet ghost-hunting equipment. So, how can you ensure you are putting yourself and your team in the best position to prove a ghostly haunting? Take a look at these must-see Phasmophobia tips below.
Updated June 6, 2022, by Sharnelle Earle: Phasmophobia is an Early Access game. People are usually wary of these because a lot of games end up stuck in Early Access limbo, never to fully be released or thoroughly worked on. Phasmophobia is different. The developers at Kinetic Games work hard to continuously add to the game. The biggest update so far has been the Exposition update, where new ghosts and mechanics were added. Kinetic Games won’t let this game die, and you’ll never get bored because they strive to make the game more spooky and more interactive. Below are even more Phasmophobia tips and tricks that have been added, so that you can ghost hunt smarter.
22 If You Die, You Lose Money
You earn money by completing ghost contracts, guessing the correct ghost, and having a high difficulty level. If you happen to die during your investigation, you will not get a full payment. Usually, when you complete a contract you keep whatever tools you bought.
When you die,your earned money is halved and all tools you paid for in that round are lost completely. Your payout can be seen at the end of your mission in the Contract Payment screen. When you die and do not get revived, Insurance will give you a little sum of money to make up for the lost tools and money.
21 Set Up Cameras
To avoid dying or sacrificing a team member, it’s important to set up lots of cameras and video cameras. How to set up a camera and play Phasmophobia can be a little confusing. All you have to do is set them up inside the house by equipping the camera, rotating it with Left Click, and then placing the camera with F.
With video cameras set up, you can return to the safety of your van and switch through cameras on the computer. Click the keyboard to enable night vision and click the mouse to change camera views. By setting up cameras, you can watch for clues from a safe distance without risking yourself.
20 Don’t Deviate From The Recommended Level
Maps in Phasmophobia used to suggest the recommended amount of players. Things are now more detailed. It will show you how big the map is, how many floors there are, and then allow you to select amateur or intermediate mode. If you’re playing with only you and one other person, it’s important to not pick something like a hospital or school.
Two people likely won’t be able to complete the entire map due to how big it is. You’d have to do a lot of luring out and risky moves. Finding a haunted room will be troublesome because in places like a hospital there will be around 50 rooms and only two of you. So make sure you select a map size your group of friends can handle, otherwise you’ll be walking around aimlessly and will get bored if it’s too big.
19 Watch Out For Hidden Jumpscares
Since the Exposition update, some secrets have been added to the main lobby. There are up to two hidden jump scares in the lobby. An area you once found safe. There is a door on the right side of the room, next to the garage. If you open this door, it will creak open and jumpscare you with a ghost and a haunting noise.
Another ghost peers at you from above the rafters in the ceiling. From the basketball hoop, turn around and look up into the darkness. You’ll notice two eyes that follow you.
18 Use Your Sprint Wisely
Player speed overall has been increased in the new Exposition update. You can run from ghosts for at least three seconds before your sprint needs to “recharge.” While this might encourage you to flee more often, you should time when you sprint away from a hunting ghost.
Ghost speed during a hunt has also been increased, which means saving those three seconds of run-time until you absolutely need it is of paramount importance. The last thing you want is to expend all of your sprinting when the ghost that is chasing you is just getting started.
17 Turn Off Your Electronic Equipment
The Exposition update is seriously looking to increase the thrills of Phasmophobia. Now, instead of just your voice chat alerting ghosts to your presence, the noise of your character’s electronic equipment can also attract ghosts to your position.
It doesn’t matter if you’re hiding and not talking to your friends. If you have the EMF Reader or the Spirit Box out and crackling with noise, the ghost will zero in on your hiding spot. Do yourself and your group a favor and turn off your electronic equipment when a ghost is on the hunt.
16 Use The DOTS Projector
A new piece of equipment was added in the Exposition update. The DOTS Projector casts an array of green laser dots on nearby surfaces, highlighting a ghost’s silhouette when it walks by. As a result of the DOTS Projector’s inclusion in Phasmophobia, the three bits of evidence you need to identify ghosts have changed for every ghost type in the game.
Many of them now include the DOTS Projector as possible proof. Be sure to pull out the DOTS Projector when trying to narrow down your ghost options. And don’t rely on previous evidence lists, as they have all been altered.
15 Sanity Affects More Than Just You
The Sanity mechanic in Phasmophobia is vitally important to survival, similar to the mechanic found in Don’t Starve Together. Certain events will cause a character’s sanity to drop and once this number reaches a certain threshold (30 percent), the player will begin to experience flickering lights that are only apparent to them.
But Sanity doesn’t just affect visual elements, it’s actually one of the determining factors in whether or not a ghost will enter “Hunt Mode.” Unfortunately for teammates, even those with High Sanity can be attacked when a ghost is hunting, so keeping an eye on your own Sanity is paramount to protecting your teammates.
14 Don’t Peek
When a ghost has had enough and enters a hunting state, all players will need to scatter to the nearest hiding spot. During these events, all communication is cut off and the ghost will begin to patrol the area it’s in for any unaware players. Doors to the outside are locked and your only hope of survival is to hunker down and wait until the specter stops.
Hiding in a closet (or another applicable spot) is your best bet, but it’s also possible to hide behind objects as long as the ghost hasn’t seen you. Unfortunately, due to their abilities and erratic movement, it can be difficult to know if a ghost is looking in your direction or not.
During these moments it’s important to not “peek” or try to find the ghost. If you manage to catch it in your gaze, it could cause your sanity to drop even further, and a quickening heartbeat is like alarm bells to a hunting spirit.
13 Learn All You Can About A Spirit
It’s not only important to investigate a location for clues, it’s also important to know what you’re up against. Ghosts have different mechanics, movements, and behaviors, which can spell doom for uneducated investigators.
Normal ghosts are capable of triggering a hunt below 30 percent Sanity but Oni and Demons can initiate below 50 percent. Phasmophobia is a title that rewards tactics and knowledge. Understanding what you’re facing is the best way to survive.
12 Take The Specters Seriously
Phasmophobia is incredibly creepy, especially if you’re playing it in VR, but at the end of the day, it’s just a game. It’s easy to get caught up in the fun, especially if you find yourself laughing along with friends or joking around to keep the fear from creeping in.
But Phasmophobia is unforgiving when it comes to shenanigans. To survive hunts, you’ll need to keep your head on a swivel and listen for audio cues and instructions. Missing a vital piece of information or a call-out can instantly end your investigation in the worst way.
11 Be Careful With The Ouija Board
Those that are curious about a ghost and want to ask questions will likely seek out the Ouija Board and attempt to get more information from the other side. While this sounds like a grand idea in terms of investigation, there are a lot of potential downsides, and some of them can be deadly.
For one, using the Ouija Board has a chance (33 percent) to instantly end the Setup Phase, by angering the spirit. It can also decrease a player’s Sanity. Both of these outcomes are capable of triggering a hunt, which is especially bad when players aren’t mentally prepared for it.
10 Use The Name Sparingly
When you start the game in your truck, the whiteboard will reveal the ghost’s name. You may feel tempted to say this person’s name when you first start out. Don’t!
When you use the name, it angers the ghost and makes it more likely for them to enter “hunting mode” much more quickly. This situation puts you at greater risk of being harmed by the ghost or not being able to gather enough evidence to find out what kind of spirit it is. Only use the name to get some activity going if you haven’t seen anything.
9 Pull Out That EMF Reader And Thermometer
One of your first significant goals is finding out the room where the haunting is happening. This step will allow you to better communicate with the ghost, and get some evidence to record for cash.
The EMF reader and thermometer are going to be the best bet for making this happen. The EMF reader has a series of lights that will light up depending on the haunting level, and the thermometer will read below freezing temperatures. These readings are quick and will give you the information you need.
8 Ask Good Questions
The spirit box can present valuable evidence of a haunting. However, you want to ensure you are asking the right questions. Ask inquiries like “What do you want?” “Where are you?”
Also, make statements like “Show us a sign” or “Speak to me.” This dialogue can coax the ghost to use the spirit box to talk, which is evidence you can record in your journal. This brings us to the next point.
7 Don’t Forget To Write In Your Journal
When things start to get going, and you see your first hauntings, you may forget that your main goal is to record evidence of these to determine the type of spirit you are dealing with.
Actions like interacting with the spirit box, leaving fingerprints, causing freezing temperatures, or engaging in other paranormal behaviors can show you the type of spirit haunting the house. If you can guess the spirit correctly, you can get an even larger amount of cash. So, be sure to keep track of this journal.
6 Always Look At Objectives
There are various objectives you have to accomplish when you start the game. So, be sure to refer to that whiteboard when you get started.
You have to do four tasks during the session to ensure you get paid even more money. These can include getting a photo of the ghost, taking a picture of dirty water, or getting freezing temperatures. Ensure you and your team take stock of these objectives and divide the tasks among you as you head inside the house or building.
5 Pay Attention To Your Flashlight
Your flashlight is your guide in more ways than one. When the ghost is in hunting mode, you will notice that all the flashlights in the area—including yours—will flicker. This action means that the spirit is actively looking to harm you and your friends. This is also the time when the ghost will likely become visible.
When you see your flashlight flicker, it’s time to leave the area or hide. These moments are some of the scariest in the game, especially if you are enjoying this horror experience in VR. Seeing this flashlight flicker and immediately acting will probably save your in-game life.
4 Always Have A Hiding Space Picked Out
For the reasons mentioned in the previous entry, it is essential to have a hiding spot picked out. Again, depending on how angry the ghost is, there is always a risk of the spirit hunting you.
One of the best ways to escape them is to find a hiding spot in the area before the hunting starts. This can be a closet or locker. Once you get in this area, turn off your light and stop speaking. These actions will protect you from the spirit.
3 Watch Your Sanity
As you are exposed to paranormal activity, your sanity levels will decrease. Yes, it pulls a page from Eternal Darkness. A decrease in your sanity will make it easier for spirits to haunt and eventually hunt you. This step means that you need to make a few trips out to the truck to keep track of your sanity levels.
If your sanity is low, the only way to replenish is to take sanity pills to restore about 40 percent of your sanity. It’s important to remember that going to the truck doesn’t bring your sanity levels back, so don’t think you are returning to pre-haunt levels of sanity when you re-enter the home.
