What Phasmophobia is
Phasmophobia is a four-player online co-op psychological horror game where you and your team of paranormal investigators enter haunted locations and gather evidence before you become part of the haunting yourself. There are over 20 different ghost types, each with its own traits, personalities and abilities, so no two investigations play out the same way. You pick from over 10 haunted locations, each with its own layout, hiding spots and twists. The game runs with a minimal user interface and realistic graphics and sounds, which keeps the focus on what's actually happening in the room rather than on menus.
How your group plays together
Up to four players work the same investigation, and teamwork decides whether you come out with answers. Two split tasks are common: some team members go inside with the gear while a player stays in the truck, watching CCTV feeds and motion sensors to guide the people inside. Evidence comes from well-known ghost-hunting equipment — EMF readers, spirit boxes, thermometers and night vision cameras — plus cursed possessions that hand over information or abilities at the cost of your sanity. Ghosts listen to your real voice: use a spirit box or Ouija board and talk to them out loud to pull responses. Everyone plays together regardless of input type, so a group mixing mouse, controller and VR setups can still team up.
Before you start
There are five default difficulties plus hand-crafted weekly challenges, and custom difficulty lets you tune the game to your group with proportional rewards, so you can start easier and push up as you get confident. If someone gets spooked, the truck role is a real way to stay useful without being in the building. The game supports VR with tracked controllers, and there is full controller support with DualShock and DualSense options. Expect tense, quiet stretches punctuated by the ghost making its presence known; sanity and equipment condition matter as much as quick reflexes. Pick a location, agree who goes in and who watches the cameras, and decide what evidence you're actually hunting before you cross the threshold.