Phasmophobia

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Join Our Discord 2023/2024 Roadmap About the GamePhasmophobia is a 4-player, online co-op, psychological horror game. You and your team of paranormal investigators will enter haunted locations filled with paranormal activity and try to gather as much evidence as you can. Use your ghost-hunting equipment to find and record evidence to sell on to a ghost removal team. Immersive Experience: R…

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Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 286,506 reviews

gameplay2,563 positive mentions

story341 negative mentions

gameplay
7,518 mentions
34 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Phasmophobia is characterized by its cooperative mechanics, requiring players to work together to gather evidence and identify various ghost types using a range of tools. While the game offers a thrilling atmosphere and unique voice recognition features that enhance immersion, many players note that the gameplay can become repetitive and less scary as they become familiar with the mechanics. Despite some bugs and a steep learning curve, the game remains engaging, especially when played with friends, and continues to receive updates that aim to improve and expand its gameplay experience.
- “With dynamic AI, strategic gameplay, and chilling sound design, it's a must-play for fans of horror and teamwork.”
- “Can without a doubt recommend this game to anyone who would like to try a horror game that has a fun gameplay loop and makes for fun moments with friends!”
- “Phasmophobia is a masterpiece of horror gaming, combining innovative gameplay with a chilling atmosphere to create an experience that is truly unforgettable.”
- “The gameplay loop is very stale, and everything they have been adding has just added headaches.”
- “The gameplay is quite dull and repetitive, lacking both visual and audio variety.”
- “The gameplay itself is a tedious exercise in monotony.”
humor
6,641 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Phasmophobia" is a standout feature, with players frequently noting that the game is much more entertaining when played with friends. Many reviews highlight the hilarious reactions and antics that unfold during ghost hunts, often leading to laughter as friends scream in terror or encounter unexpected glitches. The combination of genuine scares and comedic moments, especially through proximity chat, creates a unique experience that balances fear with fun, making it a highly recommended game for social play.
- “Hilarious game with friends.”
- “This game is hilarious, and really fun to play with friends, though it gets repetitive after a while.”
- “Funny ghost game to play with your friends, love it.”
- “Not funny at all, and my dog died because of the cringe in this game!”
- “Not funny when you play alone >_>”
- “Just scary and not funny at all.”
atmosphere
3,335 mentions
57 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Phasmophobia" is widely praised for its immersive and chilling qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and tension throughout gameplay. Players appreciate the game's reliance on ambient sounds and subtle environmental cues rather than cheap jump scares, which enhances the overall experience of ghost hunting. While some users note that the atmosphere can become less frightening with familiarity, the game's design and sound work together to maintain a spooky ambiance that keeps players engaged and on edge.
- “The atmosphere of the game is incredibly tense and immersive, with jump scares and spooky visuals creating a truly chilling experience.”
- “From its spine-chilling atmosphere to its innovative multiplayer gameplay, this game manages to strike the perfect balance between scares and fun.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is absolutely phenomenal.”
- “The overall atmosphere of the game lacks the ability to evoke fear and offers little in terms of puzzle-solving challenges.”
- “As for the game, it was good, plenty of bugs, mostly ghosts refusing to offer evidence when it's needed, has very little to no atmosphere, it also lacks in the fear department for a game that's about hunting ghosts.”
- “The game cleverly plays with your senses, creating an atmosphere that constantly keeps you on your toes.”
graphics
3,319 mentions
38 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of Phasmophobia have received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the atmospheric design and immersive visuals that enhance the horror experience, others criticize the graphics as simplistic or dated, often likening them to early 2000s titles. Despite some bugs and performance issues, the game's overall aesthetic and sound design contribute significantly to its chilling atmosphere, making it enjoyable for players, especially in multiplayer settings.
- “The graphics are amazing and the experience is something different!”
- “The graphics are incredibly detailed, and the sound design is outstanding.”
- “The graphics are good, the amount of content is good and at the time of me reviewing the game, it is in the early access stage.”
- “The graphics are dated and top to bottom this game deserves more love and care for the extraordinary support they got early on.”
- “The graphics are sub-par but everything else is great!”
- “The graphics leave much to be desired, however in this type of game I don't feel that it matters too much as the fun of the game is the mechanics and the co-op aspect to the gameplay.”
story
3,114 mentions
10 % positive mentions
79 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game "Phasmophobia" is largely criticized for its lack of depth and coherence, with many players noting that there is no overarching narrative or significant lore to engage with. Most missions revolve around identifying different types of ghosts in various locations, but the gameplay is described as repetitive, with little variation in objectives or story elements. While some players appreciate the procedural generation of missions and the unique experiences that arise from ghost interactions, the consensus is that the game would benefit from a more developed storyline or background for the ghosts and locations to enhance immersion.
- “This game was like a true story documentary that perfectly recreated my real life experiences.”
- “Phasmophobia, where every ghost encounter is a story waiting to be told.”
- “The constant drone, the erratic behaviors of the ghosts, and the constantly randomized nature of the missions means that you are going to have a spooky time with each and every mission.”
- “This game was amazing but ever since the disgustingly ugly shop rework, between mission setups has become so unfun to participate in.”
- “Good game to troll people for a bit but then gets boring as content is repetitive with no story.”
- “The gameplay loop of sending 4 people on high-risk missions that can frequently end in their deaths for $50 they can spend on more tools to do this same job faster is some dystopian shit.”
stability
2,573 mentions
2 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a significant point of contention among players, with many noting that it is often buggy and prone to glitches. While some players find the bugs amusing and part of the game's charm, others express frustration over issues like freezing, audio problems, and inconsistent ghost behavior. Overall, while the game is enjoyable and has potential, it still requires considerable polish and bug fixes to enhance the user experience.
- “Amazing game was made well and the voice is not buggy like other games.”
- “Good graphics, no glitches, lots to offer, and generally really funny and scary to play.”
- “The game puts horror to another level; it is such a blast once you learn the strings. The devs are really good at making the game bug-free; I've been playing for a few days now and haven't seen a single bug or glitch.”
- “Buggy mess, it's almost like a drunk person put this together. There's a lot of bugs, and before anyone says 'erm actually it's early access', this game has been out for four years and it should not be this glitchy.”
- “Shit optimization, this game freezes without even starting. Worked last time, now I can't even play.”
- “The game is buggy, it has the same problems since its 'launch' years ago.”
replayability
1,491 mentions
51 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
Phasmophobia is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its procedural generation of ghost types, locations, and objectives, ensuring that no two investigations feel the same. Players enjoy the collaborative gameplay, which enhances the experience, especially when playing with friends. However, some reviewers note that the game can become repetitive over time, particularly for solo players, and suggest that additional content and updates could further enhance its replay value.
- “Phasmophobia offers a high level of replayability, thanks to its procedurally generated levels and variety of ghost types.”
- “The procedural generation of haunted locations ensures that no two missions are alike, contributing to the game's replayability.”
- “Every ghost hunt really does feel unique, giving the game a huge amount of replayability.”
- “The game is genuinely not that fun and there's not that much replayability to it after you play for 5 - 10 hours; they barely update their game too and their big updates just barely add anything like the whole update for a UI change.”
- “The replayability runs out very quickly.”
- “The game lacks content after a couple of hours of play; the 'scary' part of the game dies and what you're left with is a room-finding simulator.”
grinding
953 mentions
1 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players expressing frustration over the excessive time required to unlock equipment and progress. Reviews highlight that the recent updates have transformed the game from a casual horror experience into a tedious grind, often requiring players to invest significant hours to achieve basic functionality and enjoyment. While some players still find fun in grinding with friends, the overall sentiment suggests that the game has become overly focused on grinding mechanics, detracting from its original appeal.
- “Although the unlock tree was changed in the past, it is not too grindy.”
- “I wish it wasn't as grindy with needing to upgrade equipment, but overall a solid horror game.”
- “There is no grinding, inventory management, or micro-transactions.”
- “Phasmophobia went from being a nice casual game with friends to a grinding levels and tiers game where you're stuck at playing with trash unplayable equipment and same maps every match until you decide to play another game.”
- “The update sets you back to square one, removing all money, equipment, and experience you had previously, and along with that, makes the process of getting back to where you were extremely grindy.”
- “The game that was once a source of excitement and suspense has transformed into a tedious chore, with every new update bringing more baffling changes that only serve to drain the joy out of the experience.”
optimization
682 mentions
24 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, freezing, and crashes, particularly after recent updates. While some users have noted that the game can run smoothly on high-end systems, it struggles on lower-end hardware, leading to frustration among players. Overall, there is a strong consensus that the game requires substantial optimization improvements to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “I would like to thank the developers for keeping performance in mind as I have a potato PC and the update that reworked the light and decreased the performance requirements finally allowed me to play this awesome game.”
- “The game runs smoothly and looks really good as well.”
- “Great game, very buggy and badly optimized but good experience with a good group.”
- “Shit optimization, this game freezes without even starting. It worked last time, now I can't even play.”
- “The game is so unoptimized that my settings are all low, everything was off, and resolution at 60hz already but still consuming 99% of my GPU.”
- “The most recent update has taken a well-running game and turned it into a laggy, stuttering mess that clearly prefers to drool in the corner.”
music
641 mentions
14 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game is characterized by a notable absence of traditional background music, which enhances the eerie atmosphere and tension during gameplay. Players often utilize the music box as a tool for both comedic and terrifying moments, leading to chaotic interactions with ghosts and friends alike. While some players appreciate the minimalistic sound design that focuses on ambient noises, others express a desire for more varied musical elements to enrich the experience.
- “The music box song goes hard.”
- “The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the desolate atmosphere, while the immersive sound effects heighten the tension and make every encounter pulse-pounding.”
- “I love using the music box while my friends are at the place.”
- “Maps are simplistic with minor detail input, the atmosphere is the same for every map once you step inside, the graphics are acceptable but simplistic, and there really isn't any music as it'd throw the atmosphere off so not much else to talk about.”
- “The only issue is that I’m now starting to have issues with the cursed items, I’ve had the game for 3 years and all of a sudden I’m having issues not being able to use the cursed items such as the board and the paw, the summoning circle, the cards, music box, mirror and doll I can use but it’s only the board and paw I’m having issues with now.”
- “For music/audio book/podcast lovers: not the game for them.”
emotional
457 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a significant highlight, with players frequently expressing feelings of fear, laughter, and even tears during their experiences. Many reviews mention the game's ability to evoke genuine emotional responses, ranging from heartwarming moments with friends to intense fear that leads to crying. The community surrounding the game is often described as wholesome, enhancing the overall emotional experience through camaraderie and shared scares.
- “I cried when a ghost opened a door.”
- “I cried because I used to work in a several hundred years old hospital and had flashbacks.”
- “This game is an emotional rollercoaster... and I love it!”
monetization
56 mentions
5 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
52 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and in-game purchases, which they believe enhances the gameplay experience. However, some users express concerns about potential future monetization strategies, fearing that the game could devolve into a cash grab similar to other titles. Overall, the consensus leans towards a positive reception of the current no-cost model, with calls to maintain this approach.
- “It is worth the money by far and there are no microtransactions, and the idea is unique and well executed.”
- “I also appreciate the fact that it is not pay-to-win and has no in-game purchases.”
- “At the time of this review, the game is still in early access; however, it is packed with more content than its competitors, and best of all, there are no microtransactions.”
- “Game really really feels like a cash grab lol, not fun at all.”
- “I see this being one of the cash grabs of the year, much like DayZ Standalone was in 2013 and that game to this day is still garbage as well, making money off innocent souls who know no better.”
- “This game is utter dogshit, literally the most cash grab Unity asset flip of a game there ever was.”
character development
20 mentions
25 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the emotional depth and storytelling, while others criticize the character designs as clunky and unappealing. Despite the flaws in character aesthetics, many find the humorous and intentionally awkward designs add to the overall fun and charm of the game. Overall, while the narrative and character arcs show promise, there is a consensus that improvements in character design and animation are needed.
- “The character development of the game is impeccable.”
- “It’s been difficult to tell by looking at its trailers, but this is a story-driven first-person adventure game with light puzzling and a surprising amount of emotional depth and character development, managing to tell a solid story, complete with twists and turns, along the way.”
- “I cannot express enough how impressed I am with Phasmophobia; even with the janky character designs, I still love everything about this game and I cannot wait for what the future holds with this game and development team.”
- “First of all, I hope these developers see the absolute carnage that is this game's character design.”
- “The animations and character designs could definitely use some work as well.”
- “The character designs and animations are truly horrid and ugly.”