How Scary Phasmophobia Actually Is

The newest hit on Twitch is Phasmophobia, a ghost hunting multiplayer game that’s sure to scare the living daylights out of almost anyone who plays it. It’s those kinds of scares that’s made Phasmophobia so popular lately, especially at a time so close to Halloween, when a lot of people are looking for video game frights. Currently only available for PC, the game has managed to scare even survival horror game veterans. But just how scary is Phasmophobia, really?

The premise to Phasmophobia is fairly simple. Four players are dropped off at a haunted location and must investigate for paranormal activity. With a variety of ghost hunting tools like EMF readers and UV flashlights, Phasmophobia players must work together to find evidence and discover what kind of ghost is haunting the location. However, ghosts can quickly turn violent and leave dead players in hallways or bedrooms for their friends to find.

The ghosts in Phasmophobia range from specters of children to demonic presences that want to rip players apart. The AI of ghosts are programmed with voice-recognition, which means they can pick up on certain keywords or phrases. For instance, saying “I think we’re safe now” might just be an excellent way to put a target on your back. There are also Phasmophobia’s hunting phases, in which the ghost turns more aggressive and starts trying to kill players. All of this can be experienced in VR, which makes it even more immersive.

The Real Reason Phasmophobia Is So Scary

Phasmophobia has plenty of typical horror tools to keep players feeling uneasy. There’s a Ouija board to communicate with the dead, a Crucifix for protection, and even a Sprit Box which can allow players to talk with a spirit and ask it questions. It may all feel a bit cliché to horror buffs, but it works great in creating an unsettling atmosphere for players.

Hiding from ghosts and trying to uncover more about them is scary enough. However, that’s not the only reason Phasmophobia is so scary. The scariest moments come from not knowing: not knowing where the ghost is, not knowing where a friend is hiding (or if they’re still alive), and not knowing where to go next (it’s pretty easy to get lost in the asylum, for instance). Oftentimes, it’s more frightening looking for evidence or hiding in a cupboard from a vengeful spirit than facing Phasmophobia’s ghosts head-on.

While Phasmophobia has plenty of jump scares and intense moments, the experience stays with players long after they’re done. Many players report thinking or talking about the game for hours after they’ve finished playing. That’s the key to why it’s so scary in the first place: the imagination. Phasmophobia knows this, and uses that knowledge by letting the game breathe and creating unsettling ambiance. It forces players to imagine all sorts of horrible things long before the actual ghost appears, because there’s no ghost scarier than one left up to the imagination.

About The Author

Austin King
(1233 Articles Published)

Austin King is a Game Features Editor at Screen Rant. He’s the author of several books and hosts the Dragon Quest FM and JRPGs & Me podcasts. You can find him on Twitter @DragonQuaustin.

More From Austin King