When there’s something strange…
I don’t believe in ghosts; I think I have said this on the podcast before. I very much believe in demons and things like that but I find it hard to believe that with how many people have passed away on this, our planet of Earth that not every square inch is covered with specters. My wife though, she’s a believer, has stories and everything; so, when I first heard about Phasmophobia back when it was just on VR; I knew she would be down. Well sadly VR gave her motion sickness so she only got to play a match and was bummed. Fast forward to 2024 and Phasmophobia is coming to console with cross-play, and it’s still just as goofy, spine-tingling, and hilarious as it was in VR.
Phasmophobia is a co-op survival horror game where players take on the role of ghost hunters, exploring haunted locations to identify and gather evidence on various ghost types. Each investigation is unique, thanks to the diverse range of ghost behaviors and evidence types you need to collect using an array of ghost-hunting equipment like EMF readers, spirit boxes, and cameras. The game’s mechanics are intuitive yet engaging, providing a thrilling experience that keeps players on their toes.
MSRP: $19.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $19.99
The atmosphere in Phasmophobia is one of its strongest points. From the eerie sound effects to the unsettling deaths at the hands of enraged ghosts, the game creates an immersive environment that makes you feel genuinely haunted. As I said I originally played the game using the Quest VR system and I can say that it has translated mostly well to console. It’s not perfect though, there are issues with overall movement; in a word it just feels stiff. And because of that you will end up being unable to escape haunted locations, which happened multiple times to my wife; it’s funny she died every time, and I just ran, y’all know I am black, and we aren’t playing with floating stuff lol. But there is also an issue with the look sensitivity on the right-analog stick. No matter what option I chose on the slider the game still gave me whiplash when I tried to look around if I didn’t just barely tap it. Overall, it just feels like this “port” hasn’t been fully optimized for console and still carries some hold-over from its PC roots.
Phasmophobia truly shines in its multiplayer mode. Playing with friends not only adds to the fun but also brings a strategic element to the game. Communication and coordination are key as you and your team work together to gather evidence and survive ghost encounters. The game supports up to four players, making it an ideal choice for groups of friends seeking a thrilling and spooky experience. Every session with friends brings new scares and laughs, creating memorable moments that are hard to come by in other games. I think everyone on the podcast owns the game, and we are going to try and get together to run a few rounds, I will of course stream it so you all can laugh at us.
One of the nice things is that this game has been out since 2020 so it already has a large community, so adding console is just going to make it that much more diverse. The community for the most part is pretty awesome, while I have played with some people who took it WAY to seriously, I had the most fun with people who were goofing off and having fun. Sure, there are spirits around every corner and one of us could piss it off and it will kill us, but yall know me; I aint afraid of no ghost! Having a mic is a MUST when playing this game, I know in this generation everyone plays in private parties but you need to be able to “speak” to the ghost. So, calling out its name, and various things is ways to trigger activity…and again… its super funny when playing with people.
Phasmophobia on Xbox Series X is a must-play for horror enthusiasts. Playing with people is the most fun one can have; I don’t think anyone should hunt ghost alone. Phasmophobia has lots of levels and lots of spirits to track down, as well as a level system for players to improve their character and gear. The game is made for replayability, if you like spooky games with your friends or if you have always wanted to hunt for ghost but don’t really want to leave the house, well have I got a game for you.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
