At the end of October, after PC fans had been enjoying the game for several years, Phasmophobia finally came to console. Now, you could ge??t your ghost-hunting fright on via Xbox Series X|S or PS5, but there was one vital piece of the puzzle missing: voice recognition.

Part of the game's immersive appeal is being able to elicit a ghost response by talking to it over a microphone directly or through the Spirit Box item. This was not the case if you were playing on console. Fortunately, developer Kinetic Games has finally added voice recognition to the PlayStation and Xbox ports of Phasmophobia.

As noted in the most recent patch notes, v.0.11.1.2 implements the much-??needed VOSK system on c?onsole. It also adds it to the PS VR2 version of the game. Now, you'll be able to do the following:

• Utilize the Spirit Box by speaking phrases such as "Are you friendly?" and "Give us a sign" to communicate with the ghost.
• Use Curse Possessions such as the Ouija Board to interact with the ghost and the Monkey Paw.
• Say the ghost’s name or other recognizable phrases near the ghost to be provided with a chance to increase the ghost’s activity for a short time.

More on the way

The up??date says a multitude of languages are now supported on PS5 and Xbox Series (with more on the way), including:

• English
• French
• Italian
• German
• Spanish
• Brazilian Portuguese
• Japanese

While we're at it, Kinetic also recently revealed the update roadmap for Phasmophobia. L??ong-time fans h??ave been looking forward to new content and the developer's ongoing commitment to the game.

There are a bunch of exciting things coming our way, such as a complete ?rework of the Bleasdale and Grafton farmhouse locations, an overhaul of the playable characters, new ways to capture and gain bonuses for evidence in the upcoming Chro??nicle update, and a brand-new map.

That last one is particularly noteworthy, seeing as Phasmo recently had a new map in the form of the Point Hope lighthouse. Typic?al, isn't it? We wa??it all this time for new levels, and then two come along at once.

The post Phasmophobia up??date enables voice recognition on Xbox and PS5 appeared first on Destructoid.

Tracking down and catching ghosts is not an especially easy task, often because many of these entities will vary their speed and, therefore, might be quite difficult to identify. But which are actually the slowest ghosts in Phasmophobia? We take a look at all of these ectoplasmic frie?nds to identify which ones move the slowest out of them all.

Which are the slowest ghosts in Phasmophobia?

While most ghosts in Phasmophobia move around at an average speed, there are several that will slow down considerably when certain conditions are met. They are the fol?lowing.

10. Raiju

This type of ghost is not particularly ??fast, so it shouldn't normally give you any problems in identifying it, but still, its speed can vary quite a bit when approa??ching electrical appliances, such as a TV and computer. Near those devices, the Raiju speed can go as high as 2.5 ms.

9. Oni

The Oni is an average ghost that will not change speed, regardless of its approach to the player or their actions. Since they possess quite great strength, they can be quite a formidable opponent, but at least they won't ever change speed, not even during? hunt events. On the plus side, since they are quite active, this makes them easy to spot and identify.

8. The Mimic

The mimic is one great trickster and its overall speed is basically impossible to predict. This is because they will change their behavior with one of the other ghosts every 30 seconds. This means that their base speed can be an average of 1.7 ms, but also go quite low if they change with one of the other ghosts in the list. but its base speed is quite average and i??t can go even lower than that. Since they have four pieces of evidence in Normal mode, The Mimic can be identified with 100% certainty once you collect them?? all.

7. Jinn

This is one to watch out for, as they can be quite territorial and will attack if they feel threatened. While their basic speed is quite an average on??e, they will move faster when the breaker is on and the player is in their line of sight. Careful since they will not gradually move faster, but instead automatically reach a speed of 2.5 ms as soon as they see you. Otherwise, their speed is average.

6. The Twins

These two troublemakers, duri?ng hunt events, will vary speed around 10% of the average 1.7 m??s, since they are basically two different entities. This means that their speed constantly changes back and forth, they can move as slow as 1.53 on average, but also move slightly faster, at 1.83 ms.

5. Moroi

Risen from the grave to drain the energy of the livi?ng, these curse-loving ghosts are known to move around at a slightly slower speed than most average ghosts, at? around 1.5. But since they live on human energy, the lower the team's overall sanity and the faster the Moroi become, so better be careful to not lose tracks of these clues.

4. Hantu

These frost-loving e??ntities, perhaps because of their hobby of sticking close to the ice, move a bit slower than the average, at around 1.4 ms. But when in colder temperatures, their speed will start to move up and can go as high as 2.25 ms. If you wanna make sure that the Hantu will not speed up, keep the generator always on.

3. Thaye

While strong and fast as? soon as they enter the location, these slowly aging ghosts will start to become weaker as time passes. This means that their speed vari?es on their current age, it can go as high as 2.5, but also as low as 1.0 ms.

2. Revenant

The Re??venant can be quite tricky with its speed since it will move slowly, at least before detecting the play?er, but then speed up a bit after that. Still, if we are looking for slow ghosts, then the revenant definitely qualifies with its 1.0 ms.

1. Deogen

While they can be fast during a hun??t, the ghost will slow down con??siderably when approaching the player, going down as slow as 0.4 ms. But when not in the line of sight, they can go as fast as 3.0 ms. They are definitely the slowest entities out of them all, but still that doesn't mean they shouldn't be approached carefully if you want to make sure to identify them correctly.

The post 10 Slowest ghosts in Phasmophobia appeared first on Destructoid.

If you have been playing this now classic gho??st-hunting game, then you might have tried your hand at some of its weekly challenges, to find they are definitely not that easy to complete. Among the several trials, the Detective Only mode is one of the hardest to complete, as you are not given any tips or directions and have to figure things out on your own.

But if you want to become a real ghost-hunting detective, then this challenge needs to be beaten. By using some of our tips and directions, you will ??complete the Detective Only challenge in no time!

Rules for the Detective Only challenge in Phasmophobia

First of all, let's look at the rules that are? set for this challenge as they can be quite ?different from others you might have already completed.

• The only location where the Detective Only challenge can be completed is 42 Edgefield Road.
• Your sanity level will start at 100 percent.
• You won't be given any official evidence.
• All the screens in the truck will be turned on and working fine.
• The fuse box is visible on the truck map and will be turned off at the start.
• Gear is locked at Tier I, except for the Head gear flashlight which is at Tier II.
• There will be no grace period to set up your equipment.
• You can bring the Ouija Board cursed possession.

How to complete the Detective Only challenge

In order to complete the challenge, you need to complete three contracts, along with identifying the correct ghost type. All this has to be done at 42 E??dgefield Road. Any wrong guesses will see you fail the challenge ??and you'll have to do it all over again. So make sure you have as many clues as possible before guessing.

Tips on how to complete the Detective Only challenge

You will need to carefully analyze how the ghost behaves to nail the?? type and complete the challenge. That is quite difficult since you will not have any official evidence with you, but y?ou need to try out several things and see how the ghost will react so you can eliminate the wrong types.

Here are some of our tips.

Sweep the room for ghost orbs

This is the best way that you can employ to see if you are dealing with a Mimic, as they will usu??ally fill up the room with fake ghost orbs. Also, check if they will change their behavior frequently while in the room. Luckily, it is also one of the easiest ghosts to catch.

Throwing salt on the floor

If you throw salt right at the beginning, you can watch out if the ghosts will a?ctually step on it. If, after a reasonable amount of time has passed, the salt is still intact, then you are most probably dealing with a Wraith. If all else fails, then this method is usually pretty reliable to identify it.

Watch out for lights turning off

The Mare is a ghost that loves the darkness, so if you want to identify ?it you can start turning on TVs and all the lights that you can find. If, as soon as you turn one on, it is turned off, then you are most definitely dealing with a Mare.

Drops in temperature

There is one ghost in particular who thrives in colder rooms, the Hantu. If a room is colder than others, not only it will move faster?, but it will also turn off the breaker. If you can't turn it on again, that's a great hint that a Hantu is around.

Movement from the room

If, ??even after waiting for a bit, the ghost does not seem to want to move from the room they are in, along with not being able to make any changes to it, then chances are you are dealing with a Goryo.

Light some candles

Watch the candles carefully and try to take a photo when you see them flicker, if it is marked as a "ghost? phot??o" but there is no clear subject on it, then it is most probably a Phantom. Also, after lighting at least three candles and bringing out a crucifix, if they all go out at the same time then you are probably dealing with an Onryo.

Careful use of the Ouija board

Since every time you use the Ouija board, you will trigger a cursed event then you might be better off saving the board only for those questions essential to your investigation. For example, ask the gho?st's age then wait in the room for a bit. Now ask again, and if the answer is different with the age going up, you are dealing with a Thaye. Another useful question is asking where the ghost is, so you can identify the room right away.

Watch for the ghost' speed

Watching the speed of the ghost is a great way? to get some additional hints to be sure you have identified the correct t??ype.

• Since the speed of ghosts in Phasmophobia will increase as soon as they spot you, if they slow down instead, you might be dealing with a Deogen.
• If, instead, as soon as you are spotted, the ghost will increase speed dramatically, then you might be dealing with a Revenant.
• The Moroi changes speed depending on your Sanity level, if you see the ghost being faster as your sanity averages between five and zero, then that might be who you are hunting down.
• The Raiju will move faster when near electric equipment such as TVs and computers.

Check for changes to your Sanity level

If your Sanity is draining quite quickly, this can be a useful ?hint to identify the kind of ghost you? are dealing with.

• A sudden drain in sanity, along with a door being slammed shut, can be a sign of a Yurei.
• A low sanity percentage, drained after being subjected to several singing events, can hint towards the presence of a Banshee, as they use that ability to drain your sanity quite fast.
• A whisper event being caught by the microphone, with a sudden drop in your sanity level, is a surefire sign of a Moroi's curse.
• If your decrease in sanity is related to objects being thrown and smashed around, then you might be dealing with a Poltergeist.
• A sanity slowly going down while you are standing in a room, might be a sign of a Shade hanging around.
• If after a ghostly event, you see a very quick decrease in sanity, then you might be dealing with an Oni as they can drain you twice as fast as other creatures.
• If you have full sanity and you are being hunted, then it is 100% a Demon as that is the only ghost capable of doing so. While they usually hunt at lower sanity levels (80-70%), that is a surefire hint to tell it is a demon.

The post How to complete t?he Det?ective Only challenge in Phasmophobia appeared first on Destructoid.

As most players can attest, very few items in Phasmophobia can beat the sound sensor when the subject is early on utility, as placing a few in the right spots can allow you to pinpoint the locations of your targets in record time. But unlike both your EMF Reader and other starting picks, getting and using the equipment will demand a few extra steps. Here's how to get and use the sound sensor in Phasmophobia.

• Table of Contents:

  • How to get the sound sensor
  • How to use the sound sensor in Phasmophobia

How to get the sound sensor

After reaching player level 11, you can get the sound sensor in Phasmophobia by heading to the game's shop and then purchasing it for $80, a maximum of four sensors can be acqui??red at once. Like all purchasable equipment pieces, all sensors taken with you to a contract area will be lost upon your death.

After getting the standard sensor, you will then be able to unlock its tier 2 and 3 variants by reaching levels 38 and 58. Apart from the ability to?? toggle its scanning distance to up to 15 meters and the gradual increase in precision and capture quality, the tier 3 sensor will also allow you to change its area of effect's shape to better suit your chosen environment.

How to use the sound sensor in Phasmophobia

Once in your arsenal, you will be able to use the sound sensor on Phasmophobia by grabbing it from the truck with either E (on PC) or B/O (on consoles) and then placing it on either the ground or atop any type of flat surface with F or LT/L2. While the sensor is in place, you (or any of your squad members) will be able to monitor the device and keep tabs on its readings by checking the Sound Sensor Screen on the truck. You will also be able t??o toggle a sensor's area of effect at any time by selecting the first icon by its set tab.

The best ways to use the sound sensor

If you want to maximize the performance of your sensors, I recommend placing them sparsely across your map of choice, as they will be a huge help in findin?g your chosen ghos??t room. For example, in massive maps, such as Sunny Meadows, the Prison, and Brownstone High School, placing the devices in areas further from the truck can help you quickly pinpoint the rooms without the need to go running into death.

Once a room is found, is best to then shift the placements of the sensors to cover the area??s adjacent to it, which will allow you to keep tabs if your ghost decides to go for a stroll. When on smaller maps, try to place the sensors in a way that will allow them to cover either multiple or entire rooms with minimal overlap.

Now that you know how to use the sensor, I also highly recommend checking out how to find and use Krampus Boxes in Phasmophobia.

The post How to use the sound sensor in Phasmophobia appeared first on Destructoid.

Every Monday, Phasmophobia cycles through one of 26 different weekly tasks, which are compl?eted in Challenge Mode. These challenges force players to hunt ghosts using different rulesets than normal, with a curated set of starter items.

One such Phasmophobia challenge is Hide and Se??ek: Extreme. This particular task is seen?? as one of the hardest in the entire game, thanks to its brutal ruleset on a tiny map.

What is the Phasmophobia Hide and Seek: Extreme Challenge?

The official description for the Hide and Seek: Extreme challenge is, "This ghost wants to play a game, you better hide." It's ironic, given you must complete it on Camp Woodwind, where there are very few places t?o hide. The goal here is simple, in theory: guess the ghost t??ype three times on Camp Woodwind.

You'll be guessing the ghost with a number of tough rule modifiers, making it much harder than P?rofessional difficulty. These are:

• 0% starting Sanity
• 1-minute setup time before the ghost can begin hunting you
• No way to restore Sanity, making hunts inevitable after the 1 minute timer
• Fuse box is automatically on at the start
• Monkey Paw Cursed Object is available to use every time
• Ghost speed is set to 150%

You'll also be doing this with a severely limited loadout, with a mix of Tier 1 and 2 items to help you solve the mystery. If you fail, you won??'t lose these items, so don't worry too much about dying during this??. Check out the full set of items below:

• Tier 1: Head Gear, Igniter, Motion Sensor, Firelight, Parabolic Microphone, Salt, Sound Sensor, Ghost Writing Book, and Video Camera
• Tier 2: Crucifix, EMF Reader, Photo Camera, Spirit Box, Thermometer, D.O.T.S. Projector, and Tripod
• Missing: Sanity Medication, Incense, UV Light, and Flashlight

If you manage to guess the ghost type three times in Phasmophobia's Hide and Seek: Extreme challenge, you'll be rewarded with $5,00??0 and 5,??000 XP. A worthy reward for this particular undertaking.

How to Complete the Phasmophobia Hide and Seek: Extreme Challenge

In theory, you could enter the Hide and Seek: Extreme challenge, guess the ghost type at random, leave instantly, and hope for the best. But you've got to guess correctly three times, ?and with a one-in-24 shot each time, that would be incredibly time-consuming, and there's technically no guarantee you'd ever actually get it right.

You're best ??suffering through the pain of the challenge, unfortunately, even if you fail a few times. Here are a few tips.

My first piece of advice would be to do this challenge in co-op. Even if you die, guessing the ghost type correctly still counts towards your challenge progress. However, dying solo in Phasmophobia means the game is over, so adding some friends ?to the party increases your chances of success immens??ely.

When the ghost hunts here, loop around the central area of the map. The 150% ghost speed makes it very difficult ??to avoid, but there are enough items in the center to make it possible. W?ith 0% Sanity, these hunts will arrive frequently, so don't be caught off guard!

In terms of your equipment setup, I'd recommend something that allows you to gather as much evidence as possible from the safety of the van. Because of the frequency of hunts, you want to spend as little time in the camp as possible in the Hide and Seek: Extreme challenge. For example, a Video Camera (orbs) with a D.O.T.S. Projector set up, as well as a Ghost Writ?ing Book. Drop a Thermometer in there, too, and drop in occasionally to check for Freezing Temperatures evidence.

My final piece of advice is to guess once you have just two pieces of evidence. This might seem strange, but the lack of a UV Light here can make things incredibly difficult when that's evidence you'r??e searching? for. Just cut your losses after finding two pieces of evidence, and try again if the guess is wrong.

The post How to complete the Hide and Seek: Extreme weekly challenges in Phasmophob?ia appeared first on Destructoid.

Look, just because we're approaching Christmas (scarily fast, I say) doesn't mean we have to give up the ghost. Literally. The people behind Phasmophobia know this as much as anyone, as, champing at the bit of the Halloween event, Kine??tic Game?s is already doling out the festive scares.

When you next log into your platform of choice, you'll notice that Phasmophobia has begun updating. This is the? Christmas patch �referred to as "Winter's Jest" �which, as with all of these types of updates, comes with some themed content, as well?? as a promise that "Karmpus waits."

In this case, the developer is taking cues from the Blood Moon event we had just a few weeks ago to challenge players. This event will continue until December 31, 2024, and is available on the PC and console ports of Phasmo.

What do we get then?

For a general overview of what the "Winter's Jest" patch comes with, you can check out the changelog here. In a?? nutshell, along with the Christmas event, there are a few bug fixes, including a few that were c??ausing crashes.

Of course, this isn't about fixing issues. This is about tiding us over until the new year, with scares aplenty. An announcement on the Kinetic Games website goes into more detail about wh?at we can expe??ct. Here, this should explain things:

Continuing on from our Blood Moon event last month, we’ll be tasking Ghost Hunters with working together to achieve a set of shared goals in order to receive rewards. We’ve taken on feedback from the Halloween event and implemented that in to the scoring system,? lowering the required scores while increasing the amount earned from completing tasks - and rewarding bonuses for those playing on higher difficulties. This’ll mean progress will feel quicker and more satisfying throughout this event.

The Tanglewood Drive, Bleasdale, Maple Lodge Campsite, and Point Hope lighthouse are now covered in snow, replete with festive decorations. There are also community goals, which include hunting down jack-in-the-boxes that will grant points when opened, so th?at's something to look forward to.

We're also being told these maps are also "host to something incredibly sinister." Given what this recent post on X says, it seems likely that we're in for a frightful ride??. Merry Christmas, y'all!

The post Phasmophobia ‘Winter’s Jest’ Christmas event begins rolling out appeared first on Destructoid.

Phasmophobia's Winter's Jest Christmas event is here! Much like the Halloween event before it, this festive cele??bration is a community event where players must work together to reach a common goal.

One of these goals is to open Krampus Boxes. Finding these is easier than it seems - Kinetic Games has made it extremely easy for every player to get involved in this event. Let's find out where to discover and open these Krampus Boxes in Phasmophobia.

Where to find Krampus Boxes in Phasmophobia

In Phasmophobia's Winter's Jest Christmas event, four maps have been given a festive makeover. These maps are marked on the contract voting screen with a s?mall present icon, and are as follows:

• 6 Tanglewood Drive
• Bleasdale Farmhouse
• Maple Lodge Campsite
• Point Hope

Krampus Boxes are scattered around the above four maps. Don't bother with the other Phasmophobia maps if you're looking to take part in the Winter's Jest event. The locations are rando?m each time, so you must look carefully to ensure you don't miss them. There is usually at least two on each map, so don't give up aft?er grabbing the first.

But how do you know when you've found a Krampus Box in Phasmophobia? Y?ou can spot them by looking for a big red box with a crude star drawing on it and a turning handl?e on the side. Given the maps also have big red present boxes on them, they're easy to miss when you're not looking for them.

O??nce you've found the Krampus Box, you open it by pressing the Activate key. On PC, this is left-click. You'll know it has worked because the handle begins to turn, and a large red Krampus head will pop out of it with a burst of confetti.

While this ??doesn't have any effect in-game, it will officially count towards progress in the Christmas event, whether you complete the map or not.

How to check Krampus Box progress is Phasmophobia

If you want to check how the community is progressing in the Phasmophobia Winter's Jest Christmas event, simply head over to the event board in the pre-gam?e lobby. Once complete, you'll be able to claim each stage's rewards for a limited time.

This also shows the rules of the Winter's Jest event, where you can also make progress by correctly identifying ghosts and completing optional objectives. During the Halloween event, Kinetic Games extended the deadline to allow players the time to complete these tasks, so make sure you're collect?ing the Krampus Boxes on each map!

The post How to find and use Krampus Boxes in Phasmophobia appeared first on Destructoid.

Phasmophobia dev Kinetic Games has a lot to celebrate right now. The console version of the four-player co-op horror game made it to consoles near the end of October, and just a little over a month later, it's alr??eady hit over one million copies sold.

This unit count spans PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, and Xbox Series X|S, all of which launched the Early Access version of the game on October 29, 2024. It's also been over four years since Phasmophobia first launc??hed on PC. Adding those numbers in pushes cumulative sales toward the 22 million mark.

Kinetic Games CEO and development lead Daniel Knight commented on the achievement in a press release. "This incredible achievement is only possible thanks to our wonderful, supportive, and engaged community," he said. Knight added that the milestone is "the best Christmas present we could have wished for."  

Reviews for Phasmophobia continue to stay in the "Overwhelmingly Positive" zone over on Steam, where the horror game once peaked at 112,241 players. Over the last 30 days, it has enjoyed an average of over 21,000 concurrent daily players, thanks in no small part to ongoing support from the developers. The latest major update, Crimson Eye, launched with new events, upgrad?ed physics, and more in October.&n??bsp;

For those looking to get in on the scares, Phasmophobia supports cro?ss-play for teaming up with others across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platfor??ms. 

The post Phasmophobia has sold over one milli?on units on consoles appeared first on Destructoid.

Those in the horror scene will be more than aware of Phasmophobia's long-awaited console release. PS??5 and Xbox Series X|S ports of the game launched just a day ago. However, ?as with so many new releases in this modern gaming era, there are a few teething problems.

In this case, it's effecting players on the Xbox. A recent post over on Reddit has noted how Phasmophobia crashes ??when pl?ayed on the Microsoft console. While this may only be a problem with the trial version, developer Kinetic Games has issued a brief statement on social media.

Posting to X, the studio has acknowledged that there ??are problems when booting up the trial version on Xbox Series X|S. An additional post says the team has "continued to investigate?? this issue" and will be sending out a fix as soon as possible. For now, it's best to keep an eye on any updates.

New content for the spoopy season

The console ports have gone hand-in-hand with the game's recent Halloween "Crimson Eye" patch, which features the Blood Moon event, and some tweaks to the game. This includes �according to the patch notes �optimization improvements, the ability to? invite people via your Steam friend's list, crossplay with the af??orementioned PS5 and Xbox releases, plus plenty of fixes.

The console ports of Phasmophobia have felt like a long time coming. The game origina?lly launched for PC back in September 2020 and �perhaps because of the pandemic which saw gaming experience a massive uptick in popularity as billions were confined to their homes �the indie horror game beca??me a massive success.

Kinetic has b??een promising PlayStation and Xbox versions for some time now, so it feels like a relief to many tha?t they can now get stuck into the ghost hunting phenomenon. So long as the developer keeps an eye on any issues that are plaguing console players.

The post Phasmophobia dev is aware of Xbox Series crashes, is on ??t??he case appeared first on Destructoid.

The Steam Deck has been s?omething of a revelation for PC gaming. This powerful device allows you to play your PC games on a portable ?screen, allowing for an experience more akin to something like the Nintendo Switch.

This is all well and good, but some PC games require the pinpoint precisi?on of mouse-and-??keyboard input. That's why we're taking a look at the 15 best Steam Deck games, so you know which titles are worth playing on your portable PC device. All of the following games are marked "Steam Deck Verified," meaning you can guarantee a solid experience with these selections.

15. Phasmophobia

Hunting ghosts with friends, what could be more fun? Despite still technically being in Early Access, Phasmophobia is arguably the best game in its ?genre. You're placed on a map, which can be as small as a suburban house or as large as an entire prison, haunted by a ghost.

There are 24 different ghost types, each offering up three types of evidence to help you and your friends decipher what they are. You find this evidence using various types of ghost-hunting equipment, from spirit boxes to EMF readers. It's not entirely that simple, as these ghosts will drain your sanity before hunting and killing you. Phasmophobia is a blast, and we recommend play??ing with friends.

14. Diablo 4

Blizzard's long-awaited follow-up in its iconic ARPG series was worth the wait. Diablo 4 follows the same general gameplay loop as previous iterations??, defe??ating powerful enemies throughout dungeons while collecting hordes of loot to upgrade your build.

While technically an RPG, Diablo 4's quests and storyline play second fiddle to the game's unique brand of chaotic action. There's nothing quite like melting swarms of demons while finding a rare item that takes the havoc up a notch. Some might recommend a mouse and keyboard for Diablo 4, but ?you can definitely do just fine on a Steam?? Deck.

13. Balatro

Balatro isn't your standard card game. There's almost too much complexity to sum up in a few sentences, but the gist of it is this: it's a roguelike deck-builder?? where you must score points by playing poker hands against blinds. With these points, you can upgrade your deck and buy joker cards, which affect the game in various ways. It's absurdly addictive and puts an impressive spin on a classic card g?ame.

Given the nature of Balatro's controls, it really doesn't matter whether you play on a regular PC or on a Steam Deck. It plays very well on Valve's portable devices, so if you're looking for a more laid-back Balatro, Steam Deck is the way to go.

12. Portal 2

Portal 2 might be well over a decade old at this point, but it can still kick it with any modern release on the market. With sharp humor, challenging puzzles, and an endlessly replayable co-op mode, Portal 2 remains one of the best video games ever made.

Valve gets so much mileage out of one simple concept: you have a portal gun that you can? use to open portals around the game world. You must use these portals to solve puzzles throughout each level, most of which are physics-based. Luckily, these puzzles don't require pinpoint mouse precision, which is why this is perfect for chilled-out Steam Deck play.

11. Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 had its troubles upon its 2020 release, disappointing almost everyone. In the years since, CD Projekt Red has remained committed to making it the best game it can be via countless patches and the sublime 2023 expansion, Phantom Liberty.

At long last, Cyberpunk 2077 is (almost) everything it was hyped up to be, and it runs great on the Steam Deck. With engaging characters, powerful RPG choices, and the staggeringly beautiful open world of Night City, Cyberpunk 2077 is a game you can really sink your teeth?? into nowadays.

10. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

If The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth isn't the best roguelike ever, then I don't know what is. Straight from the brain of Super Meat Boy developer Edmund McMillen, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth sees you fight through procedurally-generated dungeons against some of the most terrifyingly-designed? monsters you'll ever see in a video game.

As y?ou progress, you collect items on each floor. This contributes to your build, but not every item complements one another. This means you're constantly making important choices about what to pick up and what to leave behind. Each run is permadeath, resetting you right to the start if you die while progressing through the floors. Because of the randomized floors and items, it might be one of the most replayable games ever made??.

9. Dave the Diver

How many games do you know that can blend the action-adventure and restaurant simulator genres seamlessly? There's not many, let me tell you that much. Dave the Diver is one such title, and it's u?ndoubtedly one of the best games on the Steam Deck??.

Dave the Diver is split into two gameplay sections. During the day, you dive into the sea, collecting ingredients from the ocean floor while fighting sealife with your harpoon gun. Later in the eve??ning, you use these ingredients to run a sushi restaurant, improving its reputation through good food and service. All of this is complemented by a gorgeous pixel art style, resulting in a game unlike anything you'll ha?ve played before.

8. Resident Evil 4

2023's Resident Evil 4 might be the best remake in the series to date, and that's a high bar to clear. The game sees the return of Leon Kennedy, who is task?ed with rescuing the president's daughter, Ashley. You're faced with hordes of the undead throughout your adventure, which tops the 2005 original in just about every way.

Its graphics? Stunning. Its controls? Modern. The story? It has a tighter pacing this time around. And that's before we even get to the atmosphere, which is the real star of the show in the Resident Evil 4 remake. It's absolutely dripping with?? tension, which carries over even on the small scree?n of the Steam Deck.

7. Skyrim

13 years after its launch, and there's still nothing that quite evokes the same feelings as Skyrim. It's a classic RPG in every sense of the word, with one of the most detailed open worlds you'll ever explore, even after all this time. Inte?resting questlines and memorable characters are the tip of the iceberg in Bethesda's magnum opus.

On PC, Skyrim modding takes things to another level. Nexus Mods has almost 100,000 mods to download for the game, so the question is: can you mod Skyrim on Steam Deck? Yes! It's a bit more hassle, but it's certainly possible, meaning you can bring Skyrim up to modern standards on your handheld device.

6. RimWorld

Ludeon Studios' RimWorld is a far deeper game than it seems on the surface. At first glance, it appears to be just another construction and management simulator. Simply put, it isn't. RimWorld gives you numerous starting scenarios, where you must attempt to survive and escape from a procedurally generated plan?et.?

To make every playthrough unique, it employs the use of an AI storyteller, which can make decisions on the fly to affect proceedings. You can choose from various storytellers, each of which will change its behavior based on various parameters. Want something intense? Go with Randy Random. Want a more traditional narrative? Cassandra Classic will make that happen. The third is Phoebe Chillax, which offers a more laid-back experience. It's this storyteller feature alone that elevates RimWorld above every other game in the genre.

5. God of War

2018's God of War finally arrived on PC in 2022, breaking Santa Monica Studio's masterpiece free from its PS4 restraints. The game ??tells a powerful story between Kratos and his young son, Atreus, and their journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye, at the highest peak in Jötu?nheim.

Its hack-and-slash gameplay is similar to previous God of War games, yet the combat still manages to feel distinctly modern. That's an achievement in itself. Just everything, from the impeccable score from Bear McCreary to the awesome world design, comes together as a full package to make God of War one of the best Steam Deck games.

4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

How will CD Projekt Red ever top The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt? The culmination of an epic trilogy, this title is an extraordinary RPG, with impactful choices to be made even in the smallest of moments. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt features some of the most well-written side-quests you'll ever see, as well as two fantastic expansions in Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine.

For a 2015 release, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt holds up extremely well from both a visual and gameplay perspective. The combat still feels very fluid, which is why it remains one of the best Steam Deck games you can play after almost a decade??.

3. Stardew Valley

There's a reason life-simulation fans are still returning to Stardew Valley almost nine years after its release. ConcernedApe?'s game strips the formula back to basics but does everything it attempts just about perfectly.

There's farming, fishing, building, mining, socializing, romancing, and even combat - it's a pretty simple life in Stardew Valley. If you enjoy life-simulators, there's a good chance you've already played this game. If you haven't, there's a good chance Stardew Valley will convert you to the genre.

2. Elden Ring

Elden Ring is not for the impatient gamers out there. This open-world RPG by FromSoftware will test the limits of your patience, punishing you with sweet, sweet death over and over again. It's a classic Souls-like, defined by nigh-impossible bosses and frustratingly infrequent checkpoints, but with a bigger scale than anything the studio has ever attempted before. The satisfaction from victory in Elden Ring will have you jumping for joy.

Given that many would recommend Elden Ring with a controller anyway, I feel safe saying the game works great with the ??Steam Deck joysticks. Go forth and explore the Lands Between from the comfort of your own couch.

1. Baldur's Gate 3

Top spot was only ever going to Baldur's Gate 3. Larian's 2023 CRPG is an instant classic. With deep customization, fun combat, brilliant companions, and a gripping narrative, Baldur's Gate 3 is a game we'll all be playing for many years to come. I could wax further lyrical about its epic world, engaging quests, and a ?staggering level of freedom, but I reckon you get the picture.

Baldur's Gate 3 f??eels made for the Steam Deck in many ways. The turn-based combat lends itself well to the joystick controls, and the slow-paced gameplay in general makes it perfect for kicking back on the couch and playing at your own pace.

The post 15 Best Steam Deck Games appeared first on Destructoid.

Horror is way more fun when faced in a group because?? you gain extra resilience against minor threats and get even more scared when the fear and?? paranoia seep into and destroy your party.

Sadly, most studios don't risk going for AAA co-op horror experiences, but they should, ?as they provide some of the most thrilling experiences you can ?get out of a game. Let's look at the best co-op horror experiences out there.

Lethal Company

A true horror creator's only fear is to have their creation ridiculed. No one wants to pour their soul into making what they think is the scariest monster of all time and then have audiences laugh their asses off at it. The best example in gaming is the ghost baby from Layers Of Fear, who runs into a wall and falls down in an unintentionally hilarious manner. It's a perfect "what were they thinking" moment capable of tainti??ng your every memory from that game.

Lethal Company is miraculously immune to that problem, as it's known for getting players to laugh hysterically at their predicaments while also pissing their pants in fear. Aside from capitalism itself, the other enemies we face in Lethal Company are ridiculous in one way or another, but they still manage to get the job done.

Resident Evil 5

Most of the complaints aimed at Resident Evil 5 focused on the co-op NPC's AI. I'd add that the other aspect preventing RE5 from being an all-timer among Resident Evil fans was that it came out after? Resident Evil 4, and pretty much any RE game would be a step down after that. Still, and I challenge you to take me up on that, I'd argue that a RE5? playthrough with a real human co-op partner is just as fun as RE4 at its best. Punching boulders is great, even more so when your partner is screaming "COME ON!" as they wait for rescue.

Definitely nothing to read into regardi?ng AI vs real people in this en??try.

Phasmophobia

You know what sucks about Reality tv shows about ghost hunting? They suck for many reasons, I'm sure, but the main one is that they're all fake. Whether you like those or not, Phasmophobia is a great option because you get to experie?nce actual contact �and likely death �by ghost.

These ghosts aren't really real, I think �and hope �but they are in the context of the game, and it works so well. Phasmophobia would've worked as a single-player game, but it'?s elevated to such greater heights by allowing players to create their own team of ghostbusters.

Killing Floor 2

Most great horror games of recent times follow Silent Hill's rule of putting players in the shoes of a mostly defenseless or at least untrained character in a nightmare scenario. I love that, but I also love Killing Floor 2 for taking us back to a time when we got weaponry to match the monstrosit?ies we're up against. Though it never reaches the heights of Left 4 Dead 2, Killing Floor 2 is a hell of a lot of fun because of its completely ??bonkers setting and the plethora of monsters we have to get rid of.

Deceit 2

Deceit 2 is a co-op game with a masterful twist. You see, you must co-operate with all but two of your friends, you just don't know which ones. A real-time take on Werewolf, Deceit has you and your team work together to find out who's the impostor, and though it features a formulaic "escape map-type" gameplay seen in games like Dead By Daylight, it manages to feel fresh for much longer because the true horror here comes from your? uneasy team dynamics. Try this one out if you ??want to have a lot of fun harmlessly testing your group's bonds and ability for betrayal.

Escape the backrooms

The backrooms are the Slenderman of our time. An Internet-born myth about an inescapable liminal place that's as mundane-looking as it is dangerous. The meme has spawned a fantastic YouTube video series,?? but it's even more interesting as a co-op title. One of the scariest elements about the backrooms mythos is that you'd have to traverse this place in solitude. The game allows you to face this place with the help of a? group, and, guess what, it doesn't get any better.

Left 4 Dead 2

Well, you know this one would come. Valve has a long history of excellent multiplayer games, but those tend to put you against other people. The Left 4 Dead series was the company's first foray into the competitive shooter scene, and it remains one of the best in the genre even over ten years after its original release. The rules are simple: four people have to go from point A to point B and face off against fantastically large numbers of zombies. There is no lack of cool setpieces or enemy variety, to the point that going back and playing the old campaigns remains as fun nowadays as it did so long ago. It also helps that you can get Left 4 Dead 2 at deep discounts multiple times per year.

With all that, only one question remains: when are we getting Left 4 Dead 3?

SCP: 5K

Another game born from Internet creepypasta, the SCP games have you working as an agent in the field of paranormal entity containment. You find yourself and your friends in a facility meant to imprison all sorts of possibly demonic entities, but something has gone very wrong and you now have to do your best to deal with them and hopefully come out alive. 5K? is especially great i?f you're looking for a fresh perspective on co-op horror.

Returnal

Returnal was originally a single-player-only modern bullet hell affair, but the developers quickly realized it was too good not to be shared. An update introduced the option to share the experience with a buddy, and it's an absolute blast. Instead of running away from monsters, Returnal has you running away and dodging their?? projectiles, but I assure you it's ju?st as fun.

Also, this is one of the few ti??mes when a co-op horror experience features AAA production values, so there's no reason not to give it a shot if you're looking for a truly excellent experience in surviving hell together.

Call Of Duty Zombies

Zombies began as a fun novelty game mode but it quickly grew into something bigger than most non-Call of Duty games out there. Using CoD's mechanics to face off against the ?undead horde is incredibly fun, even more so whe?n most iterations add even more perks to make this mode stand out even more.

Now, you just have to find which Call Of Duty has the best-suited Zombies mode for you. If you're into straight-up gruesome horror, I'd go with Call Of Duty WWII. If you want the most fun out of the mode, however, I'd recommend Black Ops 3. Feel free to check out this list we created to let yo??u know about the Zombies experience that best fits you.

Devour

Cultists are the bad guys in whatever intellectual property they show up in, but not in Devour. Here, they're just dumbasses. They're also who you play as. Devour has you not trying to un??leash an evil deity via some dark ritual but ra?ther having you stop it after the it has already gone bad. The concept is pretty fun, and Devour sure has gameplay and looks to match.

Labyrinthine

When it comes to horror, you either get survival, psychological, or a mix o?f both. You rarely get actual cerebral horror, but Labyrinthine has that in spades. On top of a creepy atmosphere, Labyrinthine is the rare game that invites you and your team not merely to shoot ??the monsters until they die but also to get your brains in tune to solve a bunch of cool puzzles.

The post Best Co-op horror games appeared first on Destructoid.

Since Phasmophobia made its frightening debut on PC, console players have eagerly awaited their shot at the popular ghost-hunting game. Even though the chances seemed slim, the time has finally come for everyone to experience the horrific journey. Here's when to expect Phasmophobia to release on consoles.

Phasmophobia console release date, explained

According to the game's recent trailer, Phasmophobia will debut on consoles on Oct. 29, 2024, just in time for Halloween. Early Access will be available for PlayStation 5, PSVR2, and Xbox X|S. However, this does not include the Xbox Game Pass, as there are currently no plans for this subscription service. You can now wishlist the game on the PlayStation and Microsoft stores.

The only setback is that voice recognition may only be available until after the console launch. This feature allows PC users to communicate with the ghosts with a Spirit Box, utilizing recognized phrases. Console users will, instead, use text input. However, Kinetic Games is working on thi?s mechanic to po??ssibly get it ready for launch.

Phasmophobia will cost $19.99 upon release, showcasing a six-dollar increase from its current version. The Eventide update will also be available, bringing the terrors of the Point Hope map. In the future, new updates are expected to launch simultaneously on all platforms. So,?? there's no need to worry about console or PC-exclusive content.

Cross-play features will also be available for all players, allowing you to experience the horrors of Phasmophobia with everyone.

The post When does Phasmophobia come out on consoles? appeared first on Destructoid.

After a few delays, Phasmophobia will finall?y be coming to consoles this year. It's certainly been a long time coming, and fortunately, the wait won't be too long with its expected release date set for the game's Halloween Event.

If we go by the release of Phasmophobia's past Halloween releases, console versions may debut around Oct. 26, 2024. This includes features like cross-play and VR compatibility. As Kinetic Games continues developing, voice recognition will also be coming soon. However, console players must input text temporarily un?til the studio finds a solution.

Although it will be available on Xbox, Phasmophobia will not be on Game Pass. Even more so, there are "no plans" to make it available on this service. It will be purchasable for $1?9.99, a six-dollar increase from the PC version. The price difference correlates with the new content that has been added over the years, hence why we're seeing a slight bump in cost.

Phasmophobia's console debut will match the current 0.10 version, also known as the Eventide major update. The farmhouse reworks for Bleasdale and Grafton won't be a?? part of this just yet, but it will be introduced soon.

With Phasmophobia Version 1.0 on the horizon, veteran players can look forward to new ghost models, hallucinations, and horrifically entertaining events. And, if you are planning to try it on a console, Kinetic Games has indicated? that the game's graphics will be "as close to PC as possible."

As the console version is set to debut around the Halloween Event, newcomers can rest assured that they won't be left behind. These celebrations have always been inclusive, allowing all types of players to participate and earn special rewards. Personally, I'm overjoyed to see Phasmophobia finally making its way to consoles. The prospect of experiencing it on a larger screen is both thrilling an??d terrifying in equal measure.

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Since Phasmophobia took the indie world by storm with its co-op ghost hunting mechanics, there have been a few imitators. Some of them, like Ghost Exile or Demonologist, have kept the basics of developer Kinetic Games' formula, but put their own spin on it. Even things like Lethal Company are going for a somewhat similar vibe. But Mirowin's Bureau of Contacts is trying something a little bit more advanced.

Very much taking cues from the likes of Phasmo, Bureau of Contacts is, on the surface, a ghost hunting horror game for up to four players. However, its biggest sell is that it attempts to magnify the scares with? spooky goings-on that are intelligent and able to shift at will. According to the website, it does this through the use of "generative AI technologies," with the studio boasting that it has "trained a neural network to kill."

Over on the Steam page, the studio describes this neural network as being able to control each ghost’s "behavior and tactics," which changes depending o??n the actions of players. It's also said to be ab??le to hear your voice and adjust how it acts based on what you say.

How could I not go ahead and inst??all it after ?a sales pitch like that?

Bureau of Contacts? More like "bureau of crap-pants"

If you're familiar with Phasmophobia, you already know how this is going to go down. Players enter a haunted location and, with a series of tools at their disposal, must locate and identify the kind of ghost that's hanging around. However, with Bureau of Contacts �much like other ghost hunting games �there are som??e tweaks which do make i?t slightly more advanced.

For example, while you can ascertain where paranormal activit??y is happening based on thermometer readings, this game has a little more nuance. The temperature might rise, it might lower, or it can even fluctuate. Similarly, with the EMP reader. It's not just a on??e and done mechanic; you have to actually decide what kind of sound the device is emitting.

It also looks great at the moment, despite it being in the early s?tages of development. Adequately spooky and atmospheric. However, where the game comes into its own is through the use of horror as imagined by this neural network. This may well be the first of its kind in the gaming industry, with Mirowin selling the idea that this is the most "human-like intelligence."

It definitely does increase much of the tension via unpredictability. If ghosts are able to change their behavior on the fly based on what's happening during investigations, then it stands to reason that you can't ever truly know what's around the corner. The video below shows it in action. Phasmophobia has similar voice-activated scares, but here it's purported to be more s?tate-of-the-art.

Sure enough, our time in Bureau of Contacts may have been short, but it was pretty intense. There may be just the one map so f??ar (it's still in Early Access), but it's sizable enough to get a decent amount of playtime out of it.

As for the scares themselves, it seems there is something to be said for having a highly advanced algorithm as the director, deciding how and when it attacks players. We noted numerous instances of unexplained sounds??, such as running footsteps, being knocked down by invisible entities, as well as literal traps being laid.

How much of what we experienced was scripted or just ambient sounds is hard to say. It definitely felt like we were never safe so long as we remained in the house. If a neural network is pulling the strings on digital ghost?s which watch our every move and listen to what we say, there's gotta be some potential for a truly horrifying experience.

I will admit that it's perhaps a little too soon to truly appreciate what Bureau of Contacts is trying to achieve. It's still very much in development, but that does mean it's on the cheap side. Currently, of the fe?w hundred that have reviewed the game on Steam, many are impressed with what they've played ??so far, with one person admitting they "nearly pissed" themselves about four times. Not something I would readily admit to on a public forum, but I'm perhaps more traditional when it comes to embarrassing tidbits.

The game's not been out long, having launched June 20. There was an update recently which did add in a tutorial section. Honestly, if ?you want to actually get to grips with the basics, it's best to learn via these sections, even if you are familiar with other releases in this genre.

This could be one to watch out for. One of the backlashes of this is how people feel about games w??ith generative AI. Everyone has their own opinion, of course, with many fearing it could spell the end of human input in the creative industries.

In this case, however, it seems like Mirowin is interested in using AI/neural networks for scare factors only. It's up to you to decide whether this is a s??lippery slope into generative artificial intelli??gence dominating video games and other media, or whether you think it can have its uses. Is scaring players half to death "useful"? Only time will tell.

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As many of you horror lovers out there will know, Phasmophobia recently launched its Eventide update. Of the many things the?? patch contains, perhaps the one that caught most people's attention?? was the new map: Point Hope. This lighthouse location is pretty different compared to other maps, designed to really test your mettle against the ghostly denizens that dwell within.

Unlike pretty much every other level in Phasmo, this one favors verticality over lots of rooms spread out over a vast area, as is typical with the medium and large levels. Developer Kinetic Games even says in the patch notes on Steam that you'll "have to us??e different?? techniques" while investigating.

So this guide will ??take you through some of the details about Point Hope and ??what you can expect from this unique place.

How big is Point Hope?

One thing that stood out to pretty much everyone was ho?w many floors and rooms the new map contains. While the lighthouse has a total of 10 floors, it's only really 12 rooms overall, with most floors having the one room; a bedroom or bathroom, for example.

As such, it's technically classed a small map, but it definitely doesn't feel like that if you have to go up to the very top to lay down some equipment or escape ?a h?unt.

This is partly what makes it such a unique loc?ation. That and the fact that the rooms themselves can feel small. Some of the larger ones, such as the games room, feature a central pillar, which makes them seem much more cramped. As you can imagine, this makes dodging a ghost that's giving chase more of a challenge.

In short: Point Hope feels small, especially when there's several of you cramped into a tiny bathroom, but it kind of makes up for it with an interesting view of the ocean from the top. It can be difficult for one or two players, especially on higher difficulties, so this map is probably best reserved for three or more given all the flight??s of stairs one may have t?o take.

The layout itself

As I say, there are ten floors in total, including the actual light of said lighthouse (cl??ue's in the name, really). Here's a quick breakdown of what you can find on each one and the rooms they contain:

So, shall I tell the c??urre??nt occupiers you want to put in an offer. Wait...what was I doing?

The usual gubbins

As with any other Phasmophobia map, Point Hope has static places where the Cursed Possessions will spawn. There are also quite a number of hiding spots from what? I can se??e.

Of course, the bone will appear on the level in a random location. However, I did find that, because of the num?ber of floors, it can be difficult to spot, especially g??iven the mess that's in some of the rooms.

Additionally, there'?s a pretty nifty secret that will unlock a special badge after y?ou end the investigation. But I'll be saving that for another article. Oh, I am such a tease!

In general, the new map is a pretty interesting one. As I said above, on harder difficulties, things do get tough. I mean, you could say that about most of the levels in the game, but in this one, bein?g chased by a ?ghost down several flights of stairs, and not a lot of space to kite it around, does create a pretty intense experience.

The post Phasmophobia: Point Hope map layout and details appeared first on Destructoid.

By now, many of Phasmophobia "phans" will have been getting to grips with the Eventide update, especially the brand-new map. Being a literal lighthouse, Point Hope offers something a little different?? for your ghost hunting experience.

The fact that it contains 10 floors in total can seem a little daunting at first. However, on the plus side, this does suggest that t??here may be more than a few hiding places whenever that spectral being decides to go on a rampage.

And you'd be right. When the going gets tough, there are a number of spots to keep out of sight of that angry Demon or Revenant, so here's a quick list of all the hiding places in Phasmophobia's Point Hope map.

Where to hide in Point Hope - They'll never see us in here!

Just as a quick aside??: I'm still learning the layout of Point Hope, even though ??it is pretty straightforward (just go up?) so I'm hesitant to include the screen next to the bathtub in the main bathroom on the fifth floor. It feels like it could be a place to hide, but it's quite wide open, and I haven't played the map enough to conclude whether a ghost can find you there.

Now that that's out the way: here are the actual hiding places??:

As always with Phasmophobia, the harder th??e difficulty you're playing on, the more hiding spots will be blocked off. But you don't need to worry about that. You're a brave ghost hunter after all, aren't you? Still, it's nice to hunker down in the dark to gather your thoughts every so often. Maybe have a little whimper.

The post Phasmophobia: All hiding places in Point Hope appeared first on Destructoid.

With the Eventide update rolling out for Phasmophobia, a lot of us have been checking out the extra content and changes implemented to our ghost-hunting excursions. In particular, much of my time has been spent exploring Point Hope, the brand-new map that has us investi-mi-gating a lighthouse.

On top of a new place to get our asses handed to us by a spooky specter, Point Hope also has ??a bit of a secret to uncover. This goes beyond a simple Easter egg, and does actually have a (sort of) end goal. Whether it means anything in the long run cannot be said at this stage, but it's interesting all the same. Plus, you get a badge/ID card when you complete it?.

So without further ado, here's how to solve the "Ferryman of the Drowned" puzzle in the new Phasmophobia update. Quick note: make sure you take a UV light in with you as soon as you start. You will need?? it further along.

Ferryman of the Drowned, Phasmophobia Eventide's new puzzle

Towards the top of the lighthouse �on the floor where the gears for the light itself are turning �you'll notice a small cupboard by the spiral staircase. W??hen you approach it, you'll see that you can't interact with it, but there is a locked symbol that appears. This indicates that there's likely a key around somewher??e, but how do you get it?

Go down to the games roo?m on floor 4 and you'll see a pool table sitting there all innocent, like. You'll also see several balls on said table. Well, you need to pot some of them; just the green, blue, and orange-y/red one. You'll need to do them in that order, I believe. At least, that's how I did it.

You'll then hear what sounds like a key falling from some place. Go round to the end of the pool table �so the wall with the cues on is to?? your left �and look down at the ball release slot. You should see a key in there. Guess what that's for?

Back up to floor 9 and you can now open the locked cupboard by the staircase (there are a lot of stair?s in Point Hope). You'll see there's not much in there besides what appears to be an empty slot that may or may not be just the right size for a specific cog.

Right, now go down one floor to the workshop. If you've been paying attention while playing, you'll have noticed this room has a few cogs dotted about.? Most of them can't be interacte?d with, but there is one you'll need to find. Basically, it's leaning against a cupboard somewhere in the workshop. Look for a broom.

Pick up said cog and go back up to floor 9. Now, you can i?nsert it into the empty slot. Once you do, you should start to hear ticking sounds. This is just the light from the lighthouse blinking. It will do this in sequences of three while still ro?tating. This indicates you've done this part correctly.

Out of breath yet? Tough. Now, head all the way down the stairs and back outside. Just before you enter Point Hope, the??re's a large bell that you can interact with. While we all pressed it endlessly for fun, now it has a function. Ding it thr??ee times and you should hear a confirmation sound (can't actually recall what it specifically is, but it should be obvious).

I'm sorry to have to say this, but you need to go all the wa??y to the very top of the lighthouse. Right out onto the widow's walk. Look out to the horizon. Admire the view, obviously, but you want to look for a cave entrance in the distance. Check in the same direction as where the truck is parked??. When you see the light from the cave, you should also see the letters UV spelled out on the beach.

I hope you remembered to bring the UV, 'cos you're going to need it. Now, the last thing to do is "charge" Point Hope's light by shining the item at it. After a few seconds, you should see it glow violet. Once done, g??o for a nice walk around the perimeter of the top ??of the lighthouse.

Bask in the visually eerie spectacle. As I say, I have no idea if this wi?ll have any significance. But it looks nice. Probably looks better if you've set the sky ??to night, though.

When you finish your investigation, you'll be given this ?reward at the game summary screen. Hoorah! You did a thing!

The post Phasmophobia: What does the locked cupboard in ??Point Hope do? appeared first on Destructoid.

Last week, the team behind the ghost hunting hit Phasmophobia whet appetites with talks of the Eventide update. Well, the pa??tch s??hould be rolling out as we speak, and because it's a pretty significant one this time around, there are quite a number of new things being implemented.

I'll go through some of the bigger changes, but su??ffice it to say that probably the biggest thing in the game is the Point Hope map. We don't often get treated to brand-new locations (the last? couple were essentially rebrandings of ones that already exist), so this should at least make anyone who's not played for a while pay a bit of attention.

Sadly, there's still no word on when the console version of Phasmophobia is likely to drop. We know that Kinetic Games is still working on it, and there'll be some news about it soon enough, but many have been waiting pa??tiently for?? some time now.

Still, we PC players get all this:

Point Hope lighthouse map heads to Phasmophobia

As I say, the most significant addition to the game is Point Hope. It's essentially a lighthouse, which is described as having 10 floors and 12 rooms. The developer says we'll have to "use different techniques for some of those pesky ghost abilities while pl?aying on lower-evidence game modes." The map unlocks at level 15.

At the time of writing, the Eventide patch hasn't been sent out, so I haven'?t had chance to check Point Hope out. Rest assured, I wil??l be back with a quick guide once I do get to grips with it.

The last new-new map we got, technically, was Maple Lodge Campsite, the first outdoors level of Phasmophobia. This was released with the big Nightmare update that went live at the end of 2021. Besides that, we've had a smaller version of the campsite and some changes to the As?ylum level.

The Eventide update's big equipment changes

As well as Point Hope, Kinetic has adjusted some of the equipment. A quick look at the patch notes on Steam shows that it looks like some of it h?as been nerfed slightly to make things a bit easier. I'll give you some examples:

• Tier 1 D.O.T.S has had its light range increased, while Tier 3 now has the option to pause the rotation.
• Tier 3 Parabolic Microphone can now scan for sounds one floor below or above the player.
• Both Tier 1 and Tier 2 Sanity Medications will increase restoration time to 30 seconds and 20 seconds, respectively.
• Additionally: Tier 3 Sanity Medication will instantly refill your sprint and maintain it for 10 seconds.
• You can mute the Sound Sensors using buttons from the truck's UI.
• Tier 2 and Tier 3 Thermometer will now continuously update the temperature, rather than resetting each time you use it.

Optimizations and bug fixes

Of course, no update would be complete without the all-important optimizations and big fixes. Eventide definitely has its fair share. In fact, the developer itself says that the former has had some many, they can'?t all be listed.

In short: there have been ?tweaks to the game to make it run smoother on lower-spec systems, with particular attention being paid to things like the UI, shadows, audio, reflections,? textures and shaders, and the weather and sky effects.

A lot of glitches have been ironed out as well, such as player movement no longer being effected by held equipment, ?ghosts no longer interacting with paintings they've already thrown, a lot of tweaks to items, and removed instances in Sunny Meadows where the ghost can clip through the world.

Check out the full patch notes above for a complete breakdown on what's new in Phasmophobia. See you in the truck, everyone!

The post Pha?smophobia Eventide pat??ch note highlights include Point Hope, optimizations, and equipment tweaks appeared first on Destructoid.

The last major update for Phasmophobia was the big Ascension reset that rolled out last August. Since? then, developer Kinetic Games has been sending out hotfixes and smaller updates; little tweaks here and there, but nothing to write home about. But there is one thing on the way, and it's coming soon.

As outlined in a recent post on Steam, Phasmiophobia will get the "Eventide" patch on Tuesday, June 25. Along with some Ascension adjustments, "a host of optimizations, changes, and fixes," we're also getting a new map: Point ??Hope, which looks like it will be a lighthouse.

Now, we knew this was in the pipeline, but according to the developer, the adjustments to the current build ??and the new location were originally planned to be separate releases.

But is it what everyone actually wants?

I'm a big fan of Phasmophobia and I'm very excited about checking out the new map next week. However, if you look at the comments under the post on X I've embedded above, it seems many are more keen for th??e ant??icipated console port of the game.

Indeed, Kinetic did address this on Steam, but it doesn't really say anything more than the team is "still working to meet the high standards we've set for the game." The console version of Phasmo has already been delayed a couple of times, sadly. For now, there's no release date yet, but the message assures us that det?ails will be inbound "within the next few weeks." So hold onto that, at least.

Aside from the smaller campsite and changes to the asylum locations, it feels like forever since we've had a brand-new map. Maple Lodge Campsite arrived October 2021, so Point Hope does at least give us something new to play with. Either that, or we can get one of those Cursed Monkey Paw plushies.

The post ?Phasmophobia is getting a new map next week with the E??ventide update appeared first on Destructoid.

So you've been playing Phasmophobia for a while now. You've absolutely nailed down the unique characteristics of each ghost to such an extent that all that investigation equipment is merely an afterthought. Good for ??you, I say, but maybe there's more you can do.

While identifying the spectral being is the key selling point of Kinetic's horror release, there are additional ways to get that sweet, sweet cheddar. In fact, you can take it one step further and follow this guide on how to get a Perfect Investigation bonus in Phasmophobia.

NOTE: all the below must be fulfilled to earn the bonus, and the final amount you earn will depend on the multiplier that's added to the contract.

Get the correct ghost

Why am I even telling you this? If you're readin??g this article and you've played the game even a bit, you know the main thing you need to do is find out which apparition you're dealing with. That much is obvious. However, I think it's still worth mentioning at the start. Covering all our bases, yeah?

Depending on how familiar you are with the way Phasmo works, what difficulty you have it on, and/or what map ?you're playing will all depend on h??ow easy the main objective is. It goes without saying that ghost identification becomes more lucrative in tougher settings and on larger levels. Just don't forget to mark it off in your journal. Man, the times I've missed out on hard-earned cash because of that schoolboy error.

Complete the additional objectives

Again, this one might sound obvious. Of course, achieving a Perfect Investigation bonus will require completing all three tasks, a??s well as pinpoint?ing the correct ghost. But sometimes people can neglect these extra jobs, especially if they're slightly more tricky, such as escaping during a hunt.

Because the game randomizes which objectives it wants you to (optionally) complete, some contracts can be easier than others. I'm not saying this is the best way to play, but if you want to see things like "get an EMF reading" or "witness an event" on the?? corkboard, you may need to exit and?? reload the map until you get what you want.

Find the bone

This one is a little easier to forget about, as it's not one the game will list as part of the objectives on the board. However, veterans of Phasmophobia will probably have developed muscle memory for this one. Muscle memory for bone-finding; the??re's something I never thought ??I'd say.

If you're fairly new to the game, I'll give you a quick ?rundown. Basically, every time you load a new map, a bone will spawn somewhere in the location. It's up to you to find where it is and retrieve it (after taking a photo - more on that below). Sometimes they are easier to spot, especially if it's something big like a rib cage or spinal column. Other times, it can require some detailed sleuthing. Also, my friend and I are convinced the bone doesn't always spawn as soon as the level loads, so maybe bear that in mind.

Fill the photo book

Completing this one for the bonus does require a bit more time. In a nutshell: you need to fill the journal up with a maximum of ten photographs. But they can't just be any photos; they must be worth three stars each. To achieve three stars, the subject must be within close?? range of the camera and nicely framed, i.e. in the center.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to achieve this objective. You can take a photo of ea?ch of the following ?in any investigation:

• The ghost itself
• The bone that spawns in the map
• The Cursed Possession item
• A burned Crucifix
• Dirty water seen in a sink
• A dead body (you or one of your teammates)
• A disturbed salt pile
• Handprints and/or fingerprints
• Writing in the ghost book
• Any other interaction, such as seeing a door open (but you may need to be pretty quick for this one)

You can mix and match these as well; they don't have to be ten different photos. We often get away with having three-star ratings despite having taken about four or five shots of the exact same thing. I'm sure this isn't within the spirit (heh) of Phasmo, but it can speed things up.

The post How t??o get a Perfect Investigation Bonus ??in Phasmophobia appeared first on Destructoid.

Just like the Tarot Cards, the Cursed Possession items in Phasmophobia can be equal parts useful and dangerous. While the equip??ment at your disposal is the best way to accurately identify the ghost type you're dealing with, the addition of these special items g??ives a bit of an edge to each investigation.

Whenever you begin a contract, a randomly pre-selected Cursed Possession object will spawn. You can also customize your settings an??d force the game to spawn a specific item, but where's the mystery in that?

Much like any item in the game, a Cursed object has a unique ability, such as showing you the ghost room, triggering an interaction, forcing the ghost to manifest, etc. However, knowing where each one spawns is the first step, so here's a quick guide on where to find all the Cursed Possession items across Phasmo's 11 (technically 12) maps.

6 Tanglewood Drive

The map that most will be familiar with, Tanglewood Drive is the smallest location, essentially turning it into a contract ?for beginners or those who just want a quick game. It being so small means finding any spawned item is much easier, but newcomers might have a little bit of trouble with one or two of them.

42 Edgefield Road

For all intents and purposes, this is the second map. Much like Tanglewood, Edge??field is small and easily manageable, ??but it does have more floors than its predecessor.

10 Ridgeview Court

Another pretty small location. Ridgeview Court also has three floors, as well as a ridiculously huge garage. Seriously, who needs a garage that big? In fact, a lot of the rooms in th?is home are pretty spacious. Someone's doing well for themselves!

13 Willow Street

It ?kind of feels like we're just doing a tour of all these lovely houses as we search for the Cursed Possession item. Maybe we're property hunting. Who knows? Anyway, Willow Street is the last of the suburban homes before we move on. You'll soon miss the comfort of residential streets.

Bleasdale Farmhouse

For something a little more rustic, Bleasdale Farmhouse is a pretty home for the country bumpkin inside all of us. It's also the first ma?p we've looked at that has an attic, which in no way increases the creepy factor? at all.

Grafton Farmhouse

A lovely little getaway for those who are tired of the hustle and bustle of city living. If you don't mind the abject terror caused by hauntings, of course. Grafton is similar to Bleasdal?e in terms of style??, but is somewhat smaller. It also only has two floors, which does make things easier.

Camp Woodwind

Our first exterior location (two in total - both campsites). Camp Woodwind is one of the newest maps in Phasmophobia. As such, I'm not overly familiar with this one, so bear with if I do get us a bit ??lost.

Maple Lodge Campsite

Now we'r?e getting into the big leagues. This is the first medium-sized map we've encountered. It also had its layout changed in the big update. Actually, thinking about it, Camp Woodwind is more in-line with what Maple Lodge sort of looked like. Anyway...

Prison

Definitely one of the more intimidating maps, especially if you're playing Phasmophobia on your own. It isn't as massive as the next two locations (still pretty big, though), and it is a fairly simple layout. Still...a haunted prison? Who'd want that? NOTE: All Cursed Possession items are within the main entranceway, which is very gracious of the developer.

Brownstone High School

We're in the big leagues now. This is one of two of the game's biggest maps. Its sheer size and creepy, abandoned vibe makes this one way more intimidating than the Prison. And seeing that gymnasium just brings back awful, awful memories. NOTE: Much like the Prison, the Cursed items are within a small radius to make them easier to find.

Sunny Meadows Mental Institution

If you thought Brownstone was pretty intense, that's nothing compared to Sunny Meadows, the abandoned mental institution that's been lifted from so many horror movies.?? It should be said that this section also covers the smaller, "restricted" version of the map. I?n fact, all the Cursed Possession items will be near or in the chapel.

Point Hope

Point Hope is the new map that came rolling out with Phasmophobia's Eventide update. It's som?ething that was being teased by the developer for some time. One of the key things about this particular location is its sense of verticality. Despite not having that many rooms, the fact that the lighthouse s??tretches up ten floors can feel daunting at first. Despite being brand-new, it still has all the Cursed Possession items, and they are in the following places:

The post All Cursed Object Spawn Locations in Phasmophobia appeared first on Destructoid.

As well as a host of tech and equipment at your disposal, Phasmophobia offers up Cursed Possession items as well, which can help you out, but also leave you feeling worse off. One such example of this is the Tarot Cards. Whether you're playing with friends or you're doing a solo investigation, these cards can give you an edge, but there's a l??ot of danger when it comes to using them.

Much like the Ouija Board, Monkey Paw, or any other Cursed Possession item, the Tarot Cards ?have a one in seven chance of spawning when you start a new contract. When you find them, you'll be given ten cards to draw, with each reveal affecting either the player holding them or the ghost itself.

Currently, Phasmophobia has ten Tarot Cards that can be pulled. However, it's important to note that they each have their own draw chance, with some being more common than others. This means you can draw a particular card more than once or not have one at all. Below you'll find the effects of each of them in?? order from worst to best in terms of their danger levels, as well as the chances of drawing each one.

The Hanged Man

By far the most dangerous Tarot Card in Phasmophobia. This one does not mess about. Quite simply, if a player pulls this one from the pack, they'll immediately be killed. No warning, no hun??t. Ju?st *POOF* dead. The sanity level is inconsequential.

This means if you've been investigating for a long time, that's it. Game over. Conversely, if you're in a team game and you pull the Hanged Man ?at the start, you'll be spending the rest of the round wandering ab??out being all ethereal and what-not. Fortunately, it is pretty uncommon to get this one.

Chance of drawing this card: 1% (NOTE: this card can't be drawn if playing on ??a custom difficulty setting with Friendly Ghost turned on.)

Death

This can be a little confusing. You would assume the Death card would do what the Hanged Man card does. But that isn't the case. However, ??it can?? be just as deadly, and does have a higher chance of being drawn when compared to some of the others.

When the Death Tarot Card is pulled out, a hunt will begin immediately. Again, it doesn't matter your sanity level. The ghost will be on the prowl. To add insult to injury, it'll be a cursed hunt as well (because the cards are Curs??ed Possession items), so it'll last longer.

Chance of drawing this card: 10%

The Moon

Our beautiful, spherical satellite in the sky has been the subject of romance and poetry for as long as the written word has existed. The moon, in all its glory, is Earth's companion. But in Phasmo, pulling the Moon Tarot Ca?rd will put you on the quick path to death.

Thi??s is because drawing this card from the deck will reduce your sanity to zero. While it will only affect the player holding the cards, it will still mean the average sanity for the team will also drop. As anyone who's played the game will know, sanity is key to staying alive, so getting th?e Moon Tarot Card will mean your chances of being hunted are significantly increased.

Chance of drawing this card: 5%

The Devil

This is the first Tarot Card on the list that isn't technically da??ngerous. It can, however, be a little spooky. When The Devil is revealed, it will immediately initiate a ghost event. This could mean it will man??ifest and begin humming or whisper in the player's ear.

While it's useful for getting a ghost photo, ?seeing a ghost event will also reduce sanity, so it can still have its downside if you're a?lready running pretty low.

Chance of drawing this card: 10%

The Wheel of Fortune

It's difficult to know how to judge this Tarot Card. On the one hand, the Wheel of Fortune can be good, but it also has an equal chance of it being bad. In a nutshell: it can reduce your sanity by 25% but it can also increase it by the?? same amount.

I'm not quite sure how it decides what the outcome will be, so it could be a 50/50 chance of it doing something good. You'll know which way the wheel has spun by the color that burns after the card is drawn. If it's green, you gain sanity. I?f it's red, you lose some. It's also one of the most common cards.

Chance of drawing this card: 20%

The Hermit

This is a pretty useful one to pull. When the Hermit Tarot Card is drawn, the ghost will be forced back into its room and will be trapped there for one minute. It's sort of like using a smudge stick, a?s it prevents a hunt.

However, it doesn't work during a hunt, but if you happen to get this card while your sanity is low, it can buy you a bit of time. It's especially useful if you're dealing with something like a Demon or you're playing on Nig?htmare mode, you absolute maverick, you.

Chance of drawing this card: 10%

The Tower

Much like the Devil card, the Tower will force the ghost to do something. However, it's less dangerous, which is why it's far down on this li?st. When this Tarot Card? is pulled, it will initiate an interaction of some kind, as well as doubling ghost activity for 20 seconds.

This is particularly useful if ?you want to know where the apparition actually is. It's also pretty handy if one of the objectives is to get an EMF reading or you're on the lookout for fingerprints. On top of all that, it's the most common card next to the Wheel of Fortune.

Chance of drawing this card: 20%

The Fool

It's hard to know where to place the Fool Tarot card on a list of worst-to-best, as it technically doesn't do anything. However, it's?? more the split second reaction that players have to it that can make it quite a ??tense one to pull.

When it's drawn, the Fool will show itself as any other Tarot Card at first before revealing its true self. If it's one of the gentler cards, then the?re's no worry. However, if it looks like the Hanged Man or Death cards, then this can cause a brief amount of panic as you and your teammates become tricked for a second. The Fool card itself, however, is completely harmless.

Chance of drawing this card: 17% (NOTE: ?this card has 100% chance of being pulled during a hunt).

The Sun

Very much the opposite to the moon, in both the cosmos and Phasmophobia. Whereas getting the Moon Tarot Card will reduce your sanity to zero, pulling the Sun will fully restor?e your sanity back to 100%.

As you can imagine, this is a card any player would want to draw. The one downside to it is if you have the objective to get your average sanity below 25%. That could undo some of your work. However, it's still a b?it of a lifesaver overall.

Chance of drawing this card: 5%

The High Priestess

The High Priestess card is proof that death is not the end. If a player dies and this card is drawn, it will immediately revive? them. If more than one player is dead, the card will randomly choose someone to bring back to life.

It should also be noted that it can be saved up for when someone does die. This means if it's pulled from the pack, but everyone is alive, when someone does die, they will be immediately revived. Your items will still be dropped, so yo?u will need to go back and collect them.

Chance of drawing this card: 2%

The post All Phasmophobia Tarot Cards ranked worst to best appeared first on Destructoid.

There's nothing quite like a bad dream to put you on edge for the day. Trying to hunt a Mare in Phasmophobia may end up ??doing the same since the folklore behind the spirit brought about the origin of the word '??nightmare'.

As you do with most ghosts in Phasmophobia, to hunt a Mare requires you to find evidence by watching for the spirit's behavior. There are three pieces of evidence to gather??, but you'll have an easier time by hunting the Mare in the right conditions. Oh, did I say easier? Sorry, what I meant to say was that this is going to get a bi??t dicey.

Phasmophobia: How to hunt and find evidence of a Mare

While playing Phasmophobia, open up the Journal (the J key) and look up how?? to hunt a Mare by clicking on the 'Ghosts' tab. Navigate to the Mare, and you'll learn just what it takes to find this particular spiri?t.

"A Mare is the source of all nightmares, making it more powerful in the dark," the in-game description reads. Ah, ?see! Nightmare. It all adds up. According to this text, the Mare becomes more active in the dark. Running with that logic, the Mare is weak to the light. The book says light will "lower its chance to attack." But maybe we don't want that.

The Mare is active in the dark, which means you should try and gather evidence when the lights are out. This is risky, mind, as the ghost is more aggressive, and your sanity will drain at a faster pace. But it's also the best way to gather evidence quickly. Also note that if the ghost is doing very little with all the lights on, that too is evidence? of a Mare.

Here's what you need to find evidence of a Mare:

• Spirit Box
• Ghost Orb
• Ghost Writing

Mare unique ghost evidence, tips, and strategies

When the match starts, grab the Spirit Box, Ghost Writing Book, and Video Camera. Drop them off in the building and return for other tools like the Flashlight. To find the Mare, enter a room with the lights off and chat with it using the Spirit Box. Once you find the ghost's spawn room, turn the light back on and grab the other tools. Place the Ghost Writing Book on a surface and, with the lights off, continue talking with?? the ghost to try and get it to write. While this is happening, have the camera equipped to search for Ghost Orbs.

• Keep other lights in the house on, that way you can escape to safety if the Mare gets ornery
• Memorize the location of the fuse box, since you don't want to be in a dark building with a Mare for long
• Watch to see if the ghost turns the light off as soon as you turn it on, as it could be evidence of a Mare
• Keep the light off in the spawn room as long as possible to keep the ghost from moving areas

For the most part, if you think you're on the hunt for Mare evidence in Phasmophobia, you'll want to stay cognizant of light and dark. Keep tabs on light switches and make sure you're not in a situation where you're stuck in the dark for a lengthy period. Follow those steps and you should get the evidence and be on your?? way.

The post How to hunt a Mare in Phasmophobia appeared first on Destructoid.

Although Phasmophobia is a game built around team investigations, some of you may like the idea of going it alone. Part of the thrill of horror gaming is testing your own mettle in an isolated setting?, shut off from the comfort of group banter. Expect paranoia.

To that end, Kinetic Games' gh??ost-hunting title does allow for solo play, which ?makes for a somewhat more intense experience overall. It is, of course, entirely possible to complete an investigation without help from others.

However, it can be a little more trying without adequate backup, so I'm throwing a few tips your way. These should allow you to be more prepared when deciding to play sans friends. And as the old saying goes: in Phasmophobia, no one can hear your frightened whimpers.

(NOTE: for any "mad lads" who are eager to dismiss all the below, feel free to go about your d??ay disregarding this guide. And remember to kiss your dad on?? the lips when you see him next)

Stick with smaller maps

Phasmo currently has 12 maps, each one rife with ghostly activity. Of these, a few of them are more suited for solo investigations. Now, veterans out there may be able to cope ??with the immense size of Sunny Meadows or the Prison, but it's generally a good idea to stick with some of the smaller locations; the houses, including the farmhouses, and possibly Camp Woodwind.

The reason for this is simply a case of not being able to cover all t?he areas effectively when on your own. The bigger maps are built for teams of people, so playing alone? is more of an exercise in frustration as you move from room to room, struggling to pinpoint where the ghost even is.

While there a??re more rewards for completing larger maps, the difference between something like Grafton Farmhouse and Brownstone High School is about $25. Add onto that the time you'll be spending wandering these locations means it's probably not worth that extra bonus. Tanglewood and Ridgeview may be small and feel like beginner maps, but they're pretty quick if you just ?want to get in and out with some earned cash.

Avoid playing above Professional difficulty

Look, I'm not telling you what you should be doing. All I'm saying is, if you're relatively new to the game ?or you typically play with friends, you might not want to make your investigations any more stress??ful. If you're absolutely dead set on playing in Nightmare or Insanity mode, please feel free to skip to the next section.

Much like playing on larger levels, playing on higher difficulties does reap more rewards. ??However, I usually don't go above Professional. Once you go beyond this, you'll find things can be trickier, not just in terms of your sanity levels, but how you go about finding the ghost.

For starters, the apparition won't give all three pieces of evidence. Seeing as you need three to truly identify which type it is, playing solo on Nightmare or Insanity (or a custom difficulty you've set) will require a lot more detective work. If you're not familiar with the characteristics of each ghost in Phasmophobia, missing one or two pieces of evidence can turn a fun investigation into a bit of chore. Th?at and there are fewer p?laces to hide. Speaking of which...

Seek out all hiding spots before you begin

You could argue that this is good advice even in team games. However, it's important to know that when playing solo, the ghost is going to target you specifically, so you need a backup. You can't sit in the comfort of the van while your friend runs around like a blue-arsed fly trying to avoid being killed.

When entering the location, look for any possible places to hide should a hunt ensue during your investigation. This could be an empty closet, a little alcove formed out of wooden planks that have been propped up, a space b?ehind an armchair, inside your own imagination. Maybe not that last one.

This is partly why I would recommend playing on easier difficulties. Amateur and Intermediate modes give you a grace period at the start to set up before your investigation begins (as well as more hiding places). While the clock is ticking, you at least get a bit of ??time to seek out those all-important spots for ??the inevitable ghostly ass-kicking that's coming your way.

Don't worry about the additional objectives

As well as playing on more challenging difficulties, one of the best ways to make a decent amount of money in Phasmophobia is to complete as many objectives as possible. Identifying the ghost is the main one that you need to do in order for it to be a successful investigation, but the extra tasks give you m??ore to do?? with more rewards.

If you are hellbent on just making as much cash as you can in one go, then the additional objectives are the way to do it. But they are entirely optional, so they can? be ignored if you're playing alone and just want to experience a good old-fashioned ghost hunt.

Some objectives may even require having extra people anyway, such as?? taking a photo of the ghost. If you're on your own and your hands are already full, if you don't have a Photo Camera at your disposal, that's one task you can easily miss when the apparition suddenly appears. If you're not sure about completing the extra objectives, just stick with the main jo??b at hand.

Take advantage of the Video Camera

In single-player, you can only really depend on your own eyes. There's no one e??lse there to verify evidence. As such, there can be a bit of trial and error when playing alone. Fortunately, the game gives ?you all the tools you need at your disposal, such as the Video Camera.

While mainly used to find D.O.T.S. and ghost orbs in Phasmophobia, the Video Camera is also a great way to keep an eye on other equipment. From the comfort of the van, you can monitor what's going on in complete safety. Setting up items from the camera's viewpoint means you can potentially be on the lookout f??or more than one piece of evidence.

As you can see in the image above, I've placed a Ghost Writing Book, D.O.T.S. Projector, Tier 1 Thermometer, and a Crucifix next to each other. I can then place the Video Camera down, which will allow me to watch all these items from a ?distance. It does, however, help if you have a greater tier camera, which will boast higher quality images.

Safety first!

The crux of Phasmophobia is deciphering what apparition is haunting the location before said apparition can hunt you down and kill you. While you can never?? truly tell when this will happen, it's often a good idea to try ?and prevent such a thing before it's too late.

If you have a Crucifix or two, placing them in the ghost room will give you a radius of protection, stopping the ghost from initiating a hunt two times. This will buy you a bit of extra time to continue ?your investigation, especially if you're dealing with something like a Demon.

Also, keep an eye on your sanity levels. Nightmare and above will leave you with broken monitors in the van, so it makes it more difficult to know how close you are to a hunt. Utilizing sanity pills, onl??y using Cursed Possession items when absolutely necessary, and not saying the ghost's name too often are good ways of making sure you make it out unscathed.

The post Best Phasmophobia Sol?o Ghost Hunting Tips and Tr?icks appeared first on Destructoid.

In Phasmophobia, the D.O.T.S. projector is an extremely useful piece of equipment. In fact, you'll oftentimes have to use the D.O.T.S. Projector to rule out or confirm a ghost when on a contract. However, the tool can be a bit tricky to use if you've never done so far. Here's how to use the D.O.T.S. projector in Phasmophobia and get the most out of it.

How to properly setup the D.O.T.S. projector

In order to use the D.O.T.S. projector in Phasmophobia to properly identify evidence via tracking a ghost's movement, you need to s??et up the projector on the wall or floor. In this regard, it's a bit like t?he motion sensor. Once you have the D.O.T.S. Projector in your hands, use the 'F' key to place down the projector. You can then use the scroll wheel to rotate the projector around to get it the best angle.

The D.O.T.S. projector emits a cone of green lasers ??from the projector itself in the direction it is facing. If you are using the Tier 1 D.O.T.S. projector which all players begin with, I recommend right-clicking. This will enable a cone of the beam?s as opposed to just focusing on one singular location.

Once you have a good location picked out as to where you think the ghost may be, aim the D.O.T.S. projector so that the bea?ms are shining where you think a ghost will walk. If a ghost walks through the dots, you will be able to see a? translucent entity as it walks through the grid of laser dots. It can be tricky to see, however, and most players have luck by setting down a video camera with Night Vision enabled aimed at the dots and then checking the cameras on the van. Also, the Goryo cannot be seen on the D.O.T.S. projector without using the Night Vision-enabled video camera.

Which D.O.T.S. projector is best in Phasmophobia?

As you might have guessed, the Tier 3 D.O.T.S. Projector is without a doubt the best one to use in Phasmophobia. It has the biggest range, the widest spotlight, and even has automated scanning. Here are all of the tiers of D.O.T.S. projectors in Phasmopbia:

• Laser Pen D.O.T.S. Projector - The Tier 1 version is a small pen available by default that has a narrow spotlight of up to 5 meters. While it works, the cone of the dots is extremely limited and requires focus on a specific location.
• Infrared Sensor D.O.T.S. Projector - This Tier 2 version of the projector is unlocked at Level 29 and has a smaller ranged of only 2.5 meters, however, it creates a big projection in an area of effect aimed out from where it's placed. This makes it great for attaching to the floor where you think the ghost will walk, as it will cover the entire area.
• Motorized D.O.T.S. Projector - The final Tier 3 version of the projector is unlocked at Level 60 but is worth the wait. The motorized projector has a massive range of 7 meters and casts a wide spotlight in the area you are aimed at. The best use of this projector is to place it on a surface or stand where it has a wide area to automatically scan and record with infrared light. You can even place two on opposite sides of a room to capture the entire room in dots!

The post How to use the D.O.T.S projector in Phasmophobia appeared first on Destructoid.

The team behind Phasmophobia has put a lot of effort into creating a more grounded ghost hunt??ing experience. I, for one, applaud the developer's efforts to realistically depict someone who can barely run for three seconds (I am so out of shape, I'm non-euclidean).

What else makes it such an intriguing horror game is the pretty accurate array of tools to help you identify spectral beings. One of those is a good old-fashioned thermometer, as some Phas ghosties turn their room in??to popsicles? with freezing temps.

We're all aware �whether we're believers or not �that ghostly activity is typically linked with a sudden drop in temperatures; sometimes referred to as "cold spots." Phasmo embraces that idea, so we're going to take a quick look at the game's Thermometers and how each tier can help you identify ??what type of apparition you're dealing with.

How does the Thermometer in Phasmophobia work?

We've?? all been there. We've all experienced illness where we'?ve been left to sweat it out in bed. We all know what it's like to have a thermometer jammed into our mouth and other orifices (orifi?). If you're old school, it's waiting to see that red or blue line move up the scale, letting you know there's no P.E. for you today (hoorah!).

You know how they work, even if you don't know how they work. Well, the ones in Phasmo are exactly the same. The game incorporates environmental temperatur?es into each investigat?ion. All ghosts and ghost rooms will see temperatures drop, which clues you into where you should focus on.

However, it's the presence of subzero temperatures that are a big clue, as only some apparitions will make temperatu?res drop that low. It used to be that seeing your foggy breath was a surefire way to determine whether you were in ??a freezing room or not. Over time, though, the Thermometer has become more important.

The three Tiers of the Thermometer

Like all items in Phasmophobia—such as ??the Spirit Box—the ?Thermometer comes in three tiers:

Thermometer unlock requirements:

• T1 Thermometer, available immediately
• T2 Thermometer, level 36
• T3 Thermometer, level 64

Weirdly, the Tier 1 Thermometer is arguab??ly the best one. As it's ju??st a simple one with the classic red liquid inside that rises or falls, it works passively. This means you only have to hold it in your hand and wait a couple of seconds to see a real-time change in temperatures. Also, because it's non-digital, it doesn't get interfered with during a ghost hunt, which also makes it a vital in challenges banning electrical equipment.

Tier 2 and Tier 3 are digital, giving visual readouts on a small screen. While they work by emitting a ray a short distance in front of you—thus giving you a reading from further away—they require more interaction. For starters, you need to turn them on. Then, when you need to take a reading, you hold down the right-mouse button (default). The d?ifference between Tier 2 and Tier 3 is the latter provides a much quicker reading.

Some additional tips for freezing temps

The Thermometer in Phasmophobia is a pretty straightforward, though ultimately useful?, tool in helping you identify the ghost type. However, for that extra dose of help, here a?re some tips and things to consider when using it:

• The temperature readout is set to Celsius by default. You can change it to Fahrenheit in the settings.
• A lot of players find the Tier 1 Thermometer superior to the other two for reasons already mentioned.
• When deciding where the ghost room is, be on the lookout for temperatures in single digits (for Celsius). Some suggest around 5°, but I often find anything below 10° should be a good indication.
• Do be wary of cold weather or investigating outside locations, such as Maple Lodge Campsite, as temperatures will naturally be a bit colder so you may need to wait for much lower readouts to be certain.
• All three tiers cost $30 in the store.

The post How to identify Freezing Temps in Phasmophobia w?ith the Thermometer appeared first on Destructoid.

If you have yet to join the ghost-hunting sensation that is Phasmophobia, well...that's totally fine. You're free to do as you please. I do, however, think you're missing out, especially if you're into? horror. B?ut the fact that you're here suggests you are actually looking to play the game. You know what, forget I said anything.

When it comes to investigating haunted locations, most of us know that one of the most classic pieces of "evidence" peopl??e typically come across is the ghost orb. For those who don't know, these are little specs of �what appears to be �dust that floats about and often lead many to conclude an apparition is present. It could also just be dust. Some paranormal investigators even dismiss them as proof, but they are a mainstay of ghost hunts.

As such, Phasmo includes these as a way to help you narrow down what you're dealing with. Now, in the real world, you?? can't normally see orbs without the use of a camera (usually digital). So to that end, the game provides three Tiers of Video Camera that ?you can use for your investigation.

How does the Video Camera in Phasmophobia work?

Like with any type of camera with video recording functionality, the ones in Phasmophobia are great for distance surveillance. Setting one up in a ?room means you can watc?h from the safety of the van, monitoring any unusual activity.

It can also be used to watch other equipment, such as seeing whether the ghost walks through the D.O.T.S.? Projector or tampers with the Ghost Writing Book.

The Video Camera also has a nigh?t-vision feature. This is especially useful for helping you see? your way around when the lights go out. However, its main purpose it to help you see whether any ghost orbs are in the vicinity. There are three Tiers of Video Cameras, each essential to an investigation.

The three Tiers of the Phasmophobia Video Camera

The Video Camera is a "starter" equipment in Phasmo. Th??is means you always have it with you when you load up a map. They are easy to use in the game, but? also quite powerful. When you pick it up in the van at the beginning, the viewfinder will be closed. However, as soon as you exit and head towards the main area of the map, it will automatically open up.

When walking around the location, keeping an eye on the night vision will allow you to spot any ghost orbs that are nearby. When you see one, they may float in one direction, but can also change course. As the game doesn't really have any dust, seeing this is your clue t??ha??t you're in the right area.

The Tier 1 Video Camera is very much the baseline o????f this piece of equipment. While it does have a viewfinder, it's very small with extremely low resolution. The night vision is also a blurry green, so seeing through it can be quite difficult when it's in your hand. Placing it on a surface or tripod means you can go back to the van and keep an eye on it from the monitor, but even this is low-quality.

Tier 2 is much better, with a clearer and much larger display screen, giving you a crisper night-vi?sion image overall??. Tier 3 is where it's at, though. Having a bigger viewfinder still (that's always up) and the best resolution, you could argue that this is even a good substitute for the flashlight.

All three Video Cameras can be placed down, such as on the aforemen?tioned tri?pods. This means you don't have to hold it constantly, making it a great way to investigate safely while still keeping a watchful eye on any ghost orbs floating into view.

Some Video Camera tips

An all-around useful piece of equipment, Phasmophobia's Video Camera works in tandem with other items to help you detective-ly (that's a ??word, right?) solve the puzzle of which ghost you have on your hands. Here are some th?ings to consider when using it:

• During snowy weather, snowflakes can often appear as ghost orbs on the Video Camera. Be wary of this, and try to keep the item facing away from windows if at all possible.
• The Mimic gives ghost orbs as evidence. I'm mentioning this as it's a secret fourth clue that the game doesn't tell you about. This isn't about the Video Camera itself, but I still think it's worth mentioning.
• Make sure all lights where you've set the item up are off to enable stronger night vision.
• As mentioned earlier, setting up other equipment nearby (such as the Ghost Writing Book) means you can use the Video Camera to watch multiple things at once, making things much easier, at least with Tier 2 and Tier 3.
• You can remotely switch between night-vision and regular view from the computer in the van, as well as switch between multiple Video Cameras if you have more than one setup.
• All three items cost $50 in the store.

The post How to identify Ghost Or??bs ?in Phasmophobia with the Video Camera appeared first on Destructoid.

Many of you long-time Phasmophobia fans may well be getting a kick out of the recent Easter 2024 event. Those who are looking to start playing the game �or have been aw??ay for a long time �may have questions. In particular, how the Spirit Box in Phasmophobia wo??rks has changed in small, but sometimes unclear, ways.

Questions such as: What does it mean when I see the red light on the Spirit Box? Or; why won't my mother return my calls? The first I can help with, the second... that may be beyond my expertise, I'm afraid. Keeping it light, let's take a look at the three different types of Spirit Boxes in Phasmophobia and how you utilize each one. Th?ere's a difference in T1, T2, and T3, and some of those may net you a better success rate with calls.

How does the Spirit Box work in Phasmophobia?

There are 20 pieces of equipment in total to support your ghost-hunting antics. Of those, eight of them are what's known as "starter" items. These are instruments and tools included in?? your inve??stigation loadout. The Spirit Box is among them, and if you've ever watched a paranormal TV show before, you're probably already familiar with how they work.

For those who are completely new to them, a Spirit Box in the real ?world works by emitting a white noise signal via radio waves. Once it's turned on, it begins rapidly cycling through a range of freq?uencies.

The theory goes that a coherent word or sentence shouldn't be audible via a radio station that's being picked up, as the Spirit Box is cycling too fast and can only pick up bits of sounds. As such, when the investigator does manage to decipher something cogent or clear, it could well be a ghost trying to communicate (or it's auditory pareidolia).

Phasmophobia's Spirit Box Controls

The Spirit Boxes in Phasmo function in th?e same manner, essentially allowing you to attempt to speak to the apparition in a call-and-response ??type of experiment.

The Voice Activation microphone setting should trigger the Spirit Box automatically. Otherwise, for Local Push to Talk, press V; for Global Push to Talk, press B. After asking a questi?on, watch your respective tier's indicators for signs the ghost ?heard you.

How to use the T1 Spirit Box in Phasmophobia

As you can imagi??ne, the Tier 1 Spirit Box is fairly basic. It still works, but is more primitive. For starters, it's just a basic AM/FM radio with no display and a weaker response signal. Also, you must be within three meters of the ghost's location in order for it to work.

The bottom-right hand corner is what you want to be looking at. When th??e game detects your microphone, it will show a blue light. A red light indicates the Spirit Box (and thus the game) has heard a valid response from you. Finally, the white "ghost" icon is for when you've asked a valid question and the apparition has responded.

How to use the T2 Spirit Box, plus its requirements

The T2 Spirit Box is the one pretty much all Phasmophobia players know, as it was the default Spirit Box right from the start. Not only doe?s this look like a more advanced version of Tier 1, it's also the only version with a visual display.

For Tier 2, y?ou can be a bit further away, with the ghost being able to pick it up from four meters. Because there is a small screen, it's a lot easier to know whether the Spirit Bo?x is working (that and the audio cues, of course). The audio for ghost responses should be more clear, too.

The top-left corner displays a microphone icon when it detects your mic. When you speak, the bottom-right shows an X for a valid question that the game recognizes, and a gho?st icon when there is a paranormal response.

The Tier 2 Spirit Box unlocks at Level 27.

How the T3 Spirit Box works, plus level requirements

Although it's the most advanced Spirit Box when comp?ared to the other two, Tier 3 doesn't have a display. However, it doesn't really need one with such stellar audio quality.

This one also has light indicators to let?? you know what's going on. It can be a bit confusing seeing as there appears to be a lot going on with th?is Spirit Box. In a nutshell: the white light on the right sort of halfway down the item lets you know the mic has been picked up.

The array lights along the bottom are where you receive responses. If it glows white, it means the game recognized your question, but there's no response. When it glows red, that's when you're in ghost town. It also works from five meters away.

The Tier 3 Spirit Box unlocks at Level 54.

What questions can you ask the Spirit Box?

You may now be wondering what type of things you can ask through the Spirit Box. My, y??ou are full of questions today?. But that's good, given what we're talking about.

Be??low are all the questions you can ask for a potential answer:

• Where are you?
• Are you close?
• Give us a sign?
• Speak to us.
• Can you talk?
• Are you here?
• Is there a ghost here?
• What is your location?
• Show yourself.
• Are you friendly?
• What do you want?
• Why are you here?
• Do you want to hurt us?
• Should we leave?
• How old are you?
• Are you a child?
• Are you old?
• Are you young?

Quick tip: Remember, the ghost can only r??espond if you're withi?n a certain range. If you're not getting anything, make sure you're in the ghost's location or as close to where you think the ghost is. It's also a good idea to use the Spirit Box pretty early on in the investigation, just in case the apparition changes rooms.

The post How to use the Sp?irit Bo??x in Phasmophobia (T1, T2, T3 item guide) appeared first on Destructoid.

So you've decided you want to be cursed while playing Phasmophobia. Despite being a pretty te??rrifying horror experience �especially for newcomers �Kinetic Games' ghost hunting sensation has a heavy focus on detective work and deduction rather than just straight-up scares. Investigate first, piss pants later. That's my motto (spoiler: it isn't).

The crux of the game is to use your powers of logic to successfully work out who the culprit is. Think the board game Clue, but wit??h more palpitations. To aid you, there is a lot of equipment to help you narrow things down. There are also Cursed Possessions that are an optional method of finding the ghost. However, they're called "curse?d" for a reason.

One of the newer editions in Phasmophobia is the Monkey Paw. This dismembered and shriveled hand a??llows you to make certain wishes to give you a bit of a leg up. But there's a terrible price to pay. So with that, let's take a look at what type of wishes you can make, and how it will ultima??tely lead to your untimely death.

Ghost-based wises

Like th?e other Cursed Possessions, the Monkey Paw has a one in seven chance of spawning on the map. It's a powerful tool that can help out, but also lead you to more danger. These are the wishes you can make that relate to the ghost itself (NOTE: this is specifically for those using the game’s voice recognition):

Player-based wishes

You can mess about with the ghost if that's your bag. However, the Monkey Paw is also useful when you want to g??ive yourself a bit of an advantage. There are still some dangers involved, though. You have been warned (again).

Other wishes

The Monkey Paw can also have an effect on the things outside yourself and the ghost. Much ??like the others, these wishes can be pretty powerful when used carefully.

It's worth mentioning that all the wishes fo?r the Monkey Paw can be found on the Sunny Meadows map. You'll find them written on tag??s in the following places:

• Manager's office
• Chapel
• Female dorm room
• Kitchen
• Matron's office 1
• Hospital wing
• Classroom
• Restricted area
• Morgue
• Waiting room

The post All Phasmophobia Monkey Paw wishes and effects appeared first on Destructoid.

In order to unlock all the maps and equipment in Phasmophobia you'll have to level up. The final piece of equipment you can unlock is the Tier 3 Crucifix at Level 90, but even afterward you can continue leveling all the way up to Level 999. Leveling can be a real slog though, so we've figured out how to level up faster in Phasmophobia so you can quickly climb in levels.

Always complete your Weekly Tasks

The fastest way to level up in Phasmophobia is by completing your Weekly Tasks. The Daily Tasks are worth doing each day as well, but if you look at the payout for Weekly Tasks you get a lot?? more in comparis?on. They of course reset every 7 days, but you want to make sure you complete each of them before they reset.

The great thing about completing Weekly Tasks is you're not only getting a lot of experience to level fast but a lot of money so you can keep purchasing the new equipment you unlock by leveling faster. The tasks are typically things you? should be doing anyway, but just require you to do something specific like complete the task on a certain map or interact with a ghost a certain way.

Switch to Professional Difficulty

In Phasmophobia, there are five total preset difficulties: Amateur, Intermediate, Professional,? Nightmare, and Insanity. The middle difficulty, Professional, is essentially the sweet spot between getting increased experience and not having an incredibly ramped-up challenge. You actually get 3 times the rewards for playing on Professional over?? Amateur.

You need to first hit Level 20 to unlock Professional difficulty or play with a friend who is Level 20 or higher so they can choose Professional for the difficulty level. Honestly, there's not too much of an actual difference between Professional and Intermediate or even Amateur. As long as you fundamentally understand how you should be playing Phasmophobia, you should have no problem with Professional.

Here are the parameters for Professio?nal difficulty:

• The ghost's room can rarely change
• No setup time
• Short hunt grace period
• Long hunt duration
• Sanity pills restore a little sanity
• Fuse box starts off
• Much fewer hiding places

The biggest difference with Professional difficulty is that you have to flip on the Fuse box when starting and that you will sometimes notice the ghost moves into a different room??.

Play on small maps like Willow Street or Tanglewood Drive

To level up faster in Phasmophobia, outside of completing your tasks it's all about quickly gaining evidence and correctly guessing the ghost. You have a massi?ve -50% penalty for guessing the wrong ghost, so you to make sure you are guessing the right ghost. Both Willow Street and Tanglewood Drive are small and let you quickly loop through the map to find the evidence you need and hopefully get an answer.

This should typically be your route when you're trying to prioritize leveling up faster in Phasmophobia on Professional difficulty on a smaller map:

1. Equip yourself with a Firelight, Igniter, and Thermometer.
2. Enter the house and light your Firelight then beeling towards the fuse box, flipping on light switches along the way.
3. Flip the fuse box breaker on and switch to your thermometer and go room-by-room. As soon as you see the mercury level on the thermometer decrease at all, you've found the ghost room. You do not need to wait until the thermometer drops to freezing.
4. Drop all of your items and head back to the Van for your evidence equipment. Grab the Writing Book, D.O.T.S. Projector, and Video camera.
5. Set all three of your new equipment up properly in the ghost room and then go back to the Van. Monitor them on the computer to see if you see Ghost Orbs or anything on the D.O.T.S.
6. If the Activity Level reaches 5 or higher you should see something on the existing equipment if it's going to happen at all. If not, it's time to get different types of evidence.
7. Grab the Spirit Box, Ultraviolet Light, and Salt. Head back into the ghost room and check the Writing Book for anything as well as the temperature on the Thermometer. Both should have been done by now if they are the evidence.
8. Lay down the Salt and try using the Spirit Box. After confirming or denying those as evidence, switch to the UV light and check for footprints or handprints in the area.
9. If you're still missing an evidence, go back to the Van and take some Sanity Pills if needed, then grab a couple Crucifixes and the EMF.
10. Head back to the ghost room and put the crucifixes down protecting two opposite sides of you, and use the EMF.
11. You should definitely have enough evidence by now to confirm the ghost identity.
12. Rinse and repeat as quickly as possible.

The post How to level up faster in Phasmophobia appeared first on Destructoid.