Feed your fear of ghosts in Phasmophobia console edition
With the October 29, 2024, console release of Phasmophobia , Kinetic Games brings its spine-chilling ghost-hunting experience to PS5, PS VR2...
With the October 29, 2024, console release of Phasmophobia, Kinetic Games brings its spine-chilling ghost-hunting experience to PS5, PS VR2, and Xbox Series X|S platforms. Originally launched in 2020 on PC and VR, Phasmophobia has captivated millions with its tense and immersive gameplay, where players take on the role of paranormal investigators gathering evidence of the supernatural. The things the game did at that time were wholly unique, and spawned a whole new genre of games, clones, knockoffs all around the same concept. But Phasmophobia remains the granddaddy of them all. This console port aims to deliver the same immersive, fear-inducing experience, albeit with some adaptations to fit the new hardware and user interface. Having logged over 400 hours in the PC version, I came into the console adaptation with high hopes, and I’m pleased to report that Phasmophobia continues to hold its haunting charm on console.
What Phasmophobia Is All About
At its core, Phasmophobia is a four-player cooperative horror game. Each player assumes the role of a paranormal investigator tasked with identifying the type of spirit haunting various eerie locations, such as abandoned houses, schools, and campsites. Armed with an array of ghost-hunting gadgets you can fulfill your wildest ghosthunters dreams chasing down the spirits—including EMF readers, thermometers, spirit boxes, and night-vision cameras—players must gather evidence to determine the ghost type, all while avoiding being hunted down by the very entities they seek to document. Though the game features an eerie single-player mode, the fun is much greater when playing with friends. The cooperative multiplayer experience is highly recommended, offering a blend of frights, laughs, and an unmistakable thrill that makes teamwork essential. With proximity voice chat and walkie-talkies that cut out when the ghost is haunting, you are often finding yourself in tense moments waiting to see if your friends made it out alive.
Key Features and Abilities
Phasmophobia grants players access to an expanding selection of tools, each with a unique role in identifying ghost types. Standard tools, such as the EMF reader, detect electromagnetic fields, while thermometers measure temperature drops that can indicate ghostly presence. Players also have access to equipment like the spirit box, which allows for potential vocal interaction with spirits, and the D.O.T.S. projector, which displays ghostly silhouettes when the entity is near.
In addition to basic tools, players can invest in extra equipment to aid investigations. Sanity Pills restore mental stability, or incense/smudge sticks, helping prevent the dreaded ghost hunt—a feature that adds a layer of suspense and risk management to the gameplay. Furthermore, cursed possessions, including Tarot cards and haunted mirrors, can provide clues but often come with dire consequences you better be ready for to deal with.
With twenty-four ghost types to discover, each with unique behaviors, evidence, and weaknesses, Phasmophobia offers substantial replayability. Some ghosts are more aggressive, while others prefer to interact from afar, making each investigation distinct and adding to the game’s appeal.
Presentation and Atmosphere
In terms of atmosphere, Phasmophobia does a stellar job of delivering suspense. Visually, the game relies on dim lighting, foreboding interiors, and realistically designed tools to cultivate a truly chilling experience. The console versions maintain this aesthetic, with effective torch lighting and ambient shadows that immerse players into each investigation setting. I found on the PS5 as well as the Xbox that the graphics looks very similar to the PC version, there are some subdued textures in some cases, but the game properly applies its use of darkness and subtle environmental details ensures an immersive experience. Sound design is equally well-crafted; whether it's the unsettling creaks of a haunted house or the bone-chilling hum of a ghost closing in, the audio is designed to keep you on edge.
However, if not playing in VR the graphics can look a bit stretched, generic and freaky by themselves. New customization efforts are on the way to give players more choices in character design and offer more variety.
Console-Specific Adaptations: The Pros and Cons
Transitioning from PC to consoles, Phasmophobia has seen a few changes. The console versions provide cross-play with PC and rival consoles, a fantastic addition for those looking to team up with friends across platforms. The cross play worked smooth and without a hitch in out testing and loading into a level was super-fast. Console players also have a streamlined interface with simplified inventory and task management, which makes gameplay smoother and easier to manage with a controller. Furthermore, the game’s core mechanics, including sanity management, equipment purchase, and investigative gameplay, remain intact, keeping the essential Phasmophobia experience faithful to the original.
Nonetheless, the console adaptation does present some limitations. One of the first things we were missing was a slider to make the pointer move faster when you are in menus or the book. Since there is no mouse being used, you have to use the left stick and this can be painfully slow at times, and there is no accelerator either. Giving players some control over the response would be welcome, and in case of PS5 you could even implement the motion control as the DualShock has that feature. Console players will also notice the absence of voice recognition functionality present on PC. On the original PC release, voice recognition creates one of the most immersive experiences talking to the ghost and asking where it is, if it can give you sign or seeking responses on the spirit box. Getting a reaction or answer. is genuinely freaky. On console however instead where players can ask spirits questions directly, they select from a list of pre-written questions, which loses some of this immersive appeal. And it also prevents you from walking and talking on the spirit box at the same time. Kinetic Games has confirmed that they are working on implementing voice commands post-release, so it’s hopeful that this feature will be integrated down the line.
Final Thoughts
With its console release, Phasmophobia remains a standout in the horror genre, especially for those who crave the intensity of cooperative gameplay. Kinetic Games has made a commendable effort to preserve the PC experience while making necessary adaptations for console and VR platforms. For newcomers, the console version provides an accessible entry point to the world of Phasmophobia, where they can experience the thrills of ghost hunting in a meticulously designed environment. For seasoned players, the added cross-play means they can bring friends into the fold, no matter their preferred platform. However, I did not find any evidence op crosssave/cross progression which I hope they will add to the game as it can provide option to play on console when the PC is not available but still keep all your unlocked tools and money.
Overall, my impression of Phasmophobia’s console release is very positive, and with over 400 hours invested in the PC version, I find this adaptation mostly worthy of the original experience. It’s a game that not only offers scares but also creates memorable moments with friends, from frantically hiding in closets to sharing a laugh after a successful hunt. Although the console port has minor issues, the core gameplay remains as compelling as ever and I trust that the team will keep tinkering at the game to make it fully feature complete. Having this option instantly gave us access to a family team of ghosthunters to adventure with , each on their own device. For those who enjoy investigative horror or are just looking to experience something unique just in time for Halloween, Phasmophobia on console is a must-try and it is priced low enough to get a team together.