Phasmophobia perfectly combined horror with comedy, creating an adventure game that really took the world by storm. Technically, the title, which was developed and published by Kinetic Games, falls under the investigative horror genre, as it’s primarily based on ghost hunting.
In September of 2020, the game was released for early access, with virtual reality support, on Steam, and it quickly became popular, thanks largely to popular Twitch and YouTube streamers. In fact, it became so popular that it was the best-selling game on Steam during the months of October and November in 2020, and it remains one of the most popular ghost hunting games to this day.
If you’re a fan of Phasmophobia and you’re looking for similar titles, you’re in luck, because there are several options to choose from. We’ve rounded up the top games that are like Phasmophobia and below, you’ll find an overview of each one.
Phasmophobia Game Features
Release Date: | Early Access 18 September 2020 |
Developer: | Kinetic Games |
Publisher: | Kinetic Games |
Platforms: | Microsoft Windows |
Genre: | Horror |
Setting: | Real Life |
Game Modes: | Singleplayer, multiplayer |
1. Devour
If the idea of catching and burning demonic goats sounds like your idea of fun, then you’re definitely going to want to check out the first title on our list of games that are similar to Phasmophobia. The title was created and published by game developers Straight Back Games on January 28th, 2021.
A co-op horror game, the makers of Devour sapped out glues about ghosts for a more literal hunt. You can either play solo or with a group of up to four players, and whichever option you choose, you’ll play as a satanic cultist. Everything seems to be going as usual (well, however “usual” things can be for someone who belongs to cult that worships Satan), and unexpectedly, something has gone wrong with your demon worshipping and a member of the cult ends up becoming possessed.
You quickly snap out of it and realize that you need to hunt the manifestations of the problem demon (aren’t all demons problematic?) named Azazel. The goal of hunting down the manifestations of Azazel is to cleanse your friend by exercising the demon. You’ll encounter goats, rats, and even clusters of eggs from creepy spiders, with the objective of snatching all of them in order to wash away the sin.
As the game progresses, you quickly realize that your now possessed friend has become a demonic monster himself, and that he haunts the halls, and he gets angrier and angrier the more items you cleanse. In the last few stages, you will need to successfully make your way through big hordes of demons, as well as a frightening specter, as you make a desperate attempt to finish the last stages.
Devour does tend to lean into some of the tropes that you would expect from tropes, and it’s also not very re-playable; that said, the creators of the title continue to update the game by incorporating new levels, complete with updated mechanics. All in all, as far as games that are similar to Phasmophobia go, Devour is lots of fun and can certainly be revisited every once in a while.
2. Forewarned
Up next on our list of games that are like Devour is Forewarned, and of all the titles on the list, it definitely seems to be the most inspired by the co-op horror game. This game takes you on a journey into the tombs of Ancient Egypt.
As you can imagine, the journey into the tombs is quite hair-raising, as you’ll quickly encounter the sinister spirits of ancient mejai, who unexpectedly appear before you and are eager to pounce and gobble you up. Similar to Phasmophobia, you have to search for and find clues that unveil the spirit that you are up against.
If you correctly determine who the spirit is, you will be granted access to the ancient relic that lies hidden within the tomb.If you guess the spirit of the spirit correctly, you’ll need to move fast and grab the relic as quickly as you can. If you make the wrong guess, the entrance will slam closed.
As the spirit transforms into a physical form, you will need to move quickly around the tomb and find a well-concealed lever and use it to open the entrance so that you can make your way bac out of the tomb. While all of this is going on and you’re being stalked by the creepy spirit of the ancient mejai, you have to remember to take picture to document as evidence.
What really makes Forewarned so engaging is the unique systems that comes with each mejia. For example, in order to avoid the wrath of one of the mejia, you will need to make as much noise as you possibly can. There’s another mejai that has shapeshifting abilities and uses those abilities to impersonate a member of your team.
While the setting of Forewarned does seem familiar, the way in which it plays out is new – and horrifying. The developers are working on updates, which is a major plus, as the game will continue to evolve. As another added bonus, Forewarned offers complete VR support, just like the game it’s inspired by: Phasmophobia.
3. GTFO
A survival horror shooter cooperative game, GTFO is played in the first-person perspective, and it boasts many features that call to mind Phasmophobia. The title was developed by 10 Chambers, a Sweden-based indie studio. Initially released on December 9 of 2019 on Microsoft Windows, and it received positive reviews on Steam’s Early Access. The two years later, on December 19, 2021, GTFO was officially released during The Game Awards 2021.
GTFO takes place on the Chixulub Crater, which was formed by an asteroid strike that occurred 66 million years ago, and the asteroid strike lead to the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs. A group of “prisoners” are forced to access an underground complex that was built on the site where the asteroid hit. The team has to complete a variety of tasks and scavenge for The Warden, an enigmatic entity.
As for gameplay, GTFO players need to assemble a four-person team of scavengers, and as mentioned, the scavengers are forced to enter the expansive underground complex in an attempt to complete the objectives that the Warden has established. As if the idea of accessing a mysterious underground complex on the site of an asteroid that took out the dinosaurs wasn’t creepy enough, you’ll find that the place has been overrun with gruesome sleeping monsters.
You and your team need to work together to create a strategy and make a plan, as well as ration resources, so that you can kill your enemies in stealth-fashion, so that you can stay alive and complete the demands that have been made by the Warden and ultimately escape the harrowing situation and location.
4. White Noise 2
White Noise 2 was both developed and published by Milkstone Studios. In the world of paranormal activity, white noise is frequently used as a way to give a spirit something that they can communicate through. For horror-lovers that are keen on and get a thrill out of being stalked by hideous oddities, the purpose of white noise is different, as it lets you know that something awful is about to take place and affect you.
White Noise 2 is the sequel to the massively successful White Noise Online. In this game, you will assume a role on a team of investigators; alternatively, you can take control of the grotesque creature and devour the team of investigators. This game offers a 4vs1 asymmetric horror experience, and it’s sure to make anyone who plays it – even those who think that they’re extremely brave – shudder with fear.
The game is equipped with a basic matchmaking system, which allows you to play with your friends with ease. All you need to do is start up the game, pick your side or let the system choose your side for you, and you can start playing. If you choose to be an investigator, you’ll explore the location, work with your teammates, and will make every effort to avoid getting lost, otherwise, you will end up being prey for the horrifying creature.
You’ll need to do your best to maintain your sanity, and also keep an eye on your flashlight’s battery power so that you don’t end up being stuck in the dark. If you choose to assume the role of the creature, you’ll stalk have to stalk your prey and avoid being seen as you hunt them down.
Light from the investigators flashlights can stun you, so you’ll need to use your powers to avoid being stunned and disperse the investigators in order to make hunting them down an easier task. You’ll be able to summon totems, which will alert you of the presence of any investigators that are in the vicinity and stop them from picking up the 8 tapes that they’re after before you take them out.
In White Noise 2, just because you die (and you will die) that doesn’t mean the game is over. Instead, you’ll become a ghost and can use your new and improved skills to explore and help the surviving investigators in their quest.
As you play, you’ll also be able to unlock new characters and flashlights, including the classic characters from White Noise Online. Each character has unique skills and specializations. Also, White Noise 2 features the same signature replay screen that White Noise Online made famous. When a session ends, you’ll have a chance to giggle when you see how your team kept on walking in circles or when one of the investigators has gone missing.
5. Propnight
If you’re a fan of the horror genre (and obviously you are if you’re looking for games that are similar to Phasmophobia) and you want to play something that’s horrifying with your friends, then Propnight is a title that will be sure to make your hair stand on end. A 4 vs 1 multiplayer game, it’s the perfect blend of classic horror survival and party games with friends.
Developed by Fntastic and published by Mytona, the whole premise of Propnight is based on four survivors that have to successfully make their way across a map and fix the numerous Propmachines that open exit doors in order to escape the killer.
At the same time, the player assumes the role of the Killer and needs to catch and wipe out the survivors (with the assistance of the Hypnochairs) or alternatively, wait until the clock runs out of time so that you can win and beat the survivors.
To further elaborate, Prophunt is silly, quirky, and harrowing. You can either control survivors that have the ability to transform into a number of props or the killer who is determined to destroy each and every animated item across the map. If you play as a survivor, in order to stay alive, you’ll need to hide long enough to hide from the ruthless fiends to repair the Propmachines that are scattered across the map and escape. Pretty much anything you can think of can be mimicked, which gives players virtually limitless possibilities in terms of the amount of time they are able to remain hidden from their enemy.
The game does get a bit silly and quirky, as random items, such as bottles of wine and chairs start bounding across the map. In fact, because of these antics, which are totally unexpected, you’re almost guaranteed to break out into fits of laughter. All in all, Prophunt is a light-hearted take on a horror game and a great title to check out if you’re a fan of Phasmophobia.
6. Friday the 13th: The Game
If you’re a fan of the survival horror video game genre and you’re looking for a title that offers a similar experience as Phasmophobia, then you’re certainly going to want to include Friday the 13th: The Game on your list.
The game, which is obviously based on the iconic horror movie franchise of the same name, was developed by IIIFonic and was published by Gun Media. It was originally released as a digital release on May 26 of 2017 and it was released as a physical release on October 13 of the same year on PS4 and Xbox One. On August 13 of 2019, the title was released on Nintendo Switch.
An asymmetrical multiplayer, Friday the 13th: The Game, pits as many as 7 players who are controlling the counselors of the infamous Camp Crystal Lake against one randomly chosen player who is controlling the crazed hockey mask-wearing, machete-wielding murder, Jason Voorhees.
The games takes place in a semi-open world that you are free to explore. It’s a third-person survival horror game that is takes place in the 1980s in a variety of spots that are located both on and around the camp. There are several different versions of Jason to play as, and his weapons and attributes change vary from one version to the next.
When playing as a counselor, the primary objective is to escape the map alive. If you complete side objectives, you will be able to complete the map and escape more quickly. The side objectives are easier to complete when you work with other players. An “epic win condition”, which requires teamwork and planning, can be used to take Jason out.
To kill Jason, a female character will need to find the murder’s shack, put on Pamela Voorhees’ wear and pretend that she is Jason’s mom in front of him. What really makes this challenging is that Jason’s mask needs to be off in order for this to work.
Overall, Friday the 13th: The Game is a thrilling horror adventure game that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. With that said, however, because of licensing issues, there haven’t been any updates in quite some time.
7. Deceit
Next up on our list of games that are like Phasmophobia is Deceit. It was developed and published by Baseline, and while it isn’t exactly similar to Phasmophobia, there are some familiar elements. In this game, you’ll need to escape an infected fiend that is hiding in the shadow in plain sight, and who stalks you with every move you make.
You can also play as the infected entity, and if you assume this role, you will need to take out the survivors; however, you aren’t immune to their bullets, so you’ll definitely need to keep an eye out for those. Each move needs to be calculated as you attempt to spread the virus that turned has infected you and tear up the remaining survivors.
You’re never aware who the infected evil one is until it’s too late. The entity can help you out for most of the map, gaining your trust and encouraging you to let your guard down.
Unfortunately, the second you do that, the infected entity can pound on you and instantly put an end to your attempts to escape. When you first start playing Deceit, it’s quite complicated; however, once you complete a few matches and remain alive or you evolve your infected, deceiving other players will come naturally.
8. Obscure
Another title in the survival horror genre, Obscure was developed by Hydravision Entertainment and was published by DreamCatcher Interactive in North American, by Ubisoft in China, and by MC2-Microids in other locations. The game was released on October 1 of 2005 in Europe and in North America, it was released on April 6 of 2005 for PS2, Xbox, and Microsoft Windows.
The game takes place at Leafmore High, where three teens set out to find a friend who has gone missing. The friends find themselves locked in the school overnight and they have to solve a number of strange instances that have occurred.
You’ll control five teens as they explore the school and combat various infected students. The three friends find out that their adversaries – the infected – are light-sensitivity, and exposure to direct sunlight will completely destroy them. The teens are armed with flashlights, which help to slightly weaken their enemies and the evil black aura that surrounds them.
The teens unveil a massive conspiracy that involves injections turning other students into mutated monsters. The injections are experiments that are made with a rare plant spore that has the potential to allow people to stay alive indefinitely.
The students discover that Elisabeth, the nurse, and Herbert, the principal, are more than 100 years old, though they look like they’re no older than 60s. The group encounters Herbert, who is killed by a teacher who was trying to cure himself of the infection that was caused by Herbert’s experiment.
Leonard, Herbert’s twin, sees his dead brother and becomes extremely angry, and his anger prompts him to murder the teacher and leave the teens to defeat the biggest mutants they’ve encountered yet. After they take him out, the teens return to the gym and inject themselves with the cure. Leonard then returns and after a crazy battle, he submits himself to the sunlight and everything returns to normal.
Gameplay in Obscure is two-player cooperative mode, so you can play the campaign with a friend. You can also combine items; for instance, by taping a flashlight to a gun. Overall, it’s a fun and engaging game. If you’re a fan of the horror genre and you’re looking for a title that’s similar to Phasmophobia, then you are totally going to want to check out Obscure, as it’s familiar and will be sure to keep you guessing.
Summing It Up
Survival horror is a massive genre in the world of video games, and Phasmophobia is one of the most beloved titles in this genre. If you’re a fan of this game and you’re looking for other titles that offer a similar experience, then we highly recommend you check out the games that are featured on this list. Each one is thoughtfully designed and boasts elements that are similar in nature to Phasmophobia and will be sure to hold your attention and keep you entertained.