Phasmophobia Walkthrough — Start to Endgame

Phasmophobia is Kinetic Games' cooperative ghost hunting horror game where 1-4 players investigate haunted locations to identify ghost types using paranormal equipment. The game uses voice recognition — ghosts can hear you through your microphone, respond to questions, and hunt based on sound. With 24 ghost types each having unique behaviors and evidence, every investigation is a puzzle of observation and deduction while managing the terror of being hunted by an increasingly aggressive entity.

This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. Follow this path to avoid common traps that stall most players.

Quick Progression Summary

Phase 1: Getting Started — Tanglewood Street House

A small residential house ideal for beginners. Limited hiding spots but short distances mean quick evidence gathering. The ghost room is usually identifiable within minutes. Low risk of getting lost.

Level/Difficulty: Amateur-Professional Key Rewards: Learn basic investigation skills, quick evidence gathering

What to Do in Tanglewood Street House

1. Learn ghost identification. Each of the 24 ghost types has 3 evidence types from a pool of 7 (EMF 5, Spirit Box, Fingerprints, Ghost Orbs, Writing, Freezing Temps, DOTS Projector). Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
2. Pick Wraith as your starting build. It's the most forgiving option.
3. Always check ghost room temperature first — freezing temperatures (below 3°C) are one of the easiest evidence types to confirm. Use the thermometer in each room.
4. Acquire your first equipment upgrade — Spirit Box or whatever's available.
5. Clear all main content before moving on.

Phase 1 Checklist

• Understand ghost identification fundamentals
• Wraith selected and functional
• Tanglewood Street House main content cleared
• Ready for Bleasdale Farmhouse

Phase 2: Early Game — Bleasdale Farmhouse

A medium two-story farmhouse with multiple rooms and a basement. The attic can be the ghost room, requiring listening for activity above. More complex than Tanglewood but still manageable for intermediate players.

Level/Difficulty: Intermediate-Professional Key Rewards: Multi-floor investigation experience, moderate difficulty

What to Do in Bleasdale Farmhouse

1. Work on sanity management. Your average sanity starts at 100% and decreases in darkness, during ghost events, and near the ghost. This system becomes critical from here on.
2. Farm for Spirit Box if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
3. Smudge sticks prevent hunting for 90 seconds (180 for Spirit). Light them and use them during hunts to escape or before triggering ghost events for safety.
4. Complete all objectives before pushing to Brownstone High School.
5. Consider whether Spirit might suit your playstyle better than Wraith.

Phase 2 Checklist

• sanity management integrated into gameplay
• Spirit Box acquired
• Bleasdale Farmhouse fully cleared
• Ready for Brownstone High School

Phase 3: Mid Game — Brownstone High School

A large building with dozens of rooms, long hallways, and multiple floors. Finding the ghost room takes time. Hiding spots are abundant but so are dead-ends during hunts. One of the hardest base game maps.

Level/Difficulty: Professional-Nightmare Key Rewards: Large map experience, advanced investigation skills

What to Do in Brownstone High School

1. Master equipment usage. Equipment includes EMF Reader (detects ghost activity), Spirit Box (voice communication with ghost), Thermometer (finds ghost room via cold spots), UV Light (reveals fingerprints), DOTS Projector (shows ghost silhouette), Video Camera (captures ghost orbs), Ghost Writing Book, and more. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
2. Start working toward EMF Reader. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
3. Crucifix prevents hunts within 3 meters (5 for Banshee). Place two in the ghost room for maximum coverage. They don't work during an active hunt — only prevent new ones.
4. This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
5. Start investing in difficulty scaling for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.

Phase 3 Checklist

• equipment usage mastered
• EMF Reader acquired or in progress
• Brownstone High School fully cleared
• Ready for Sunny Meadows

Phase 4: Late Game — Sunny Meadows

The largest map — a massive asylum with wings, floors, and outdoor areas. Finding the ghost room can take 10+ minutes. Hunts are terrifying due to the sheer distance from exits. Recommended for experienced groups only.

Level/Difficulty: Professional-Nightmare Key Rewards: Most challenging investigation, highest difficulty content

What to Do in Sunny Meadows

1. Finalize your build. You should be running Spirit or Wraith with optimized gear.
2. EMF Reader should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
3. Ghost orbs only show on camera, not to the naked eye. Set up a video camera in the ghost room and check the monitor in the truck for floating orbs.
4. photo rewards optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
5. Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Point Hope.

Phase 4 Checklist

• Build fully optimized
• EMF Reader upgraded to max
• Sunny Meadows fully cleared
• Ready for Point Hope

Phase 5: Endgame — Point Hope

A coastal town map with multiple buildings and outdoor areas. The ghost can be in any building, requiring broad initial investigation. Weather effects and outdoor exposure add atmosphere and challenge.

Level/Difficulty: Intermediate-Nightmare Key Rewards: Multi-building investigation, outdoor ghost behavior

What to Do in Point Hope

1. Point Hope tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
2. Each ghost has exactly 3 evidence types. Once you have 2 confirmed, use the journal to narrow possibilities before searching for the third.
3. The endgame loop: run Point Hope, optimize gear, push harder content.
4. Experiment with Banshee for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
5. This is where photo rewards mastery separates good players from great ones.

Phase 5 Checklist

• Endgame content on farm
• Best-in-slot gear acquired
• Point Hope fully cleared
• Ready for challenge content

Common Progression Mistakes

• Leaving the lights off in the building — lights slow sanity drain significantly. Turn on every light in the investigation area to maintain higher sanity longer.
• Standing in the ghost room during a hunt — the ghost targets players in or near its room first. Move away from the ghost room when a hunt starts.
• Not checking the journal for evidence cross-referencing — after finding 2 evidence types, the journal shows which ghosts are still possible. This narrows your search.
• Using all sanity pills immediately — save pills for when sanity drops below 50% (hunts become frequent). Don't use them above 60% sanity.
• Carrying expensive equipment on Nightmare difficulty — if you die, you lose your equipment. Bring only essentials and leave expensive items until you've confirmed it's safe.

Key Tips for Smooth Progression

1. Always check ghost room temperature first — freezing temperatures (below 3°C) are one of the easiest evidence types to confirm. Use the thermometer in each room.
2. Smudge sticks prevent hunting for 90 seconds (180 for Spirit). Light them and use them during hunts to escape or before triggering ghost events for safety.
3. Crucifix prevents hunts within 3 meters (5 for Banshee). Place two in the ghost room for maximum coverage. They don't work during an active hunt — only prevent new ones.
4. Ghost orbs only show on camera, not to the naked eye. Set up a video camera in the ghost room and check the monitor in the truck for floating orbs.
5. Each ghost has exactly 3 evidence types. Once you have 2 confirmed, use the journal to narrow possibilities before searching for the third.

For detailed build optimization, see Phasmophobia builds. For quick wins, check tips & tricks.