Getting Started

Getting Started with Phasmophobia: Your First Hour & Beyond

Welcome, rookie investigator! This guide is designed to get you from the lobby to a successful (or at least survivable) first contract. Phasmophobia has no character creation — you are a nameless, faceless ghost hunter. Your only identity is your inventory and your voice. Let's begin.

First Hour Walkthrough (Step-by-Step)

1. Launch the Game: After installing from Steam, Epic, or console store, you'll see the main menu. Click Start Game (or "Play").
2. Choose a Lobby: You can Host your own or Join a public/private lobby. For your first time, select Host and set the lobby to Private so you can learn alone or with friends.
3. Select a Map: The tutorial will likely default to Tutorial mode (if you haven't dismissed it). Do it! It's a safe, single-player walkthrough that teaches the basics. If you skipped it, you can find it again in the Options menu under Tutorial.
4. Equip Your Gear: All players start with a flashlight, photo camera, and EMF reader. In the van, you can purchase additional equipment on the wall-mounted PC. But for the first hour, stick with the starter gear.
5. Enter the Building: Walk through the front door of the house. Proceed slowly; listen for sounds (doors creaking, footsteps, ghost interactions).
6. Initial Sweep: Use your EMF reader in every room. Work with your team (or yourself) to identify the ghost room — the room where the ghost is most active. Signs: cold breath (visible breath in cold rooms), objects thrown, EMF readings near 5, or ghost activity sounds.
7. Gather Evidence: Place equipment like the Spirit Box or Thermometer in the suspected ghost room. Wait for EMF spikes, Spirit Box responses, or temperature drops below 3°C (freezing temperatures).
8. Identify the Ghost: Once you have 2–3 of the 3 possible evidence types for that difficulty, cross-reference with the Journal (press J on PC) to identify the ghost type.
9. Complete Objective: After identifying, you can optionally do optional objectives (take photos of the ghost, prevent a hunt, etc.) but the main goal is to survive and leave alive.
10. Exit & Collect Rewards: Return to the van and press the Leave button (or walk out of the map boundary). You'll get money and XP.

Character Creation

There is no character creation in Phasmophobia. Every player uses the same default model (a generic person in casual clothes). You can change your Voice (in Settings) to alter your microphone processing, but not your appearance.

Controls on All Platforms

#### PC (Keyboard & Mouse)
#### PlayStation 5 (DualSense)
#### Xbox Series X|S (Xbox Wireless Controller)
Important: You can remap controls in Settings > Controls on all platforms.

UI Overview

The HUD (Heads-Up Display) is minimal on purpose:

• Top-left: Sanity percentage (starts at 100%, decreases in ghost presence, below ~50% ghost can hunt).


• Bottom-center: Equipment indicator — shows what item you are holding and its battery life (for electronics).


• Lower-left: Player health (when injured) and activity monitor (pulsing bars during ghost events).


• Screen edges: Red glow during a ghost hunt (indicates imminent danger).


• Van camera screens: Located in the truck, showing live feeds from placed cameras.


• Journal (Press J / Touchpad / View): Contains your ghost journal (evidence checkboxes), map, objectives, and sanity graph.




Essential Early Objectives



When you start a contract, you will see:

• Primary Objective: Identify the ghost type (always required).


• Optional Objectives: Earn bonus money. For beginners, focus on: "Take a photo of the ghost" (easiest with camera) or "Detect the ghost with EMF" (often happens naturally). Avoid objectives like "Prevent the ghost from hunting" until you understand mechanics.




What to Do First (Priorities)



1. Locate the Ghost Room: Use EMF reader, listen for sounds, and check for cold breath. Once found, pile equipment there.
2. Place a Video Camera: Aim it at a key area (door, center of room) to see ghost orbs later.
3. Set up a UV Light: To detect footsteps/fingerprints on doors/windows.
4. Use Spirit Box: Turn off lights in the ghost room, ask questions like "Are you here?" or "How old?".
5. Check Temperature: Use the Thermometer to find freezing temperatures (< 0°C for some ghosts, but < 3°C is cold; likely ghost room).



What to Avoid (Immediate Mistakes)




• Don't split up in your first games — stay together. The ghost will hunt when sanity is low; if you're alone, you're easy prey.


• Don't run during a hunt — walking or crouching reduces noise. Running attracts the ghost.


• Don't bring expensive equipment until you are confident you can get it back. Losing a $50 video camera hurts early on.


• Don't ignore your sanity — if it's below 50%, consider leaving to avoid a hunt.


• Don't hide in closets/wardrobes near the ghost room — the ghost can open doors and find you. Hide behind furniture or in corners away from line of sight.




Early Resource Priorities




• Money: Earned from completing contracts. Save up for EMF Reader (Level 1) (you get one free) then upgrade to Video Camera and Thermometer.


• Equipment Purchase Order:

1. Cheap essentials (candle + lighter, UV flashlight, salt)
2. Extra video cameras (for multiple rooms)
3. Parabolic Microphone (for long-range sound detection)

• Do not buy the Tarot Cards, Voodoo Doll, or Music Box until you learn ghost mechanics — they can backfire.


• Upgrade your equipment when you can: Level 2 gear has better durability/range. Focus on EMF, Spirit Box, Thermometer, Photo Camera.




Common Beginner Mistakes



1. Not turning on the flashlight — you won't see ghost orbs or evidence. Always have it on when inside.
2. Forgetting to bring the Journal — you need it for evidence tracking. Always have it equipped (you start with it).
3. Using the Spirit Box outside the ghost room — it only works in the same room as the ghost. Turn off nearby electronics (like your flashlight) to avoid interference.
4. Standing in line of sight during a hunt — hide behind something. The ghost cannot see through closed doors (if you don't move).
5. Leaving the van with no gear — always grab a flashlight and at least one piece of equipment from the wall. Otherwise you're helpless.
6. Talking too much in voice chat — ghosts can hear you and may be attracted. Speak only when using Spirit Box or coordinating quietly.
7. Ignoring the ghost event — if the ghost manifests and doesn't hunt, take a photo for bonus money. But don't scream — it can still cause sanity drop.



Day-One Checklist




• [ ] Complete the Tutorial (Options > Tutorial)


• [ ] Learn to use the EMF reader (press E to equip, hold left-click to activate)


• [ ] Complete one contract on Tutorial difficulty (if available) or Amateur with all objectives


• [ ] Practice finding the ghost room without dying


• [ ] Collect 3 evidence types in one game


• [ ] Identify the ghost correctly using the Journal


• [ ] Survive your first ghost hunt (hide, stay quiet, hold breath if possible)


• [ ] Spend your first earnings on a Video Camera (place it in the ghost room)


• [ ] Unlock at least one optional objective for bonus cash


• [ ] Join a public lobby on Amateur difficulty with a friendly team (use in-game voice)

Remember: Dying is normal. The ghost is not punishing you — it's teaching you. Respect the ghost, communicate with your team, and always have an escape route. Good luck, and welcome to the paranormal investigation team.