Phasmophobia is a horror co-op game that took gamers by storm late last year. As is probably evident from the name, Phasmophobia is a first-person, ghost hunting game played on Steam and frequently streamed by players on Twitch. Not for the faint of heart, the game drops teams at one of the haunted locations and equips them with a plethora of ghost-hunting items such as EMF readers and spirit boxes. The aim is to identify which ghost is haunting the building and get out—all whilst not getting violently murdered by the angry spirits.
RELATED: Games To Play If You Love Phasmophobia
Before playing, it's handy to know what you're going to be up against. There are different types of ghosts in the game and while they're all creepy as hell (especially with the lights turned off), there are definitely some that are way scarier to encounter than others.
Updated September 28, 2023, By Helen Ashcroft: The latest Phasmophobia update changed a few things about the game, including how evidence is gathered. This list has been updated to include all the latest information.
24 The Mimic
Evidence
Freezing Temperatures
Ultraviolet
Spirit Box
Why are we ranking The Mimic so low? Because it's confusing as heck. The Mimic, as its name implies, can copy the abilities and tendencies of other ghosts in an effort to bamboozle you and your crew of ghost hunters.
Not only can it act like another ghost type in terms of its presence in a location, but it will always throw out fake ghost orbs when you check the monitor back in the van, making you think you've got some other ghost on your hands.
23 Myling
Evidence
EMF Level 5
Ghost Writing
Ultraviolet
Mylings are purportedly known for being louder ghosts than others. When using the parabolic microphone, players can hear noises a ghost emits. If a huge ruckus is being made, you can figure out quite easily that you might be dealing with a Myling.
However, be wary of sudden silences. Mylings are known to get incredibly quiet during a Hunt, which means if all paranormal sounds cease, you might be a Myling's next victim.
22 Shade
Evidence
EMF Level 5
Freezing Temperatures
Ghost Writing
Certainly not something anyone would want to come across in a haunted house, Shades are definitely creepy when they pop up right on top of you. That being said, they're notably 'shy' ghosts and tend to avoid confrontation when there are large groups.
This means there's safety in numbers but also makes collecting evidence somewhat difficult. These ghosts aren't afraid to come hunting when players' sanity has dwindled or when someone wanders off on their own, but they're one of the easier ghosts to deal with in the game.
21 Thaye
Evidence
DOTS Projector
Ghost Orb
Ghost Writing
Dealing with a Thaye is as harrowing as dealing with other ghost types, but there's one key aspect about it that makes it one of the easier ghosts to deal with. Despite becoming incredibly active as soon as you and your friends walk into its haunting spot, it becomes less active over time.
This is great in terms of survival, but it makes it tough to identify the Thaye if you don't bring in the right pieces of equipment at the beginning of the game. If you want to correctly note down a Thaye, you have to be speedy.
20 Goryo
Evidence
DOTS Projector
EMF Level 5
Ultraviolet
Along with the Myling, the Goryo was added to Phasmophobia in the Exposition update. Unlike the Myling, the Goryo is now evidenced with the new DOTS Projector. It is a rather shy ghost, preferring to avoid cameras when people are around. Its difficulty is only really in play when you're trying to snap a picture of it.
They are not easily seen, so the only surefire way to collect photographic evidence of it is to point a video camera at the DOTS Projector and wait for the Goryo to make its move.
19 The Twins
Evidence
EMF Level 5
Freezing Temperatures
Spirit Box
Another ghostly addition from the Nightmare update, The Twins always appear on the level map as a pair. This can cause some confusion among players, as one Twin can stay in the ghost room, while the other Twin can wander around and cause mischief by misdirecting unsuspecting ghost hunters.
However, both Twins can interact with the environment at the same time, and either Twin can initiate a hunt independently. This means that players need to be on their guard and ready to run, hide, and escape at any time.
18 Spirit
Evidence
EMF Level 5
Ghost Writing
Spirit Box
One of the most common ghost types in the game, spirits have no real discernable features. They can range from docile to extremely violent, it all depends on the luck of the draw.
Although, arguably, not knowing what to expect from them can make it somewhat tricky to pin them down. That's where the hunting tools come in handy, obviously, as Spirits are more often identified via ghost writing and by use of the spirit box.
17 Yurei
Evidence
DOTS Projector
Freezing Temperatures
Ghost Orb
Again, we definitely would not want to bump into one of these in the dark with only a torch and a smudge stick to keep you safe, but they're on the lower end of the most dangerous scale in Phasmophobia.
They can seriously drain your sanity if precautions aren't taken and, once that happens, they're much faster and more efficient at killing than some other ghost types. Using a smudge stick, however, will buy players 90 seconds to get away before they're murdered, so it's totally possible to get away if you play tactically.
16 Poltergeist
Evidence
Ghost Writing
Ultraviolet
Spirit Box
Poltergeists like to cause mayhem: they can venture out of their "ghost room" and have a serious effect on players' sanity if they witness objects being moved or thrown. The fact that they can move out and about can sometimes lead players to believe they're in a different room, but process of elimination will lead players back to their main domain.
They're certainly dangerous but they can be easily labeled. This means that while they can lead players on somewhat of a wild goose chase, they're quickly identified. If you make a pile of objects near the ghost, and they fly around and hit the ceiling you've got yourself a poltergeist.
15 Jinn
Evidence
EMF Level 5
Fingerprints
Freezing Temperatures
Jinns are tricky ghosts, but there are a few small steps players can take that make them a little less intimidating than some of the others. Nonetheless, they're still pretty damn terrifying when they decide to start running at you.
RELATED: The Best Horror Games Of 2020, According To Metacritic
They like to play with the electrics, so turning off a location's power source will render a Jinn pretty ineffective. They can be confused with Mares or Poltergeists on occasion, but chances are if there's a ghost turning the lights on and off, it's one of these guys.
