Best Ghost Hunting Games

Best Ghost Hunting Games

Key Takeaways

  • Horror games featuring ghosts offer a unique and terrifying experience, from live-action elements in
    At Dead of Night
    to the iconic
    Ghostbusters
    game.
  • Games like
    Phasmophobia
    and
    Ghost Exorcism Inc
    provide multiplayer ghost-hunting experiences, allowing players to work together to uncover paranormal activity.
  • The
    Fatal Frame
    series and
    Luigi’s Mansion
    showcase innovative gameplay mechanics, such as using cameras to exorcise ghosts and sucking them up with a hoover, respectively.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I’ve dabbled in various genres, but none have captivated me quite like the ghost-hunting games. These spectral sagas have managed to weave together chilling narratives, immersive gameplay, and a healthy dose of adrenaline that leaves me on the edge of my seat.


Horror games have grown to be a significant element within the gaming world, often placing players in confrontations with terrifying entities like zombies, otherworldly creatures, genetically-altered beasts, and spirits. Although zombies seem to be getting all the attention currently in Capcom’s ongoing Resident Evil series, there are numerous games featuring ghosts that warrant appreciation.

Since the early 2000s, games that focus on hunting ghosts have been a significant presence in the gaming world. Titles like Luigi’s Mansion and Fatal Frame showcased the variety developers could introduce by creating their unique interpretations of spirits and methods for banishing them.

Ready yourself, pick up either your proton gun or camera device, and dive into these refreshed paranormal investigation video games. These games now offer an even scarier selection of high-quality titles that will undoubtedly leave a chilling impact on gamers’ minds.

1 Obsideo

Study The Disturbing Spirits To Determine Their Nature

Release DateAugust 28th, 2021
Developer(s)Kyle’s Garage
Platform(s)PC

Despite being a project under development, Obsideo exhibits significant promise as a game. It is yet another intriguing 4-player cooperative experience where the players, assuming the roles of priests, investigate a haunted property to discern the spirit’s nature and devise an effective banishing strategy. Armed with necessary tools and evidence, these characters are well-prepared for their mission. However, the question remains: Are they courageous enough to confront what lies ahead?

Instead of piecing together clues scattered throughout the game, players must actively seek out and directly encounter the mysterious undead invader to reveal its identity. They must observe its behavior and interactions with the environment, which could prove terrifying but is essential for their chances of success.

2 DreadOut

A Vacation Gone Wrong Traps The Characters In A Nightmare

Release DateMay 15th, 2014
Developer(s)Digital Happiness
Platform(s)PC

As I was yearning for a peaceful vacation with my peers, we stumbled upon an eerie, abandoned townsettlement far from our anticipated picturesque retreat. Things took a chilling turn when we started to suspect this place was indeed a haunted hideout. Now, the burden of survival and unraveling the mysteries falls on the shoulders of Linda Meilinda. It’s up to her to confront the spectral entities, unearth hidden secrets, and discover what lies ahead in our shared fate.

Just like in Fatal Frame, I find myself relying solely on my smartphone or camera to explore and protect myself from the haunting spirits. Delving into the chilling realms of Indonesian folklore, DreadOut is a ghostly game that offers an experience unlike any other horror game I’ve played before.

3 At Dead Of Night

The Spirits Have Horrifying Secrets To Reveal Regarding The Hotel’s Proprietor

In current video games, first-person mystery and horror (FMV) titles are seldom found, but productions like “At Dead of Night” are preserving this genre effectively. Introducing live-action to horror games amplifies the terror factor, with outstanding performances, particularly by Jimmy/Hugo Punch, the primary antagonist, standing out remarkably.

Unlike many ghost-hunting games, the protagonist, Maya, utilizes a box to locate and converse with the trapped spirits within the hotel, who have all met their demise at the hands of Jimmy. These spirits offer clues to Maya, helping her delve deeper into Jimmy’s past in an attempt to break free from his manipulations.

4 Ghostbusters The Video Game

Play As The Iconic Movie Characters

In terms of tracking and capturing ghosts, no one is more skilled than the Ghostbusters. They aren’t just experts at chasing ghosts on the silver screen; they’ve also made appearances in video games where they pursue and neutralize bothersome specters.

Inspired by the movies, players step into the shoes of a newcomer, known as the Rookie, who joins the Ghostbusters squad, hunting for supernatural activities and creatures. Equipped with a proton pack, they can experience their long-held Ghostbusting fantasies, first by weakening and then capturing ghosts. The game offers a comprehensive narrative campaign filled with thrilling ghost-hunting adventures to savor.

5 Ghost Exile

Only The Brave Will Survive

Release DateJanuary 7th, 2022
Developer(s)LostOne Team
Platform(s)PC

In the game “Ghost Exile,” players are advised to rally their bravest companions since this ghost-hunting adventure is so frightening that it’s best not to face it alone. Equipped with tools, fundamental knowledge, and a positive attitude, one to four brave ghost hunters will venture into haunted locations in an attempt to understand the nature of the spectral presence.

Just like other digital ghost-hunting simulations, gamers will employ specialized apparatus to identify the sort of spirit they’re dealing with and subsequently utilize that insight to carry out an exorcism aimed at eliminating the ghost from a residence. These enigmatic aspects lend Ghost Exile an additional degree of complexity, enhancing its allure for players.

6 Phasmophobia

Determine The Identity Of Spirits Before Joining Them In Death

If you’re hesitant about taking on the role of a paranormal investigator, there’s no need to worry! In the game Phasmophobia, you can invite up to three companions to join you as you explore haunted locales together. This way, you don’t have to face the chills and thrills alone.

In my opinion, nothing beats the chills I get from playing the multiplayer gem, Phasmophobia. This game offers a diverse array of spine-tingling specters, each map uniquely themed and sized, and an impressive collection of ghost-hunting gadgets at your disposal. The objective? Identify the spectral menace lurking in the location using your gear, all while preserving your fraying nerves and outwitting lethal ghostly encounters. It’s a thrilling, heart-pounding experience that never fails to deliver authentic scares!

7 Ghostwire: Tokyo

Face Off Against The Dangerous Ghosts With Paranormal Powers

Located in the glowing urban jungle of contemporary Tokyo, “Ghostwire: Tokyo” offers a unique and creative gaming experience where spectral activities like hauntings and possessions take place in bustling public areas instead of secluded spots. As a player, you’ll wield psychic and supernatural powers to banish the ghosts that have been terrorizing the city streets and taking control of unsuspecting individuals.

Unlike most ghost-hunting games, the main character in this game is supernatural too, possessing powers to even the playing field. While some spirits may appear fearsome, Ghostwire: Tokyo leans more towards action and adventure rather than focusing heavily on horror.

8 Midnight Ghost Hunt

Hunt The Ghosts At Midnight, Or Become The Hunted

A fresh exploration in cooperative ghost-hunting games is the newer title, “Midnight Ghost Hunt.” This online game encourages players to don their gear and gather friends for an exciting adventure. What makes it distinct from Phasmophobia is its unique graphical style, the manner in which players engage with spirits, and the fact that it’s a symmetrical multiplayer experience, where 4 hunters face off against 4 ghostly entities.

On both sides, the goals are straightforward: hunters aim to challenge and vanquish the spirits, while the spirits aim to vanquish the forces. Initially, hunters have an advantage as spirits can only hide and manipulate their surroundings for weapons, but at midnight, the spirits acquire powers that can balance or even reverse the situation decisively in their favor.

9 F.E.A.R.

Home To One Of Gaming’s Scariest Ghosts

Back in the mid-2000s, I was absolutely captivated by a colossal figure among horror games – none other than F.E.A.R.. This game introduced one of the scariest entities to ever grace the horror genre, Alma, a spirit who takes on the appearance of a young girl with ghostly pale skin and long, raven-black tresses, reminiscent of Sadako from Ringu or Kayako from Ju-On, both of whom are relentlessly petrifying.

In simpler terms, the game FE.A.R. blends horror and action genres, setting the players against a private military force that has been harnessing supernatural abilities and releasing an uncontrollable, destructive power. Throughout most of the game, the player will be engaged in eliminating members of this group. However, occasionally, Alma will reappear to scare the player with her eerie presence and overpowering powers.

10 Ghost Exorcism Inc

Brave It Alone Or With Friends

Release DateJuly 15th, 2021
Developer(s)StudioGoupil
Platform(s)PC

If you’re a gamer seeking a game with a similar vibe to Phasmophobia, Ghost Exorcism Inc could scratch that itch for you. In this game, players delve into locations said to be teeming with supernatural activity, gather evidence, infiltrate these areas, and finally, successfully carry out an exorcism.

In this game, players have the option to either go it alone on the maps, which comes with extra lives to compensate for playing solo, or team up with up to three friends to tackle them together as a unified force. Their goal is to discover up to four hidden clues that help identify which of the eight types of entities they’re dealing with, and then eliminate the entity. With various game modes like exorcism exclusively or rescue, Ghost Exorcism Inc offers an exciting and immersive experience that will undoubtedly have players eagerly returning for more.

11 Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly

One Of The Most Terrifying Ghost Experiences Of All Time

The game commonly recognized as “Fatal Frame” or “Project Zero,” depending on the region (Europe and Australia respectively), is undeniably one of the most acclaimed and renowned ghost-hunting video games. It has left an indelible mark in the annals of horror gaming due to its impressive collection of installments.

In each installment of the game, the player takes on a new lead character who is often drawn into a haunted setting by spectral entities. They stumble upon an artifact known as the camera obscura, which is rumored to expel malicious spirits, capture residual ones, or even offer guidance from benevolent ghosts. The absence of this camera prevents players from spotting or protecting themselves against these ethereal beings, a unique concept that has been adapted in different ways across numerous other games with varying levels of effectiveness.

12 Luigi’s Mansion

A More Fun And Novel Take On Ghost Hunting

Instead of the usual format, this unexpected blockbuster title flipped the established Mario series on its axis, deviating from the platforming genre and sport-themed spin-offs for an entirely novel adventure. In this game, Luigi takes center stage as the playable character after receiving word that his brother Mario had been kidnapped. He agreed to meet up with Mario at a mansion he supposedly won in a contest.

Luigi steps into the house, but finds it teeming with unfriendly specters. Fortunately, Professor E. Gadd intervenes, using a vacuum to capture the spirits. He then hands over the device to Luigi, enabling him to navigate the house safely and rescue his brother. This game from Nintendo stands out as one of their more distinct creations. Although it doesn’t scare like many other ghost-themed games, it’s brimming with endearing qualities, engaging gameplay, and creative bosses.

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2024-11-24 21:08