Phasmophobia offers a spectrum of difficulty settings, from the beginner-friendly Amateur to the punishing Insanity, each altering core gameplay mechanics like evidence gathering, ghost aggression, and player rewards. These modes are designed to gradually introduce players to the complexities of paranormal investigation.
Amateur
Amateur difficulty is available immediately and serves as the entry point for new investigators. It provides a generous 300-second setup time before the ghost can initiate a hunt, a long grace period of five seconds between hunts, and short hunt durations. Sanity pills are highly effective, restoring 40% of lost sanity, and players can recover half of their lost equipment upon death. The ghost's speed and roaming frequency are standard, with high activity levels. This mode offers three pieces of official evidence and a x1 reward multiplier.
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Intermediate
Unlocking at player level 10, Intermediate difficulty is suited for those who have moved beyond the basics. It reduces the setup time to 120 seconds and the grace period to four seconds, with medium hunt durations. Sanity pill restoration is decreased to 35%, and only a portion of lost equipment is recoverable. The ghost's activity level is medium, but the fuse box starts turned off. Like Amateur, it provides three pieces of evidence but offers a x2 reward multiplier.
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Professional
Professional difficulty, unlocked at level 20, presents a significant increase in challenge. There is no setup time, and the grace period between hunts is reduced to three seconds, with high hunt durations. The ghost's favorite room can change, and hiding spots are limited. Players lose all equipped items upon death, and the fuse box is always off at the start of a contract. Sanity pill restoration drops to 30%. This mode still offers three pieces of evidence, but the reward multiplier jumps to x3.
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Nightmare
For players level 30 and above, Nightmare difficulty demands a high level of ghost-hunting expertise. Setup time is removed, and the grace period is shortened to two seconds, with high hunt durations. Hiding places are scarce, and players must rely heavily on smudging techniques. The sanity monitor and activity monitor are turned off, and the fuse box is always off. Only two pieces of official evidence are provided, but the reward multiplier is x4.
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Insanity
At player level 40, Insanity offers the most challenging preset difficulty. This mode features no setup time, a two-second grace period, and high hunt durations that can increase with each ghost kill. There are virtually no hiding spaces, and only one piece of official evidence is given. The sanity monitor and activity monitor are off, and there are no cursed possessions. Sanity pills restore only 20% of sanity. The reward multiplier is a substantial x6.
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Challenge Mode and Custom Difficulty
Challenge Mode presents a unique, weekly rotating set of objectives with forced equipment loadouts, offering a significant reward of $5,000 and 5,000 XP upon completion. Custom difficulty allows players to fine-tune every aspect of the investigation, from player settings to ghost behavior and contract parameters. The reward multiplier is dynamically adjusted based on the chosen settings, with overly simplified conditions disabling rewards entirely.
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Apocalypse Challenges
For the most extreme tests, Apocalypse Challenges are available at player level 50. These are single-player trials requiring players to identify the ghost, complete all objectives, and photograph the entity within Sunny Meadows Mental Institution on the highest custom difficulty settings. Apocalypse I requires a x6 reward multiplier, Apocalypse II demands x10, and Apocalypse III, the ultimate challenge, requires a x15 multiplier. These challenges feature significantly enhanced ghost speed, aggressive behavior, limited evidence, and a severe reduction or elimination of player aids like sanity pills and sprint functionality. Some variations also disable the fuse box or cursed possessions.
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