- Games
- Ghost Watchers
Ghost Watchers
Identify ghosts with a team of up to four, then weaken and capture them while surviving their attacks.
Online co-op for up to 4 players. No crossplay.
- 4 online
Where to buy
Playing together
- Online co-op4 players
- Local co-opNot confirmed
- NoSame platform onlyFriends on different platforms, such as PC and PlayStation, can play together.
- Not confirmedA friend can join or leave while you are already playing, without starting over.
- Not confirmedFriends play free with a Friend's Pass or similar.
- Steam DeckPlayableValve's own rating
About the game
You enter abandoned buildings to find out what is haunting them. Readings and other clues help you work out a ghost's type, age and mood. That investigation leads into a capture attempt, using equipment to weaken the spirit while it attacks or interrupts your work. Finishing the identification is only part of the job.
Up to four of you can hunt together online. You share findings and bring tools to deal with the ghost, with room for panicked mistakes when it appears. Learning what each item does matters, especially when a failed response leaves someone exposed. You return for separate hunts and earn progress along the way. It suits friends who want active ghost encounters alongside the evidence gathering, and who do not mind learning through failed attempts.
How it feels
Kind of game
A group of friends, loose goals and a lot of messing around. Failing is part of the fun, and the best moments are the ones nobody planned.
- At its heart
- A big part
- Now and then
- Time to hang out
- Exploring
- Planning ahead
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- About
- Ghost hunting
Rated on our own feel scale. 4 sources back these ratings.
Screenshots
From the Steam store page. Open one to see it full size.
If you liked Ghost Watchers
You will probably enjoy these too. Each one says why.
Demonologist
Why it scores 91%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Chaotic friend hangout
- Core to both
- Fear
- About
- Ghost hunting
- Notable in both
- Laughter and chaos, Puzzles and figuring out, Working in sync, Tension and danger, Unlocks and progress
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
- 4 online
Both are chaotic hangouts for a group of friends. Both are often scary. Both are about hunting ghosts.
No big difference from Ghost Watchers.
Phasmophobia
Why it scores 91%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Chaotic friend hangout
- Core to both
- Fear
- About
- Ghost hunting
- Notable in both
- Laughter and chaos, Puzzles and figuring out, Working in sync, Tension and danger, Getting better, Unlocks and progress
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
How Phasmophobia differs
- More slapstick than Ghost Watchers
- Less fighting than Ghost Watchers
- Early access
- 4 online
- Crossplay
Both are chaotic hangouts for a group of friends. Both get loud and silly when plans go wrong. Both are often scary.
But more slapstick than Ghost Watchers.
FOREWARNED
Why it scores 87%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Chaotic friend hangout
- Core to both
- Fear
- About
- Ghost hunting
- Notable in both
- Laughter and chaos, Puzzles and figuring out, Working in sync, Tension and danger, Getting better, Unlocks and progress
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
- 4 online
Both are chaotic hangouts for a group of friends. Both are often scary. Both are about hunting ghosts.
No big difference from Ghost Watchers.
All co-op facts
Last checked 24 October 2026. The small numbers link to the page that states each fact.
Co-op
- Fewest players online
- Not confirmed
- Local co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on one screen
- Not confirmed
- Split or shared screen
- Not confirmed
- Separate-device co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on separate devices
- Not confirmed
- Free base co-op
- No
The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
- 2
- Confirmed free setups
- Does not apply
- Crossplay between
- Does not apply
- Friends can join mid-game
- Not confirmed
- Only one of you needs to buy it
- Not confirmed
- Voice chat by distance
- Not confirmed
Sources
11 pages
renderise-games.comOfficial site, read 24 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Genres, About.
- Online co-op: The Ghost Watchers section describes cooperative online horror.
- Genres: The maker explicitly calls it horror.
- About: The team finds and catches ghosts in abandoned houses.
store.steampowered.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Release status, Release date, Platforms, Steam app ID, Fear, Fighting, Puzzles and figuring out, Exploring, Free base co-op.
- Online co-op: The maker description and Online Co-op feature confirm native online play.
- Release status: Lists a full release date separately from the earlier Early Access date. The old Early Access paragraph remains below.
- Release date: The full release is July 24, 2025. July 28, 2022 is separately labelled Early Access.
- Platforms: Current requirements specify Windows.
- Steam app ID: The product is Steam app 1850740.
- Fear: Horror is the stated design and the ghost has threatening attacks.
- Fighting: Tools are used to fight ghosts before capture.
- Puzzles and figuring out: Evidence reveals type, age and mood.
- Exploring: The task includes searching buildings for clues.
- Free base co-op: The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
steamcommunity.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Most players online.
- Most players online: A reply marked developer on June 13, 2024 explicitly sets the maximum at four.
steamcommunity.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Most players online.
- Most players online: A developer diagnostic exchange on January 19, 2025 discusses sessions with two and four players. It corroborates four-player support rather than independently setting the ceiling.
steamcommunity.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Crossplay.
- Crossplay: The developer reply of January 6, 2025 describes console crossplay as a future idea. Current verified availability remains Windows only.
steamcommunity.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Crossplay.
- Crossplay: The developer reply of July 28, 2025 says a console release is still undecided. No released console product was verified in current store searches.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Release status, Release date, Platforms, Steam app ID.
- Release status: Steam reports released, with no Early Access genre.
- Release date: Current Steam metadata reports July 24, 2025.
- Platforms: Windows is the only Steam desktop build.
- Steam app ID: Steam identifies Ghost Watchers as app 1850740.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Steam Deck.
- Steam Deck: Valve rates the game Playable on Steam Deck.
wikidata.orgWikidata, read 24 October 2026
Backs Wikidata item, Release date, Genres.
- Wikidata item: The opened alias resolves to Ghost Watchers item Q113468037.
- Release date: The statements distinguish full release on July 24, 2025 from Early Access in 2022.
- Genres: The item identifies a horror video game.
lawod.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Tension and danger, Planning ahead.
- Tension and danger: Mary Wilson, undated Early Access review, describes pressure increasing during encounters.
- Planning ahead: Evidence informs equipment and the response used against a ghost.
hitpointreviews.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Working in sync, Sessions, Unlocks and progress, Getting better, Kind of game, Laughter and chaos, Time to hang out.
- Working in sync: Review updated November 21, 2023 describes coordinated team equipment use.
- Sessions: Separate investigations and repeated hunts build levels.
- Unlocks and progress: The review describes advancement through levels.
- Getting better: Learning the investigation and capture process matters. This early review is checked against current player reports.
- Kind of game: The review describes friends sharing scares and laughter during hunts.
- Laughter and chaos: Friends' reactions provide comic interruptions to the investigation.
- Time to hang out: The active investigation and threatening encounters keep attention on the hunt.