NEW ON STEAM
What Is The Ghost
At a glance
What Is The Ghost game facts
Steam store information checked 2026-10-11。- Studio
- Deda Games Published by Deda Games
- Release
- Oct 1, 2026 Released
- Official genres
- Action · Indie
- Play mode
- Online co-op
- Native online multiplayer
- Listed by Steam
- Local multiplayer
- Not listed by Steam
- Shared/split screen
- Not listed by Steam
- Desktop platforms
- Windows
- Steam Deck
- Unknown No additional compatibility detail
- Controller
- Full support
- Steam features
- Achievements · Cloud · Family Sharing
- Languages
- 15 listed languages English, German, Simplified Chinese, French
| Language | Interface | Full audio | Subtitles |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| German | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| Simplified Chinese | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| French | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| Spanish - Spain | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| Portuguese - Brazil | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| Japanese | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| Korean | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| Russian | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| Italian | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| Traditional Chinese | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| Polish | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| Portuguese - Portugal | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| Swedish | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
| Turkish | Supported | Not listed | Supported |
What that means for your setupWhat Is The Ghost is made and published by Deda Games, a solo or small independent outfit, and it released into Early Access on October 1, 2026, on Windows only. Steam marks it as a co-op-first Action and Indie title, and the page does not list a native single-player mode — gameplay is built around online co-op and generic multiplayer, with no shared or split-screen option. Full controller support is advertised. The language list is long — English, German, Simplified Chinese, French, Spanish (Spain), Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese, Korean, Russian, Italian, Traditional Chinese, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, and Turkish — but the column-by-column data only confirms localized interfaces and subtitles, not full audio for any language, so do not assume voice acting in your tongue. Steam Deck verification status is listed as Unknown, so buying with the intent of playing it on Deck is a gamble until verified. Features include Steam Achievements, Cloud saves, and Family Sharing. Price at the time of writing is $7.99 USD with no active discount. Because there is no Mac or Linux build advertised, this is effectively a Windows-only purchase for now.
If Phasmophobia ever felt too familiar and you wanted that same identification-then-survive loop wrapped in charming retro pixels, What Is The Ghost hands you the flashlight. You play a hunter for a shadowy corporation, and each contract starts the same way: explore, scoop up cursed artifacts, read the clues, and decide what kind of spirit you are dealing with before its anger escalates into a lethal hunt. The official pitch leans into unpredictable ghost events that can end a run at any moment, which is the part that makes a quiet-looking 2D game feel surprisingly tense once the lights flicker. Online co-op for up to four players is the headline mode, with a skill tree, ranks, multiple maps, and difficulty levels supporting the loop, and a roadmap that promises more maps, more ghost types, more artifacts, and ongoing balance work. It is an early access release, so expectations matter, but the bones already feel like a cozy Friday-night horror session with friends.
What the game actually feels like
Identify the ghost by collecting, analyzing, and combining cursed artifacts rather than the usual EMF-and-spiritbox checklist, which gives the loop a fresh feeling for anyone tired of the standard Phasmophobia-style toolkit.
Survive unpredictable ghost events that can end a mission at any moment, so every decision about when to push deeper and when to retreat carries real weight.
Play with up to four players online, splitting tasks between rooms so one teammate can scout while another protects, or solo the whole thing if your friend group is asleep.
Progress through a skill tree and ranks, unlock cosmetic skins, and chase rewards across multiple maps and difficulty levels, with a roadmap promising more maps, more ghost types, and more artifacts to find.
What early players are seeing
What is landing
- One returning reviewer, who came in from the demo, wrote that the artifact-based identification feels like a refreshing twist on the usual EMF-and-temperature routine, and called the 2D pixel art consistently charming.
- Another player, who received the game through a giveaway, was not anticipating much tension from a pixel-style horror game and was genuinely caught off-guard by the number of real jumpscares, while praising the multiplayer as smooth and chaotic in the best way.
- A third player summed up the first session with friends by saying a simple idea works really well, going from a chill ghost game to frantic running around trying to figure out what they were dealing with in minutes.
- Several reviewers highlighted the developer's responsiveness, with one noting that the dev is quite fast on fixing bugs he is notified of, and another pointing out that new content keeps being added.
What still needs watching
- Steam Deck verification is listed as Unknown, so portable play is not confirmed and should not be assumed on purchase.
- No single-player mode is listed, only online co-op and generic multiplayer, so anyone without a reliable co-op partner may have a thin experience.
- The language list is long, but every entry shows fullAudio as false, so anyone expecting voiced localization should check the in-game audio before buying.
Is What Is The Ghost worth buying now?
Current decision
Wait for more reviewsThe official feature set, the artifact-based identification twist, and the early player feedback are all genuinely appealing, but the review pool is still small, the game's Steam Deck status is unverified, no single-player mode is listed, and the language support only covers interface and subtitles. A handful more reviews would help confirm whether the multiplayer stability and Early Access roadmap land as promised, so holding off until the picture fills in is the more honest call.
Who this is for
A good fit if you…
- Friends groups who want a low-friction online co-op horror night and enjoy identification-then-survive loops.
- Fans of Phasmophobia-style ghost hunting who want a different identification mechanic and a lighter, pixel-art presentation.
- Players who like supporting small indie developers during Early Access and do not mind a smaller content pool that is actively being expanded.
- Anyone who enjoys 2D pixel horror and wants a game that mixes cozy art with genuinely tense moments, judging by player reports of real jumpscares.
- Players who already have a regular co-op partner online and want a structured session with skill progression, ranks, and unlockable skins.
Wait if you…
- You mainly game on Steam Deck and prefer verified status before buying, since this title is currently listed as Unknown.
- You strongly prefer a single-player experience, because the official mode list shows online co-op and generic multiplayer with no dedicated solo mode.
- You depend on fully voiced localization in your language, since the language table confirms subtitles and interface text only, with fullAudio marked false across the board.
- You like a large library of player feedback to read before purchasing, because the current review pool is small and long-term stability is not yet broadly documented.
If What Is The Ghost is not quite your game
SIMILAR OPTION
HELLDIVERS™ 2
Choose it ifPick HELLDIVERS 2 if you want high-octane cooperative shooting, and pick What Is The Ghost if you want quieter, evidence-driven ghost hunting with a smaller friend group.
How it comparesOnline co-op squad-based tension HELLDIVERS 2 is a third-person shooter focused on friendly fire and large-scale objectives across a hostile galaxy, while What Is The Ghost is a 2D pixel-art investigation game where you identify a spirit through artifacts rather than fight waves of enemies.
SIMILAR OPTION · 50% OFF
Terraria
Choose it ifPick Terraria if you want hundreds of hours of creative sandbox play, and pick What Is The Ghost if you want shorter, tense co-op sessions with an identification loop.
How it compares2D pixel-art action and exploration Terraria is a sprawling 2D sandbox about digging, building, crafting, and exploring a massive world, while What Is The Ghost is a focused 2D horror experience built around short contract-based ghost hunts rather than open-ended sandbox progression.
SIMILAR OPTION
Team Fortress 2
Choose it ifPick Team Fortress 2 if you want a free, polished competitive shooter with a huge community, and pick What Is The Ghost if you want a smaller, evolving co-op horror title.
How it comparesClass-style multiplayer variety with online play Team Fortress 2 is a long-running free-to-play online shooter built around nine classes, varied modes, and continuous updates, while What Is The Ghost is an Early Access indie horror game where players cooperate to identify and survive ghosts in pixel-art maps.
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