Phantom ShapesWiki Wishlist on Steam

How to play Phantom Shapes with friends

By Nasser, solo developer at Nasser Made Games ·

Phantom Shapes is played online with 2 to 7 people. One person hosts a room, everyone else joins, and the host starts the round.

The Staff Lounge: a dim break room with green lockers, double doors, a kitchenette and ghost shaped ceiling lamps
The Staff Lounge, where your group meets before every round.

What you need

  • Phantom Shapes on Steam for each player (Windows PC).
  • At least 1 friend. A round needs 2 players, and a room holds up to 7.
  • A microphone is optional. You can use text chat and emotes.

Step 1: One player hosts a room

The host makes the room from the main menu. A room can be public or private. For a game with friends, make it private, so only people you invite can come in. The host can also lock the room once everyone is inside.

Step 2: Bring your friends in

There are two ways to join a friend's room:

  • Steam invite. Your Steam friends show up in the game with a Join or Invite button next to their name.
  • Room code. The host shares the room code, and friends type it in to join. If you stream, turn on streamer mode in Settings under Privacy, so the code stays hidden on screen.

Step 3: Sort out voice chat

You join every room muted until you choose. Press M to turn your mic on or off. Voice chat is proximity voice, so you hear the players who are near you in the map. There is no push to talk: an unmuted mic is always live.

The Phantom stays quiet while it hides. Its mic only opens during a Hunt, which makes the chase a lot louder.

Step 4: Start the round

Everyone waits in the Staff Lounge. Workers can pick their 2 extra tools at the lockers beside the lounge door. When the group is ready, the host presses START at the Round Console. One player becomes the Phantom, and the round begins. The host chooses how long hiding and searching last.

No friends online right now?

  • Quick Play puts you in a public room that is waiting for players. If none is waiting, it makes one and you wait in the lounge. There are never bots in online rooms.
  • Training is a practice round against bots. It is a good way to learn the tools before your first night with friends.

Tips for a first night

  • Let a new player be a Worker first. Searching teaches you what a hidden shape looks like.
  • Talk a lot. Saying "that box was not here before" out loud is half the game.
  • Stay near a friend with Ghost Salt when the Phantom starts a Hunt.

Read How to Play for the full rules, Worker and Phantom for each side, and the FAQ for quick answers.

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