Demonologist: A New Reckoning
Released on March 23, 2023, Clock Wizard Games Demonologist is making waves in the horror community by ushering forth a new era of ghost hunting creating a spooky atmosphere combining all the things we love of Phasmophobia and Ghost Exile and then pumping it all to 11.
Shipped as a “co-op horror game that can be played with at least 1 and up to 4 players”, the goal of the game is much like others we have seen in recent years, use specialized equipment to discover the ghost type and then exorcise it. Boasting realistic graphics via Unreal Engine 5, Demonologist sets a creepy atmosphere with its brown-pants-making unique random encounter events. Not only are you trying to survive the ghost on each map but you are also going toe to toe against voice interacted “cursed places”. The game listens to you, or your team, as you explore each map and can react positively or negatively towards what it hears. Outside of each location, you can use your hard-earned funds to customize your character or your safe house. Whether you decide to upgrade your safe house or add an adorable pet by your side in your safe house, there are a lot of options here and we can probably expect more to come as more updates drop.
Ghost Types
Demonologist is home to a decent number of ghosts/demons, a total of 24 at this time. Some of these we have seen in other ghost hunting games while there are a few quite unique ones to haunt your dreams.
You are probably familiar with the following ghosts:
Demon – A malevolent supernatural entity typically spoken of in religious texts.
Special Ability – Minimum reaction to player activity and very aggressive hunts.
Evidence – Freezing Temperatures | Ectoplasm | Easel
Deogen– A Belgian evil spirit also known as “The Eyes” that is often seen in a fog form with smaller shadow entities.
Special Ability – Very aggressive when close to players but calms when at a distance
Evidence – ESG | Ectoplasm | Fingerprints
Goryo– A vengeful Japanese ghost typically referring to a noble or accomplished person that is causing hauntings.
Special Ability – Only interacts with ESG if nobody is around.
Evidence – ESG | EMF 5 | Fingerprints
Hantu– A Malay/Indonesian spirit or ghost that typically refers to spirits or ghosts but can also be used for legendary invisible beings, like demons.
Special Ability – If players speak near it, they become cursed.
Evidence – Freezing Temperatures | Easel | Spirit Box
Jinn – An Arabian entity that is typically invisible and are neither good nor evil.
Special Ability – Highly active and hunts much more often.
Evidence – Freezing Temperatures | EMF 5 | ESG
Mare– A Germanic/Slavic entity that ride on victim’s chests while they sleep causing horrific nightmares.
Special Ability – Hunts less than others, especially when in the vicinity of players. Very talkative.
Evidence – Freezing Temperatures | EMF 5 | Easel
Myling– A Scandinavian phantasmal incarnation of a child’s soul that has been forced to stay on Earth until they can convince someone to properly bury them.
Special Ability – LOVES fire. Extinguishes flames before starting a hunt.
Evidence – Freezing Temperatures | Ectoplasm | Spirit Box
Oni– An entity found in Japanese folklore that is a very large and very strong demonic creature with a terrifying appearance.
Special Ability – Players lose sanity very fast and is also very quick when hunting.
Evidence – Freezing Temperatures | EMF 5?? | Fingerprints
Onryo– A vengeful spirit from Japanese folklore based on the idea that if a soul was powerful and enraged enough, it could influence, harm, and kill the living.
Special Ability – Targets a single player as their “love” and attacks anyone that comes near the chosen player.
Evidence – EMG 5?? | Easel | Fingerprints
Poltergeist– A ghost with a penchant for being a physical disturbance via the use of loud noises or object movement.
Special Ability - The master of the temper tantrum, throws objects and does not calm until there are no more items to throw.
Evidence – ESG | Fingerprints | Spirit Box
Raiju– An Asian entity believed to be the ghost of a dead animal that was knocked off from the tree during bad weather in Japan.
Special Ability – Shies away from groups but enjoys attacking solo players.
Evidence – Freezing Temperatures | ESG | Ectoplasm
Revenant– A French entity that is believed to be an animated corpse that has come back to haunt the living.
Special Ability – Hunts regardless of the player’s sanity level(s).
Evidence – Freezing Temperatures | Easel | Fingerprints
Thaye– An entity known in Burmese beliefs to be a generic ghost.
Special Ability – Aggressive right off the bat but calms as the game progresses.
Evidence – Easel | Fingerprints | Spirit Box
Wraith– A Scottish entity believed to be an evil spirit that seeks to harm all they encounter.
Special Ability - Unknown
Evidence – EMF 5 | Ectoplasm | Fingerprints
Yokai– A spirit found in East Asia that is believed to be a “personification of supernatural phenomena” that typically takes shapes containing animalistic features.
Special Ability – Starts hunting when the average player sanity reaches 50%.
Evidence – EMF 5 | Easel | Spirit Box
Yurei– A Japanese entity that is invisible and without form.
Special Ability – Loves hunting groups and is less likely to attack solo players.
Evidence – ESG | EMG 5?? | Ectoplasm
Ghost Types - Brand spanking new, shiny, and unique out the box:
Abaddon– According to Christian beliefs, Abaddon was a fellen cherub tempted by Lilith to fall from heaven and become the Archdemon ruler of the Abyss.
Special Ability – Very aggressive when the player has low sanity but can be held off with crucifixes.
Evidence – Freezing Temperatures | EMF 5 | Spirit Box
Agash– Did not locate a description.
Special Ability – Fast in cold temperatures but slowed down by heat.
Evidence – Freezing Temperatures | Ectoplasm | Fingerprints
Boogey– Probably short for the Bogeyman, a shadowy, amorphous entity who hides in the dark to frighten victims.
Special Ability – Unknown.
Evidence – ESG | EMF 5 | Spirit Box
Guipo– Did not locate a description.
Special Ability - Unknown
Evidence – ESG | Ectoplasm | Spirit Box
Gul– Potentially an alternative spelling of Ghoul. Found in Arabian religions they are associated with graveyards and consuming human flesh.
Special Ability – Becomes hostile if you talk near it.
Evidence – Freezing Temperatures | Fingerprints | Spirit Box
Iblis– A divine Jinn (formerly Azazil) that fell from grace and become a high-ranking demon/King of Hell.
Special Ability – Always knows where the players are but becomes slowed when it approaches them. It also has its own unique dialogue.
Evidence – ESG | Easel | Spirit Box
Naamah– A demon found in the Jewish Zohar who bore the demonic children of Adam called the Plagues of Mankind.
Special Ability - Unknown
Evidence – ESG | Easel | Ectoplasm
Shaye– Did not locate a description.
Special Ability – Becomes more aggressive in the dark but calms when in the light.
Evidence – Easel | Ectoplasm | Spirit Box
Purchasable Equipment
Candle – The candle currently is only used to complete a secondary objective found on the Abandoned House map. You light the candle, leave it in a location, and wait for the ghost to put it out. It can also be used as a light source should you wish to not use the flashlight.
Crucifix – Currently has a single use, to save the player from a hunt. To use this item the player must be holding it in their hand during a hunt and a charge is removed if the ghost was going to kill you. The developers plan on creating more uses for this item in the future.
Easel Canvas – This works much like the ghost-writing book in Phasmophobia. You place it down in a room and, if the ghost interacts with it, will draw you a picture.
Ecto Glass – This item is used to locate ectoplasm stains across the location. There are also secondary objectives that require its use.
EMF – Unique looking device that allows you to locate the ghost by use of electromagnetic frequency directionally to gather evidence.
ESG – This item is placed on the ground and will produce a silhouette of the ghost while also emitting an audible sound should it interact with it.
Flashlight – Basic flashlight functionality, players use this to illuminate areas so they can see what they are doing.
Photo Camera – This device works just like a camera; you take photos of things. It is currently only used for the secondary objective to take a photo of the ghost in the Abandoned House map.
Sanity Pills – Do exactly what the box says, restore sanity. If you take them all it will make you SUPER sane right!?
Spirit Box – This item works just like the others; you speak certain phrases for a chance that the ghost will respond. If it does, then you will hear its response and see the ghost on the device light up.
Can you talk?
Can you speak?
What is your name?
Where are you?
When did you die?
Thermometer – Used to detect freezing temperatures. You can detect freezing temps by either seeing your breath or reaching a below zero temperature on this device. Really helpful in locating the ghost.
Tripod Camera – A video camera perched on a “tree” that you place down within a location and then move to the safety of home base to view activity on the given monitor.
UV Light – Also work like the other games. You use this item to detect fingerprints/handprints on various objects such as doors and light switches.
Random Spawned on the Location
Ouija Board – You can pick this item up and ask it questions to receive answers from the ghost. Do not forget that each use removes a large amount of sanity and should you keep using it can break the object immediately triggering a hunt.
Where are you?
What room are you in?
Are you here?
How old are you?
Salt Gun – No current use and can only be located at the start of the Hospital map. Utility to come later.
Tarot Cards – A stack of tarot cards that the player picks up and draws one card at a time from the deck. Different cards have different effects (works much like tarot cards in Phas).
Aggressive – angers the ghost
Angel – revives a teammate who was killed
Death – immediately triggers a hunt
Flame of Fate – depending on its color, will raise or lower your sanity
Guillotine – instantly kills the drawing player
Moon – drains the players sanity
Slave – forces the ghost to remain in its current room
Sun – restores the players sanity
The Devil – increases the ghosts activity
Void – can make an item disappear
Voodoo Doll – An adorable little doll that is used to provoke activity from the ghost. The player uses it by locating it, picking it up, and then pushing in the pins one by one, hopefully not triggering a hunt by stabbing the heart
Locations
There are currently 3 available locations in the game. You can choose between the Abandoned House, the Hospital, and Cyclone St. Each of these maps contain special secrets, their own hidden rooms, and many other jump scares, puzzles, and more!
Demonologist is a unique ghost hunting game that allows players to really dive in and become immersed in a spooky atmosphere as they attempt to defeat the given ghost while solving puzzles, completing objectives, and hunting achievements. If you have not tried this game yet, you should definitely pick it up ASAP!
