Demonologist: Complete Guide

A practical guide to Demonologist, the 1–4 player co-op exorcism horror game: how an investigation flows, how to use your equipment and voice, surviving hunts, identifying and exorcising the ghost, the current maps, and spending your money on safe houses and gear.

Researched September 2026 — current as of hotfix 2.2.2 (September 16, 2026), following Update 2.2.0 (Black Platform 13). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Quick Start

1. Two goals per contract: identify the ghost type correctly, then exorcise it. Identification alone pays; the exorcism is where the real challenge (and reward) is.
2. Your voice matters. The game uses voice recognition. What you say near the ghost, and to devices like the ESG, can trigger responses, and on some maps a spoken word can even open secrets.
3. Gather evidence methodically. Use your tools room by room, note results in your journal, and narrow the ghost type down.
4. Hunts kill. When the ghost hunts, break line of sight and hide (closets work; a September 2026 fix stopped ghosts hunting players who are properly hidden in closets).
5. Stick together early. Solo is possible, but a team can split roles: one on evidence, one on objectives, one watching cameras.
6. Bring protection. Crucifixes and similar defensive items can prevent or delay hunts. Buying two crucifixes is even an achievement.
7. Tarot Cards can revive a dead teammate.
8. Start on the Abandoned House. It's the classic first map, then move up to bigger locations.
9. Pick the difficulty that matches your team. Nightmare is the toughest and has its own achievements on several maps.
10. Spend money on gear first, cosmetics later. Safe houses, pets and outfits are fun, but tools keep you alive.

How an Investigation Works

1. Choose a map and difficulty from your safe house.
2. Load up equipment before entering.
3. Find the ghost's room. Look and listen for activity, use detection tools, and watch for environmental events.
4. Collect evidence with your tools and record it.
5. Complete objectives (optional objectives pay extra; some maps have story objectives such as the Suzie storyline).
6. Identify the ghost in the journal.
7. Perform the exorcism. Exorcisms involve map-specific steps and timed sequences; difficulty affects the timers.
8. Escape or survive until the job ends, then collect your pay.

Equipment

Equipment names below are ones confirmed in the game's patch notes and achievements. The game's full shop may include more; check it in your safe house.

Fingerprints on doors and surfaces are another form of evidence to look for.

Equipment tips

• Place CCTV in the ghost room and main corridors so someone can call out events.
• Keep a crucifix near the ghost's favourite room.
• Check the EMF repeatedly; spikes point to the ghost's location.
• Speak clearly to the ESG. Try asking about the ghost's age, location or whether it's near.
• Take photos of everything unusual for extra money.

Ghosts

Ghost types confirmed in patch notes and achievements include Iblis, Nalthir, Boogey, Guipo, Wraith, Yokai and Naamah, among others.

• Each ghost type produces a different combination of evidence and behaviours.
• Nalthir is the ghost added in Update 2.2.0. It's a deceiver: it can make you believe you're following the right trail while leading you away from the truth. Its English description was improved in hotfix 2.2.1. Correctly identifying it once unlocks the "Trickster" achievement.
• Iblis had a fix in 2.2.0 so it can now see players hiding in closets properly.
• Special threats like the Snatcher appear on specific maps (it escaped from the Facility in 2.1.0 and appears on Oakville Library, where getting caught is an achievement).

Tip: confirm evidence before guessing. With a deceptive ghost like Nalthir, cross-check with a second tool before trusting a result.

Maps

The 2.2.0 update added 120 new event sequences, and the 2.1.0 update added more than 200.

Black Platform 13 tips (2.2.x)

• The lamp colour in the light puzzle was changed from orange to white in 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 for readability.
• Rail and fuse spawn locations were fixed in 2.2.2, so older guides may point to the wrong spots.
• Completing it on Nightmare unlocks "Free Spirits".

Hunts and Survival

• Hunt indicator: the game warns when a hunt begins. React immediately.
• Hide: closets and lockers are your best option. Get in before the ghost has line of sight.
• Break line of sight: turn corners and close doors behind you.
• Stay quiet: talking and noise can draw attention.
• Use protection: a crucifix placed correctly can prevent a hunt from starting.
• Dead players can't talk to living players (since 2.1.0) and have a separate chat channel; plan callouts before things go wrong.
• Proximity voice: voice volume drops with distance, and far-apart players can't hear each other at all. Use walkie-style coordination by staying reasonably close.

Safe Houses, Money and Progression

• Earn money from contracts, optional objectives, photos and exorcisms.
• Upgrade or buy safe houses (the Pub and the Lighthouse each have an achievement; the Facility was added in 2.0).
• Pets keep you company in the safe house.
• Outfits and emotes (emote system added in 2.1.0) are cosmetic.
• Daily and weekly tasks give extra rewards.
• Showcase your achievements in the safe house.

Your First Contract, Step by Step

A reliable routine for a new team on the Abandoned House:

1. Buy basics before loading in: an EMF reader, a camera, a crucifix or two, and CCTV if you have a spare player to watch it.
2. Walk the house together once. Learn the layout, find closets and lockers near the main rooms, and note where the doors are.
3. Locate the ghost room. Sweep with the EMF and listen for activity. Once you have a likely room, place a camera or CCTV there and set down a crucifix nearby.
4. Split into pairs, not solos. One pair gathers evidence in the ghost room; the other works through the optional objectives. Stay within voice range (proximity voice fades with distance since 2.1.0).
5. Talk to the ghost. Use the ESG and ask simple questions. Note every reply and reaction in the journal.
6. Narrow the ghost type only when two tools agree. Then mark it in the journal.
7. Prepare, then exorcise. Read the map's exorcism steps, restock protection, and make sure everyone knows the nearest hiding spot before you start the timed sequence.
8. Leave with the pay. Use the money on the next tool you were missing, not on a safe house yet.

Update Timeline

Performance tip: since 2.0.0 the game runs on Unreal Engine 5.6 with Lumen lighting, which is demanding. If frame rate drops, turn on DLSS or FSR (added in 2.0.2) before lowering everything else, and use frame generation only if your base frame rate is already reasonable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Guessing the ghost from one clue. Cross-check evidence, especially with Nalthir around.
• Splitting up too far. Proximity voice means you may not hear teammates call a hunt.
• Skipping objectives. Optional objectives are easy money.
• Leaving crucifixes at home. They're one of the best survival tools.
• Hiding too late. Once the ghost sees you, closets won't save you.
• Rushing exorcisms. Prepare everything before starting the timed steps.

Advanced Tips

• Assign roles: evidence, camera/CCTV watcher, objective runner, and exorcism lead.
• Talk to the ghost intentionally. Voice lines can trigger events and even secrets; experiment on easier difficulties.
• Learn each map's layout before trying Nightmare; timers are tighter.
• Use photos as early evidence of the ghost room.
• Hotfix awareness: 2.2.x fixed CCTV feeds sometimes appearing completely dark. If you see this, update the game.
• Solo play: exorcism timers are adjusted for single-player on some maps; solo is viable once you know the map.

FAQ

How many players can play Demonologist? One to four, online co-op.

What's the newest map? Black Platform 13, added in Update 2.2.0 (September 3, 2026).

What's the newest ghost? Nalthir, the deceptive ghost added in 2.2.0.

Can ghosts hunt you in closets? They shouldn't if you're properly hidden. Hotfix 2.2.2 fixed a bug where they sometimes could.

Does voice chat work after death? Dead and living players can't hear each other since 2.1.0. Dead players can read all chat but living players only see living chat.

How do I revive a teammate? Use a Tarot Card (the "The Phoenix: Rebirth" achievement).

Is the game still updated? Yes. It has had a steady stream of updates in 2026, the latest being hotfix 2.2.2 on September 16, 2026.

Sources

• Demonologist on Steam
• Demonologist Steam news (2.1.0, 2.2.0 and hotfixes)
• Demonologist Steam achievements
• Steam news API feed for Demonologist announcements
• Clock Wizard Games