Surprisingly, one of the most successful horror games was created by a developer who actually avoids this genre. Daniel Knight, director of Phasmophobia, originally planned a cooperative puzzle game, but fear ended up being the secret ingredient. The project’s evolution took a completely different direction than Knight ever expected.

By now, you’ve probably noticed the rise of co-op horror games where friends can scream and laugh together. Phasmophobia stands out as a flagship: a ghost-hunting, investigative experience loved by millions. The twist? Its creator never set out to make a horror game—mainly because he doesn’t even play them himself.

Daniel Knight, director and lead developer of Phasmophobia, told PC Gamer: “I did not manage to make a cooperative puzzle game. […] Or a co-op horror puzzle game. I didn’t really set it up to be a ghost hunting game. It just ended up being a perfect fit.” He continued, “The main goal was to make a social cooperative puzzle game where you had to stand next to your friends and solve a puzzle together.” And, “The horror is kind of like the secondary part — it just turned out to be the perfect combination.” Knight admits he’s the most surprised by Phasmophobia’s horror turn: “I don’t really play horror games.” Still, he acknowledges Content Warning managed to hook him a little.

Phasmophobia has generated more than $300 million

Knight absolutely made the right call by changing direction. The game became a massive hit on PC and later on consoles. The numbers say it all: 20 million units sold, $300 million in revenue. Looking back, Knight can be happy he traded puzzles for fear.

Source: 3djuegos