Phasmophobia’s Next Map, Nell’s Diner, Hints At The Game’s Exciting Future

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Phasmophobia became incredibly popular during the pandemic, offering a fun way for people to connect with friends while staying home. The game, where you work together to investigate and hunt ghosts, has only gotten better over time. The newest update introduces Nell’s Diner, a map featuring a classic American diner and a lonely highway. I got a sneak peek, and it’s clear this update points to an exciting future for what is already one of the top multiplayer horror games available.

Corey Dixon, the art director for Phasmophobia, explained that Nell’s Diner is packed with original details, offering more ways to interact with the environment and several hidden surprises. When the game was first created by Daniel Knight, he was primarily a programmer, not an artist, which is why Phasmophobia has historically relied on fairly basic visuals for things like furniture, vehicles, and even the ghosts. However, as the game nears its full release after version 1.0, the team is planning a major visual update. This approach is already visible in recent map redesigns, such as the dilapidated Grafton Farmhouse and the more refined Bleasdale Farmhouse.

Looking ahead, the game will feature updated character models and a shop for cosmetic items. But first, players will get a brand-new map called Nell’s Diner, which is unlike anything seen in the game so far. From the outside, a foggy, buzzing neon sign draws you in, as if you’ve stumbled upon it during a long drive. When ghost hunters arrive at Nell’s Diner in Phasmophobia, they’ll find evidence that something has already happened – exactly what that is, the developers want players to figure out for themselves. A police car remains parked outside with its lights flashing, and inside, it’s clear a disturbance has taken place, with overturned furniture and a messy kitchen.

The diner environment feels very different from places like homes or the abandoned Sunny Meadows asylum. Everything—from the cash register and kitchen appliances like mixers and whipped cream dispensers, to a working TV playing a John Denver movie and a vintage jukebox—can be interacted with. Interestingly, these objects react differently depending on whether a player or a ghost is using them. These aren’t just generic items either; they’re custom-made specifically for the diner map. This is a big improvement, as the developers are no longer using pre-made asset packs that might appear in other games—which really helps Phasmophobia stand out. The diner is also more visually vibrant, and the design separates areas for customers and employees, giving each section a unique look and feel.

The team hopes to eventually update all the older maps, giving them the same kind of detailed makeover they gave the two farmhouses – a significant visual upgrade, and changes to the layout when it improves gameplay. They’re aiming for a realistic, lived-in feel, avoiding the typical artificial look of many video game environments. For example, in the diner, they’ve added a hiding spot behind a vending machine that’s been moved away from the wall for maintenance.

With a Phasmophobia movie in development, the team is now prioritizing the game’s backstory and overall lore. According to developer Luke Dixon, Kinetic Games has recently made expanding the lore a central focus.

We’re building a deeper story into the game, revealing it through hidden details – like special secrets related to the ghosts and clues about the ghost hunters’ employer. Even the locations themselves might have extra layers of meaning. There’s a lot more to discover beneath the surface of the game, and we think players will enjoy uncovering it. You can find some of these hidden details on the Nell’s Diner map, and we believe players will quickly find them and appreciate the surprises they hold.

I got to explore Nell’s Diner thoroughly, playing through it three times. I checked out the manager’s office, lots of cool arcade games that fit the diner’s world, and even the walk-in freezer – which is so cold it might trick you into thinking it’s haunted! The diner also has a looping design; the main customer area has doors at both ends leading to the employee area. I asked the developer, Dixon, if there were any hidden secrets, and he hinted that observant players will be rewarded for paying close attention.

As a Phasmophobia player, I’m really excited about Nell’s Diner! If you enjoy maps like Tanglewood or other houses, you’ll probably like this one – it’s a similar size. But honestly, it looks totally different from anything we’ve seen so far. The developers call it a ‘small’ map, and while that’s true compared to places like Maple Lodge, it really shows how ambitious they are for the future of the game. It feels like a taste of what’s to come!

Nell’s Diner is coming to Phasmophobia in a free update for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

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2025-11-10 23:10