Hunting down every single one of the Luigi's Mansion 2 boos is honestly a test of patience that most players aren't ready for. You're walking through these dusty, atmospheric halls in the Gloomhaven Valley, thinking you've cleared a room, only to realize the Spirit Ball trail is leading you toward a suspiciously empty corner. That’s the core loop of the game. It’s not just about the combat; it's about the "gotcha" moments. If you’re playing the HD remaster on Switch or digging out your old 3DS, you probably already know that these ghosts aren't just hiding—they are actively trolling you.
There are 20 of them in total. One for every main mission, excluding the boss fights and those frantic bonus levels. Finding them isn't just for the sake of a 100% completion badge, though that’s a big part of it. Catching them all is the only way to unlock the secret "Gradual Infiltration" missions in each mansion. If you want the full experience, you have to find these guys.
Why the Luigi's Mansion 2 Boos are Different
In the original GameCube classic, Boos were a constant threat that could pop up anywhere once you triggered them. In Luigi's Mansion 2 (also known as Dark Moon), they are localized. They’re basically collectibles with hit points. Each one has a specific name—usually a terrible pun like "Boodini" or "Boo-ray"—and a very specific hiding spot that requires the Dark-Light Device to reveal.
It's kind of a genius mechanic. You aren't just looking for a ghost; you're looking for what isn't there. You see a shadow on the wall but no furniture? Flash the Dark-Light. You see a gap in a row of books? Flash the Dark-Light. Most people miss them because they rush through the missions to get that Gold rank. But if you want the Boos, you have to slow down. You have to be a bit of a digital detective.
Gloom Manor: The Training Grounds
The first few are easy. They're basically tutorials. In "Poltergust 5000," you’ll find Baboo in the Studio. It’s hard to miss if you’re actually looking. But then the game starts getting clever. By the time you reach the "Visual Entertainment" mission, you’re looking for Ooga Booga. He’s hidden behind a canvas in the Lab.
Most players get stuck on the timing. You can’t just find them; you have to catch them. This involves vacuuming up their tongues, launching them like a rubber band, and depleting their HP. If you mess up, they vanish into another room or hide again. It's annoying. It's supposed to be.
Tracking Them in Haunted Towers
Haunted Towers is where the difficulty spikes. This mansion is vertical, lush, and full of distracting greenery. The Boos here love to hide in plant pots or behind those massive suits of armor.
Take Boofant, for example. Found in the "Right Wheels" mission. You’d think he’d be in a chest, but no, he’s hidden in the Hydro Generator room. You have to use the Dark-Light on the missing water wheel. It's these layers of interaction—using one tool to reveal an object that then triggers the Boo—that make the Luigi's Mansion 2 boos so satisfying to track down.
- Marauder: Hidden in the Botany Lab.
- Boobytrap: Found in the Seedling Laboratory.
- Bootanist: Look in the Crematory (yes, it’s as grim as it sounds).
Honestly, the names are half the fun. Next Level Games clearly had a blast writing the flavor text for these spirits.
Old Clockworks and Secret Mine: The Real Grind
Once you hit the Old Clockworks, the puzzles get mechanical. You're dealing with shifting sands and rotating rooms. Booregard in the "Deadly Overthrust" mission is a classic example of "check every corner." He’s in the Transportation Hall, hidden behind a missing painting. If you aren't constantly scanning with the Dark-Light, you will walk right past him.
The Secret Mine is even worse because of the ice. Sliding around while trying to aim the vacuum is a nightmare. In "Across the Chasm," you're looking for Boofycakes. (Who came up with these names?) He’s in the Airway. You have to reveal a missing bridge segment.
This is where the game tests your memory of the map. Since missions take place in the same mansion but at different times, you start to notice when a vase has moved or a rug is missing. That’s your cue.
Treacherous Mansion: The Final Stretch
The final mansion is a gauntlet. It combines every mechanic you’ve learned. The Boos here have higher HP and are much more aggressive. Boofling in the "Front Door Bell" mission is tucked away in the Terrace. You have to reveal a missing gargoyle.
By this point, you should have the Dark-Light upgraded. If you don't, you're making life unnecessarily hard for yourself. The battery life on the basic version is pathetic. You'll run out of juice just as the Boo is about to materialize, and then you have to wait for it to recharge while the ghost laughs at you. It's humiliating.
The Strategy: How to Actually Catch Them
Catching a Boo isn't like catching a Greenie or a Slammer. You can't just stun them with the Strobulb. Well, you can, but it doesn't do much. You need to find them with the Dark-Light first. Once they appear, they’ll turn invisible and start taunting you.
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Watch the ground. You’ll see puffs of dust or footprints. That’s where they are.
Blast them with the Dark-Light until they get dizzy. Then, grab the tongue. Pull back. Aim for a wall. If you can bounce them off multiple surfaces, you do more damage. It’s like a weird game of ghostly billiards. If you're playing the Switch version, the motion controls actually make this slightly easier, though many purists prefer the sticks.
Common Pitfalls
One thing people always forget: you cannot find the Boo if you haven't completed the main objective of that specific room yet. Sometimes the game locks the Boo trigger until the "standard" ghosts are cleared out. If you're shining your light everywhere and nothing is happening, clear the room first.
Also, if you die during a mission after catching a Boo but before reaching the end, it doesn't count. You have to finish the level. There is nothing more soul-crushing than finding a difficult Boo in the Secret Mine, falling off a cliff, and realizing you have to do the whole 20-minute mission over again.
Why Bother? The Secret Missions
The real "prize" for collecting all Luigi's Mansion 2 boos in a specific mansion is the bonus mission. These are usually "clear the ghosts in under X minutes" challenges. They are frantic. They are difficult. And they are the best way to farm gold for Poltergust upgrades.
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If you’re a completionist, the E. Gadd Vault will show you which ones you’re missing. It’s organized by mansion. If there’s a gap between two Boos you’ve already caught, you can usually figure out which mission you skipped by looking at the order. They are listed chronologically by the mission they appear in.
Final Tactics for the Hunt
To wrap this up, don't treat Boo hunting as a chore. Treat it as a reason to appreciate the level design. The developers put an insane amount of detail into these rooms. Every missing brick or displaced book is a hint.
- Upgrade your Dark-Light early. The Level 3 upgrade is a game-changer.
- Listen for the audio cues. Boos have a distinct giggle when you're near their hiding spot.
- Watch the Spirit Balls. When you reveal an object, you have to vacuum up the Spirit Balls before the object fully materializes. If you're too slow, the object vanishes and you have to start over.
- Check the map. If a room has a weird "indent" or an area that looks accessible but is empty, there’s probably a Boo-related object there.
Go back to the Gloom Manor. Start fresh. Pay attention to the shadows. The Boos are there, waiting to make fun of Luigi. It's your job to make sure he gets the last laugh. Check your vault, see which missions have that missing Boo icon, and jump back in. The secret missions are worth the effort, especially if you want to see everything the game has to offer before the credits roll.