Dead by Daylight is a 2016 asymmetric survival horror video game developed and published by Behaviour Interactive, released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, iOS, and Android. The game follows four survivors who must try and escape a killer and avoid being caught and sacrificed to a malevolent force known as the Entity.

Given that I’ve always said that this game is a blatant rip off of Friday the 13th: The Game, I have no problem admitting that it is. Just done better. A group of people are seemingly abducted and thrust into an arena Style map where they must escape while being pursued by threats both human and otherworldly. The killers will hook their prey, attempting to sacrifice them to a being known as the Entity. Undoubtedly the villains are the best part, especially when reading of their backstories. Definitely gives the game an air of creativity which makes the setting more immersive. (3 out of 5)

Gameplay is simple. Four players attempt to escape the area while avoiding the killer. To do so, players must repair several generators in various locations across the maps to apply power to gates or through a hatch that opens when there’s one survivor left. Sounds familiar right? Anyway, players have various means to help them evade or temporarily incapacitate their pursuers. Players can choose to be the killer or human or you can just leave it to chance by allowing the game choose.

But outside of being the killer, the name of the game is teamwork, and if you have a good crew and a possible way to communicate then the chances of escape increase tremendously. For example, one person can act to work on the generators while two distract the killer and the fourth helps the injured. Or have two focus on the killer and the other two focus on the generators. Both are good strategies with their ups and downs.

Have you ever wondered why you and your three companions don’t just pick up some sticks and just beat the crap out of the killer. Well, you can’t. All players can do is run from, evade, stun, and block a killer’s pursue utilizing items in the environment such as wooden pallets. The gameplay for the killers is simple but diverse,  each possessing their own strengths, weaknesses,  and special abilities.  Some killers feel more balanced than others. Controls handle well enough and I experience little bugs during my playthrough. Outside of a bad internet connection it played pretty smooth. (3 out of 5)

The graphics are serviceable. This isn’t one of those games that demands top notch graphics but it does a good job of building creepy environments. The level designs are good, rich in detail, and diverse in setup. In one match players can find themselves running around an old factory and another in a suburban neighborhood. This diversity makes the game feel like you’re in a horror movie that’s really all that we want. The lighting design is good and definitely has good quality behind it. (3 out of 5)

Don’t remember a lick about the music. But honestly to think that a game like this would have a deep soundtrack is pretty ridiculous. The sound design is decent. Not to say that it doesn’t exist just you won’t remember it. Still it does manage to create a dark ambiance to the point that keeps the gameplay tense. Not deep but decent. Running around has impact so when players are stealthy you can hear the difference. (3 out of 5)

And if you’re looking to playing this game again and again then the potential’s there. What makes the game so addictive is the focus of teamwork as well as playing the killer. Going back and playing each of the unique characters is guaranteed to bring a different experience each game through (well of you’re lucky enough to constantly spawn as the killer). The challenge of seeing if you can escape each of the various killers.

Although the gameplay can get tedious and repetitive as long as you have friends on your team the frustrations of playing with a new player or playing with some who says damn working together will be minimum. There is plenty of DLC out there introducing new characters from various villains from other franchises such as Michael Myers, Leatherface, Nemesis and recently the Demogorgon from Stranger Things. (3 out of 5)

In the end, Dead by Daylight is a great game particularly when comes to the cooperative play. This is a definite win for gamers who love games such as Friday the 13th: The Game or Hello Neighbor. It can be tedious with some of the objectives and is repetitive as hell. However, it’s fun at the end of the day and that’s all we really want. The gameplay is good, it’s atmosphere is good, the cooperative play is good and the killers are a hoot to control. Dead by Daylight gets 3 out of 5.