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Dead by Daylight released in 2016 and features asymmetrical multiplayer. Four years later, the game has a slew of killers, survivors, maps, and a strong player base. The developers behind the game, Behavior Interactive, have done an exceptional job of adding new content and keeping the game fresh. Dead by Daylight is arguably the best asymmetrical horror game to date.
There are a handful of features the games does perfectly. From the wide cast of characters, players can choose from to the extensive progression system, Dead by Daylight offers plenty of variety. However, there are some drawbacks the title has that don't make it the best asymmetrical horror game.
10 Best: Killer Options
Dead by Daylight has 18 playable killers. A fraction of the killers are licensed characters such as Michael Myers or the Demogorgon. Behavior Interactive has also done a great job of creating original characters that have their unique backstory and abilities. The developers have also added a wide variety of perks for each killer. Very few perks overlap with each other, which makes purchasing the characters worth the money.
Furthermore, every killer plays differently than the last. Michael Myers will move slower to use his stalk ability while the Nurse can teleport through obstacles and strike her victims. It is these gameplay options that make the killers so enjoyable to play. The killers will also change the way survivors interact with the map and each other.
9 Worst: Graphics
Dead by Daylight is one of the most enjoyable asymmetrical horror games it is one of the worst looking ones. The game is developed on the Unreal Engine, but the game doesn't look as good as its counterparts. If you are playing a PC then your high or ultra graphics settings won't do a lot to improve the look. Textures are relatively low resolution and the detail in the worlds usually lacks luster.
Graphics are not a feature everyone has high up on their list for "must-haves," but the improved graphics would make for a scarier game. The killers would look more real and the survivors would look more scared. The game is certainly scary already, but improved graphics would take it over the top.
8 Best: Progression System
The progression system in Dead by Daylight is extensive and there is no end in sight. Each survivor and killer get their own bloodweb which is full of perks, offerings, and equipment. Players earn bloodpoints through gameplay and they can be spent on items in the web. Once every item on the web is purchased, the character levels up. Max levels are 50, but players can continue to level up their characters after to receive more perks, items, and offerings.
Dead by Daylight gives players plenty of options when it comes to their character's progression. Perks from other survivors and killers can appear in other character's web's which give players even more options. The amount of options players have is insane. The many different items players can unlock helps change up gameplay and keep the game fresh hundreds of hours in the game.
7 Worst: Survivor Difficulty
Playing as a survivor in Dead by Daylight can be very difficult. Survivors have the most to lose in matches and have the least amount of ways to get away. Overall, everything is stacked against the survivor. On the other hand, the killer prances around to slaughter the four potential victims. They cannot be harmed and they have a good portion of time where their prey cannot leave. Survivors have to work together to escape the entity and it is extremely difficult.
The survivors have no way of fighting back other than pallets they can throw down to stun the killer. These merely stun the killer for a second or two. It is not long before the killer is back on your tail. Players need to play smart, which is difficult to do when you are running from a crazed killer. Behavior Interactive has introduced perks to give the survivors an edge in situations, but they are not always enough.
6 Best: Gameplay
As we've already mentioned several times, gameplay in Dead by Daylight is full of variety. It is difficult for the gameplay to get stale so early because of the many survivors and killers. The 18 killers and 20 different survivors add endless possibilities. Each killer and survivor is also equipped with their own unique perks that can be unlocked for others later. Even though the gameplay may be stacked against the survivors, the challenge is very rewarding.
Furthermore, being able to hook and kill every survivor is a challenge on its own. Players have the ability to play as a survivor or killer which are two different games on their own. Killers have no worry in the world while the survivors are having the biggest anxiety attack of their life. The juxtaposition of these two sides makes for an exciting game.
5 Worst: Ranking
If you just hopped into a match of Dead by Daylight then you wouldn't even think the game has ranked play. However, the game does its best to put killers with equally skilled survivors. It does an excellent job at that goal. Unfortunately, the ranking system doesn't do a great job of allowing everyone into the community of killers. Ranks reset on the 13 of every month which gives players something to look forward to after.
Sadly, killers that are still rank 20, the lowest possible rank, will have a difficult time finding survivors. Most survivors are ranked higher than that resets do not revert past 15. That said, rank 20 killers will have a long queue time to try and find survivors in their ranking.
4 Best: Game as a Service
Whether you like it or not, multiplayer games are moving toward games as a service models. Battle passes are one way developers generate new content and revenue through their video games. Dead by Daylight has leaned into the game as a service model by adding a wide variety of new content and a battle pass equivalent. Players can decide to opt-in to the pass to earn cool rewards.
Dead by Daylight is a great game to have such an option because of the new characters they are adding every year. Of course, players can also just purchase the new killers or survivor packages outright without having to deal with the battle pass.
3 Worst: Microtransactions
Games as a service is a difficult concept to offer to players because developers are asking for more money for a game that players have already bought. The microtransactions are a way for the developer to support themselves and the game. On the other hand, blocking all new content behind a paywall is hard to handle.
If you purchase Dead by Daylight today then you will certainly have plenty of characters to play as. You also won't have access to many of the killers and survivors that have come out since the game launched in 2016. Extra content is obtainable via in-game currency, but it is extremely difficult.
2 Best: Genuinely Scary
Dead by Daylight may not seem to be scary since it is a multiplayer experience but the game has a lot it's holding close to its chest. Many of the killers alone are terrifying to see running at you. Their character designs and their backstories only add to the terror players will experience. Moreover, players can easily get scared of killers who approach undetected.
These moments create jump scares that are not planned by the developers. They simply occur from the community. Additionally, getting chased down by a killer and seeing the red light slowly appear on your back gives you goosebumps and a shiver.
1 Worst: Communication
Finally, the last reason Dead by Daylight is not the best asymmetrical horror game is because communication is severely lacking. Survivors can only emote at each other to communicate with each other. There is no voice chat nor text chat. Players can always party up to get around the issue, but a built-in mechanic would do a better trick.
Dead by Daylight could do something similar to Friday the 13th: The Game and add radios to the game. Once players picked these items up, they could talk to other players across the map. Behavior Interactive should consider chat for nearby players or a better system for emotes.