Dead by Daylight

Game images by RAWG

Dead by Daylight

Behaviour Interactive

Windows; PS4/PS5; Xbox One/Series X|S; Nintendo Switch; Mobile (separate version)premium asymmetrical horror with extensive DLC killers, survivors and cosmetics plus mobile free-to-play version

Health Score

CONCERNING

Official Website Watch Gameplay

About This Game

Super Review

Dead by Daylight is a premium asymmetrical horror game where one player hunts four others, creating intense, often graphic, cat-and-mouse scenarios. Its extensive paid DLC, aggressive monetization, and notoriously toxic online community make it a concerning choice, despite its strong team play potential and short match rhythm.

Super Review

Parent verdict

Given its 'Concerning' health score, Dead by Daylight is a highly cautioned choice for families, suitable only for mature teens who specifically seek out intense horror and understand the risks of its online environment. The core loop of evasion and pursuit can be thrilling, but it comes with graphic violence, jump scares, and significant social toxicity. Parents should weigh the strong content and aggressive monetization against any perceived benefits of team strategy and genre appreciation.

What players actually do

Survivors repair generators under immense pressure, requiring teamwork, strategic planning, and quick reflexes to escape a relentless Killer.
Killers patrol the map, track survivors using various abilities, and attempt to capture and sacrifice them on hooks, demanding map awareness and tactical pursuit.
Players engage in 'looping,' using environmental obstacles to evade the Killer during chases, which involves spatial awareness, prediction, and precise timing.

Where it shines

Team play among survivors fosters communication and collaborative planning to achieve objectives, especially when escaping the Killer.
The game offers short, intense matches, providing clear objectives and immediate feedback on player performance, which can be appealing for quick play sessions.

Parent watch-outs

The game features graphic violence, including blood, gore, intense injury animations, and disturbing imagery like survivors being impaled on hooks, which is highly inappropriate for younger players.
Its online voice and text chat are frequently reported as extremely toxic, exposing players to strong language, insults, taunts, and even threats, especially for new or younger players.

Family rules worth setting

Implement strict controls over online chat (both voice and text) or disable it entirely to protect against toxic interactions.
Set clear time limits for play sessions, as the intense nature of matches can be emotionally taxing, and the game encourages extended engagement through progression systems.

Talk about this

Discuss the difference between fictional horror and real-world violence, emphasizing why the game's disturbing content is not to be normalized or replicated.
Talk about online etiquette and how to disengage from or report toxic players, fostering resilience and healthy responses to negative online behavior.

Play style

Matches are short, typically ranging from 5 to 20 minutes, though they can occasionally run longer, creating a fast-paced rhythm. Difficulty is high, particularly for new players, as mastering the unique abilities of numerous Killers and understanding survivor strategies requires significant time and practice without adequate in-game tutorials. The game is primarily multiplayer PvP, with a heavy emphasis on cooperative play for survivors and competitive strategy for killers. A new player will likely need help understanding complex mechanics, character perks, and map layouts.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

0/5

Creativity

1/5

Pro-Social

2/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

4/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

3/5

Social Risk

4/5

Content Intensity

5/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

0/5

Dead by Daylight offers no discernible educational value. Its core gameplay loop is focused purely on survival horror mechanics and competitive play, without any elements designed for academic learning or skill development outside of game-specific tactics.

Addictive Monetization

4/5

The game has a high addictive monetization score due to its extensive library of paid DLC characters, survivors, and cosmetics, which are frequently released. While some original characters can be earned through playtime, licensed content often requires direct purchase, encouraging continuous spending to access new content and stay competitive or customize avatars.

Time Pressure / FOMO

3/5

Dead by Daylight features time-pressure mechanics and encourages extended play. The core gameplay loop involves competitive progression, earning in-game currency, and unlocking perks and items, which can motivate players to spend significant amounts of time to keep up with content and improve their characters.

Social Risk

4/5

Social risk is very high due to the prevalent toxicity in the online community, particularly in voice and text chat. Players frequently encounter strong language, insults, and harassment, which can be particularly detrimental to younger or more sensitive individuals.

Content Intensity

5/5

Content intensity is at its maximum, reflecting the game's M/PEGI 18 rating for extreme violence, blood, and gore. The game's horror themes, jump scares, and disturbing imagery of impalement and sacrifice are persistent and integral to the experience, making it highly unsuitable for children.

Negatives

•Graphic violence, screaming and hanging imagery are disturbing
•Strong focus on fear and power imbalance
•Online voice and text chat can be extremely toxic, especially for new or younger players