Halloween is the best time of the year to put yourself on edge with your collection of spine-tingling horror games like Outlast, Resident Evil, or even some retro horror games. Dead by Daylight and Friday the 13th: The Game are two frightening multiplayer experiences that every horror game enthusiast should have in their collection, but which one is the scarier option for the most ominous time of the year?
Those that prefer one game over the other might suggest that they’re too different to be compared, but with both being asymmetrical multiplayer games with one side trying to escape the map and the other attempting to kill everyone else, the similarities are hard to ignore. Pop into any forum or subreddit dedicated to one of the games and you’ll eventually come across the other game being mentioned, a sign that even though players will vehemently defend one over the other, they’re close enough to have their scare factors compared like we’ve done below.
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Dead by Daylight
Dead by Daylight’s advantage over Friday the 13th: The Game in the scare department lies firmly in the diversity of its Killers that all have the same hook ’em goal but rely on signature powers to get there.
From chainsaws to bear traps to bladed gloves, Dead by Daylight’s relies on the intimidation factor of iconic characters like Freddy Krueger and Leatherface to new creations like The Trapper and The Nurse. During your first few Dead by Daylight matches when playing as a Survivor, you’ll find yourself holding your breath every time the Killer passes by you, and you’ll likely be on edge for most of the match.
Unfortunately, as you progress with the Survivors, the game eventually begins to feel more grind-y and frustrating as opposed to a scary experience. Where you’d previously tense up at the sight of a Killer, like a veteran horror character who reappears in sequel after sequel, you’ll find the Killers less jarring and yourself better prepared.
If you’re trying Dead by Daylight for the first time on Halloween, you’re in for an intense experience, but if you’re well up there in the ranks already, you’ll likely spend your Halloween frustrated amid pallet loops and Killers that tunnel in on you.
Friday the 13th: The Game
Putting in all their chips into one iconic horror franchise instead of roping in multiple infamous killers, Friday the 13th: The Game stays faithful to the intense, prolonged chases that the movies are known for.
The focus of the game obviously caters to those who loved the Friday the 13th movies, but the good news is that you can pick up on the game quickly even if you’re unfamiliar with the series’ history. Different variations of Jason Voorhees are available from most of the movies in the franchise that allow you to live the experience of your favorite Friday the 13th movie, and while they have different pros and cons, each of them shares the same powers that instill dread into the Counselors. Having a Jason Shift into your path or seeing a brief glimpse of a Jason Stalking past your cabin window is enough to put you into a survival-induced panic.
But staying faithful to the movies does have a downside in that if Jason wants you dead, you’re probably going to die. Seeing him pop up suddenly on your map is enough for a quick jump scare and an expletive, but it’s not as easy to get him off your tail as it is in Dead by Daylight. You can prolong the chase, and teams that work together can unite to escape, but if he sets his gaze on you, you’re going down eventually. While this can lead to mounting dread in the movies, it often results to a frustrating prolonging of the inevitable in the game.
If you loved the movies and are looking for a game that’ll provide continued frights as you progress, Friday the 13th: The Game is likely the better option, but having a premade team to help you makes it much more enjoyable.
