Asymmetrical horror games face extinction: dead by daylight's dominance leaves rivals in the dust

The asymmetrical multiplayer horror genre has been a graveyard for promising game concepts. For years, developers have struggled to find a foothold, but one title has risen above the carnage: Dead by Daylight. Its success, however, has come at a devastating cost to its competitors.

Dead by daylight consolidates its reign, leaving a trail of abandoned horror games

Just as the game nears its tenth anniversary, Dead by Daylight boasts over 50,000 concurrent players on Steam, a testament to its enduring appeal. The peak of 120,717 players nine months ago underscores the game’s remarkable staying power. Dave Richard, senior creative director at Behaviour Interactive, attributes this longevity to a perfect confluence of factors: timing, the right people, and, crucially, a healthy dose of luck. He revealed this during a GDC 2026 interview with PC Gamer.

But the ascent of Dead by Daylight has cast a long shadow. Games like Evil Dead: The Game, Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Friday the 13th: The Game are no longer viable options. Evil Dead: The Game was pulled from stores in 2025, leaving only existing owners with access. Texas Chain Saw Massacre endures with a dwindling player base – around 300 daily on PC. Friday the 13th: The Game is unavailable for purchase, and its successor, Halloween (Michael Myers), slated for release on September 8, 2026, will feature a 1v4 asymmetric multiplayer mode alongside a single-player option.

Mathieu Cote, Behaviour Interactive's head of collaborations, points to a key design element that sets Dead by Daylight apart: player agency. Instead of pre-assigned roles, players choose to be either killer or survivor. This flexibility contrasts with the limitations of licensing specific intellectual properties. “Being tied to a specific IP is great because it allows you to delve into a universe that people know and want, but it's also extremely restrictive,” Cote explained.

While Cote playfully dismissed the competition as “not good enough,” Richard acknowledges the advantage of being the first to truly nail the asymmetrical horror formula. The developers have committed to providing new content for at least another ten years, a bold declaration in a notoriously volatile industry.

The demise of these once-promising titles serves as a stark reminder of the high stakes and intense competition within the gaming world. One could argue that Dead by Daylight didn't just succeed; it devoured its rivals whole.

Behaviour Interactive’s commitment to the franchise’s longevity is notable; the company has proven its ability to adapt and thrive in a genre often plagued by fleeting trends. The question isn’t whether Dead by Daylight will continue to dominate, but what other developers will risk to carve out a space in its shadow.