Dead by Daylight: the 1 vs 4 horror game explained

Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical horror game by Behaviour Interactive, first released on PC on June 14, 2016. One player is the killer and four are survivors, who have to power the exit gates and escape before they are caught and sacrificed. It is on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.

How a trial works

Survivors spread out and repair generators, usually five per map. A repair takes well over a minute alone and goes faster with help. When enough generators are done, the two exit gates get power, and survivors open one and run.

The killer can see the auras of unfinished generators, so they know where to patrol. A downed survivor gets carried to a hook. Teammates can rescue them, but each hook brings that survivor closer to being sacrificed.

If only one survivor is left, a hatch appears somewhere on the map as a last way out. If the killer closes it, the exit gates get power anyway, and it becomes a race to open one.

Killers, perks and guest horror

Every killer has a power that changes how they hunt, and both sides pick perks that bend the rules a little. Building a perk set around one plan is a big part of the long game.

The roster mixes killers made for Dead by Daylight with guests from horror films and series, starting with Michael Myers from Halloween in 2016. Later chapters added characters from Stranger Things and many others.

Is there a mobile version?

Not anymore. Dead by Daylight Mobile, run by NetEase, came out in 2020 with the same 4 vs 1 matches and touch controls. It was pulled from the App Store and Google Play on January 16, 2025, and its servers shut down on March 20, 2025. The main game on PC and consoles was not affected.

Make your own killer vs survivors game with Roam

Roam is a free iPhone app. Describe the map, the killer and the way out, and it comes back as a game you can play with friends. Roam is rated 13+ on the App Store.

Try: "abandoned mall at night, one friend is the killer, four of us fix 5 generators to open the exit gates, hide in the stores"

Create it with Roam Pre-register on Android See Roam

Roam ("Roam - Make Games" on the App Store) is an iPhone app where you play games and make your own by describing them or from a photo. It is free to download and play, and making games works without a subscription; optional Spark and Reality plans and credit packs add more creation. Android: pre-register on Google Play.

Questions people ask

Who made Dead by Daylight?

Behaviour Interactive, a studio from Montreal. It came out on PC in June 2016.

Is Dead by Daylight on mobile?

No. The mobile version shut down on March 20, 2025. You can play on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch.

How many generators do you need to escape?

Usually five. Once they are done, the exit gates get power and survivors can open them.

Can you play Dead by Daylight online?

Yes, on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch. It is a paid game where four survivors face one killer online, with cross-play across systems. The phone version shut down on March 20, 2025, so there is no iPhone option.