Dead by Daylight is a multiplayer (4vs1) horror game where one player takes on the role of the savage Killer, and the other four players play as Survivors, trying to escape the Killer and avoid being caught, tortured and killed.

Survivors play in third-person and have the advantage of better situational awareness. The Killer plays in first-person and is more focused on their prey.

The Survivors' goal in each encounter is to escape the Killing Ground without getting caught by the Killer - something that sounds easier than it is, especially when the environment changes every time you play.

The game features procedurally generated levels, so players never experience a repetitive map. Be the killer and massacre all your victims before they escape, by using your speed and power in 1st person, or team up with your friends to try and outwit the killer with your superior awareness and agility in a 3rd person's view as he hunts you through a nightmare world.

Players take on the role of both killer and survivors in a deadly game of cat and mouse. It’s a Mature Gamer take on the thrills of Hide & Seek!

For nearly a decade, Dead by Daylight players have taken ownership of the game’s world far beyond the Trials themselves. Through art, videos, and written stories, the community has crafted theories, expanded lore, and reimagined the lives of its Killers and Survivors. Now, for the first time ever, Dead by Daylight is inviting players to bring that same passion directly into the game—joining forces with the dev team as true co-creators of the game’s inaugural community-created Chapter.

Those looking to vote can visit here.

Originally launched in 2025 as a thank-you from Dead by Daylight to its players for nearly a decade in the Fog, The Grimoire is an ambitious project designed to place the creation of the game’s next great Killer and Survivor directly in the hands of its community. Through behind-the-scenes access, development insights, and monthly voting, the Grimoire represents a fundamentally new approach to Chapter development for the long-running horror multiplayer. Rather than voting on finished concepts, players collaborate with the dev team at key creative milestones—making critical decisions that define lore, visual identity, and gameplay direction from the ground up.

“Through the Grimoire, we’re bringing players into our process in a way we’ve never done before,” explains Dave Richard, Creative Director on Dead by Daylight. “It’s about opening the doors for both people looking to get into Dead by Daylight, as well as the incredible community that’s been with us since the start, and taking them from players to co-creators. We want them to truly feel a sense of ownership and agency when it comes to shaping the characters and mechanics of an entirely new, original Chapter.”

The Story So Far

Following the project’s announcement in 2025, fans have participated in multiple rounds of voting on the Grimoire site, where players can review creative options and cast their votes. Results and behind-the-scenes insights are then shared on Dead by Daylight’s social channels. 

The first phase of the project established the creative foundation of the Chapter, defining everything from character identities and backstories to the broad strokes of how the Killer’s Power will function. Through this process, players shaped a malevolent, otherworldly, god-like Killer from beyond our own reality—one whose purpose and Power revolve around hunting sinners and delivering punishment.

Opposing it, stands a new Survivor – a spiritual scientist in search of answers. This new character represents one of the last living beings from a dying world that faces an apocalypse brought on by the very same Killer they find themselves pulled into The Fog alongside.

“This project has felt like a true partnership with the community,” says Sr. Game Designer, Jeff Melo. “It’s challenging, exciting, and incredibly rewarding for the whole team to watch player ideas take shape in real time.”

Entering Production

With the Chapter now officially in production, The Grimoire is entering its most exciting phase yet, open both to newcomers and those who have been along for the ride since the start. The current vote, running from Friday, January 23 at 12:00 PM ET to Monday, January 26 at 12:00 PM ET, marks the first reveal of character concept art, allowing players to vote on the Killer’s silhouette and the Survivor’s face.

Upcoming votes will go even deeper into visual identity, exploring mood boards and material direction as the community continues to refine the Chapter’s look and feel.

Behaviour has implemented Cross-Play across PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, allowing players on console and PC to face trials together, while Cross-Friends will let you create a friends list that is cross-platform and enjoy an unprecedented multiplayer experience in their favorite multiplayer horror game.  

Dead by Daylight is available for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC.