Dead by Daylight has earned its reputation as the premier 4v1 asymmetrical horror game, boasting a diverse roster of over 25 killers and 30 survivors, including iconic characters from the horror genre. With over six years on the market, however, players may question whether it still holds up against newer alternatives like Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed and Evil Dead: The Game. If you're contemplating jumping into Dead by Daylight for the first time in 2023, let's evaluate whether it's worth your investment or if you should explore other gaming options.
Is Dead By Daylight Worth It For New Players In 2023?
The update brought significant changes to the prestige system and Bloodweb, resulting in a more player-friendly experience. Leveling up a character now requires fewer Bloodpoints, and players no longer lose their items when increasing a character's prestige level. This revamp has significantly eased the burden for newcomers, allowing them to accumulate perks, items, and offerings more easily, ultimately enhancing their performance in trials.
Huge Killer And Survivor Roster
If you've been keeping an eye on Dead by Daylight but haven't yet taken the plunge, there's no better time than now to get started. Even after six years on the market, the game remains unmatched as the best 4v1 asymmetrical horror game available, and it continues to improve through regular updates from the dedicated developers.
Is Dead By Daylight Worth It For Returning Players in 2022?
Quality of Life Updates
Visual Updates
Perk Changes
A common concern among veteran players is the staleness of the Dead by Daylight meta, which often leads to the repetitive use of the same four strong perks in every match, despite the wide array of options available.
To address this issue, the perk overhaul introduced significant changes to the meta. Old meta perks like Dead Hard underwent complete reworks, making room for new perks to enter the meta. This shift opened up opportunities for players to explore and experiment with different builds, breaking away from the monotony of using the same set of perks repeatedly. Moreover, perks that were previously considered obsolete, such as Off the Record, have received updated power descriptions and are now utilized more frequently by survivors. These updates have revitalized the game and offered players a fresh perspective, alleviating the frustration of being confined to a limited meta build in every match.
Queue Times
Long queue times have been a persistent concern for many dedicated Dead by Daylight players, as both killers and survivors often faced waiting times of up to ten minutes when player numbers were low. However, in the past year, significant improvements have been made to address this issue.
The introduction of new content, such as the Resident Evil Project W collaboration, has attracted a substantial influx of new players to the game. This increased player base has had a positive impact on queue times, significantly reducing waiting periods for matches.
In addition to the content updates, Behaviour Interactive implemented Matchmaking Incentives to further incentivize players to choose a role (either killer or survivor) that can help balance the queue times. By encouraging players to fill the role that is currently in lower demand, the system promotes more efficient matchmaking and decreases overall waiting times.
These measures have effectively tackled the queue time problem, providing a smoother and more enjoyable experience for both killers and survivors in Dead by Daylight.
Character Updates And New Releases
Some of the most recent additions to Dead by Daylight's character roster, like Albert Wesker from Resident Evil and The Onryo from Ringu, have been hailed as some of the game's finest releases to date. These characters not only bring rich lore but also introduce perks that have shaken up the game's meta and revolutionized gameplay strategies. For instance, The Cenobite's Scourge Hook: Gift of Pain introduced the Scourge Hook perk type, bestowing killers with a potent new ability that has had a profound impact.
On the survivor side, Mikaela Reid introduced Boons, offering survivors a fresh form of counterplay and strategic options.
Even older characters receive regular updates to ensure they remain relevant in the evolving meta. If you enjoyed playing as The Clown or The Spirit, for example, you'll discover numerous new features in their kits that diversify gameplay and inject further excitement into trials.
Dead by Daylight has undergone numerous positive changes in recent years, making it an ideal time for veteran players to return and rediscover the game in 2023. Don't hesitate to give it another try—you're bound to be pleasantly surprised by the advancements and improvements that await you.