Dead by Daylight’s inventive concept for a competitive horror game strikes an incredible balance between two very different styles of play, and makes both compelling. Channeling the slasher movie spirit, each match feels like a mini horror movie on both sides. Whether you’re the efficient and unpredictable killer, or one of the strategically elusive survivors, the thrill of the chase and the ever-present threat that even the best-laid plans can go awry keep Dead by Daylight feeling timely, even after five years of thrill kills.

In Dead By Daylight, what you get depends on whom you play with. This is one of the game's most enchanting aspects. Despite my praise for the game's tremendous competitive dynamics, it can also be enjoyed by a group of idiot friends—people who might be playing for the first time—just looking to escape Leatherface for a few hours. The intrigue of Dead By Daylight's game-theory intrigue quickly fades into the background, leaving only the hushed conversations between you and your brother to matter.

A lot of games possess both sides of that dichotomy, but I cannot think of many others. There is simply no way to bring a newcomer into a game like Dota 2 without having them view an hour-long tutorial video. League and Overwatch are far too steeped in stately precision to ever be charitable to bad play. In contrast, Dead By Daylight excels at both, combining gory slasher flick pleasures with a highly competitive gaming experience. In addition to being a Halloween pastiche, it is a psychodrama based on Hereditary. That, my friends, is a blockbuster.

I recommend it 100% beware of the tunnelers and campers as well as the flashlight clickers.