Behavior Interactive Declares Dead by Daylight as 'Most-Played Horror Game in History'

Behavior Interactive, the developer behind Dead by Daylight, has announced that the game holds the title of "most-played horror game in history." This declaration comes as the title approaches its 10th year since its 2016 launch.

The asymmetrical 4v1 multiplayer horror game has amassed more than 70 million players over the past decade. It consistently averages over 1 million players daily across all platforms. On Steam, Dead by Daylight has remained a top 15 best-seller for nine years. The developer specifies that this claim pertains to an individual game title rather than an entire franchise.

Behavior Interactive noted substantial growth for Dead by Daylight, with revenues increasing by over 50% in the last 12 months. Rémi Racine, co-founder and CEO of Behavior, stated that initial forecasts projected around 300,000 copies sold. He also highlighted 2025 as Dead by Daylight's most successful year to date, welcoming over six million new players and achieving record performance, with continued growth into 2026.

The development team for Dead by Daylight has expanded significantly from 30 people at its 2016 launch to nearly 500 strong today. Behavior Interactive, which operates offices in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Dallas, Middlesbrough, and Rotterdam, identifies itself as the largest Canadian gaming studio with over 1,200 employees.

Part of the game's sustained popularity is attributed to its high-profile crossover events with franchises such as Alien, Five Nights at Freddy’s, Resident Evil, Friday the 13th, and Stranger Things. An anniversary event for fans is scheduled to take place in Montreal on Sunday, June 14, at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET, where future game developments are expected to be unveiled via livestream.

(Source: IGN)