As Dead by Daylight continues to collaborate with almost every horror franchise, it’s slowly pushing itself into a corner. Once the horror mascots dry up, DBD might have to switch to series from other genres. We’ve compiled a list of killers from such franchises that we’d love to see in the game.
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Non-horror Killers that’d be great to see in DBD
While making this list, I tried to keep as close to “horror” as I could. The characters featured here come from traditionally non-horror franchises, from DC Comics to Star Wars, but give out strong horror vibes, whether by their design or story themes.
DBD has already collaborated with non-horror entities before, adding actual people like Nicolas Cage or, most recently, DnD‘s Vecna, which could imply potential other non-horror collaborations, so long as they are adjacent to the genre at the very least.
So, now for the list.
Batman Who Laughs – DC Comics
The Batman Who Laughs is one of my favorite iterations of Bruce Wayne, not least because of its design. He looks incredible, to say the least, and would be a perfect fit for Dead by Daylight‘s grim and dark universe.
He wields all sorts of weapons in the comics and has the power of precognition, which give Behaviour more than enough to create an ability kit that instills dread into any Survivors who would come across him.
Big Daddy – Bioshock
Depending on whom you ask, Bioshock could be considered a horror game. However, it is overtly cinematic, has a ton of action and combat, and is more of an action game in general than a horror one. That isn’t to say that Big Daddy doesn’t give off all the vibes of a horror villain, which would make him perfect for the role of a DBD Killer.
The way in which Big Daddies behave in Bioshock is haunting, to say the least, from their echoing wailing sounds to their heavy movement and dominant size. If he’s coming your way, you’ll hear him, which would be a dreadful mechanic in DBD. I already get startled a ton once my Survivor’s heart starts racing as the Killer grows near, so I could only imagine the fear of that combined with deep thumping footsteps and whale calls.
Psycho Mantis – Metal Gear Solid
One of the best characters ever designed in gaming, Psycho Mantis would be the ultimate Killer to toy with players’ minds during matches. His ability to read the thoughts of others would also be a fantastic ability in the game. He could say out loud what the last game you’ve played was, read out your profile’s description, and so on, much like he does in the original Metal Gear Solid title.
Of course, this needn’t be his only ability, but given his design and overall psychosis-inducing powers, Behaviour would have a goldmine to play with and create the ultimate DBD Killer. Kojima’s games, in general, feature a ton of horror-adjacent characters even if his games aren’t precisely in the genre, so some others, like Vamp, Skull Face, and similar, would also work well.
Jacket – Hotline Miami
Though we rarely see much of him from ground level, Jacket is nevertheless a terrifying character originating from the Hotline Miami series of shooters. He is a merciless and psychotic maniac, cutting down and shooting just about anyone he comes across. He has already featured in other games, such as Payday 2, where he is represented precisely as I have described him here—insane and brutal.
Being so, he’d make the perfect Killer in DBD. Though we are used to seeing him wield a gun, he also enjoys the company of his trusty fire axe and hammer, which would make him awesome as a bog-standard slasher Killer with a pronounced 80s synth vibe.
The Caretaker – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Technically, Hearts of Stone is a horror expansion to the otherwise dark fantasy game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. However, its actual horror elements are contained within only a few parts of the expansion, the Caretaker being one of them. Solemnly watching over the von Everec Estate, the Caretaker’s faceless visage and iconic shovel are incredible designs that’d feel right at home in The Fog.
T-800 – The Terminator
The T-800, portrayed iconically by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is one of the most iconic antagonists and villains in the history of cinema, and it’d be a crying shame not to see the character as part of the DBD roster. Some could even argue that the first film is a slasher horror, giving Behaviour an additional reason to pursue this collaboration.
If ranged weaponry is the problem, make him bare-fisted. After all, the T-800 kills more than a few people with his bare hands, using that mechanical strength of his to rip them to shreds. Why wouldn’t he be able to do the same to a handful of measly Survivors?
Darth Vader – Star Wars
Darth Vader is probably the one I’d love to see the most in DBD. While explicitly non-horror, he is the quintessential evil villain, his redemption arc be damned. The music that follows him everywhere he goes, the breathing, the red lightsaber gleaming in the dark, everything about him is just perfect.
And what’d be even better is for him to be hunting down all sorts of Survivors across one of many of the Star Wars universe’s haunted planets, derelict ships, or other dark and grim and interesting areas. I’m certain Behaviour would be able to come up with some awesome ideas here, and I’m certainly holding my breath for whatever collab with Star Wars that might come up down the line.
What about you, Destructoid? Which non-horror killers would you love to see in DBD? Let us know below.
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