Is Dead by Daylight Free on PC?
Yes — as of July 16, 2024, Dead by Daylight's base game became free-to-play on Steam and Epic Games Store. The free base game includes:
- All core game mechanics (generators, hooks, escape, chase)
- A rotating selection of free Killers and Survivors
- The Bloodweb progression system
What is NOT free:
- Most Killers and Survivors are locked behind paid DLC Chapters ($7.99–$11.99 each) or the in-game currency Auric Cells ($5–$30+)
- Cosmetics (skins) are purchased with Auric Cells
- The original base-game roster (Trapper, Dwight, Meg, etc.) is free; licensed characters (Freddy Krueger, Myers, Leon Kennedy, etc.) require purchase
Previously paid players: If you bought DBD before July 2024, you received a Legacy status cosmetic and the original base roster as permanent unlocks.
Dead by Daylight PC System Requirements
| Tier | CPU | GPU | RAM | Storage | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Intel Core i3-4170 / AMD FX-8120 | NVIDIA GTX 460 / AMD HD 6850 | 8 GB | 50 GB SSD | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Recommended | Intel Core i5-7600K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600 | NVIDIA GTX 1060 / AMD RX 580 | 8 GB | 50 GB SSD | Windows 10/11 64-bit |
| 1080p/High | Intel Core i7-10700K / AMD Ryzen 7 3700X | NVIDIA RTX 2060 / AMD RX 5700 XT | 16 GB | 50 GB SSD | Windows 11 64-bit |
Storage note: The base game installs at roughly 50 GB. Subsequent Chapter DLC adds cosmetics and data but minimal extra size. An SSD is required for smooth performance — HDD loading causes matchmaking delays and mid-game hitches.
How to Download Dead by Daylight on PC
Via Steam (recommended)
- Open Steam → Search "Dead by Daylight"
- Go to the store page → click Play Game (shows as free)
- Click Install in the popup
- Choose install location → Install
- After download (~50 GB), launch from Library
Via Epic Games Store
- Open Epic Games Launcher → go to Store
- Search "Dead by Daylight" → click Get (free)
- Click Install → choose location → confirm
- Launch from Epic Library
Note: DBD cross-play links Steam and Epic accounts together automatically. You can play with friends regardless of which platform they use. Your progression, Bloodpoints, and purchased DLC are account-bound (not platform-bound).
Best PC Settings for Dead by Daylight (2026)
DBD runs on Unreal Engine 4 and has a history of poor optimization on some hardware configurations. The settings below prioritize both performance and visibility — seeing Survivors/Killers through environmental clutter is as important as raw FPS.
Graphics Settings
| Setting | Low-end (≤GTX 1060) | Mid-range (RTX 2060–3060) | High-end (RTX 3070+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window Mode | Fullscreen | Fullscreen | Fullscreen |
| Resolution | 1280×720 or 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 or 2560×1440 |
| Resolution Scale | 75–85% | 100% | 100% |
| Anti-Aliasing | Low or Off | Medium | High |
| Textures | Low–Medium | High | Epic |
| Shadows | Low (biggest lever) | Medium | High |
| Post Processing | Low | Medium | High |
| Effects | Medium | High | Epic |
| Foliage | Low (visibility + FPS) | Medium | High |
| View Distance | High | High | Epic |
| Motion Blur | Off (always) | Off | Off |
| Lens Flare | Off | Off | Optional |
| Depth of Field | Off | Off | Off |
| Ambient Occlusion | Off | Medium | High |
| VSync | Off | Off | Off |
| FPS Limit | 60 / Uncapped | Uncapped | Uncapped |
Key settings explained:
- Shadows = Low is the single largest FPS gain available and has minimal impact on gameplay visibility
- Foliage = Low significantly improves your ability to spot crouching Survivors hiding in grass and bushes; it's a visibility improvement, not just a performance one
- Motion Blur = Off makes tracking Killers and Survivors during chases much easier
- Depth of Field = Off keeps the environment sharp at all distances — critical for spotting players far away
- Resolution Scale below 100% creates a blurry image; avoid going below 75% unless frame rate is extremely low
Dead by Daylight: Core Mechanics Overview
DBD is a 1v4 asymmetric horror game. Four Survivors must repair 5 generators to power the exit gates and escape. One Killer must catch and sacrifice all Survivors before they escape.
The Objective Flow
Survivors: Repair generators (80 seconds each, reduced with 2+ Survivors) → power 2 exit gates → open gate (20 seconds) → escape Killer: Locate Survivors → initiate a chase → hit Survivors twice to put them in the Dying State → pick up and carry them to a hook → hook them 3 times across the match (2 hooks per Survivor = sacrifice) OR catch all 4 before anyone escapes
Survivor Basics
| State | Description |
|---|---|
| Healthy | Full health; one hit takes to Injured |
| Injured | Walking while bleeding; moans audible to Killer; one hit takes to Dying |
| Dying State | Crawling on the ground; bleed-out timer (~2 min); rescued by another Survivor who holds E |
| Hooked | On hook; escape mini-game (1st hook gives 2 attempts); die after 2 failed attempts or 60 seconds |
| Dead | Sacrificed; sent to the Spectate lobby |
Survivor priority actions (beginner):
- Never run directly away from a generator when the Killer is nearby — it shows them exactly where you were
- Crouch when you hear the Killer — crouching removes your footstep audio
- Don't always rush to rescue a hooked Survivor — wait for the Killer to walk away (the Killer camping = the Killer losing, statistically)
- Learn to loop — use map objects (pallets, windows) to waste the Killer's time while teammates repair generators
The Chase
When a Killer sees you and gives chase, a Chase Music begins (audible to both sides). The red terror radius indicator shows how close the Killer is.
Looping basics:
- Pallets — destructible wooden planks you can drop to stun the Killer (1–2 second stun). Each map has 15–25 pallets. Drop too early and the Killer destroys it; drop too late and they hit you through it
- Windows — Survivors can vault windows quickly; Killers can also vault them (but most Killers are slower). Use windows to create distance and unpredictable movement
- Strong loop spots — learn the "strong" tiles on each map (jungle gyms, L-walls, long walls with pallets) where Survivors can loop the Killer for 30–60 seconds or more
Killer Basics
As Killer, your goal is to apply pressure across the map while tracking down Survivors.
| Killer category | Description | Example Killers |
|---|---|---|
| Stealth | Low terror radius; sneak up on Survivors | Ghost Face, Myers, Ghostface |
| Trapper | Set map-control traps/obstacles | Trapper, Hag |
| Ranged | Attack from a distance | Huntress (hatchets), Deathslinger (rifle), Nemesis (tentacle) |
| High mobility | Close gaps quickly | Nurse (blink), Spirit (phase), Blight (rush) |
| Anti-loop | Counter Survivor looping tools | Pyramid Head, Artist, Twins |
| Beginner-friendly | Straightforward power | Trapper, Huntress, Wraith |
Killer beginner tips:
- Don't tunnel one Survivor immediately — apply pressure to multiple generators first
- Learn your power before playing in ranked — practice each Killer's ability in custom matches
- Hook spread — hook Survivors on different hooks rather than the same hook repeatedly (leaving the same Survivor on hook drains their hook state faster)
- The Basement — four hooks in one room; carrying Survivors there forces their teammates to enter a predictable choke point to rescue
The Bloodweb (Progression System)
Earning Bloodpoints (BP) through matches lets you level up each Killer and Survivor through the Bloodweb — a web of nodes where you spend BP to unlock perks, items, offerings, and add-ons.
- Each node costs 1,000–10,000 BP
- After clearing enough nodes, The Entity destroys the rest and a new Bloodweb generates
- At Level 50 (the original cap), characters enter Prestige — the Bloodweb resets with better perk qualities
Perk system: Each Survivor and Killer has 3 unique perks. Once unlocked on one character, perks become available for other characters in the Bloodweb. Perks fundamentally change how a character plays — finding and building strong perk loadouts is the core of DBD's depth.
Best beginner perks to unlock (Survivor):
- Self-Care (Claudette) — heal yourself without a medkit (slower)
- Dead Hard (David) — dash forward and become briefly invulnerable (dodge attacks in a chase)
- Borrowed Time (Bill) — protection for rescuing someone off the hook near the Killer
- Decisive Strike (Laurie) — break free from the Killer's carry (strong anti-tunnel perk)
Best beginner perks to unlock (Killer):
- Discordance (Legion) — aura reveals when 2+ Survivors repair the same generator
- Pop Goes the Weasel (Clown) — after a hook, next generator kick regresses it 25%
- Corrupt Intervention (Plague) — blocks 3 generators for 120 seconds at match start
- Hex: Ruin (Hag) — all generators regress automatically when Survivors stop repairing
DLC Chapters Explained
DBD sells content in Chapters ($7.99–$11.99 USD each), each containing:
- 1 new Killer
- 1 new Survivor
- A new map (some Chapters)
- Associated cosmetics
Licensed Chapters feature characters from horror franchises (Halloween, Friday the 13th, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Alien, etc.) and cost the same as original Chapters.
How to buy DLC:
- On Steam or Epic Games Store: purchase the Chapter directly from the game's store page
- In-game: purchase with Auric Cells (premium currency): ~500 Cells per Chapter; Auric Cells cost $5 per 500 (cheapest option for single Chapters)
Priority DLC for beginners (value for money): You don't need DLC to enjoy DBD — the free rotating roster is sufficient to learn the game. Once you know which Killer/Survivor playstyle you prefer, buy only that character's Chapter. Buying DLC bundles is rarely good value for new players.
Common Errors and Fixes
| Error / Issue | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Stuck on loading screen | Anti-cheat initialization issue | Verify game files (Steam: right-click → Properties → Local Files → Verify) |
| "Failed to connect to server" | EOS (Epic Online Services) issue or server outage | Check @DeadByDaylight on Twitter for server status; restart client |
| Game crashes to desktop | RAM or VRAM overflow | Lower texture quality; close background apps; ensure 8 GB RAM minimum |
| Low FPS on capable hardware | Windows HAGS interference | Disable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (Settings → Display → Graphics Settings) |
| Can't hear Killer approaching | Audio settings issue | Make sure 3D Audio is enabled; check headphone/speaker output |
| Black screen on launch | GPU driver conflict | Update GPU drivers; try launching through Epic (if using Steam, or vice versa) |
| Matchmaking very slow | Low player count at your rank | Play during peak hours for your region (evening local time) |
| "Authentication failed" | EOS login issue | Log out and back in to your Steam/Epic account; restart client |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dead by Daylight beginner-friendly? For Survivors: reasonably yes — you can contribute (repair generators, be a distraction) from your first match. For Killer: harder, because you must track 4 players simultaneously. Start Killer in custom/private matches to learn a power before playing online.
Which side should I play first — Survivor or Killer? Start as Survivor. You can play at your own pace (hide, repair, assist), there are 4 of you so individual mistakes matter less, and you'll learn how Killers think — which makes you a better Killer later.
Is DBD pay-to-win? No. The DLC characters have unique powers and perks, but there is no mechanical advantage that can be purchased. The best perks in the game are available for free with enough Bloodpoints spent in the Bloodweb. Paid DLC is about having more character options, not stronger options.
Does Dead by Daylight have crossplay? Yes — PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch all play together by default. You can disable crossplay in settings if you prefer PC-only lobbies (this increases matchmaking time significantly).
How long is an average match? Typically 8–15 minutes, depending on how quickly generators are completed and whether the Killer finds Survivors early. A match where the Killer dominates ends faster; a match with heavy looping and near-escapes can last 20 minutes.
Can I play Dead by Daylight solo or offline? There is no offline mode. However, you can create a Custom Match with bots on both the Survivor and Killer side to practice maps, perks, and mechanics without any matchmaking.
Is DBD good on Steam Deck? Performance is playable (30–60 FPS at medium settings), and the controls translate well to the controller. However, DBD is officially marked as "Unsupported" on Deck due to EOS compatibility — meaning Behaviour doesn't officially guarantee it works, though many players report it functioning fine with Proton. Set Proton version manually to Proton Experimental if you experience issues.
Last updated: 2026. Dead by Daylight patch as of August 2026.