Video Games
How to play Dead by Daylight
Four Survivors repair generators and escape while one Killer tracks and sacrifices them.
QUICK ANSWER
How do you play Dead by Daylight?
Survivors repair, rescue, heal, hide, and open exits; the Killer patrols, chases, downs, and hooks. Resolve the full result of that action before the next player begins. Continue in order while keeping pieces, scores, resources, or progress visible. Survivors escape through an exit or hatch; the Killer's result depends on preventing those escapes.
Jump to the step-by-step rules ↓EDITOR'S TABLE NOTES
Is Dead by Daylight a good fit for your group?
This game works especially well for players who learn best by practicing the core controls before taking on advanced objectives; the listed 1v4-player range and 10–20 min playing time should also fit the group. Before setting up, decide whether that matches the experience your group wants today.
Rules version covered here
This guide focuses on the current beginner gameplay loop rather than update-specific exploits. Controls, menus, balance, and available modes can differ by platform and patch. For Dead by Daylight, pay particular attention to the stated setup and ending condition below.
QUICK VIDEO GUIDE
Learn Dead by Daylight in under a minute
About this video
This original mini lesson covers what you need, setup, normal play, the winning condition, and one beginner tip. Continue below for the complete written guide.
INTERACTIVE LEARN-TO-PLAY
Practice Dead by Daylight before the first round
Walk through the setup, try a sample turn, and get a quick answer when play stalls.
Complete both tutorials, choose loadouts, and learn the map indicators and basic skill checks.
Confirm the starting player, turn direction, and the exact ending condition for Dead by Daylight.
Playable example turn
Step 1 of 4
Survivors repair, rescue, heal, hide, and open exits; the Killer patrols, chases, downs, and hooks.
What should we do now?
Start with this action: Survivors repair, rescue, heal, hide, and open exits; the Killer patrols, chases, downs, and hooks.
Scoring and winning
Survivors escape through an exit or hatch; the Killer's result depends on preventing those escapes.
Common dispute to prevent
Survivors crowding one unsafe rescue or Killers chasing one strong loop while all generators finish. Agree on any edition-specific variation before the first turn.
The objective
Your goal is to four Survivors repair generators and escape while one Killer tracks and sacrifices them. Before play begins, make sure every player can explain how the game ends and what determines the winner. That one check prevents many mid-game disagreements.
What you need
Dead by Daylight and an online account. Lay out every required item before teaching the rules. If pieces, cards, controllers, or play space are missing, resolve that before the practice turn.
How to set up
- Complete both tutorials, choose loadouts, and learn the map indicators and basic skill checks.
- Confirm the starting player, turn direction, and the exact ending condition for Dead by Daylight.
Setup check: Ask one player who did not arrange the game to compare the table, field, or screen with these steps. A fresh look often catches an incorrect starting position.
How to play: step by step
- Survivors repair, rescue, heal, hide, and open exits; the Killer patrols, chases, downs, and hooks.
- Resolve the full result of that action before the next player begins.
- Continue in order while keeping pieces, scores, resources, or progress visible.
- Survivors escape through an exit or hatch; the Killer's result depends on preventing those escapes.
Example first round
A useful first-round walkthrough for Dead by Daylight begins this way: Survivors repair, rescue, heal, hide, and open exits; the Killer patrols, chases, downs, and hooks. Next, resolve the full result of that action before the next player begins. Continue in normal turn order until the ending condition applies: survivors escape through an exit or hatch; the Killer's result depends on preventing those escapes.
How scoring and winning work
- The result is determined by the guide's stated objective: Four Survivors repair generators and escape while one Killer tracks and sacrifices them.
- The final step explains when play stops: Survivors escape through an exit or hatch; the Killer's result depends on preventing those escapes.
- For the most common rules question, use this clarification consistently: Custom games allow a private group to fill Survivor and Killer roles.
Useful variations
- Use the tutorial, training area, or easiest suitable mode until movement and the main action feel comfortable.
- For a shorter session, announce a stopping time before starting; 10–20 min is the normal planning range for Dead by Daylight.
- When playing with beginners, demonstrate this strategy before scoring begins: As Survivor, spread pressure across generators; as Killer, use information to choose chases worth the time.
Beginner strategies
- As Survivor, spread pressure across generators; as Killer, use information to choose chases worth the time.
- After each round, identify which decision created the strongest position and test that lesson in the next game.
Choose one of these ideas for the first game instead of trying to remember every strategy at once. Afterward, identify one decision that changed the result and one move you would test next time.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Survivors crowding one unsafe rescue or Killers chasing one strong loop while all generators finish.
- Mixing rules from another edition or a familiar house version without telling the other players.
If an illegal move is discovered, pause and agree on the least disruptive correction. For casual play, consistency and a shared understanding matter more than reconstructing many turns.
Frequently asked questions
Can friends play both sides together?
Custom games allow a private group to fill Survivor and Killer roles.
What is the best way to teach Dead by Daylight?
Explain the objective, demonstrate one normal turn, and let everyone try a no-pressure practice turn before scoring.
Related video games guides
Official instructions for your edition or the game publisher’s current documentation take priority over this summary. If you spot a factual error or an important edition difference, please tell us.
Report a correction →