Summary
Dead by Daylight’s recent Lights Out event came with its own game mode, which ended up being one of the game’s better innovations. While events inDead by Daylighttraditionally all have something to bring to the table, Lights Out’s offerings were truly something special. Much of this came from the Lights Out game mode itself, which was more ambitious than what past events have done. It was a daring move by the developers, but one that was well worth undertaking. Lights Out may have been temporary, but it’s one of the best ideas fromDead by Daylightyet.
Events likeDead by Daylight’s Lunar New Year celebrationshave become a part of the game’s regular schedule. Traditionally, they bring new cosmetics, rifts if there is an active tome, and often small additions to the trials while they’re going on. This is in addition to the menu screen and certain parts of the trial maps being decorated for the occasion as well. These factors combined with the bonuses that usually come with the events make them highly anticipated parts of theDead by Daylightcalendar. Players can likely look forward to these events continuing for as long as the game itself remains running.
The latest event introduced players toDead by Daylight’s Lights Out mode, which put a significant twist on gameplay. The goals of a Lights Out trial are the same as usual, with Survivors having to fix generators and escape while the Killers attempt to down and hook them. However, as the name implies, Lights Out takes place in a much darker version of the normal maps, with Survivors and Killers alike only being able to see a few feet in front of them. In addition, perks, add-ons, and items cannot be used, forcing everyone to play with only their base abilities.
Before Lights Out,Dead by Daylight’s biggest in-game innovation was The Void in 2023’s Haunted by Daylight event.
Lights Out can be best described as a “Hard Mode” for the game. None ofDead by Daylight’s best buildscan be used, so players need to be heavily skilled with the basics of both sides of the game. Survivors only have their looping ability and whatever items they can find in a chest to defend themselves from the Killer. Meanwhile, although the Killer still has their powers and can see generator auras, they’re just as blind as the Survivors otherwise. The loss of their add-ons means that they cannot modify their abilities, leaving them similarly reliant on their own unmodified abilities.
Everything combined makes Lights Out one ofDead by Daylight’s most tense gaming experiences. Even with so manyhorror crossovers inDead by Daylight, the game itself isn’t often seen as scary once players have a certain amount of experience. Lights Out completely changes that, especially for the survivors. The limited visibility and options make every trial far more intense, not to mention difficult. It emphasizes the horror element ofDead by Daylightin a way that past events have not. These factors make Lights Out the best tweak to the game’s formula thatDead by Daylighthas come out with to date.
Lights Out was an excellent addition toDead by Daylight, and hopefully it will return someday. Even though it doesn’t featureDead by Daylight’s perksthat are core to the metagame, it’s an excellent challenge in its own right. Any players who are looking for an extra challenge, or those want to experience the horror aspect of the game in full force will find something to like about Lights Out. It’s unclear for now if Lights Out will return toDead by Daylight, but its upsides may warrant an eventual comeback.
Dead by Daylight
WHERE TO PLAY
Ever wished to play as one of the characters from your favorite horror movies? Dead by Daylight is a 1v4 multiplayer game that draws from all corners of the horror world from a powerful slasher to a terrifying paranormal entity.Choose between playing an unstoppable Killer and one of 4 Survivors trying to evade a gruesome death. Each character has their own deep progression system and plenty of unlockables that can be customized to fit your personal strategy. Work together to escape, or stalk and sacrifice every Survivor.This Edition of Dead by Daylight gives you access to a roster of 7 Killers (The Trapper, The Hillbilly, The Wraith, The Nurse, The Hag, The Huntress and The Doctor) and 9 Survivors (Meg Thomas, Claudette Morel, Jake Park, Dwight Fairfield, Ace Visconti, Nea Karlsson, Bill Overbeck, Feng Min and David King). It also includes two cosmetic add-ons packed with outfits for various characters.
