What is Dead by Daylight? It is an online horror game from Behaviour Interactive where four survivors try to repair five generators and escape while one killer hunts them. Survivors win by escaping through the exit gates or the hatch. The killer wins by hooking survivors and sacrificing them to the Entity before they get out.
What is Dead by Daylight?
Dead by Daylight, often shortened to DBD, is an asymmetric multiplayer horror game. One player is the killer and four players are survivors, and each side plays by different rules. It launched on PC in 2016 and is still updated with new chapters, killers and survivors every year. The facts below are current as of October 2026.
| Fact | Details (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Developer and publisher | Behaviour Interactive |
| Release | June 2016 on PC, later on consoles |
| Platforms | PC (Steam, Epic), PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch |
| Price model | Paid game, with paid chapters, cosmetics and a Rift Pass |
| Genre | Asymmetric multiplayer horror |
| Latest update | Chapter 41, Chorus of Sin (August 25, 2026); Rift Pass 7: Academia (October 6, 2026 to January 26, 2027); the Terrifier chapter reaches the PTB on October 27 |
Chorus of Sin added a killer called The Judgment and a survivor named Aurora Stardotter. The next chapter, featuring Art the Clown from the Terrifier films, is set to go live in November 2026 after its test period.
What is the objective in Dead by Daylight?
Every match, called a trial, takes place on a dark map with scattered generators, pallets, windows and hooks. The two sides want opposite things.
- Survivors repair five generators, then power the exit gates and run out. If only one survivor is left, they can also escape through the hatch.
- The killer chases survivors, knocks them down and hangs them on hooks. A survivor hooked too many times is sacrificed to the Entity, the dark force that runs the trials.
Survivors can rescue each other from hooks, heal each other and use items such as toolboxes and medkits. The killer uses a unique power, such as teleporting or setting traps, to apply pressure across the map.
How do you win in Dead by Daylight?
A trial result is personal. Each survivor either escapes or dies, and the killer's result depends on how many survivors are sacrificed. Your grade progress comes from emblems, which score how well you played, not only whether you escaped.
| Mode | Players | What a win looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor | 4 survivors vs 1 killer | Finish generators, avoid long chases going wrong and escape through the gates or hatch |
| Killer | 1 killer vs 4 survivors | Hook and sacrifice survivors before the gates open |
| Survive With Friends | Up to 4 friends as survivors | Same as survivor, with voice and team play |
| Custom games | Private lobbies | Practice with friends; no grade progress |
Strong survivors waste the killer's time in chases while teammates repair. Strong killers protect groups of generators, avoid chasing one survivor for too long and keep up hook pressure.
How do grades and prestige work in Dead by Daylight?
Dead by Daylight has two kinds of progress. Grades show how well you played this month. Prestige shows how much you have invested in one character.
Grades run from Ash IV through Bronze, Silver and Gold to Iridescent I, with separate grades for killer and survivor. You earn pips from your emblem score in each trial, and you need 85 pips in total to go from Ash IV to Iridescent I. You can no longer lose pips. Grades reset to Ash IV on the 13th of each month, and you receive Bloodpoints based on what you reached. Grades do not affect matchmaking, which uses a hidden skill rating.
Each character also has a Bloodweb, where you spend Bloodpoints on perks, add-ons and items. Reaching level 50 lets you prestige. Prestige 1 to 3 teaches that character's three unique perks to your whole roster, Prestige 4 to 9 add bloody outfit pieces and charms, and the cap is Prestige 100. Our Dead by Daylight grades and prestige guide covers both in detail.
What are the best beginner tips for Dead by Daylight?
- Play the tutorials for both sides first. They teach skill checks, hooks and basic chases.
- As a survivor, stay on generators and avoid hiding all match. Hiding earns few emblem points.
- Learn a few strong loops on each map, where a pallet or window lets you extend a chase.
- As a killer, do not chase one survivor for too long. Switch targets when a chase drags on.
- Prestige one character to unlock their perks for everyone instead of spreading Bloodpoints thin.
- Play a few matches before the 13th so you collect reset Bloodpoints every month.
If you would rather improve your own play, a coach can review your chases and builds, or you can queue with experienced survivors in duo games.
What does Dead by Daylight help cost?
Boosting Games sells fixed-price DBD services. Prices below are the starting prices at the time of writing (October 2026), and the exact price for your option shows before checkout. Every service is listed on the Dead by Daylight services collection.
| Service | What you get | How you play | Price | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead by Daylight Grade Boost (Killer or Survivor) | Our player raises your killer or survivor grade to the target before the reset on the 13th. | Piloted | From $25 | 2–6 days |
| Dead by Daylight Prestige Leveling (One Character) | Bloodweb leveling and prestige for one killer or survivor, earned by playing matches. | Piloted | From $8 | 1–5 days |
| Dead by Daylight Adept Achievements | The adept achievement for each chosen character: a merciless killer win or a survivor escape with only that character's three unique perks. | Self-play or piloted | From $9 | Same day to 3 days |
| Dead by Daylight Survivor Duo Games | Survive-with-friends games with one or more of our survivors on voice, sharing calls and chase tips. | Self-play (duo) | From $19 | Booked within 1 day |
| Dead by Daylight Coaching (Killer or Survivor) | Live coaching or a match-footage review from an experienced player, covering chases, map pressure, loops and builds. | Coaching | From $15 | Booked within 1–3 days |
Honest risk note: Behaviour's Terms of Use say not to reveal your password, ban paid in-game services such as power-leveling, and allow account termination if someone else breaks the rules on your account. Piloted orders carry that risk; duo games and coaching do not involve sharing your login. Self-play and coaching keep your login with you and carry less risk than piloted orders. Read our account safety notice before you order. We never sell Auric Cells, Bloodpoints, Iridescent Shards, DLC, cosmetics or accounts. We never use cheats or exploits, and we never promise a set number of kills or escapes in duo games.
Get help with DBD
Pick a service and option, see the exact price before you pay, and follow every session on your private order page.
See DBD servicesAsk Boost Up AIRelated reading: Dead by Daylight Grades & Prestige Guide 2026: Reset, Pips, Adepts, and our general guide to whether boosting is bannable.
How does a DBD order work?
Every order follows the same steps, laid out in full on our how it works page:
- Pick your service. Choose the option on the product page or ask Boost Up AI which one fits your goal.
- Pay at checkout. The price is fixed and shown before you pay. You never type a game password at checkout.
- Add details on your order page. Self-play orders just agree a time in the order chat. Piloted orders add the login on the private order page, where it is encrypted.
- Follow every session. A booster approved for this game posts screenshots and updates after each session.
- Finished and locked. The job locks when it is done, the booster loses access, and any saved login is deleted within 72 hours.
Want to play DBD for us instead? We are hiring experienced players: see become a booster.
DBD FAQ
What is Dead by Daylight?
Dead by Daylight is an asymmetric online horror game from Behaviour Interactive. Four survivors try to repair five generators and escape, while one killer hunts them and hangs them on hooks. It launched on PC in 2016 and is now on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, with new chapters every year.
How do survivors win in Dead by Daylight?
Survivors win by escaping. The team must repair five generators, then power one of the two exit gates and run out. If only one survivor remains, they can also escape through the hatch. Each survivor's result is personal, so you can escape even if teammates die. Repairing generators together is much faster than working alone.
How does the killer win in Dead by Daylight?
The killer wins by sacrificing survivors. You chase them, knock them down and hang them on hooks. A survivor who is hooked three times, or left on the hook too long, is sacrificed to the Entity. Most players count three or four sacrifices as a strong win. Spreading hooks across all four survivors usually works better than chasing one.
Is Dead by Daylight free to play?
No. Dead by Daylight is a paid game. Extra killers and survivors come in paid chapters, though many can also be unlocked with in-game Iridescent Shards. The Rift Pass and cosmetics are optional. We never sell Auric Cells, Bloodpoints or DLC. Behaviour sometimes runs free weekends, so watch for those if you want to try it first.
Do grades matter in Dead by Daylight?
Grades matter for rewards, not matchmaking. Higher grades pay more Bloodpoints when grades reset on the 13th of each month. Matchmaking uses a hidden skill rating instead, so a high grade does not put you against tougher players. Grades are mostly a monthly Bloodpoint goal. Play at least one match each month so you collect reset rewards.
Is Dead by Daylight good for beginners in 2026?
Yes, though the learning curve is steep. There are many killers, perks and maps to learn. Start as a survivor with friends, play the tutorials and focus on one killer at a time. Coaching or duo games with experienced players can speed up learning. Expect your first few weeks to feel rough, which is normal.
Sources: DBD Wiki: Chorus of Sin, DBD Wiki: Grades, DBD Wiki: Prestige, Playnews: Terrifier chapter PTB, Behaviour Terms of Use.