A Dead by Daylight cinematic adventure
By Paul Hunter
Behaviour Interactive announced earlier in the year that the Dead by Daylight universe would be expanding with a new film, a new comic book series, and of course, a couple of new video games. The Casting of Frank Stone is the first new game and is from the team at Supermassive Games, known for their gripping narrative experiences with titles like Until Dawn, The Quarry and the entire The Dark Pictures series. Released on September 3 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, The Casting of Frank Stone is an interactive narrative horror title that immerses you in the chilling universe of Dead by Daylight.
Supermassive's new adventure takes us on a harrowing journey in the eerie town of Cedar Hills as you explore the dark legacy of the murderous Frank Stone. The game unfolds across three different periods, revealing connections between the characters and events. Similar to previous Supermissive titles, you'll need to make crucial decisions that shape the story with some unexpected twists—including the possibility of character deaths.
There are plenty of Easter eggs that pay homage to the Dead by Daylight universe, so if you're familiar with the series these are fun surprises. That said, anyone can enjoy this title, and if you've yet to play Dead by Daylight, it's a great introduction to the game's legendary lore.
The story of The Casting of Frank Stone takes place in Cedar Hills across three different years—1963, 1980, and 2024—and weaves an intriguing narrative that connects the lives of the various characters you'll meet.
The horror kicks off with Sam Green, a police officer searching for a missing child in the town's labyrinthine steel mill. This opening sequence, which has Green venture through the mill's storm drain before confronting the terrifying Frank Stone, does a great job of setting the tone for the chilling events that follow.
Following the Sam Green intro, you'll jump to the present day in 2024 as a bunch of strangers meet at a lavish manor owned by a horror movie collector obsessed with the film Murder Mill. Things naturally go sour quickly as the crew learns there's a lot more to this manor (and its host) than meets the eye. You'll then get transported back to 1980 to witness the young actors on set filming Murder Mill within the abandoned steel mill.
Chapters tend to alternate between the present day and 1980, with the timelines intertwining to create a rich tapestry of suspense and intrigue. There's a large focus on decision-making that shapes how characters feel toward one another and leads to multiple branching paths and potential endings. Because of the interconnectedness between the two time periods, there are a few pre-determined story beats for certain characters, but for the most part, your decisions affect who lives and who dies.
Dead by Daylight fans are sure to notice several nods towards to game, including using generators, death by impalement and most importantly, exploring the origin of the Trials and the Entity. The story is fantastic, I thought, even with some of the characters being a bit too one-dimensional for my liking. Thankfully, there are a bunch of stand-out characters, including Sam Green and Linda Castle, the famous horror filmmaker who began her career by creating Murder Mill. The Casting of Frank Stone successfully captures the tension needed for a good horror mystery, so if you enjoyed previous Supermassive titles, you'll surely dig this one as well.
Turning our attention to the gameplay in The Casting of Frank Stone, it's a blend of exploration, narrative-driven sequences and quick-time events. The game encourages you to thoroughly investigate environments to uncover hidden clues and secrets that deepen the narrative—and sometimes the information you gather can help you in later situations.
Within the menu, you can see how the relationship between characters is shaping up, which is a nice touch. Even better though is the Cutting Room Floor feature that lets you see all the branching paths in the game, with paths you didn't take greyed out. You can instantly jump back into any key moment to make different decisions if you so choose. The Cutting Room Floor also helps you to keep track of collectibles for those who may want to 100% complete the game. This feature is unlocked from the start for anyone who picks up the Deluxe edition of the game, and for everyone else, it becomes available after you beat the game.
Speaking of the game's collectibles, there is a lot to discover such as the killer's relics and Frank’s trinkets, along with, of course, dozens of narrative or lore items that help flesh out the story and world. To find all the items requires a few playthroughs that take you along different branching paths across the game's 14 chapters.
Another standout feature is the Die Together mode, a couch co-op mode that allows up to five players to take turns controlling characters. This cooperative mode adds a fun twist as the team is bound by decisions made by each player, adding unpredictability to the outcomes. The game also has a Streamer mode where the audience can vote on decisions, while the streamer has a few vetoes in case you want to make a different choice.
From a presentation perspective, The Casting of Frank Stone has immersive, detailed environments that enhance the horror atmosphere and draw you into its dark world. Great care was put into creating the many eerie locations of Cedar Hills, including the haunting steel mill and mysterious mansion. The lighting effects are particularly impressive, using shadows and colour to create tension and unease.
I'm particularly impressed by the character models, which are highly detailed and have realistic facial features and animations that bring the characters to life. Supermassive has always had superb motion capture and this game is among their best yet. I also think they nailed all the nostalgic details of the 1980s period, like the 8MM camera and creepy antique shop. Speaking of the 8MM camera, it introduces a new gameplay mechanic where you can peer through the frame to temporarily stun Frank Stone as he pursues the gang. It gave me flashbacks to Fatal Frame, which was a nice touch.
The sound design is also excellent, particularly the ambient sounds, such as creaking metal and distant whispers that heighten the tension as you explore. The voice acting is another highlight, with the actors delivering their lines with emotion, making you feel connected to their struggles and situations. Despite a few minor graphical glitches, the overall visuals, sound, and voice acting make for a rock-solid presentation and a memorable addition to Supermassive's lineup of horror games.
Final Score: 8/10 - Great
Developer: Supermassive Games
Publisher: Behaviour Interactive
Genre: Survival Horror, Interactive Drama
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Behaviour Interactive announced earlier in the year that the Dead by Daylight universe would be expanding with a new film, a new comic book series, and of course, a couple of new video games. The Casting of Frank Stone is the first new game and is from the team at Supermassive Games, known for their gripping narrative experiences with titles like Until Dawn, The Quarry and the entire The Dark Pictures series. Released on September 3 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, The Casting of Frank Stone is an interactive narrative horror title that immerses you in the chilling universe of Dead by Daylight.
Supermassive's new adventure takes us on a harrowing journey in the eerie town of Cedar Hills as you explore the dark legacy of the murderous Frank Stone. The game unfolds across three different periods, revealing connections between the characters and events. Similar to previous Supermissive titles, you'll need to make crucial decisions that shape the story with some unexpected twists—including the possibility of character deaths.
There are plenty of Easter eggs that pay homage to the Dead by Daylight universe, so if you're familiar with the series these are fun surprises. That said, anyone can enjoy this title, and if you've yet to play Dead by Daylight, it's a great introduction to the game's legendary lore.
The story of The Casting of Frank Stone takes place in Cedar Hills across three different years—1963, 1980, and 2024—and weaves an intriguing narrative that connects the lives of the various characters you'll meet.
The horror kicks off with Sam Green, a police officer searching for a missing child in the town's labyrinthine steel mill. This opening sequence, which has Green venture through the mill's storm drain before confronting the terrifying Frank Stone, does a great job of setting the tone for the chilling events that follow.
Following the Sam Green intro, you'll jump to the present day in 2024 as a bunch of strangers meet at a lavish manor owned by a horror movie collector obsessed with the film Murder Mill. Things naturally go sour quickly as the crew learns there's a lot more to this manor (and its host) than meets the eye. You'll then get transported back to 1980 to witness the young actors on set filming Murder Mill within the abandoned steel mill.
Chapters tend to alternate between the present day and 1980, with the timelines intertwining to create a rich tapestry of suspense and intrigue. There's a large focus on decision-making that shapes how characters feel toward one another and leads to multiple branching paths and potential endings. Because of the interconnectedness between the two time periods, there are a few pre-determined story beats for certain characters, but for the most part, your decisions affect who lives and who dies.
Dead by Daylight fans are sure to notice several nods towards to game, including using generators, death by impalement and most importantly, exploring the origin of the Trials and the Entity. The story is fantastic, I thought, even with some of the characters being a bit too one-dimensional for my liking. Thankfully, there are a bunch of stand-out characters, including Sam Green and Linda Castle, the famous horror filmmaker who began her career by creating Murder Mill. The Casting of Frank Stone successfully captures the tension needed for a good horror mystery, so if you enjoyed previous Supermassive titles, you'll surely dig this one as well.
Turning our attention to the gameplay in The Casting of Frank Stone, it's a blend of exploration, narrative-driven sequences and quick-time events. The game encourages you to thoroughly investigate environments to uncover hidden clues and secrets that deepen the narrative—and sometimes the information you gather can help you in later situations.
Within the menu, you can see how the relationship between characters is shaping up, which is a nice touch. Even better though is the Cutting Room Floor feature that lets you see all the branching paths in the game, with paths you didn't take greyed out. You can instantly jump back into any key moment to make different decisions if you so choose. The Cutting Room Floor also helps you to keep track of collectibles for those who may want to 100% complete the game. This feature is unlocked from the start for anyone who picks up the Deluxe edition of the game, and for everyone else, it becomes available after you beat the game.
Speaking of the game's collectibles, there is a lot to discover such as the killer's relics and Frank’s trinkets, along with, of course, dozens of narrative or lore items that help flesh out the story and world. To find all the items requires a few playthroughs that take you along different branching paths across the game's 14 chapters.
Another standout feature is the Die Together mode, a couch co-op mode that allows up to five players to take turns controlling characters. This cooperative mode adds a fun twist as the team is bound by decisions made by each player, adding unpredictability to the outcomes. The game also has a Streamer mode where the audience can vote on decisions, while the streamer has a few vetoes in case you want to make a different choice.
From a presentation perspective, The Casting of Frank Stone has immersive, detailed environments that enhance the horror atmosphere and draw you into its dark world. Great care was put into creating the many eerie locations of Cedar Hills, including the haunting steel mill and mysterious mansion. The lighting effects are particularly impressive, using shadows and colour to create tension and unease.
I'm particularly impressed by the character models, which are highly detailed and have realistic facial features and animations that bring the characters to life. Supermassive has always had superb motion capture and this game is among their best yet. I also think they nailed all the nostalgic details of the 1980s period, like the 8MM camera and creepy antique shop. Speaking of the 8MM camera, it introduces a new gameplay mechanic where you can peer through the frame to temporarily stun Frank Stone as he pursues the gang. It gave me flashbacks to Fatal Frame, which was a nice touch.
The sound design is also excellent, particularly the ambient sounds, such as creaking metal and distant whispers that heighten the tension as you explore. The voice acting is another highlight, with the actors delivering their lines with emotion, making you feel connected to their struggles and situations. Despite a few minor graphical glitches, the overall visuals, sound, and voice acting make for a rock-solid presentation and a memorable addition to Supermassive's lineup of horror games.
The Verdict
The Casting of Frank Stone delivers as promised, excelling in its engaging narrative while also being a noteworthy expansion to the Dead by Daylight universe. The visuals are impressive, showcasing the studio's talent for creating atmospheric environments that enhance the horror experience. Not only will Dead by Daylight fans enjoy the numerous Easter eggs, but for newcomers it's the perfect introduction to the franchise's lore.Final Score: 8/10 - Great
The Casting of Frank Stone details
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PCDeveloper: Supermassive Games
Publisher: Behaviour Interactive
Genre: Survival Horror, Interactive Drama
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
A key was provided by the publisher.