Game · High risk

Is Dead by Daylight safe for your child?

Age guide

17+

We advise Dead by Daylight from age 17 and up. Overall risk 9/10 (high risk).

5-8
This game is not suitable for this age group due to its horror themes, graphic violence, and intense gameplay, which are designed to be frightening.
9-12
The intense horror elements, including jump scares and depictions of violence, are too mature for this age group, and the online multiplayer aspect introduces unmoderated communication.
13-15
While some teens might be drawn to the horror genre, Dead by Daylight features persistent online multiplayer with unmoderated chat and a focus on survival against a killer, which can be very intense and expose them to inappropriate interactions.
16+
Older teens can engage with Dead by Daylight's strategic gameplay and horror atmosphere, but parental guidance should still emphasize responsible online communication and awareness of in-game purchases for cosmetics and characters.

Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game where one player takes on the role of a brutal Killer and the other four play as Survivors, trying to escape. The game features intense cat-and-mouse gameplay with a focus on stealth, strategy, and teamwork.

Age guide
17+
Overall risk
9/10
Violence
9/10
Toxic behaviour
8/10
Stranger contact
9/10
Addiction risk
8/10
Language
7/10
Influence
7/10

What parents should know

Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game where players are either survivors trying to escape a killer or the killer hunting them. It features graphic violence, jump scares, and unmoderated online communication, making it unsuitable for younger players.

What to do about Dead by Daylight

Free with a Parentwise account. The age-by-age verdict needs your child's age, which is why it lives behind the account.

  • The age-by-age verdict
    What we advise for under 8, 8-12 and 13+ - our age guide for Dead by Daylight is 17+, and the answer changes with your child's age.
  • The one setting to change tonight
    The exact Dead by Daylight setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it.
  • What to say
    Word-for-word openers for talking about Dead by Daylight without a row.
  • Red flags to watch for
    The signals in Dead by Daylight that mean it is time to step in.
See what to change tonight

Dead by Daylight age rating and parents guide: common questions

What age rating is Dead by Daylight?

Parentwise puts Dead by Daylight at 17+. We advise Dead by Daylight from age 17 and up. Overall risk 9/10 (high risk). Violence scores 9/10, language 7/10, stranger contact 9/10 and addiction risk 8/10.

Can a 10 year old play Dead by Daylight?

Not by default: we advise Dead by Daylight from 17+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. The intense horror elements, including jump scares and depictions of violence, are too mature for this age group, and the online multiplayer aspect introduces unmoderated communication.

Can a 12 year old play Dead by Daylight?

Not by default: we advise Dead by Daylight from 17+, so at 12 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. The intense horror elements, including jump scares and depictions of violence, are too mature for this age group, and the online multiplayer aspect introduces unmoderated communication.

Can a 13 year old play Dead by Daylight?

Not by default: we advise Dead by Daylight from 17+, so at 13 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. While some teens might be drawn to the horror genre, Dead by Daylight features persistent online multiplayer with unmoderated chat and a focus on survival against a killer, which can be very intense and expose them to inappropriate interactions.

Is Dead by Daylight appropriate for kids?

Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game where players are either survivors trying to escape a killer or the killer hunting them. Parentwise rates Dead by Daylight overall as high risk (9/10), with stranger contact at 9/10 and addiction risk at 8/10.

Is Dead by Daylight family friendly?

Dead by Daylight is one of the higher-risk titles we rate, so treat it as supervised rather than family viewing. It features graphic violence, jump scares, and unmoderated online communication, making it unsuitable for younger players.

Dead by Daylight parents guide: what should a parent know first?

Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game where players are either survivors trying to escape a killer or the killer hunting them. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (9/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (8/10).

Is Dead by Daylight safe for kids?

We advise Dead by Daylight from age 17 and up. Overall risk 9/10 (high risk). It features graphic violence, jump scares, and unmoderated online communication, making it unsuitable for younger players.

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Release and popularity data comes in part from RAWG, TVMaze (CC BY-SA) and Wikidata (CC0). Safety guidance is written by Parentwise.