Can You Play Dead by Daylight Single Player?
No, Dead by Daylight does not currently have a true single player or offline mode available.
As an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game, it requires a minimum of 5 real human players to start a match – 1 killer and 4 survivor teammates.
Solo players hoping for classic survival horror gameplay are unfortunately out of luck. But there are a few limited ways to play with bots or friends-only.
Minimum Player Requirements
According to the official system requirements:
| Platform | Min # of Players |
|---|---|
| PC | 5 (1 killer + 4 survivors) |
| Console | 5 (1 killer + 4 survivors) |
No mode exists to solo play as survivor or killer. You need 4 friends to fill the opposing roles before starting a private match.
So at minimum, Dead by Daylight requires an internet connection and other players.
"Kill Your Friends" Custom Mode
The "Kill Your Friends" mode lets you take the killer role against bot survivors:
- Practice killer abilities versus 4 AI survivors
- Bots equipped with basic escaping skills
- Choose any unlocked customizations
- No actual rewards or progression
However, these AI bots have limitations:
- Much easier to kill than human players
- Can become predictable
- Still requires an internet connection
So while not the same as true singleplayer, Kill Your Friends is the closest thing currently available to solo Dead by Daylight.
Why There‘s No Offline Solo Play
According to the development team at Behaviour Interactive, some reasons why a solo mode will likely never exist:
- Social play is core vision – Removing human element loses key tension
- Massive technical overhaul – Crossplay, new chapters would cause issues
- AI too challenging to perfect – Complex survivor behaviors tough to code
- Opens progression exploits – Offline mode risks leaderboard abuse
And most fans seem to agree – the unpredictable social dynamics are what provide satisfying moments. Solo queue can see you face anything from ultra-tryhard squads to memeing farmers.
The Appeal of Asymmetrical Social Horror
As a player myself with 500+ hours, what gives Dead by Daylight longevity is those social highs and lows:
- That feeling finally catching a toxic looper with Bloodlust tier 3!
- Hilarious and humbling moments like 3 survivors bodyblocking a hook rescue.
- Never knowing if you‘ll face bully squads or friendly players.
Removing that human element loses what makes each trial unique. Bots simply can‘t replicate those fun social quirks.
Final Verdict
While a letdown for solo gamers, the forced social dynamics create tension that hooks dedicated players.
My suggestion if bored of bots – play during peak hours when wait times are low or leverage public communities to find friends.
Dead by Daylight remains a top asymmetrical horror title for good reason – don‘t let the lack of tutorial or solo mode alone discourage giving it a shot!
