Supermassive and Behaviour have shaped the horror game genre in unique ways over the last ten years.
Supermassive’s games let you control the fate of characters in tense, cinematic adventures, while Behaviour’s Dead By Daylight (DBD) mixes many horror icons into one asymmetric multiplayer game. Now, with The Casting of Frank Stone, these two companies have teamed up to create a new story set in the DBD universe. Even if you’re just a casual DBD fan, like me, you might still enjoy it.
Frank Stone feels like Supermassive’s earlier games such as Until Dawn, where you guide characters through a story filled with quick-time events (QTEs) and tough choices. Your decisions shape their relationships and determine who lives or dies.
We love these kinds of games because they keep us on our toes.
Personally, I never get tired of this formula. Every autumn, I look forward to playing these games, even if the stories vary in quality. Supermassive’s scripts often have flaws, and Frank Stone is no exception. Sometimes, you’ll see scenes that don’t quite fit because of the branching story paths.
This is a common problem in horror games like Frank Stone, The Quarry, and The Dark Pictures Anthology. If these were just movies, I’d be more critical. But since they’re games where you interact and make choices, I can overlook some of these flaws. Living through these scary stories is exciting, and knowing my choices affect the outcome keeps me hooked. Frank Stone may not be my favorite, but I still enjoy Supermassive’s yearly attempts to recapture the magic of Until Dawn.
When one of my main characters died early on in Frank Stone, it was shocking but thrilling. I like having stakes in the game. Even when the story didn’t always flow perfectly, I stayed interested because my actions felt impactful. I changed character relationships, saved some from breaking up, and then accidentally got one killed. Oops.
Besides QTEs, the gameplay involves choosing dialogue options, usually between two choices unless you find extra collectibles. Exploring the game world to find hidden items and backstories is worth your time, even though it can feel like a video-gamey task. In movies, characters don’t pause to hunt for Easter eggs, but in these games, it’s part of the fun.
A new combat mechanic is also in Frank Stone, though it’s not very engaging. You point an object at the monster to keep it away, but it’s too easy to be interesting.
Another issue is the frequent technical glitches. The game looks good but often stutters between scenes, which can be distracting. This problem has been in other Supermassive games, even though this one uses a newer engine.
It seems like the developers noticed these issues but released the game anyway. I usually don’t mind occasional bugs, but in a game that’s supposed to be cinematic, these visual flaws are more noticeable.
Story-wise, Frank Stone mixes different horror genres. It starts like a slasher, moves into supernatural territory, and includes some body horror by the end. I loved Frank Stone’s design, and he has more surprises as the game progresses. Both he and the playable characters fit well into the DBD world, showing how closely the teams worked together.
Setting the game in Behaviour’s horror universe allows for creative storytelling. If you’re familiar with DBD lore, you’ll appreciate the connections. If not, discovering the story’s twists in the latter half of the game will be a fun surprise. Either way, the story is enjoyable.
Knowing the DBD universe helps, but even if you don’t, you can still enjoy the game. Its main goal is to reveal the backstory of DBD’s Big Bad, The Entity. The climax will be most exciting for players who have been curious about this for years. But even newcomers can enjoy it as a thrilling horror game. There are clever nods to DBD that even made me laugh out loud. The QTEs look just like DBD’s skill checks, which is a cool touch.
After beating the game, you unlock features that let you explore everything it has to offer. You can find collectibles more easily and replay scenes to see different outcomes. These features make the game more enjoyable and less tedious. Frank Stone also warns you when moving forward will make an area inaccessible, which is helpful. I hope future games include these improvements.
For those familiar with Supermassive’s horror games since 2015, you know what to expect with The Casting of Frank Stone. If you’re looking for the next great game in this style, it might not be it. But for DBD fans wanting more lore, newcomers, or horror enthusiasts ready for spooky season, The Casting of Frank Stone is a fun, flawed horror adventure.
