Given that it’s been over 8 years since we first walked into Dead By Daylight’s trials, fans have been begging for more games set in this universe. While there has been a dating sim and a roguelite, nothing has quite hooked those fans eager to see more of the franchise’s narrative brought to life. That is up until now. Enter, The Casting of Frank Stone – an interactive horror game developed by genre legends Supermassive Games based on the expansive IP. Seeing the developers of Until Dawn, The Dark Pictures series and The Quarry delve into this much-loved horror game certainly is exciting. They’ve more than proven themselves in the genre, but can they create a cohesive horror narrative on the bones of an expansive beast like Dead By Daylight?
Having had the opportunity to preview The Casting Of Frank Stone ahead of its full release next month, it’s been a welcome confirmation of the story we’re about to embark on. Supermassive Games has crafted a horror experience that weaves itself into the fabric of Dead By Daylight while standing perfectly on its own for players unfamiliar with the source. Yet if you’re the opposite, seeing the callbacks and references is such a treat. With such rich lore to build into, I truly feel that this horror experience will invite new players to enter the fog.
For those new to Supermassive Games, essentially they cut their teeth in the horror genre making interactive cinematic story games. Players make important choices and complete skill checks that affect the game’s story. Until Dawn put them on the map as a horror game studio; this soon led to The Dark Pictures anthology and The Quarry as well as some VR horror experiences. When it was announced that Supermassive would be developing The Casting Of Frank Stone it was very reassuring. Dead By Daylight is a game I’ve spent a lot of time so to see the universe being embraced by an experienced studio of their pedigree was exciting, to say the least. The early trailers captured that energy as well. Hearing David Kushners melancholic voice linger over one trailer sent shivers down my spine. This is really happening – Dead by Daylight is getting its own narrative horror game.
In my preview of The Casting Of Frank Stone, I was able to play the game’s prologue. In the game’s first moments, we meet a mysterious woman who will come to be known as Augustine Lieber. She laments about sacrifice and power – naming The Entity and its realm that’s out of her reach. That is until she found Frank Stone, referring to him as “My key. My killer.”
The Entity is a god-like sadistic being that feeds off emotion. In DBD it is responsible for collecting killers and survivors that it then forces to compete in the trials. Already, The Casting of Frank Stone is walking up to its source material, and yet nothing about it feels like it wouldn’t be out of conception for a player who hasn’t played DBD. I find this approach favourable as it isn’t forcing too much lore onto the player. Sure, the references are there if you know but it’s not excluding players who don’t. Supermassive Games really puts the effort in here to appease DBD fans while also creating something bold and new with their vision.
The demo continues, with a cinematic following a dog exploring the Steel Mill. This location has already been featured in a lot of The Casting of Frank Stone’s trailers and promotions. We finally lay eyes on Frank Stone with his iconic mask before he’s interrupted by a baby crying nearby. He leaves and the dog continues to venture through the mill. Our canine friend then leads us outside the mill where we spot a police car rolling up.
This is when we encounter Sam Green – a policeman investigating a Cedar Hill child’s disappearance in the area. Sam meets the steel mill guard, a drunk man by the name of Tom who players get to quiz on the mill. You’re able to decide how they treat him, given his condition I opted to be quite cautious and gain his trust through respect. Tom seems very sure that he and his dog Merlin have more than enough security for the huge steel mill at night. In later playthroughs there were also extra options available in the conversation, allowing for slightly altered interactions. The conversation ends with Sam realising he must investigate the mill further no matter what Tom says.
“…building that immersive nature that gives players a real sense of ownership over their playthrough.”
Exploring the mill as Sam is our first real chance to look around on our own. Like other Supermassive titles, players can investigate areas as they move through them. These sections flesh the story out, building that immersive nature that gives players a real sense of ownership over their playthrough. We can see Sam’s caution. Something is definitely off here and he has no choice but to dig deeper.
While exploring as Sam through the mill I found a trinket and roster on my first playthrough. The roster showed that Frank Stone was working at the mill but in a later playthrough, I found another document that was an employee’s personnel record detailing Stone’s checkered past. He got a job at the mill thanks to an endorsement from a Doctor Lieber. Now, where have we heard that name before? Already we see the clues to this narrative moving in front of us in such a satisfying way.
As we continue deeper into the mill with Sam, we’re surprised with another run-in with Tom who is still looking for his would-be guard dog. It’s with Tom that we finally meet Merlin, chowing down on a bucket of ghastly meat. Merlin runs off in fear and Sam investigates the meat further, finding a human ear in the process. Tom asks you if that’s the missing child’s and we have the choice to either dismiss Tom’s assumption or state that it came from someone else. Given what this game is already throwing down, I don’t doubt that there is something more sinister afoot.
Sam and Tom continue to search the mill and find the grate leading to the furnace. After searching the area for a tool to open the grate Sam opens it. He then instructs Tom to take his keys and use the radio in his cop car to radio the station. Sam has a feeling, especially after finding the ear which he also gives to Tom. I liked this section as we have an interaction with Tom where we can either be frustrated that he is so afraid or we can reassure him. On a later playthrough, I also had a third option to scorn Tom for needing to rely on alcohol to be brave.
“…as the fog envelops Frank Stone we finally lay eyes on a powerful force reaching from the black – The Entity…”
Sam ventures down into the bowels of the mill and it only furthers the fear this place holds. Something is off here and Sam is determined to find his way to the furnace chamber. This section really has a belly-of-the-beast feel to it as we edge closer to the heart of the mill. This section also introduces skill checks. If you’ve played DBD, you’re very used to having to do quick-time events to ensure you don’t make noise while fixing generators. This is equally true for other Supermassive titles that employ the skill checks as a test. Failing the checks usually results in your character being injured or sometimes even dying. In our first skill check, we are startled by a pipe bursting and Sam goes to steady himself. Missing this skill check results in Sam cutting himself and breaking his torch. We eventually find our way to the furnace chamber with another sudden skill check to dodge a falling pipe; this place has more than a few work-safe violations!
Finally, we meet Frank Stone. The furnace chamber is aglow as molten metal bubbles in the pit. Above it all, the cloaked lady from the start of the game watches. A baby also cries in a crib sitting on the catwalk above the molten pit. Frank is none too pleased to have Sam barging in and soon he is fighting for his life against the steel-clad baddie. The fight introduces more skill checks that involve aiming at target points. Notably, one involves your torch which isn’t possible if you broke it earlier. Frank eventually impales Sam on a spike of metal on the wall and through skill checks and button mashing we need to free ourselves before Frank Stone can throw the baby into the molten pit. That’s certainly some stakes for you!
No matter what, the fight ends with Frank Stone being shot and getting impaled and roasted in the molten pit. As the player, our performance in this part of the game changes the outcome of other variables. Thankfully, we can save the infant though I wonder how this plot detail affects the wider game. What I will say though is that this section of the game was the biggest wink to DBD. As Frank dies in the pit, Sam can only watch as a mysterious black fog rolls into the chamber. In the final moments of the demo, as the fog envelops Frank Stone we finally lay eyes on a powerful force reaching from the black – The Entity. This sequence is so sinister and yet curious, knowing the original game this is pulling from wasn’t any more of an advantage to feeling less fear of it.
“Supermassive Games has really cooked here…”
Having seen a small taste of this game’s voracious hunger to grab the source material and meld it into its own story, I’m honestly more excited than ever to see what else the games got going on. Supermassive Games has really cooked here and I already see The Casting Of Frank Stone as being a tasty first course for other narrative games from the Dead By Daylight universe.
Given that this is only my first impression of the game, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the full release. This is thanks in no small part to seeing a studio with experience in the genre building something new with the original source material. Their respect and care to create something that stands on its own while referencing its source is incredibly affirming.
Undoubtedly, The Casting Of Frank Stone has a lot to live up to with expectations on both sides but if this demo proves anything, it’s set to exceed them with ease. I do wonder what the rest of the game will have in store for players. Augustine Lieber’s character definitely feels like she’s the one pulling the strings behind the curtain but where does this game lead; The Casting Of Frank Stone’s story is far from over, so what horrors does the rest of the game hold? This Prologue feels like such an enticing tease for what’s to come.
Truly, this does feel like it’s been a long time coming. The lore in the DBD universe is quite expansive and I do feel like its richness is perfect for more cinematic horror games such as this. I will say though that I am glad that much of the demos references to the original game are understated. Frank Stone and Augustine Lieber are not characters we’ve come across before so they are ripe for this new horror narrative from Supermassive Games. It feels like we’re seeing this universe enter a new promising chapter, one that makes me quite proud of how far the source material has come.
The Casting Of Frank Stone will be released on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC on September 3.
About the Author
Alex Beaty
They/Them
Alex gets FOMO for game DLC more than they should ever admit. On the run for being too good at Fortnite, they now work in game development.
