Dead by Daylight blends its horror into a unique cocktail of licensed and original characters. This does not always translate how horrific characters from a licensed IP may be, but it is thrilling when their diverse abilities can translate to Dead by Daylight’s killer powers in a dynamic way. This is true of Saw’s Amanda Young, who is able to attach reverse bear traps on survivors heads, or Halloween’s Michael Myers, who specializes in watching, waiting, and stalking his prey from afar. These characters are fantastic, but Behaviour could show interest in indie antagonists who may pack a similar horror punch, like Terrifier's Art the Clown.
Considering which horror antagonists could potentially make their way to Dead by Daylight’s entity realm, there are many that could appease fans of huge licenses. Looking at smaller franchises in the genre, though, there is one enigmatic figure that would be an exciting killer character. Terrifier’s Art the Clown is a mischievous individual without ambition or purpose other than to torture and kill—being killed himself and revived supernaturally at the end of Terrifier would give him an in with Dead by Daylight. Either way, Art would make a wonderful killer character.
Terrifier is a Macabre Franchise Not for the Faint of Heart
After getting revived, Art could have been summoned to Dead by Daylight’s universe in his character’s lore biography. Art is mute, laughing silently to himself while killing people with unbridled barbarism. Terrifier and Terrifier 2 are unbelievably gruesome and repulsive, though that tone is precisely what some horror fans truly adore.
The extent to which Art murders people may not be fully realized in a game like Dead by Daylight, but his addition would be a refreshing change of pace from the iconic and notable horror antagonists that have been added to it in the past. Then, as the Terrifier franchise grows—director Damien Leone is already planning a threequel—that would only make Art’s inclusion in Dead by Daylight that much more relevant.
Terrifier may not be a household name or cult classic yet, but being featured in Dead by Daylight’s prolific horror ensemble could increase its popularity and introduce Art to many new fans who would not have heard about the slasher franchise otherwise. Terrifier is a much more grisly and modern take on the indie slasher genre, but Art would nestle in comfortably alongside the likes of Ghostface and Freddy Krueger.
How Art the Clown Could Fit into Dead by Daylight’s Killer Roster
Likewise, there are many ways that Behaviour could iterate on the character in order for him to adhere to its gameplay. Art’s power could see him reach into the large garbage bag he carries around, rummaging around for a miscellaneous armament, and producing it to use against survivors. Art’s bag commonly holds rusty tools and blades with which he butchers and maims people. Art’s Memento Mori in Dead by Daylight could be disturbingly creative, taking inspiration from any of the sadistic bludgeonings he commits in either Terrifier installment.
Art’s add-ons could contribute to the percentage-based chance that they will receive certain items from his bag, and there are even potential survivor characters that could be brought into a DLC expansion with him. The Heyes sisters from Terrifier or the Shaw siblings from Terrifier 2 would be obvious choices, but there are many other side characters who could also be added as cosmetic skins in future Dead by Daylight DLC.
Dead by Daylight is available on Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.