Supermassive Games’ The Casting of Frank Stone, a single-player narrative adventure set in the Dead by Daylight universe, fails to deliver the chills expected of its pedigree, suffering from repetitive gameplay, a lackluster plot, and an uninspired cast of characters. Despite the developer’s history with the horror-adventure genre, this standalone expansion neither captures the essence of the original multiplayer title nor stands on its own as a compelling experience.
A Dual-Timeline Narrative That Falls Flat
The story kicks off in 1963, where police officer Sam intervenes to stop factory worker Frank Stone from committing a gruesome act at the Cedar Steel Mill. After Sam seemingly ends Frank’s life, the narrative splits across two eras: the 1980s, following a group of young filmmakers shooting a horror movie in the abandoned mill, and 2024, where a group of adults gathers at Gerant Manor to meet Augustine, a collector obsessed with Frank Stone. The game attempts to weave these timelines together to explain why the 1980s film, Murder Mill, was never released.
Predictable Choices and Lackluster Mechanics
As the plot unfolds, players navigate typical Supermassive-style “survive-or-die” encounters, utilizing a simplistic camera mechanic to fend off Frank Stone. Unfortunately, the game struggles to make the stakes feel meaningful because the characters lack depth. They feel like walking horror tropes, failing to elicit the emotional investment seen in the studio’s previous titles. The modern-day segments fare no better, bogged down by unimaginative puzzles and a tedious, unrewarding environment to explore.
A Disappointing Connection to Dead by Daylight
The two timelines converge toward a climax that the game telegraphs far too early, draining the final act of any genuine suspense. While the experience attempts to pivot into a metanarrative to justify its place in the Dead by Daylight canon, the execution feels forced. For veteran fans of the franchise, the connection may offer a fleeting moment of recognition, but it hardly justifies seven hours of otherwise monotonous gameplay.
Technical Polish vs. Narrative Boredom
While the art team clearly invested significant effort into the game’s visuals, the overall experience is hindered by a lack of engagement. Although features like the “Cutting Room Floor” allow players to revisit choices and explore branching paths, the initial playthrough fails to provide any incentive to return. Instead of being truly terrifying or hilariously campy, The Casting of Frank Stone lands in the most disappointing category of all: it is simply boring.
Ultimately, while Supermassive Games has delivered high-quality horror in the past, The Casting of Frank Stone is a rare misfire that fails to leave any lasting impression on the player.
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