Cosplay has long since been a way for fans of something or another to step into the shoes of their favorite characters and blur the line between fiction and reality, at least for a few hours. In the horror gaming community, few titles inspire as much dedication and creativity as Dead by Daylight, a first-person horror game that pits four survivors trying to escape, against a relentless killer intent on stringing the survivors up on hooks (literally). Among its devoted fanbase, cosplayers have taken these terrifying horror themes and spooky aesthetics and brought them to life in gorgeous detail.
As the world of cosplay has evolved from its birth in the 1930’s science fiction scene to the global phenomenon it is today, Dead by Daylight has carved out its own little niche in the community. The developers behind the game, Behavior Interactive, even actively encourage people to cosplay their characters through detailed guides and official resources. Even though Dead by Daylight was originally released in 2016, the developers still regularly release new survivors, killers, maps, cosmetics, and special events. With this ever-expanding roster of characters and outfits, the game offers a rich variety of designs that make it excited to keep creating new cosplays.
To get an insight into what it takes to bring Dead by Daylight characters to life, I spoke with Serenity, whose passion for the game led her directly into the world of sewing and cosplay creation.
“I really wanted an outfit from the game Dead by Daylight, so I made it. I liked the process so much that it snowballed from there. My first cosplay was about a year ago,” Serenity explains.
Serenity’s dedication to the craft reflects the depth of time and commitment that many other horror cosplayers put into their work. From carefully weathering fabrics and clothing to mimic bloodstained clothing, or sculpting realistic masks for killers and horror icons, cosplayers immerse themselves in the process. The psychological aspect of cosplay also plays a major role in the practice.
Cosplay is more than just dressing up as a favorite character from a game or other fandom. Research has shown that cosplay allows people to explore different aspects of their identity, express creativity, and even develop closer social connections. In one study published by Atlantic Press research shows that cosplay is a valid form of both identity escape and identity discovery.
While cosplay can be a rewarding and exciting creative outlet and form of identity discovery, it also comes with its own set of unique challenges, especially for cosplayers of marginalized identities. Serenity, a Black female cosplayer, has experience both positive and negative recognition online. She explains that people will often go out of their way to try and hurt her with their comments, but says for every negative comment or message, there are always a few hundred good comments. “I try not to let it bother me.”
Serenity also highlights some of the limitations that come with representation in gaming:
“I think video game characters are a part of your identity, and I wish there were better ways I could represent myself. Black female characters are often presented more masculine, with less cosmetic and hair options. Because of this, there are less options for me to cosplay.”
Despite these challenges, Serenity remains optimistic and deeply engaged in the cosplay community, and ever recently had one of her Dead by Daylight cosplays featured on the game’s official social media pages and livestream. “Being recognized was an amazing feeling!” she recalls.
With Behavior Interactive continuing to release new characters and collaborations with iconic horror franchises like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, Dead by Daylight cosplay is only going to continue to grow in popularity within its fanbase. While the game might not have the widespread popularity of larger horror franchises, Dead by Daylight fosters an engaged and vocal fanbase that thrives on the community interactions and game design.
For those looking to take that first step toward participating in horror cosplay, official resources like the Dead by Daylight cosplay guides can provide a strong foundation. Serenity advises that if you’re interested in trying out cosplay, “Don’t hesitate, and just try it! You may surprise yourself!”