Halloween: The Game Receives Mixed Reviews from Critics and Gamers

This week marks the release of Halloween: The Game, a new asymmetrical horror title from IllFonic based on John Carpenter's 1978 film of the same name. Despite offering both multiplayer and a story campaign, it's landed mostly mixed reviews.

Critics have praised the atmosphere and faithful recreation of the original film's tone, including meticulously detailed locations, along with solid gameplay centered on Michael Myers. On the downside, the game suffers from a number of technical issues affecting the overall experience, and it bears a strong resemblance to the studio's earlier projects, Friday the 13th: The Game and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, without offering much that feels genuinely new. Halloween: The Game currently sits at 71 on Metacritic. Things aren't much better on OpenCritic, with a Top Critic Average of 64 and only 27% of critics recommending the game. You can check out some brief reviews below.

GameSpot – 80/100:

People often like to stack up every asymmetrical horror game to Dead by Daylight. I’ve never felt that makes sense. Games like Halloween aren’t trying to replace that genre titan; they’re seeking to live alongside it. To do that, they need a distinct and exciting gameplay loop and to capture the tone of their source material. Halloween achieves both of these things, giving players a vibes-heavy experience befitting the timeless film while also offering a unique hook that keeps the game from feeling like a rehash of the many horror multiplayer games that came before it. Games like Halloween don’t make me think the landscape is oversaturated. It makes me excited to see what teams that love horror the way IllFonic does will do next, because here, with Halloween, they nailed it.

TheGamer – 80/100:

It is absolutely about violence, but it is equally about anticipation. Halloween: The Game may not be the cleanest asymmetrical horror game I've played, but it is one of the more atmospheric. Its Haddonfield is gorgeous, and its multiplayer creates plenty of unpredictable encounters. Stepping into Michael Myers' boots is exactly the kind of absurd fun a Halloween game should offer.

ComicBook – 70/100:

Despite going out of its way to commit to recreating an iconic piece of horror storytelling from almost 50 years ago, it still has to work within the frames of what fans expect from a horror game in 2026. Most of the time, those things actually work fine together; sometimes they bump up against each other. Even with the frustrating elements that pop up, though, Halloween: The Game scratches a specific kind of itch, and fans of this subgenre should be glad that it’s arrived. Thanks to the replayability at its core, each round will feel like you’re living an all-new Halloween movie every time, warts and all.

Shacknews – 70/100:

Halloween: The Game isn’t my favorite of the IP-based asymmetrical horror games, but it’s still a good one. Sure, it’s got some janky animations and can be a bit overfamiliar at times, but these games, like their movie inspirations, are enjoyable despite their flaws. For me, the fun varies greatly based on the crew you’re playing with and how you interact with each other. It’s releasing right in time for spooky season, and it’s one I’m excited to play with some friends as part of our Halloween festivities.

Noisy Pixel – 70/100:

Halloween: The Game is a tense and cinematic asymmetrical horror experience that gives Michael Myers and Haddonfield a strong video game adaptation. Its unique focus on protecting NPC residents, enjoyable killer and hero gameplay, and faithful atmosphere help it stand apart, though unreliable AI, lengthy matches, and concerns about long-term variety keep it from fully realizing its potential.

Steam players largely echo the critics. Around 70% of reviews are positive, though online activity has dropped off noticeably since launch day. Concurrent players peaked at nearly 34,000 and have since fallen to just under 10,000. Most player comments center on the game's technical issues.

Meanwhile, IllFonic has released the first patch for Halloween: The Game, aimed at improving certain gameplay elements, particularly NPC behavior, and adding cross-platform support. The studio also announced 500,000 people played the game within its first two days. Overall, several critics noted that with consistent ongoing support, the game could eventually become a real competitor to Dead by Daylight, though it's still too early to say for sure.

Halloween: The Game is now available on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.