After four years, the asymmetrical multiplayer horror game Dead by Daylight remains consistently popular and one of the most played horror games online. This strong engagement can be tied directly to the drip-feed development cycle where every few months new killers, survivors, and stages are sold as DLC. While the original Dead by Daylight characters are great, the game really started to shine when licensed IP’s were brought into the mix — and adding a few more by Halloween should highly increase engagement.

Over the past few years, developers Behaviour Interactive livened up the game by introducing seminal horror characters like Ghost Face, Michael Myers, the Demogorgon from Stranger Things, and most recently Pyramid Head from Silent Hill. As expected, the addition of familiar players not only makes the game more appealing to a mass audience but also legitimately adds to the tension. Seeing Ghost Face eerily stare from across the map is a far more terrifying experience than generic killers players are unfamiliar with.

Related: Dead by Daylight Killer Guide: Ghostface

Dead by Daylight is introducing cross-play and cross-progression later this year, potentially expanding the player base even more. According to Steam Charts, Dead by Daylight hit their all-time peak player count in June 2020. To keep that momentum going, Behaviour Interactive would be keen to release at least a few killers by Halloween. Here’s who needs to be added.

Xenomorph

Already a highly established video game villain, the Xenomorph from Alien is the most logical addition for a new killer. Taking cues from Alien: Isolation, the DLC could include a map where players are stuck on a spaceship, and the Xenomorph could utilize different pathways to sneak around survivors like air ducts. While the theme would be different from other Dead by Daylight DLC, the tension and atmosphere found in Alien fit perfectly with the tone of the game.

The Xenomorph has an array of traits that could be implemented into perks and weapons. Its tail could be used as a long-range weapon with a longer cooldown and it could even lay eggs around the map for survivors to find and ultimately be attacked by the iconic Facehuggers. Of course, with the addition of a Xenomorph, comes the obvious addition of series heroine Ellen Ripley. While Alien: Isolation expertly crafted a sense of terror in players, a Xenomorph vs Ripley match on Dead by Daylight has the potential to emulate that same sense of dread in a multiplayer environment. Survivors could use trackers similar to those found in the films in order to balance out the Xenomorph's sneaking advantages.

Hannibal Lecter

While not as terrifying in appearance, the popularity of NBC’s Hannibal series would garner an immense amount of attention if added as a DLC character. Mads Mikkelsen’s performance in Death Stranding shows he is no stranger to video games, and his brooding personality and menacing stature could send chills down anyone’s spine. Additionally, the dream sequences in Hannibal portray Dr. Lecter as a dark demonic creature, which in the context of the game could manifest in the form of perks and abilities. Dr. Lecter is also known to take trophies from his victims. In the case of Dead by Daylight, it would be interesting to see a scenario where Hannibal removes a survivor's organs after they’ve been hooked, giving a temporary debuff. His cannibalistic personality could provide some scary death scenes, and it would be nice to have a more classic serial killer in the mix.

Pennywise

pennywise clown in IT

The most recent IT movies were a critical and financial success, so it’s quite the obvious pick for an extra killer in Dead by Daylight. Pennywise is already a terrifying sight to see in theaters, but having him giggle while chasing you and potentially changing forms is a whole different story. His iconic balloons would have to be a primary perk, and similar to Ghost Face he could debuff survivors with his deathly stare. Once upgraded, the IT villain could warp his body as he does in the films for all sorts of creepy effects. It’s a surprise a Stephen King character hasn’t made it into the series yet. The addition of Pennywise also brings several possibilities for new maps like a new sewer level or the underground caves from the first film.

Pale Man

By far the most petrifying looking villain in the list, the Pale Man from Pan's Labyrinth would strike fear into the hearts of any survivor who looks in his direction. A pale-skinned monster with eyeballs in the palms of his hands makes his design one of the scariest seen in films. Even though he only appears in one scene, the Pale Man is possibly the most recognizable character from Pan’s Labyrinth.

Related: Dead By Daylight Mobile Is Bringing 4v1 Horror To Apple & Android Devices

Pale Man’s movements would be jarring and unnerving, and it would be an interesting take to see how he could lure survivors in with what would appear to be a buff item in the form of food. He could also use his creepy eyes to see in different directions and attack survivors with his powerful claws. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter what type of perks or abilities the Pale Man has, as seeing him run after survivors is a horrifying idea all on its own.

The Tethered

The break-in scene in Us is possibly one of the most terrifying moments in horror movies. The atmosphere, chilling images of the Tethered crawling on the floor, and the sheer amount of damage that can be done with a pair of scissors are enough to make anyone a bit queasy. It would also be great to have some more Black, female representation in the game. Excelling in stealth and agility, the Tethered could bring different strategies for killers in Dead by Daylight, including all sorts of possibilities in terms of movement. Another option for the Tethered would be to add Adelaide as a playable survivor, and creating tethered versions of each of the survivors as new killers. This would involve a huge overhaul for the game, but it's nice to have unrealistic dreams sometimes.

It’s unlikely this many killers will be added to Dead By Daylight by the time Halloween rolls around. With cross-play coming soon, it’s logical to assume that Behaviour Interactive is looking to beat their all-time player count once again, and adding these DLC killers would only hype up the launch of the new features.

Next: Dead by Daylight: How to Farm Bloodpoints (The Easy Way)