Dead by Daylight needs an Intel Core i3-4170 or AMD FX-8120, 8 GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 460 or Radeon HD 6850 to run at minimum settings. For the recommended experience, Behaviour Interactive’s asymmetrical multiplayer horror game asks for the same i3-4170 or an AMD FX-8300, 8 GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 760 or Radeon HD 8800. These are the Dead by Daylight system requirements players need before stepping into the fog as Killer or Survivor.
Here are the Dead by Daylight System Requirements (Minimum)
- CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 or AMD FX-8120
- RAM: 8 GB
- Video Card: DX11 Compatible GeForce GTX 460 or AMD Radeon HD 6850 (1GB VRAM)
- Dedicated Video RAM: 1 GB
- Pixel Shader: 5.0
- Vertex Shader: 5.0
- OS: 64-bit Windows 7, 8, or 8.1
- Free Disk Space: 15 GB
- Sound Card: DX11 compatible
Dead by Daylight Recommended Requirements
- CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 or AMD FX-8300 or higher
- RAM: 8 GB
- Video Card: DX11 Compatible GeForce GTX 760 or AMD Radeon HD 8800 or higher (4GB VRAM)
- Dedicated Video RAM: 4 GB
- Pixel Shader: 5.0
- Vertex Shader: 5.0
- OS: 64-bit Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 or above
- Free Disk Space: 15 GB
- Sound Card: DX11 compatible
Our source’s structured spec blocks list Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 for both tiers, though the accompanying article text separately states the game needs Windows 10. We are presenting the structured spec block above as the primary figure, since it is the more detailed and specific source.
Minimum vs Recommended At a Glance
| Spec | Minimum | Recommended |
| CPU | Core i3-4170 / FX-8120 | Core i3-4170 / FX-8300+ |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Video Card | GTX 460 / Radeon HD 6850 | GTX 760 / Radeon HD 8800+ |
| Video RAM | 1 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage | 15 GB | 15 GB |
| OS | Windows 7/8/8.1 64-bit | Windows 7/8/8.1+ 64-bit |
Can My PC Run Dead by Daylight?
Dead by Daylight is one of the more forgiving games in this cluster on the CPU side, since the minimum and recommended tiers ask for the same Core i3-4170, or an AMD chip only slightly stronger on the recommended tier. RAM also stays flat at 8 GB across both tiers. The real jump between tiers is entirely on the GPU, moving from a GTX 460 with 1 GB of VRAM up to a GTX 760 with a full 4 GB, which matters for running the game’s shadow and lighting effects at higher settings during chase sequences. Storage sits at a modest 15 GB for both tiers.
Who Dead by Daylight Is For
Dead by Daylight has topped 70 million lifetime players and still draws around a million players daily, a decade after its 2016 launch, and it holds a “Very Positive” rating on Steam. It suits fans of asymmetrical multiplayer horror who want an ongoing, frequently updated game rather than a finite single-player campaign, pitting four Survivors trying to escape against one player-controlled Killer, with licensed characters from horror franchises like Stranger Things and Scream available through paid DLC. The game continues receiving new content years after release, keeping its player base active.
Long-running community discussion points to real friction around the game’s grind for unlocking perks and characters, along with balance complaints from both Killer and Survivor players that show up consistently in Steam discussions despite the game’s strong overall rating. Players looking for a complete, self-contained story rather than a live-service multiplayer game with ongoing balance changes may prefer something like Dying Light instead, while those wanting a deep, long-term asymmetrical horror game with a large existing community will likely find plenty to sink time into here.
Get Dead by Daylight For Less
Before buying at full price, check our guide on How To Get Dead by Daylight Free for legitimate ways to pick up the game at a lower cost.
More PC System Requirements Guides
Start with our central guide: Valheim System Requirements, our site wide hub covering PC specs across every genre we track.
This page is also part of our Survival Horror cluster. Cluster hub: Resident Evil Village System Requirements (cluster hub). Other pages in this cluster:
- Resident Evil 6 Complete System Requirements
- Resident Evil 8 System Requirements
- Resident Evil 3 System Requirements
- SILENT HILL f System Requirements
- Outlast 2 System Requirements
- Iron Lung System Requirements
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 System Requirements
- REANIMAL System Requirements
This cluster is now complete. Browse the full list above for every game we’ve covered in Survival Horror.
FAQ
What are the Dead by Daylight system requirements?
Dead by Daylight needs an Intel Core i3-4170 or AMD FX-8120, 8 GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 460 or Radeon HD 6850 at minimum, or the same i3-4170 or an AMD FX-8300, 8 GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 760 or Radeon HD 8800 for the recommended experience.
How much storage does Dead by Daylight need?
Dead by Daylight needs 15 GB of free disk space at both the minimum and recommended tiers.
How many players does Dead by Daylight support?
Dead by Daylight is a 4-versus-1 asymmetrical multiplayer game, with four players controlling Survivors and one player controlling the Killer.
How many people play Dead by Daylight?
The game has surpassed 70 million lifetime players and continues to draw around a million players daily, roughly a decade after its original 2016 release.
Does Dead by Daylight have licensed horror characters?
Yes, the game includes paid DLC chapters featuring characters from horror franchises such as Stranger Things and Scream, alongside its own original cast of Killers and Survivors.
