When Illfonic revealed their take on Halloween as the asymmetrical multiplayer game we’ve seen with horror IPs in the past, I’ll admit I was a little disappointed. Not because Halloween is getting a video game adaptation, but because I feel like horror IPs deserve more than just a cookie-cutter reskin of the same genre.
But after getting some hands-on time with Halloween at PAX East in Boston, my fears were quelled when I took control of the iconic boogeyman. This Halloween game may tread familiar territory, but it’s also incredibly fun to play.
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Each match is a 1-v-4 fight for survival. One player controls the iconic killer Michael Myers, while four others play as teenage survivors fighting for their lives to escape Haddonfield. You’ll hide, find items, and use the surrounding houses for cover, all while evading Michael.
Illfonic’s Halloween game isn’t deviating from the tried-and-true asymmetrical horror formula.
As a survivor, you can call for the police if you’re lucky enough to make it to a phone (provided it still has power), who will offer invaluable aid for your escape. But these NPCs, along with other residents of the neighborhood, can be killed by Michael, offering him greater bonuses.
When I switched to playing as Michael, I had a lot more fun. There’s something about hunting down other players with a borderline-overpowered moveset, catching them unaware, and performing a QTE (quick-time event) for a gruesome execution animation, of which there are many. These are contextual to the environment, so you can bash heads in with weights or a fridge, stab someone from behind, and even rip players out of cars through the window.
Illfonic really nailed the feel and power fantasy of playing as Michael, offering an accurate representation of how he moves and behaves in the films. While we’re on the topic, Halloween fans all know that Michael Myers isn’t the speediest guy in town, but he always seems to just pop up in the right place at the wrong time.
The game injects this dynamic into Michael’s kit with the Shape Dash, which turns him invisible and doubles his speed. It’s not only a cool way to explain his ability to get around fast, but a balanced gameplay mechanic to keep the game fair.
The amount of callbacks and fan service is staggering, but not in an overtly annoying way. Some of the executions are references to kills seen in the movies, and even Donald Pleasence’s Dr. Loomis makes an appearance. But the biggest (and my favorite) homage to the film is the game’s use of the iconic piano theme.
Illfonic nails the score and atmosphere, but it’s still more of the same.
As with any horror game, music and sound design are essential aspects to get right, as they can make or break the experience overall. Halloween nails this with the theme song. When playing as a survivor, when the music would start, the hairs on my arm would stand on end, and I’d feel a sense of dread and panic, knowing Michael could be around any corner. But as Michael, the music helped me feel more powerful, and it meant my prey was nearer and nearer with every step.
If you’ve played any of Illfonic’s many asymmetric horror games before, go into Halloween with managed expectations – while it’s a gory good time, it isn’t necessarily reinventing the wheel. But this isn’t to say the game is bad, in fact, far from it. I just wish the iconic horror films we grew up with were able to break through to different gaming genres.
Halloween launches September 8, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
