Frank Stone’s Casting: Not a GOTY Contender, But a Hidden Gem for Collaborative Magic

As autumn rolled in, I found myself jotting down contenders for the 2024 Game of the Year, trying to make sense of the chaotic mix of acclaimed titles I had yet to explore and those personal favorites I was ready to champion. Among these, The Casting of Frank Stone secured a spot in my top 10, standing proudly in the latter category.

Now, when it comes to convincing me, this game had an easy job. Personally, I view the horror works of Supermassive Games as nothing short of excellent, varying between “good,” “great,” and “amazing.” The only hiccup in my experience with their games was during Little Hope’s conclusion, and even that wasn’t enough to dampen my enthusiasm for long.

Despite my gameplay hours in Dead by Daylight being overshadowed by the time I’ve spent delving into its lore, I confidently consider myself a fan. So, when I heard about a Dead by Daylight spin-off developed by Supermassive, it felt like an absolute no-brainer.

My expectations were not sky-high; just having a Dead by Daylight narrative styled like The Dark Pictures Anthology was enough to get me excited. Although Frank Stone didn’t exactly make waves when it launched on September 3rd (a day it happens to share with my own birthday—not that I’m biased!), I found myself pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It might just slip into my top three from Supermassive.

The Casting of Frank Stone is an intriguing, grim adventure. It unfolds the connected fates of five playable characters across three time periods, all linked by a historic series of murders in Cedar Hills, Oregon, and a low-budget student film inspired by the events. Theories abound to keep players guessing, with a rich atmosphere and a mix of choose-your-own-adventure gameplay. It’s a treat for lore enthusiasts.

One downside is how the story wraps up. It delivers a harsh narrative blow that really resonates only if you’re familiar with the broader Dead by Daylight worldbuilding. I don’t see this as a flaw—it does what it sets out to do, engaging fans of its parent series. Still, its quiet release and disappearance might be partly due to this narrative choice.

In today’s entertainment scene, where brand tie-ins and copyright disputes reign, collaborations like The Casting of Frank Stone feel refreshing. It’s just a couple of studios embracing their strengths to create something unique, driven more by artistic compatibility than financial gain—a rarity that feels almost nostalgic.

Even if The Casting of Frank Stone isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, I’d love to see more games take a similar path. And if your top games happen to be Dead by Daylight and Until Dawn, there’s a chance it could become your personal Game of the Year. In truth, it came pretty close to being mine.