The Casting of Frank Stone
- September 3, 2024
- Supermassive Games
- 5h median play time
The Casting of Frank Stone does a superb job of telling a greater story within the world of DbD, with cool twists and references throughout.
"The Casting of Frank Stone" is a narrative-driven game where players navigate the life of Frank Stone, a struggling actor who stumbles upon a dark and terrifying world. The Deluxe Edition includes exclusive costumes, instant access to alternative story paths, and rewards for Dead by Daylight. Players will make decisions that determine Frank's fate and uncover the secrets behind the mysterious "Murder Mill." This edition is for those who want a richer and more expansive gameplay experience.
Reviews
- Great story with engaging twists and connections to the Dead by Daylight universe.
- Visually stunning graphics and immersive atmosphere.
- Tons of Easter eggs and references for Dead by Daylight fans.
- Poor optimization leading to significant performance issues and frame drops.
- Characters lack depth and are often unlikable.
- Choices feel meaningless and do not significantly impact the story.
- story2,460 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of "The Casting of Frank Stone" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its intriguing plot and connections to the Dead by Daylight universe, while others criticize its pacing and execution. Fans of the franchise appreciate the lore and Easter eggs, but some find the narrative convoluted and the character development lacking, leading to a sense of disconnection from the story. Overall, while the game offers a compelling experience for dedicated Dead by Daylight players, its short runtime and performance issues have left some feeling that it doesn't fully meet expectations.
“From the moment I started the game, I was hooked by its gripping story, stunning graphics, and the meaningful choices it offers.”
“The story is great, the characters are fun, and the mystery of what is really happening is compelling and keeps you guessing until its satisfying payoff at the end.”
“The sound design, visuals, and storytelling all combined to create a tense, unsettling mood that kept me on edge from start to finish.”
“The game is too short, the story is lame and boring, and the optimization doesn't exist.”
“The story didn't seem to make a lot of sense and so our decisions felt less impactful overall.”
“The story is very disconnected; you start with a prologue in the 60s and then the story takes place in 2024 before having flashback missions in the 80s, then going back to 2024.”
- optimization987 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including frequent crashes, stuttering, and low frame rates even on high-end systems. While some users experienced minor stutters or no issues at all, the consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, making it difficult to recommend until significant patches are released to address these problems. Overall, players suggest waiting for improvements before purchasing, as the current state significantly detracts from the gaming experience.
“The performance was generally smooth, with only a few minor stutters that didn’t detract from the overall experience.”
“Despite the initial release's bugs and lack of optimization, this is still a fantastic game and in my opinion the closest Supermassive has gotten to replicating the success of Until Dawn.”
“I had performance issues but within the first five minutes of installing, I changed up my settings and the rest of the game ran fine.”
“It breaks my heart to give this a negative review, but this is easily the most poorly optimized game I've encountered.”
“The performance is terrible and the writing is not good.”
“The game is so poorly optimized that even on the lowest possible settings the game chugs, drops frames barely running 20fps if I am lucky for that when I am on something that should run this at 60 no problem.”
- gameplay529 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it leans heavily towards cinematic storytelling rather than interactive gameplay, often feeling more like a movie than a game. While some appreciated the integration of Dead by Daylight mechanics and the atmosphere, others criticized the repetitive and simplistic gameplay, lack of meaningful choices, and numerous technical issues, including bugs and performance drops. Overall, it seems to cater primarily to fans of narrative-driven experiences, but may disappoint those seeking more traditional gameplay elements.
“The gameplay itself was solid and exploring the world was a genuine pleasure.”
“A fantastic experience if you're a Dead by Daylight fan with all the references, gameplay, and especially all the well thought out endings.”
“The story is very intriguing, and gameplay-wise is the most innovative Supermassive title to date, as there is simple combat, repairing generators by actually fixing them, puzzles through symbol matching or exploration, and the smoothest movement and exploration system in their games so far.”
“15 minutes of gameplay in the first 2 hours, rest is just characters talking to each other, no horror/action at all.”
“The gameplay sections are 100% pointless and serve absolutely no purpose.”
“The gameplay is just straight-up boring, and those quick-time events where you actively have to not press any inputs in order to get worse results (or the results you want) remove any integrity and immersion for me.”
- graphics528 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals and high-quality detail, particularly on higher-end PCs. However, numerous players have reported significant performance issues, including frame drops, stuttering, and graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. While the aesthetic and atmosphere are often highlighted as strong points, the game's optimization remains a concern, leading to frustration for those with varying hardware capabilities.
“From the moment I started the game, I was hooked by its gripping story, stunning graphics, and the meaningful choices it offers.”
“The graphics are high quality which makes the game totally immersive and the decision-based gaming is where your choices shape the ending so there are multiple different endings and each gameplay will be different.”
“The graphics look great, the deaths are more violent and gory than I expected, the music is great, and the story is very interesting.”
“The game crashes during the intro movie with the dog running around in 1st person when you have HDR turned on and all the graphics dialed up.”
“Ridiculously graphically intense/unoptimized, my RX7800XT barely does 60fps on high, and still stutters a bit.”
“The game has absolutely horrible graphics and barely can run at 30fps, literally looks nothing like the trailers, when the characters talk their teeth are in the middle of their mouths where their tongues should be, their mouths don't move properly.”
- stability187 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game has been widely criticized for its instability, with many players reporting frequent bugs, graphical glitches, and performance issues, particularly during cutscenes and area transitions. While some users experienced minimal problems, others found the game nearly unplayable, especially on lower-end systems. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game is poorly optimized and requires significant patches to improve stability and performance.
“The game runs great for me and so far I'm enjoying the storyline.”
“Looks and runs great, no complaints!”
“Looks and runs great, no complaints!”
“The game is extremely buggy.”
“Was able to do a single playthrough of the game (after a few graphical glitches, unity crash, and the game just running out of video memory...) but now after the hotfix, it's absolutely unplayable.”
“40$ for a game this short and this buggy is bananas.”
- atmosphere116 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, effectively drawing players into a haunting world filled with eerie details and stunning visuals. While it successfully builds tension and mood, some reviewers noted that it lacks genuine scares and can feel repetitive upon replay. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the storytelling and player experience.
“Every shadow, every flicker of light contributes to an atmosphere that’s both chilling and captivating.”
“The game’s eerie atmosphere and stunning environments immediately drew me in and kept me hooked throughout.”
“The game’s atmosphere is hauntingly immersive, pulling you deeper into its world as the story unfolds.”
“If anything, it leans more towards being gory, but it never really achieves a truly frightening atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere the game gave off throughout was eerie but I felt that not much was done in the horror aspect of the game other than the music and environment.”
“It feels more like a movie than a game where you are actively taking part and I thought the atmosphere was a bit lacking.”
- music86 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and tension, particularly through its horror/thriller elements reminiscent of "Dead by Daylight." The soundtrack is described as well-crafted, with notable sound effects and references that contribute to the overall experience, although some players noted moments of minimal music. Overall, the sound design and music are considered standout features, adding depth to the gameplay and narrative.
“The sound design and soundtrack are absolutely top notch too.”
“I enjoyed the music; as a horror/thriller soundtrack, it blew away any expectations and is a very well-crafted addition to the experience.”
“The story was incredible, the music was awesome, and the way it loops around into DBD is perfect.”
“Only thing spooky (only played ch1 and 2) was the music - which is one of the reasons why it's at least a 5/10.”
“There was also pretty much no music.”
“The atmosphere the game gave off throughout was eerie but I felt that not much was done in the horror aspect of the game other than the music and environment.”
- replayability76 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the multiple choices, paths, and endings that encourage revisiting the experience, while others criticize its short runtime and predictability, which diminish the incentive to replay. Many users noted that features like the cutting room floor and timeline selector enhance replay value, but some felt that the impact of choices is limited, leading to similar outcomes across playthroughs. Overall, while there is potential for replayability, it may depend on individual preferences and familiarity with the game's mechanics.
“I would have liked the game to be longer, but at least it has replayability with the cutting room floor, different choices, paths, and endings.”
“It also has replayability due to the many decisions and resulting changes in the story.”
“Overall, I greatly enjoyed my time with the casting of Frank Stone and I would recommend this game to anyone who wishes to experience a short but extremely modular and replayable story.”
“I think the story is probably really predictable for anyone who is familiar with the setup for Dead by Daylight, and if that applies to you, it probably puts a dent in its replayability.”
“Wait for a couple of patches/updates, because right now the replay value is none.”
“- 6-7 hour run time with no replayability for that price is insane.”
- humor45 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous references and callbacks to "Dead by Daylight," which fans find amusing and enjoyable, even if some moments are unintentionally funny due to bugs and janky writing. Players appreciate the fan-service elements and the comedic situations that arise, particularly during multiplayer sessions, although some critiques suggest that the humor can feel forced or cringe-worthy at times. Overall, while the game has its flaws, many players find it entertaining, especially if they are fans of the original game.
“The whole thing when the game released without the game files was actually kind of hilarious, and I won't be taking that into account in this review because mistakes happen.”
“First of all, what I have to say, given the two companies responsible for this game - the initial launch of the game did not include the actual game files. Yes, I'm not kidding, the game launched at first and those big dummies forgot to include the actual game in the download, and I think what makes it twice as funny is just who's responsible for that game.”
“I caught myself surprised, laughing, and being happy several times by getting the references to their most famous game.”
“I don't know if that was supposed to be funny or not, but I found it funny because it reminded me of how hard it is to get four people to ready up, lmao.”
- emotional36 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 39 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the immersive graphics and decision-based gameplay that can lead to impactful endings, while others criticize the lack of depth in character development and storytelling. Many feel that the game fails to deliver on its promise of emotional engagement, describing the narrative as boring and uninteresting, despite moments that evoke genuine feelings. Overall, while some players find emotional resonance in certain sequences, the game's inconsistent storytelling undermines its potential for deeper emotional stakes.
“The graphics are high quality which makes the game totally immersive and the decision-based gaming is where your choices shape the ending, so there are multiple different endings. This is a deep emotional and dark game and a must-play for horror fans!”
“It was amazing, I love Dead by Daylight so much and I'm proud of this game; I'm getting emotional just thinking about the journey.”
“The ending scene was beautifully done and was quite touching, really.”
“The most boring story I had to go through, I kept hoping maybe soon it will get interesting, maybe soon the real DBD story gets revealed, but no.”
“It's just a boring story with zero interesting characters.”
“Boring story, uninteresting characters and lame puzzles.”
- character development29 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over a lack of relatable characters and insufficient depth, particularly for key figures like Frank Stone and Augustine. While some players found that patience led to a stronger attachment to certain characters, others criticized the pacing and felt that too much time was spent on character introductions without meaningful development. Overall, the character design is noted as visually appealing, but the narrative execution leaves much to be desired, often feeling like a semi-interactive experience rather than a fully engaging story.
“Character development is often something that people complain about, where a character feels as if they aren't relatable and it makes players drop the game early. I was on the verge of doing so myself near the start, but I decided to give the game more time to let me feel the characters, and in the end, there were some characters I developed an attachment to.”
“Those books slowly build, in little ways, with character development and nuance.”
“From the story, performances, character design, lore, level design, and incredible score — it's just brilliant all the way through.”
“Despite being the title character, Frank Stone is nothing more than a side antagonist and a plot device for the main one, Augustine. There is more character development required as the generic 'I want to end the world because I'm evil' gives no real explanation, hence the plot holes. I wish I could've seen more of a build-up to her character.”
“Three hours in and there's no character development and nothing really happens.”
“Barely any choices, bad character development. Seriously, after six hours, there is barely any gameplay at all; it's more like watching a semi-interactive movie with almost zero quick time events and no 'keep quiet' scenes. Disappointing, really, like Supermassive Games.”
- grinding28 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 68 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the lack of features like fast forward or skip options for previously seen dialogue and cutscenes. This makes revisiting scenes for collectibles and alternate outcomes feel laborious, especially for those aiming to achieve 100% completion. While some appreciate the depth of the multiple story branches, the overall experience can be frustratingly grindy.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Most people don't play these twice, let alone 20 times, and there's no fast forward when re-visiting scenes, so it's incredibly tedious.”
“The game sports multiple story branches depending on your decisions, and it encourages you to play through key points again to check what you may have missed and see other outcomes - however, it's impossible to skip through already seen dialog or cutscenes, which makes that rather tedious in my opinion.”
“Lost my saves multiple times and I've had to replay the first few chapters at least 4 times now, and the opening scenes don't get any more interesting or any less tedious with each run through.”
- monetization22 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many reviewers labeling it as a cash grab that primarily serves as an advertisement for Dead by Daylight rather than offering a standalone, engaging experience. Players feel that the game lacks depth and originality, instead relying on its connection to an existing successful title, which detracts from its overall quality and storytelling. Overall, the sentiment is that the game prioritizes profit over creative design, leaving players disappointed.
“After having beaten the game, I can say this game is a cash grab.”
“It felt more like a playable advertisement than a standalone game.”
“Overall, if you were to compare this game to the quality of the Dark Pictures games also made by Supermassive, this is very clearly a forced side project cash grab sponsored by Behavior.”
Critic Reviews
The Casting of Frank Stone (PS5) Review
The Casting of Frank Stone is an interesting, albeit mildly frustrating game that does a solid job expanding on the Dead by Daylight franchise.
75%The Casting of Frank Stone Review – Death is Not the End
The Casting of Frank Stone is yet another hit from Supermassive Games, delivering an engaging horror story deeply rooted into the lore of Dead of Daylight equally enjoyable by fans of the original game and those with no knowledge of the multiplayer game created by Behaviour Interactive. While its short length and limited gameplay may slightly hinder the experience, the game remains a worthwhile purchase for those who appreciate well-crafted supernatural horror stories.
80%The Casting of Frank Stone review
The Casting of Frank Stone does a superb job of telling a greater story within the world of DbD, with cool twists and references throughout.
80%