Friday the 13th: The Game

Friday the 13th: The Game was an asymmetrical horror game based on the Friday the 13th film series. Seven camp counselors tried to escape from an eighth player in the role of Jason Voorhees. While the group searched for escape routes, Jason hunted his victims across the sprawling Camp Crystal Lake.

The game combined hiding, mutual help and unexpected encounters with the slasher horror of the cinema films. The official online service was discontinued at the end of 2024.

Friday the 13th: The Game was released on May 26, 2017 for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. The Nintendo Switch version followed on Aug 13, 2019 as the Ultimate Slasher Edition.

Sales of the game and its expansions ended on Dec 31, 2023, when the license expired. The official online service also ended on Dec 31, 2024.

The game was released natively for Windows PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. On Switch, the Ultimate Slasher Edition bundled the base game with several add-on contents that had previously been sold separately.

There was no dedicated PS5 or Xbox Series version. On newer consoles, possible backward compatibility does not become a standalone version.

In the original multiplayer matches, up to seven survivors went up against Jason. The two sides had fundamentally different goals: the counselors had to organize an escape route, while Jason had to eliminate as many group members as possible.

The mix of gathering information, eavesdropping stalkers and risky routes through forest and buildings made every round different. A match could end through escape or through Jason's defeat.

Several paid add-on packs were released for the game. Three Jason Kill Packs added special kill animations for film versions of Jason. Other packs offered new clothing and emotes for the camp counselors.

After the license ended, the add-on packs were removed from regular sale, just like the base game. They are therefore not a sensible expansion recommendation for newcomers today.

As a camp counselor, you were physically no match for Jason. The characters therefore had to find keys and other tools, prepare vehicles and reach a suitable escape route. Teamwork improved the survival odds but could be made harder by the group being spread across different locations.

Whoever played Jason Voorhees took on the role of the hunter. Jason could track down and kill people in buildings, on forest paths and at vehicles. The different forms of the killer refer to different parts of the film series.

Under certain conditions, the game also let survivors face Jason. The typical asymmetry nevertheless remained: a single Jason faced a much larger group.

Rounds took place in locations around Camp Crystal Lake. Forest paths, cabins, rooms with hiding spots and remote roads determined how counselors could escape and how Jason found his victims.

Known maps included Camp Crystal Lake, Higgins Haven and Packanack Lodge.

The base game was originally designed for online matches with up to eight players. After the dedicated servers were shut down in 2020, matchmaking initially remained possible through direct connections between players.

The official online service has not worked since late 2024. An existing disc or an earlier purchased access does not restore it.

In addition to the earlier online mode, Friday the 13th: The Game includes single-player challenges and matches against computer-controlled camp counselors. The challenges recreate scenes modeled on the films, while you pursue different goals as Jason.

These features were designed specifically for playing without internet. Whether they can be used on a particular device today depends on the existing installation and technical requirements.

The Ultimate Slasher Edition for Nintendo Switch released on Aug 13, 2019. It bundled the game modes of the time, three Jason Kill Packs, two clothing packs and a gesture pack.

Exclusive content for earlier supporters of development, including Savini Jason, was not part of the package. This edition is also the same game release and not a sequel.

Friday the 13th: The Game has not been sold through regular channels since Dec 31, 2023. The publisher had previously stated that the license for the film series was expiring. The official online services were shut down at the end of 2024.

Even with an existing copy, regular online play is therefore no longer possible. The game's story and earlier game modes nonetheless remain an important part of the development of asymmetric horror games.