Halloween: The Game will not launch in Australia or New Zealand because a mechanic lets survivors smoke weed to see Michael Myers glowing through walls. The ACB refused to classify it, so the game is unavailable in both markets. If you are stuck outside the launch region or you just want to see how the asymmetric survival horror genre looks in 2026, this is our list of Halloween: The Game alternatives for desktop, tested on Windows 11 with a friend group over the past month.
We evaluated on four things: does the killer feel scary, does the survivor loop reward smart play, how alive is the matchmaking today, and does the game respect the horror it is borrowing from. Every pick below is playable right now on Windows through Steam or the publisher’s store.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halloween: The Game | Baseline: 1v4 Michael Myers asymmetric | No | ~$39.99 | Full Michael Myers license |
| Dead by Daylight | Biggest killer roster and playerbase | No | ~$19.99 base | 30+ killers, weekly events |
| Friday the 13th: The Game | Closest Halloween-style match | No | ~$9.99 sale price | Bespoke Jason gameplay |
| The Texas Chain Saw Massacre | 4v3 with a family of killers | No | ~$39.99 | Family unit vs victims |
| The Outlast Trials | Co-op survival horror without a killer player | No | ~$39.99 | Best pure co-op horror |
| Evil Dead: The Game | 1v4 with Ash and demons | No | ~$29.99 | Faithful Evil Dead source |
| Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game | 3v7 alien invasion horror | No | ~$29.99 | Unusual big-team format |
| Phasmophobia | 4-player co-op ghost hunt | No | ~$13.99 | VR support and huge streamer scene |
Why people leave (or skip) Halloween: The Game
The Halloween: The Game community has been vocal about the same handful of concerns.
- Regional ban. Australia and New Zealand cannot buy it because of the drug mechanic. That is a hard block, not a workaround.
- One killer, one map (at launch). The base game ships with a Haddonfield map and Michael Myers only.
- Long queue times on the survivor side. The killer is the fun role; matchmaking waits skew toward survivors.
- The Michael Myers licensing tax. The price sits at $39.99 because of the license, which is high compared to sale-priced competitors.
- Newer game, smaller playerbase. Matchmaking depth is not yet where Dead by Daylight sits.
The alternatives
Dead by Daylight — Best overall asymmetric horror
Dead by Daylight is the genre’s incumbent. Thirty-plus killers (including Michael Myers himself as The Shape), constant seasonal events, weekly rifts, and matchmaking that always finds a game in under 60 seconds. Behaviour Interactive keeps DLC coming, and the game runs on almost any modern PC.
Where it falls short: Free killer roster is small; new chapters cost around $8 each.
Pricing:
- Free: N/A.
- Paid: About $19.99 base; killer/chapter DLCs at ~$8 each.
- vs Halloween: The Game: Way more content, worldwide availability, and Michael Myers is already in the roster.
Migrating from Halloween: The Game: Buy Dead by Daylight and pick up The Shape chapter. Perk loadouts and lobby flow will feel familiar.
Download: Dead by Daylight on Steam
Bottom line: The safe pick, especially if the reason you wanted Halloween: The Game was Michael Myers specifically.
Friday the 13th: The Game — Closest match in tone
Friday the 13th: The Game is the spiritual predecessor to Halloween: The Game. The 1-vs-7 Jason vs counselor structure is exactly the loop Halloween: The Game is trying to recreate. Servers are lighter than they once were, but community lobbies still fill.
Where it falls short: No new content since the license lawsuit shut down development years ago.
Pricing:
- Free: N/A.
- Paid: About $9.99 (frequent Steam sales drop it lower).
- vs Halloween: The Game: Older, cheaper, and legally frozen; the licensed alternative closest in feel.
Migrating from Halloween: The Game: Buy through Steam; server browser is old-school but works.
Download: Friday the 13th on Steam
Bottom line: The right pick if you want the slasher-in-the-woods feel and can accept a smaller playerbase.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre — Best 4v3 asymmetric with a killer family
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre flips the usual 1v4 setup into 4v3 (four victims, three family members). Leatherface, Cook, and one other family member coordinate to hunt escapees across the Sawyer property. It is the best-produced asymmetric horror of the current generation.
Where it falls short: The 4v3 balance is fussier than 1v4; family members need voice chat to be effective.
Pricing:
- Free: N/A.
- Paid: About $39.99 base.
- vs Halloween: The Game: Different structure; better production values.
Migrating from Halloween: The Game: Available on Steam and Game Pass.
Download: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre on Steam
Bottom line: Pick this if you want a team-of-killers experience instead of a single stalker.
The Outlast Trials — Best pure co-op survival horror
The Outlast Trials is the co-op continuation of the Outlast series. Up to four players tackle Cold War-era Murkoff experiments while AI-driven horrors chase them. No player-controlled killer; the game itself is the antagonist.
Where it falls short: No killer role, so if the appeal of Halloween: The Game was playing as the villain, this misses it.
Pricing:
- Free: N/A.
- Paid: About $39.99 base.
- vs Halloween: The Game: PvE only, but the tension is arguably higher.
Migrating from Halloween: The Game: Steam and console versions available.
Download: The Outlast Trials on Steam
Bottom line: The right pick if you want horror with friends and do not care about the killer-player role.
Evil Dead: The Game — Best licensed horror alternative
Evil Dead: The Game is the 1-vs-4 asymmetric that Saber Interactive made after Friday the 13th’s licensing collapse. Ash and other Evil Dead survivors face off against a Kandarian Demon, with vehicles and boss demon fights that neither DBD nor Friday supports.
Where it falls short: Development ended, so no new content. Matchmaking still works but queues are slower off-peak.
Pricing:
- Free: N/A.
- Paid: About $29.99 base.
- vs Halloween: The Game: Different license; comparable feel; larger open maps.
Migrating from Halloween: The Game: Buy on Steam or the Epic Games Store.
Download: Evil Dead: The Game on Steam
Bottom line: Worth a shot if you liked the classic horror license and want a bigger playfield.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game — Best unusual format
Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is a 3-vs-7 asymmetric based on the 1988 cult movie. Three Klowns hunt seven humans across a small town, and the sci-fi angle makes it feel different from every other Michael Myers-style stalker.
Where it falls short: Cartoonier tone; niche appeal.
Pricing:
- Free: N/A.
- Paid: About $29.99 base.
- vs Halloween: The Game: Less scary, more chaotic; wider team format.
Migrating from Halloween: The Game: Steam and consoles.
Download: Killer Klowns from Outer Space on Steam
Bottom line: Pick this if you want an asymmetric horror that does not take itself deadly seriously.
Phasmophobia — Best 4-player co-op ghost hunt
Phasmophobia is the co-op ghost hunt that spawned an entire genre. Four players investigate haunted locations with EMF meters, spirit boxes, and thermometers to identify the ghost type. VR support is built in and adds real terror.
Where it falls short: No killer role; more investigation than combat.
Pricing:
- Free: N/A.
- Paid: About $13.99 base.
- vs Halloween: The Game: Different genre, similar friend-group appeal.
Migrating from Halloween: The Game: Steam only.
Download: Phasmophobia on Steam
Bottom line: The right pick if what you actually want is a scary night in with three friends.
How to choose
Pick Dead by Daylight if you just want to play as Michael Myers today and never lack a match.
Pick The Texas Chain Saw Massacre if you want the newest, best-produced asymmetric horror.
Pick The Outlast Trials if you want co-op horror without a killer role.
Pick Friday the 13th: The Game if you want the closest tonal match to a Michael-Myers-style stalker.
Pick Phasmophobia if the appeal of Halloween: The Game was hanging out with friends in a haunted place.
Stay on the wait-list for Halloween: The Game if you are outside Australia and New Zealand and specifically want the Haddonfield setting.
FAQ
Is Halloween: The Game banned in Australia? Yes. The Australian Classification Board refused to classify the game in 2026 because of a mechanic that lets survivors smoke marijuana to detect Michael Myers, and New Zealand followed suit. It is unavailable to purchase in either country.
What is the best Halloween: The Game alternative on Steam? Dead by Daylight is the safe overall answer because it has the largest playerbase and Michael Myers is already a licensed killer. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is the closest in production quality; Friday the 13th: The Game is the closest in structure.
Can you play as Michael Myers in Dead by Daylight? Yes. The Shape is a licensed killer in Dead by Daylight and is available as a paid DLC chapter.
What is the best co-op horror game for four players? The Outlast Trials for pure co-op survival horror without a killer player; Phasmophobia for the ghost-hunting sub-genre; Evil Dead: The Game for 4v1 asymmetric.
Do these games work on Steam Deck or Linux? Dead by Daylight has native Linux support through Proton; The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is Steam Deck verified; The Outlast Trials runs on Proton; Phasmophobia has an experimental Linux path via Proton.
