Friday the 13th The Game Review - Is it Good or Bad? (2021 Edition)

Updated:

28 Sep 2021

Four years ago, horror fans and Friday the 13th fans worldwide experienced a collective sensation of sheer excitement as Gun Media released Friday the 13th: The Game. The game sparked a newly-found interest in the Friday the 13th franchise as a whole, as everyone’s favorite man in a hockey mask returned to their screens. Only this time, you could be Jason. In this review, I will break down the (not so) obvious pros and cons of this interactive, knife-wielding madness that took the horror world by surprise.

About Friday the 13th: The Game

Friday the 13th: The Game is an asymmetrical, multiplayer survival horror extravaganza that places players on various maps as teenage camp counselors trying to escape Jason Vorhees. The third-person game, developed by IllFonic and published by Gun Media, saw a digital release in May 2017, followed by a disc release in October of the same year. Its release received tremendous publicity, selling over 1.8 million copies in its first three months, and anticipation from life-long fans of the horror genre.

Of course, over time, and with a lawsuit preventing the development of new content, the game’s popularity has decreased throughout the years. Even so, it provides a sense of authentic gaming which allows you to feel like a counselor trying to survive on Camp Crystal Lake, plus the chance to joke around with your friends and to have a good time (killing them all.)

The Story

The game’s story echoes the Friday the 13th film franchise in which an adult Jason Vorhees, who drowned in the lake as a young boy, sets out to kill any and all camp counselors that return to Camp Crystal Lake. Spoiler alert: He’s seeking revenge for the decapitation of his mother, Pamela, whose severed head and sweater are kept in Jason’s run-down shack.

Gameplay

Friday the 13th: The Game (2021) - PC Gameplay

In Friday the 13th: The Game, players can guarantee an interactive experience that tests their unique survival skills. Players can also expect lots of bloody violence as the chance of watching their fellow counselors get killed one by one is possible at the hands of Jason. There are seven playable maps in the game, from Packanack Lodge to Higgins Haven, each individually eccentric.

Players are allowed to escape the map that they are on via repairing the boat or car, by escaping with the police, by allowing the 20-minute time limit to expire, or simply by killing Jason with the help of Tommy Jarvis. One significant feature that the game does not include is the ability to create and stylize your own character, which has received a fair amount of criticism. Instead, players choose their desired counselor from a diverse, pre-made lineup.

Combat Stance

Friday The 13th The Game - Fighting Jason Tips and Tricks

A fan favorite of this game is the strong use of combat stance. In time for battle, both Jason and the counselor can fire up their combat stance, which can help both in attacking and dodging attacks. Attacking Jason can be accomplished via a helpful list of weapons, both sharp and not. A major goal in this game is for players to work together in hopes of completing their task of either killing Jason or escaping. Checking cabins for weapons and other useful resources, such as the fuse for the phone to call the police, is essential for players to survive.

In a more recent update by the developers, a patch was put into effect which gives Jason the ability to not be stunned for the final ten minutes of a match. In simpler terms, hitting Jason with a simple weapon such as a pipe or flare gun will not harm him. However, any counselor (including Tommy Jarvis) can stun Jason by shooting him with a shotgun. However, the shotgun only includes one bullet, so you’d better not miss. This patch makes it even more difficult to defeat Jason when attempting to escape, giving him a much-needed boost of power.

Overall mission

The mission of the game is quite simple: survive. The game provides an excellent adventure for players, as there are numerous ways to escape the selected map. Another way the game provides adventure is the ability for counselors to fight back against Jason by stunning him with weapons such as a baseball bat or lead pipe. One of the most interesting and exciting ways for counselors to battle Jason is the opportunity to kill him.

Of course, you’re going to need Tommy Jarvis, who returns to the game as a counselor that was either murdered or escaped. A player using a female counselor can then steal Pamela’s sweater from Jason’s shack, put it on, stun Jason with the sweater and allow Tommy to deliver the final blow with a machete or axe.