금요일 13일: 게임 리뷰 2026 (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 & PC)

In celebration of Michael Myers’ debut in the world of asymmetrical horror (Halloween), we decided to step foot back into the ominous boroughs of Camp Crystal Lake to check back in with cook-turned-merciless killer Jason, if only to see if the cult classic Friday the 13th: The Game was still as equally fun as it was back in 2017.

In case you missed out on the heart-wrenching news, here’s what you need to know: Friday the 13th: The Game shut its public servers down back in 2024. As a result of this, you cannot access the multiplayer mode—the driving force that, frankly, makes it the bouquet of blood-booming fun that it is. But, here’s the good news: you can play the game both offline and with AI bots for camp councilors. The question is, is it even worth the trouble, given that it is no longer available to purchase on the digital storefront? Better yet, is it worth going out of your way to locate a physical copy? Let’s talk.

Friday the 13th, at least in 2026, is a mere shell of what it once was—a carcass, of sorts, that represents the greatest qualities of a sturdy asymmetrical horror game, yet lacks the beating heart that is, simply, the community itself. See, while the skeletal bodywork is still alive and quaking, its internal organs—the pieces that animate it, really—are dead and buried in another grave plot. In other words, what you have here is a corpse without the decomposing facets. Yet, you also have a faint idea of what it once looked like during its prime. It’s a bitter reminder, in ways, that all good things must come to an end. And if Camp Crystal Lake is anything at all, it’s a cemetery where vacant souls mindlessly roam in a desperate pursuit to locate a heart that, frankly, they’ll never be able to find.

While the game itself is about as dead in the water as a seemingly amphibious truck, the infrastructure, believe it or not, is still here, as is most of the little key details that make Friday the 13th a great time-wasting interactive slasher flick. Granted, without the online matchmaking and competitive multiplayer aspect, it is a duller experience, mainly due to the fact that AI can’t quite replicate the same emotions as a human. However, there is still a reason to venture back into the depths of Camp Crystal Lake here. Unfortunately, you just need a willingness to accept the fact that it isn’t ever going to be the same as it was back in its primitive years.

If you’re unfamiliar with how Friday the 13th works, then you needn’t look any further than the core of Dead by Daylight. Similar in design, players either fill the role of camp councilors, or the cult classic killer. As councilors, you have the task of repeating things, collecting specific items, and searching for escape route that will take you away from the stomping ground that is Camp Crystal Lake. If you’re donning the hockey mask, however, then your job is to hunt and ultimately slaughter the councilors before they reach their final destination. Again, similar to your usual Gun Interactive asymmetrical horror à la Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

The bad news: as of 2026, you cannot officially play as any of the camp councilors. Instead, you have AI bots, and you have a playable Jason character who, true to the spirit of the source material, can slaughter and obliterate victims in creative ways. Sadly, that’s about as deep as the Camp Crystal Lake waters run here. There’s no social aspect, and there are no team-based challenges or progression milestones to unlock. It’s just Jason, a blood-soaked sandbox, and AI bots. In short, it’s a watered down version of the original, with no online commentary or avenues of progression. Let’s just call it a snippet of the story, but not quite the full picture.

With all of the above said, Friday the 13th: The Game remains a thoroughly entertaining horror game with a ton of great features and creative executions. Granted, the heart of it might have been removed to cater to a smaller, single-player-oriented audience, but for what it’s worth, it’s still an enjoyable game. The problem is, it doesn’t take all that long for you to squeeze out just about everything that it has to offer. As a matter of fact, after a handful of sessions and a slew of kills, you can sweep most of its remaining limbs beneath the rug and leave Camp Crystal Lake to the wolves for good. And that’s a shame, truly.

There is one silver lining here: Friday the 13th isn’t the only asymmetrical horror game to share the killer-councilor blueprint. Oh, Jason might be dead, but hey — we’ll always have The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Well, hopefully. Count your blessings, basically.

Verdict

To answer your question of whether or not Friday the 13th: The Game is worth picking up in 2026 — no, it isn’t. That is, of course, unless you’re somewhat hell-bent on plugging into a slasher flick that lacks all of the great elements that made its original version so universally popular. For fans of Friday the 13th and the hockey mask-sporting antagonist, sure, it can be a worthwhile investment. But for those who crave a taste of an evergreen asymmetrical horror, it might be better to give the desolate quarters of Camp Crystal Lake a wide berth.

I suppose, when all’s said and done, it all boils down to a simple question: how much are you willing to spend to fill the boots of Jason? If you’re content with the idea of slaughtering innocent camp councilors in shockingly gruesome conditions, then you might just find your money’s worth here. If, however, you’re after that all-important multiplayer experience, then you should probably count your losses and opt for either The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, or Dead by Daylight. Camp Crystal Lake is, regrettably, dead in the water, as are its chances of ever being resurrected.