Texas Chainsaw Massacre Vs Halloween: The Game

The horror genre is typically designed to scare the players. These video games are mostly based on scary stories and creepy scenes. If horror is your thing, well, you’re in for a ride. Scary horror games of the most iconic slasher films are making their way into games, letting fans live the terror firsthand. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is already out, dropping players into brutal 3v4 multiplayer matches.

Meanwhile, Halloween: The Game is gearing up for a 2026 release, promising a fresh take on asymmetrical horror. Both titles share a love for their source material, but in very different ways. Let’s take a look at how they stack up.

What is Texas Chain Saw Massacre?

The title is based directly on Tobe Hooper’s 1974 classic film. It throws players into terrifying multiplayer matches. You play as one of the Slaughter family, including the legendary Leatherface. You can also play as a helpless victim trying to escape. Unlike other asymmetrical horror games, it uses a 3v4 setup. The Slaughter family sets traps, stalks, and executes victims ruthlessly. Whilst victims rely on stealth and trickery to find a way out. The tone matches the intense horror of the original movie, as well as its tiny touches that make it scarier.

What is Halloween: The Game?

Halloween: The Game was officially revealed at Gamescom in August 2025 and is scheduled for release in 2026. In the game, players can either stalk victims as Michael Myers or defend Haddonfield as a Hero. It leans heavily on the stealth and survival tension that made the 1978 film a horror classic. In multiplayer matches, Michael goes beyond being just a slasher as he sabotages communications and uses shadows to his advantage while townsfolk scramble to survive, organize defenses, outsmart the killer, and even contact authorities.

Story

Texas Chainsaw Massacre is set in 1973. The story echoes the original film. Five teenagers in rural Texas quickly fall into the nightmare world of the Slaughter family. The intense storytelling pushes the player straight into the grim atmosphere. The abandoned houses, gas stations, and slaughterhouse backdrops all make you feel trapped in a filthy world. 

Halloween: The game is set in Haddonfield, 1978. Michael Myers breaks free once again. Consequently, he disrupts the peace. It keeps the same creepy feeling as the movie. You can either play through multiplayer matches or dive into a standalone single-player story mode. That single-player option is a huge deal. It allows players to see The Night He Came Home from Michael’s perspective. Though unlike the movie, residents of Haddonfield don’t just cower. They form resistance, call in police, and even arm themselves with improvised weapons.

Gameplay

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre gameplay is built around the tension of one killer vs a group of survivors. Victims tiptoe through congested environments. They search for tools and exits. Additionally, every footstep matters because sound alerts the killers, and hiding spots are limited. Leatherface smashes through barriers. The Cook locks doors tight. Hitchhiker sets bone traps that punish careless survivors. Unlike Dead by Daylight, escape isn’t just about repairing generators. Instead, victims juggle multiple escape routes. They cut power, unlock gates, or crawl through tight basement paths. Matches are fast, brutal, and reward teamwork.

IllFonic leans into sandbox-style horror in Halloween: The Game. In multiplayer, one player controls Michael Myers while others take the role of Heroes of Haddonfield. Heroes can pick up everyday items like baseball bats or knives. They also guide Non-playing characters to help build defenses. Michael, however, uses shadows and stealth to close in on targets, unlike Texas Chain Saw Massacre, where killers play as a team. Halloween keeps Michael alone against many. The single-player mode lets you fully embrace the killer role. 

Game Modes

Players get four main modes in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The multiplayer setup puts three family members against four victims. It’s a 3v4 survival scramble. Museum Mode works as a bonus feature. It lets players explore at their own pace while learning about the film’s history. Rush Week changes things up by throwing Johnny into a one-versus-five match against a sorority dorm. Finally, Private Matches let friends set up their own lobbies. They choose sides and customize matches. These different modes give players ways to enjoy the horror.

So far, IllFonic has confirmed asymmetrical multiplayer as the central mode in Halloween: The Game. Halloween focuses heavily on group survival strategies. Heroes rally NPCs, guide neighbors, and coordinate to slow down Michael. So, it forces constant communication. The promised single-player story mode really stands out. This gives players the unique chance to live out the film’s events through Michael’s eyes. That feature alone separates it from other asymmetrical horror titles. 

Features

Several features set The Texas Chainsaw Massacre apart. Characters are called Slaughters instead of Sawyers. This reflects Tobe Hooper’s early script. Grandpa even appears in matches, adding another plus to the movie’s grotesque family. No hero characters exist like in Friday the 13th: The Game. Survivors are regular people, fragile and desperate. It captured fans of brutal scares that feel real.

Halloween takes a different approach. The top feature is the option to play as Michael Myers in both multiplayer and single-player modes. Michael’s game is all about being a lone predator, unlike Texas Chain Saw Massacre, where killers team up. He’s also slow, unstoppable, and terrifying. Heroes of Haddonfield balance this by arming themselves and rallying NPCs. This adds strategy beyond simple escape. IllFonic’s experience with Friday the 13th means they know how to build tense horror.

Platforms

At first, Massacre was initially released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Later on, it aired on Xbox Game Pass. Halloween will air on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. However, it debuts in 2026. Therefore, players must wait for updates on this, as no exact release date has been announced.

Verdict

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre already proved itself with millions of players and deep horror roots. The 3v4 format keeps matches tense. Additionally, its variety of modes gives players multiple ways to experience the terror. On the other hand, Halloween: The Game looks set to take the genre higher. It offers Unreal Engine 5 visuals, single-player Michael Myers gameplay, and reactive sandbox mechanics. If you want a polished horror experience now, Leatherface’s game delivers. If you’re patient, Michael Myers may soon redefine asymmetrical horror altogether.