Halloween: The Video Game Reveals Its First Five Playable Characters
IllFonic and Gun Interactive have pulled back the curtain on the first wave of playable civilian characters for Halloween, revealing five original “Heroes of Haddonfield” who will be trying to survive Michael Myers (or slow him down) when the game arrives later this year. The character spotlights were posted on the game’s official site on January 21, 2026, complete with bios that sketch out their personalities, routines, and ties to Haddonfield. The developers also note these civilians are part of the game’s broader “horror sandbox,” with more to come.
Now let’s meet the characters!
Halloween: The Video Game | Photo Credit: Illfonic, Gun Media, Compass International Pictures Inc.
the first five Heroes of Haddonfield
Here’s who’s been revealed so far:
Thomas Armitage (21): A star college football player who returns home every weekend, helps with his dad’s furniture business, and is framed as a confident, natural leader.
Jennifer Aarons: A meticulous planner working at the local bookstore while saving for college, starkly against the idea of staying in Haddonfield forever, and newly dipping into the town’s nightlife.
Tanya Harrison: A social center of gravity in town, known for her upbeat energy and dark sense of humor, who chose a job at the local record store over an offer from Mr. Strode. Yes, some fun lore tie-ins are coming!
Rachel Calahan: A punk-leaning outsider with a fixation on death, studying funeral service courses to become a mortician and spending her free time around the bookstore’s occult crowd.
Marcus Navarro: A brooding biker with a “lone wolf” reputation who still circles back to familiar spots like the Rabbit in Red Lounge, with a protective streak tied to the people he cares about, including his grandmother Gloria.
Even before perks or abilities are detailed, the bios feel built to support distinct playstyles: the leader, the prepper, the connector, the goth-morbid specialist, the roaming protector.
Gameplay Specifics
Halloween is positioned as a 1v4 asymmetrical setup, with one player controlling Michael Myers and four players taking on “Hero of Haddonfield” roles, surrounded by NPC townsfolk who can become either collateral damage or part of the chaos.
On the civilian side, players are expected to focus on alerting residents, contacting authorities, and improvising with household items and weapons, with police pressure increasing as the night gets louder. On the Michael side, IllFonic has highlighted stalking, stealth, and a signature “Shape Jump” ability meant to capture his unsettling habit of appearing where he shouldn’t be, turning routine corners into jump-scare moments.
The studio has also emphasized that Halloween will include a standalone single-player story mode that lets players experience the “Night He Came Home” through Michael’s perspective, alongside the multiplayer sandbox.
Release date and where to follow
Halloween is currently listed for September 8, 2026, launching on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (including Steam and Epic Games Store), with IllFonic as developer and Gun Media as co-publisher.
Stay tuned for more as the game gets closer!
