He wears a sweater draped over his shoulders. He has a haircut that screams "my father is a litigator." If you played the Friday the 13th video game during its chaotic peak, you didn't just see him—you probably hated him, or you played as him specifically to make everyone else miserable.
Chad Kensington is the ultimate gaming paradox.
He isn't just a character. He’s a lifestyle choice. While other counselors like AJ or Deborah were busy actually trying to fix the car or call the police, Chad was usually busy being a "dick." That’s not just a player observation, by the way. The game literally has a trophy/achievement titled "Chad is a Dick" for escaping alone in a car while other counselors are still alive.
It’s perfection.
The Man, The Myth, The Tiger-Print Speedo
Most people think Chad is just a generic rich kid trope. They aren't wrong, but the depth of his "Chad-ness" goes way deeper than the surface. He is the "Preppy Guy" archetype, a direct nod to the snobby, entitled victims who populated the 1980s slasher films. Think of Russell from Part VII: The New Blood or the general "Chet" energy from any movie where someone gets killed while worrying about their loafers.
Chad’s stats are a hilarious mess of high-tier utility and absolute cowardice.
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- Composure (1/10): The lowest in the game. If Jason so much as looks at Chad, the screen goes dark with fear. He panics at the sight of a pebble.
- Luck (10/10): This is where the magic happens. Chad is the luckiest man on earth. In gameplay terms, this means his weapons almost never break.
- Speed (9/10): He can’t fix a fuse to save his life, but he can outrun a supernatural slasher.
Because of that Luck stat, Chad became the "Bully" of Camp Crystal Lake. While the "strong" characters like Buggzy were supposed to be the protectors, it was actually the sweater-wearing preppy who would stand over Jason with a baseball bat, stunning him over and over again because his weapon refused to snap.
Honestly, watching a guy in a pink polo shirt beat an immortal killer into a stun animation is the funniest thing you'll ever see in a horror game.
Why the Internet Fell in Love with a Jerk
You’ve probably seen the videos. There’s a specific one that went viral years ago: a group of Chads in matching outfits dancing to "California Girls" while Jason stands there, utterly defeated. This is the "Chad Friday the 13th" energy that kept the game alive long after the licensing lawsuits tried to kill it.
The community didn't just play Chad; they roleplayed him. Players would hop on the mic with their best "upper-crust" accent, screaming about how their "dad owns this lake" or calling Jason a "low-born peasant." It turned a terrifying horror experience into a surreal comedy.
But there’s a darker side to the meme. In the early days of the game, "team killing" was a thing. If you saw a Chad, you ran. Not because of Jason, but because Chad was the most likely person to shoot you with a shotgun just to take the last seat in the four-seater car. He became the face of "every man for himself" gameplay.
The Strategy: Playing the "Protector" or the "Snake"
If you're still jumping into matches today (and yes, the servers are still kicking in a limited capacity), playing Chad requires a specific mindset. You aren't there to repair the boat. Your repair stat is so bad that the mini-game UI looks like a strobe light.
Instead, you do one of two things.
First, you can be the Bodyguard. Since your Luck is maxed out, you grab a baseball bat and follow the "Fixers" (the smart characters). When Jason shows up to stop the repair, you hit him. Because you're Chad, that bat might last for five or six hits, whereas on someone like Brandon, it might break in two.
The second way? You play the Snake. You find the keys, you find the car, and you leave. You don't look back. It is the most "lore-accurate" way to play the character.
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Realism and the Legacy of the Preppy Guy
Is Chad based on a real person? Not exactly. While many other counselors were modeled after real-life backers from the game’s Kickstarter campaign, Chad was a purely fictional creation by the developers at IllFonic. They wanted to capture that specific 80s "villain who isn't the killer" vibe.
He represents the guy you want to see Jason catch, which makes it all the more infuriating/hilarious when he’s the only one who survives.
The "Chad Friday the 13th" phenomenon actually changed how people viewed asymmetrical horror games. It proved that players don't always want to be the hero. Sometimes, they want to be the flamboyant, cowardly, lucky jerk who survives through sheer entitlement and a very fast pair of boat shoes.
How to Master the Chad Mentality
If you want to truly embrace this legend, you need to optimize your build. Most veteran players agree on a few "must-have" perks:
- Swift Attacker: This makes your swing speed faster. Essential for stunning Jason before he grabs you.
- Medic: Gives you two heals per medkit. Since Chad has low composure, he takes a lot of "fear damage," and staying healed keeps your stamina from tanking.
- Thick Skinned: Reduces damage. Chad isn't "tough," but this perk makes him feel like he’s wearing plot armor.
Basically, you want to be as annoying as possible. If Jason is chasing you, you've already won because he isn't killing the people actually fixing the objectives. You're the ultimate distraction. Just don't expect anyone to thank you when you drive off without them.
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Next Steps for Camp Counselors
Check your perk rolls. If you don't have a high-rarity Swift Attacker, you're playing at a disadvantage. Spend those customization points until you get a red or gold version. Also, try playing a match where you don't touch a single objective—just focus on being Jason's shadow. It’s a completely different game when you stop being the prey and start being the nuisance.