Dead Island 2

DI2

Released

Release Date: April 21, 2023

The second installment of an FPP action series set during the zombie apocalypse. Dead Island 2 takes place in Los Angeles, where a few lucky survivors turn out to be immune to the zombie virus. They thus attempt to learn the origin of the epidemic by traversing the city, completing quests and wiping out hordes of undead.

7.0

Gamepressure

7.5

OpenCritic

7.7

Steam

5.5

s

Rate It!

Ratings

 Videos: 11 

Images: 30 

Plot
Mechanics
Game modes
Technical aspects

Dead Island 2 is the second main installment in a series of zombie apocalypse action games which Dying Light series.

The project has frequently changed hands over the years. First it was worked on by Yager Development (also responsible for the cult classic Homefront: The Revolution).

Plot

Dead Island 2 is set after the series' first installment. The wildly spreading zombie virus has reached California. The military failed to regain control over the situation and withdrew from Los Angeles. The city was quarantined, its residents left to die.

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Some citizens, however, turn out to be immune to zombie bites - rather than zombifying them, the infection grants them supernatural abilities. We play as one such survivor.

Mechanics

Dead Island 2 makes use of the first-person perspective (FPP). We start the game by choosing one of six playable characters, each with their own personality, unique dialogue and skillsets. Afterwards, the gameplay proper begins.

The game's open world is a vast city divided into smaller locations. There are plenty of distinctive places to visit in Los Angeles, such as Beverly Hills and Venice Beach. Throughout the game we complete story quests and various side quests.

Along the way we slaughter hordes of undead, wielding various melee weapons and firearms. Aside from weak cannon fodder we'll face some much more powerful specimens.

By progressing through the game we develop our heroes, gain new abilities and upgrade the characters via collecting special cards. We can also increase their combat capabilities by acquiring better gear. The game's built-in crafting system lets us infuse weapons with additional effects, creating weapons such as electric machetes.

Game modes

Dead Island 2 s singleplayer and online co-op for up to three players.

Technical aspects

Dead Island 2 boasts high quality visuals. The zombies and the FLESH system allowing us to gruesomely dismember them are especially appealing, though the locations are nothing to sneeze at either.

Platforms:

PC Windows

PlayStation 4

Xbox One

PlayStation 5

Xbox Series X/S

Developer: Deep Silver Dambuster Studios (PC)

Publisher: Deep Silver / Plaion

Similar Games:

Dying Light

Dead Island

7 Days to Die

Game Series

10GAMES

Dead Island Game Series

A series of first-person perspective (FPP) action games, combining zombie-slasher and RPG elements. The series was started by the Polish studio Techland, and then its development was handled by other teams, working on behalf of the publisher and owner of the rights to the brand - Deep Silver.

Dead Island Game Series

Features

7.0

good

ReviewDead Island 2

Dead Island 2 Review: Zombied Out

Dead Island 2 is a return to a tried-and-true formula: murdering zombies with baseball bats. What else does Dead Island 2 bring to the table? You'll find out in our review.

Dead Island 2 Review: Zombied Out

About our Reviews

Reviewed by:

Giancarlo Saldana

Reviewed on:

PlayStation 5

Review date:

April 18, 2023

Guide

Last update: April 21, 2023

Dead Island 2 Guide

Dead Island 2 guide is the best tips and tricks, for combat, weapon upgrades, character development, crafting. We describe all workshops, skill cards, locked boxes, weapon schemes, enemies, heroes, system requirements, game length.

Dead Island 2 Guide

News

Dead Island 2 - How Many Players Can Play in Co-op

s

Top s for Dead Island 2 Video Game:

All s

System Requirements

System Requirements for Dead Island 2 Video Game:

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
(30 fps / 1080p) Intel Core i7-7700HQ 2.8 GHz / AMD FX-9590 4.7 GHz, 10 GB RAM, graphic card 6 GB GeForce GTX 1060 / 8 GB Radeon RX 480 or better, 70 GB HDD, Windows 10.

Recommended System Requirements:
(60 fps / 1080p) Intel Core i9-9900K 3.6 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 3.7 GHz, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce RTX 2070 Super / Radeon RX 6600 XT or better, 70 GB HDD, Windows 10.

Ultra System Requirements:
(60 fps / 4K) Intel Core i7-13700K 3.4 GHz / AMD Ryzen 9 7900X 4.7 GHz, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 24 GB GeForce RTX 3090 / 16 GB Radeon RX 6950 XT or better, 70 GB HDD, Windows 10.

PlayStation 4

s:
30 fps

Xbox One

s:
30 fps

PlayStation 5

s:
60 fps

Xbox Series X/S

s:
60 fps

Expansions

List of Game Expansions for Video Game:

Dead Island 2: SoLA

Expansion

April 17, 2024

Action

The second major expansion to Dead Island 2, a first-person action game. Dead Island 2: SOLA Festival revolves around the titular LA festival, which was meant to raise money for ecological purposes.

7.7

OpenCritic

3.0

s

Dead Island 2: SoLA

Dead Island 2: Haus

Expansion

November 2, 2023

Action

The first major expansion to Dead Island 2, a first-person action game. Dead Island 2: Haus is set in a beautiful mansion in Malibu, where an evil cult dwells. The DLC introduces a new questline, new weapons and skills.

6.5

OpenCritic

7.1

s

Dead Island 2: Haus

Ratings

Game Ratings for Dead Island 2 Video Game.

7.0

good

ReviewDead Island 2

Dead Island 2 Review: Zombied Out

Dead Island 2 is a return to a tried-and-true formula: murdering zombies with baseball bats. What else does Dead Island 2 bring to the table? You'll find out in our review.

Dead Island 2 Review: Zombied Out

About our Reviews

Reviewed by:

Giancarlo Saldana

Reviewed on:

PlayStation 5

Review date:

April 18, 2023

7.5

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 60% of Critics. There are 158 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

PC Gamer: 55 / 100 by Lewis Parker

Dead Island 2 is hampered by dull design choices, repetitive combat, and a painfully weak story, with its only saving grace being its great performance on PC.

Full Review

IGN: 7 / 10 by Travis Northup

Dead Island 2 is a hilarious gore-fest and a competent zombie-slaying adventure, but lacks creativity outside of its great sense of humor.

Full Review

Game Informer: 7.8 / 10 by Wesley LeBlanc

With Dead Island 2, Dambuster Studios asks little of the player – only that you enjoy a good excuse to kill zombies in increasingly gory ways for a weekend or two – and in doing so, it delivers on the promise of what this series is all about.

Full Review

77%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mostly Positive (9,525)

STEAM

Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Visuals and Graphics: Many reviews praised the game for its stunning graphics and vibrant environments, effectively capturing the feel of a zombie-infested Los Angeles.
Combat Mechanics: The game features satisfying and impactful zombie-slaying combat, with a variety of weapon types and a detailed gore system that enhances the experience.
Exploration and Looting: Players appreciated the numerous locations to explore, loot to collect, and the freedom to experiment with different playstyles and weapon modifications.
Skill Cards and RPG Elements: The introduction of skill cards and RPG elements was seen as a positive addition, allowing for diverse character builds and gameplay strategies.
Co-op Gameplay: While there were mixed feelings, some players found the game enjoyable when played with friends, highlighting the fun of chaotic zombie slaying together.

The main cons of the game

Repetitive Gameplay: Several s noted that the game can become repetitive, especially towards the end, due to similar quests and enemy types.
Multiplayer Limitations: The maximum player limit for co-op sessions is only three, which disappointed players expecting the traditional four-player experience from previous titles.
Story and Character Development: Many found the story uninspired and the characters two-dimensional, lacking depth and engagement.
Technical Issues: Some players experienced bugs, crashes, and issues related to the Epic Games online services, which hindered the multiplayer experience and overall enjoyment.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to s

Cross-Play and Cross-Save: Many s expressed a desire for cross-play capabilities and cross-save options between different platforms.
More Zombie Varieties: Players mentioned that there are not enough different types of zombies, leading to a lack of variety in combat encounters.
Mirror Reflections: Some players were surprised that the game did not include mirror reflections, which they felt was a basic feature that should have been included.
Weapon Inspection: s noted the absence of a weapon inspect feature, which would enhance the gameplay experience by allowing players to appreciate their customized weapons.
Depth of Story and Quests: There was a call for more engaging and varied side quests, as many felt that the quests were too formulaic and lacked creativity.

Summary

Overall, Dead Island 2 seems to deliver a visually appealing and fun zombie-slaying experience, but it suffers from repetitive gameplay, technical issues, and a lackluster story, leading to mixed reviews among players.

Summary generated on: June 2, 2025

5.5

S Score

Average score from votes.

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