Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 25
  2. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Apr 18, 2023
    90
    Dead Island 2 is everything a Dead Island fan could ask for. Between its addicting combat mechanics, excellent character and gear progression systems, hilariously satirical writing, and goretastic presentation, this long-awaited sequel has proven it was worth the wait.
  2. Apr 18, 2023
    86
    This game has everything to be the best in its genre and it does it well with an excellent narrative, graphics and impressive details. It runs a bit heavy for some players on PC. The co-op mode is one of the best features of all, though not having cross-play takes away the real fun. Slaying zombies isn't hard until you hit the streets of Hell-A and want to get out alive.
  3. Apr 20, 2023
    81
    Dead Island 2 surely went through a few levels of development hell, so anyone following its path would reasonably suspect that the game might have issues. I can't say that it does anything exceptionally well, but it has enough life in it to avoid major stumbles. For better or worse, it is a by-the-numbers zombie basher that doesn't do anything terribly distinct. Its humor makes it compelling and fun, and it's at its best whenever it relies on that strength.
  4. Apr 27, 2023
    80
    All in all, Dead Island 2 is an excellent surprise and a must-have for all the fans of the genre, that seems to us undeniable. And if, despite its rather minor problems, Dead Island 2 can lose credibility at first sight, there is no doubt that its important strong points will make you forget these small details as you progress in the game. The work done in many respects is colossal, and you feel it throughout the progression. A very good game that we highly recommend!
  5. Apr 19, 2023
    80
    Dead Island 2 is like a good B movie. It's imperfect, but it doesn't commit to more than it's capable of offering. Incredibly entertaining, it keeps in the foreground what makes it stand out: the destruction of zombies, without a single shred of shame. It doesn't revolutionize the genre and never breaks free of the genre's moorings, but it's a real pleasure to smash zombies - from zombie number 1 to zombie number 1000.
  6. Apr 19, 2023
    80
    Dead Island 2 is not as ambitious as some of the other zombie slashers out there, but that actually works in its favor: With solid game mechanics, gory combat, good level design and some well-written characters, you are in for a bloody good time. Just don't expect a game that pushes anything forward.
  7. Apr 18, 2023
    80
    Dead Island 2 is a surprisingly good game that I had more fun with than I would have expected. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but its well-made mechanics, its simplicity and its honest intentions are enough elements to score it positively.
  8. Apr 18, 2023
    80
    Dead Island 2 knows what it wants and does it just right. The zombie slasher is good solo, but even better in co-op.
  9. Apr 18, 2023
    80
    Dead Island 2 does not revolutionize the saga or the survival game, but provides the essentials. Dambuster Studios offers fans of zombie survivalism a bloody and sunny journey to the heart of a red-painted City of Angels. Mutilating the emaciated has never been so brutal and the pleasure felt so visceral. This FPS is not perfect, far from it, and suffers from a certain repetitiveness that it tries to erase with undeniable generosity. The Dead Island franchise is well and truly back, a resounding return through the front door.
  10. Apr 18, 2023
    80
    Dead Island 2 groans can be loud as its technical and execution faults are hard to ignore, however, it feels crafted with so much love, that if you give yourself over to its shambling grasp, you might be surprised to hear a beating heart inside its exposed ribcage.
  11. Apr 18, 2023
    80
    Dead Island 2 is every bit the head-stomping blast that it promised to be. There are a few creases that Dambuster ought to iron out over the coming weeks, but if you’re hoping for mindless chaos and exceptional entertainment across the grindhouse slaughterhouse that is HELL-A, you’ve got it in spades right here.
  12. Apr 18, 2023
    80
    A fun but not relaxing trip to the fancy parts of L.A, Dead Island 2 is a major improvement over the previous franchise entries, with accurate goriness for the player's situation.
  13. Apr 18, 2023
    80
    Dead Island 2 departs from the original setting of an island and takes place in a zombie-infested Los Angeles. The game now offers a semi-open world, featuring satisfying combat mechanics, a vast array of upgradable weapons, and intense battles against hordes of zombies.
  14. Apr 19, 2023
    75
    Considering its troubled and long development cycle, it is almost a miracle that Dead Island 2 turned out as polished as it did. No issues at all on PC either. The game has its strengths, however, it feels a bit repetitive after a few hours.
  15. Apr 18, 2023
    75
    Blunt, gory, brutal - after ten years of development hell, Dead Island 2 is a good, dull action snack with no pretense or story highlights.
  16. Apr 18, 2023
    75
    Refreshingly brainless and made with a lot of heart, Dead Island 2's repetitive quest design and disappointing conclusion don't stop it from being a whale of a time.
  17. Apr 18, 2023
    75
    For being a game that has been in development hell for over ten years, Dead Island 2 turned out alright, thanks to the wacky atmosphere and characters, fun combat, and acceptable quest quality. All of these features, however, become progressively worse as the campaign proceeds, making the game nothing more than an acceptable experience that may not be worthy of its full price tag for those looking for something a bit more involving.
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  1. This is a game that that understands its own entirely disposable nature, that knows it's landing at the tail end of overwhelming zombie survival fatigue. Instead of trying to resist that, it embraces it, resulting in a breezy, messy adventure that has zero nutritional value, but will fill your bloodstream with yummy, delicious sugar. Dead Island 2 is a stinky trash game, and this filthy racoon had a grand old time rolling around in it.
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 312 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 80 out of 312
  1. Apr 22, 2023
    0
    Disappointing 6 hour game. As a fan of the first game, i didnt expect much, considering they couldnt finish it in 10 freaking years. GameDisappointing 6 hour game. As a fan of the first game, i didnt expect much, considering they couldnt finish it in 10 freaking years. Game feels like an old ps4 game. And on top of that its epic store which means just legal piracy. Just replay first game, dont waste your money Full Review »
  2. Apr 23, 2023
    2
    This game is shameful to cost 60€ and to be part of the dead island series
    Playing the first ones alone was funnier than playing this one
    This game is shameful to cost 60€ and to be part of the dead island series
    Playing the first ones alone was funnier than playing this one with a friend.
    The main story is contained in 24 missions which equals to roughly 12hours (according to my playtime, we looted every place we could fine when entering new zones).
    The constant harassing of chests openable with keys that you cannot get right away by searching the surroundings is a completely uninteresting idea, you have to come back to EVERY place and look everywhere to see a named zombie (exactly the same as the normal one) just to get a key/pass (there is 146 of them). There is only 9 MOBS, 9!!! 2 at the begining and everytime you kill a boss (even though there is no challenge when fighting them), it becomes a common mob you see occasionaly. The difficulty system is non existant, I died more times while getting team killed by my coop member than by zombies.
    Equipement is underwhelming, at first glance, you think there is a lot of weapon. But actualy there is like 50 different weapons ( swords, knifes, pistols, uzi etc... ) and then all of them are re skins.
    The item rarity is really bad. At the beginning you are thrilled to get a green weapon, but as soon as you get one, you almost get exclusively green or better items and so on. The fact that you can equalize you weapons level means that after you get a single item you like in purple rarity you don't need any other.
    The sound is horrible, the spacialization of the sound is the worst I have ever seen in a modern video game.
    Now, for the final boss. 30 sec top chrono, the cinematic before it was longer than the fight it was just deceiving.
    Full Review »
  3. Apr 25, 2023
    4
    Too many technical issues: character voice partially absent or partially become very low volume temporary, crashes every 15 minutes ifToo many technical issues: character voice partially absent or partially become very low volume temporary, crashes every 15 minutes if Fidelity FX is enabled, zombies spawning right in from of you from thin air...
    Not to mention Deluxe Edition is a total scam because promised cosmetics will not be delivered till summer when most people will already complete and forget about this game.
    The game itself is nothing special, but will do for those who like B-grade horror movies.
    Balancing is off - all zombies auto-level up to your current level if they were originally lower, but in some cases the same zombies of the same level require 5-10 hits to kill while in other cases they die from 1-2 hits of the same weapon...
    Can recommend only after all major issues fixed and only Basic edition to play with friends.
    Full Review »