Dead Island 2

 PC
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 312 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 166 out of 312
  2. Mixed: 66 out of 312
  3. Negative: 80 out of 312

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  1. Jsilly
    May 21, 2023
    7
    The game was fun but....
    Wish it had been a true open world
    Story too short
    Not a good ending
  2. sybosid
    May 3, 2023
    5
    So disappointing, after waiting many years this is what we get? Game may as well have been set in a tunnel it's that linear. Zombies spawning constantly everywhere makes what exploration is available impossible. Eventually gave up and just got from a to b as quickly as possible. Buggy as hell too, how many times a Zombie in the distance suddenly appeared right in my face and trying toSo disappointing, after waiting many years this is what we get? Game may as well have been set in a tunnel it's that linear. Zombies spawning constantly everywhere makes what exploration is available impossible. Eventually gave up and just got from a to b as quickly as possible. Buggy as hell too, how many times a Zombie in the distance suddenly appeared right in my face and trying to manage and sell weapon inventory was completely glitched. Environmental aspects were interesting but they're everywhere! Cant go more than a few steps without electrocution/fire/chemical areas, too many! Weapons upgrading feels pointless and inventory too restricted. Oh, and no driving! It just doesn't have the scale, the soul or the freedom of the original DI where you could go where you wanted do what you wanted, plan your tactics, hone your skills, clear an area (and know it was clear!) and take time to explore, look around and discover. None of this is possible in DI2, It's cramped, rushed, congested and confusing.… Expand
  3. abowman
    Apr 23, 2023
    6
    This game is average is just about every way. Just like the first game, there really is no progression system. Every scales to your level, including the items that you pickup. Item's have no uniqueness and are replaced quickly. Side quests are only really worth doing for the curveball unlocks, and maybe for a cheap laugh.

    Something to do while we want for some other games to release,    This game is average is just about every way. Just like the first game, there really is no progression system. Every scales to your level, including the items that you pickup. Item's have no uniqueness and are replaced quickly. Side quests are only really worth doing for the curveball unlocks, and maybe for a cheap laugh.

    Something to do while we want for some other games to release, but probably not worth the 60 dollar price tag. The gore mechanics are solid, just about everything else is subpar by todays standards.    … Expand
  4. Sushin
    Apr 23, 2023
    5
    This is the most aggressively average game I have ever played. I was never too bored but I was also never too interested. If you have played other games from this genre, there is nothing new to see here. I only recommend this as a coop game to play with a friend.

    PROS: The setting is unique and well done. The environmental damage system is actually very cool. It doesn't overstay its    This is the most aggressively average game I have ever played. I was never too bored but I was also never too interested. If you have played other games from this genre, there is nothing new to see here. I only recommend this as a coop game to play with a friend.

    PROS:
    The setting is unique and well done.
    The environmental damage system is actually very cool.
    It doesn't overstay its welcome with a ton of worthless sidequests and collectables

    CONS:
    Get ready to scan every room for literal garbage as loot.
    Weapon progression is completely meaningless.
    The combat gets formulaic pretty fast    … Expand
  5. Pianochord
    Apr 22, 2023
    6
    Long awaited and, sadly, disappointing sequel to a pretty good game

    Pros: Keeps DIY customization for weapons allowing custom elemental effects and boosts Good use of environmental hazards to use to difficult the player or to aid them Not open world, but big chunks of map to explore and backtrack for more items, loot or missions New types of boss zombies The new visuals are    Long awaited and, sadly, disappointing sequel to a pretty good game

    Pros:
    Keeps DIY customization for weapons allowing custom elemental effects and boosts
    Good use of environmental hazards to use to difficult the player or to aid them
    Not open world, but big chunks of map to explore and backtrack for more items, loot or missions
    New types of boss zombies
    The new visuals are stunning
    The narrative is not new or groundbreaking, but 6 hrs in and still interesting. Also refferences to DI1 are aprecciated!

    Cons:
    Zombies are no longer pre-placed in a site, now the spawn, sometimes in the cone of vision of the player or behing them, making the fights unfair a large amount of time
    The boss zombies are damage sponges and the fights are all the same, making necessary to spam click and block, trying not to die from the smaller zombies that spawns continuously behind your back
    Driving? Nah, 6hr in and not a single usable vehicle
    Less variety of environmental puzzles like DI1, reducing them only to "need fusible/battery/valve wheel to proceed"

    The game is fun to play, but clearly is not worth this price, and even tho it took so long to finish, clearly feels like it needed more time    … Expand
  6. DrDoko
    Apr 22, 2023
    7
    DI2 has good potential, but far too many unfortunate faults plagued my playthrough.

    There's a bit of fun in the guns, weapon variety and environmental chaos that can ensue, especially with friends. The few skills you can mix and match to find something appealing to you individually is nice, but it lacks any real depth in the form of skill trees and or perks to really effect how you deal    DI2 has good potential, but far too many unfortunate faults plagued my playthrough.

    There's a bit of fun in the guns, weapon variety and environmental chaos that can ensue, especially with friends. The few skills you can mix and match to find something appealing to you individually is nice, but it lacks any real depth in the form of skill trees and or perks to really effect how you deal damage to the undead, or assist your co-op partners. Would be nice to see more co-op perks, passives like increased damage with blades or guns, anything, just to give me a solid way to play with the weapons I like.

    The level design is refreshing and fun, there's a lot of environmental things to experiment with. In the first few hours, the scenery and time of day change multiple times with fast-paced music beatdowns, interesting boss arenas here and there, and good environmental storytelling throughout. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't having fun with the first two major boss fights.

    The story is fine, but after about the 3-4 hour mark, it (and the combat) can quickly loose it's luster. Animation-locked combat animations will still allow other enemies to damage you while you're stuck doing a "glory" kill move from the trailers. A fitting game to admire the impressive gore system, but little else makes it stand out in the horde of similar zombie titles.

    There's no run and hide mechanic, or stealth takedowns, such mechanics obviously aren't required in every zombie game, but it could provide some variety to handling the many encounters that start to feel rather repetitive late-game.

    Environmental traversal is lacking and one can never truly clear a map 'stage' area due to zombies constantly spawning in somewhere on the map, which can make backtracking to find gear or collectables a chore in the fairly-limited, linear stages.

    There is a leveling system, but the enemies scale with individual level (solo) so no matter where one goes, the same leveled combat constantly follows. Earlier stages, expected to be easily cleared again due to having higher powered weapons from later on in the game, remain stagnant in difficulty, with no slider in the game settings, for more challenging or easier encounters.

    If you can stomach the frustratingly fun combat and mild story of Dead Island 2, give it a try,    … Expand
  7. tbarron76
    Apr 27, 2023
    7
    the game is good, but they ere making this game for almost a decade, don't buy this garbage, just either wait for sale or wait for it to come on game pass, don't waist you money on anything that is make for decades
  8. NotMikelol
    Apr 24, 2023
    7
    The game is fun there is really not much to it, if you're expecting something more than just killing zombies and running around, it is not your game
  9. zNeverSleep
    Jul 26, 2023
    7
    Good gameplay and graphics but it lacks some important aspects tho.

    Movement and combat are good. Not Dying Light level, but good. Sometimes it feels restrictive, but you get used to those animations. Also, graphics in that context really adds to the experience, because hitting a zombie feels great. Mutilation is on point, and so is physics. Melee, as a gameplay core, is satisfying and    Good gameplay and graphics but it lacks some important aspects tho.

    Movement and combat are good. Not Dying Light level, but good. Sometimes it feels restrictive, but you get used to those animations. Also, graphics in that context really adds to the experience, because hitting a zombie feels great. Mutilation is on point, and so is physics. Melee, as a gameplay core, is satisfying and all types of it are fun at some point. We also have elements like fire and electricity to modify and change our gameplay style. Fire guns feel Over Powered, but since ammo is not that easy to get all the time, you have to save it for important moments.

    About the graphics, it's really impressive. Even in 1080p ultra, the game feels photorealistic. LA is amazing. Day or Night, doesn't matter. Facial expressions are pretty good, even though, let's be honest, the script didn't use them to their full potential. But talking about physics, hands down to the amazing water we have high here. Remember the elements I said before? They match perfectly with the gasoline, water, and chemical resources we find on the map. For example, you can get a gallon of water, spread it all over the ground, and hit it with an electricity weapon to kill a horde of zombies. Or use water to clean the chemical that is in your way. it's beautiful and hella fun.    … Expand
  10. KolesAdlerov
    Apr 22, 2023
    6
    A typical triple-sjw product. Still a good sequel to the "6/10" game, still better than DL2 and still doesn't hold a candle to DL1.
    And, devs... eh, vehicles..? A swimming... nah?
    Gameplay: combat mechanics [nice gore, bad scripts in animations] 8/10 combat logic: deep-silver absurd atmosphere [stupid consolish UI & checkpoints/loadings] 6/10 Gameplay as immersive horror    A typical triple-sjw product. Still a good sequel to the "6/10" game, still better than DL2 and still doesn't hold a candle to DL1.
    And, devs... eh, vehicles..? A swimming... nah?

    Gameplay:
    combat mechanics [nice gore, bad scripts in animations] 8/10
    combat logic: deep-silver absurd
    atmosphere [stupid consolish UI & checkpoints/loadings] 6/10
    Gameplay as immersive horror ["bye-bye", really?] 4/10
    Gameplay as RPG: 4/10

    Story 5/10

    Graphics [nice details and lighting system, bad UI] 9/10

    Sounds & music 7/10

    .
    Thank Gоd it's 2023 now, not 2022, otherwise DI2 would've become the GOTY'22. But d*mn it, I wanna Postal2 here!    … Expand
  11. asdfasdf12456
    Jul 23, 2023
    6
    Some of the UI is confusing as there is nothing to tell when can I unlock the card slot after leveling up. There's no explanation why the main character got the immune power. Everything seems to be put together forcefully for the entire story. The customization is too limited. Weapon types does not matter,. For example, a sword or a pole-arm basically does the same moveset, same attackSome of the UI is confusing as there is nothing to tell when can I unlock the card slot after leveling up. There's no explanation why the main character got the immune power. Everything seems to be put together forcefully for the entire story. The customization is too limited. Weapon types does not matter,. For example, a sword or a pole-arm basically does the same moveset, same attack speed and same damage. It just reskins as another weapon with no obvious purpose.

    There's also no reason to keep playing after finishing the main campaign since there's nothing interested, no boss fight, no harder enemies. Grahpics are very nice though.    … Expand
  12. Ogalego13
    May 4, 2023
    6
    Aunque es resultado de años de desarrollo ... me ha resultado repetitivo hasta la saciedad. Llega un momento en el que piensas ... "y si hubiera esperado 6 meses para pagar la mitad de la que he gastado?". Pues sí. Un poco más de lo mismo. Recomiendo NO COMPRAR NINGÚN JUEGO de salida. Suerte!
  13. DayDrunkGamers
    Apr 25, 2023
    6
    Full Review at:...

    https://www.daydrunkgamers.com/reviews/DeadIsland2.html
  14. Ferbatov
    May 4, 2023
    7
    Great graphics... entertaining... not boring at all...fullfills its mission and just that...
  15. MadclownJack
    Aug 30, 2023
    7
    It's not really an open world, but then again neither was the first one.

    It's too sluggish, rigid, doesn't really open you up to a lot of fun unless you abide by the rules. I don't know why, but i had way more fun playing the predecessor than this one. The areas look very similar and boring, leaving little room for exploration, upgrades feel lackluster, the characters are the bland    It's not really an open world, but then again neither was the first one.

    It's too sluggish, rigid, doesn't really open you up to a lot of fun unless you abide by the rules. I don't know why, but i had way more fun playing the predecessor than this one.

    The areas look very similar and boring, leaving little room for exploration, upgrades feel lackluster, the characters are the bland stereotypes. It's just so much LESS than I'd expected, after years in development.    … Expand
  16. Kufho
    Apr 30, 2023
    5
    Dead Island 2, a decade-old game finally unearthed, evokes nostalgia with its wonderful beginning reminiscent of the original Dead Island. However, as the story progresses, it becomes draining. Despite initial promises of new weapons, skills, and mechanics, the game fails to deliver. The lackluster story took me around 15 hours to complete, even with half the side quests. The experienceDead Island 2, a decade-old game finally unearthed, evokes nostalgia with its wonderful beginning reminiscent of the original Dead Island. However, as the story progresses, it becomes draining. Despite initial promises of new weapons, skills, and mechanics, the game fails to deliver. The lackluster story took me around 15 hours to complete, even with half the side quests. The experience soured as I played, especially considering the buildup and disappointing ending. The story offers little variety, with only a few climactic moments that fail to make it worthwhile. The side missions suffer from extreme repetition, mainly consisting of mindless 'kill'em all' quests that I never want to do again. To make matters worse, the enemies you encounter are nearly identical, with no changes besides their names. Initially, I had anticipated giving this game a 7, but after the disappointing experience, it deserves no more than a mere 5. Dead Island 2 falls short in terms of innovation and fails to take risks, which is disappointing considering the ten-year gap since its predecessor.… Expand
  17. grihajedy
    Apr 30, 2023
    6
    I would rate DI2 higher if it were not called "Dead Island", good visual, atmosphere, dismemberment, in principle, everything works, there is only one nuance, this is one of the most boring games, about which there is nothing to say, 1-button combat, no "development of ideas",why i can`t fight with any objects, for example, and not just sticks, cutscenes are a overlong trash B movie, onlyI would rate DI2 higher if it were not called "Dead Island", good visual, atmosphere, dismemberment, in principle, everything works, there is only one nuance, this is one of the most boring games, about which there is nothing to say, 1-button combat, no "development of ideas",why i can`t fight with any objects, for example, and not just sticks, cutscenes are a overlong trash B movie, only with a couple of micro-fun moments. It's a pity, we could get a competitor to "Dying Light 2".… Expand
  18. Visitbr
    Aug 31, 2023
    7
    é um jogo bem divertido, muito bem feito, muito bem polido, sem bugs, ótimo desempenho com gráficos absurdos, a história não é lá essas coisa e apresenta bons personagens , mas a gameplay é meio massante
  19. VoteCrowley
    May 19, 2023
    7
    TL;DR: Wanted to give it a 6.5 but I'm unable to. Far better than Dying Light 2, but not better than Dead Island 1/Riptide.

    Long version: After literally going through a decade of development hell & several different dev teams, it's finally here. Graphically: it's gorgeous. Performance-wise: never noticed Denuvo, A with the occasional stuttering here and there, barely felt.    TL;DR: Wanted to give it a 6.5 but I'm unable to. Far better than Dying Light 2, but not better than Dead Island 1/Riptide.

    Long version: After literally going through a decade of development hell & several different dev teams, it's finally here. Graphically: it's gorgeous. Performance-wise: never noticed Denuvo, A with the occasional stuttering here and there, barely felt.

    Definitely a vast improvement over Dying Light 2 in every way. That one I couldn't play more than 1 hour before refunding. This one, I started feeling the urge to stop playing late in the game when I was close to the finale (though I didn't know I was yet). You don't play these games for the story, you play them to kill zombies. And that is what DI2 makes super-fun.

    The Good:

    The visual gore system has been upgraded to look even better than Dying Light 1. You start slashing away and you see different layers of gore coming through with each slash. First you see the dead flesh parting, and with the 2nd and 3rd slash the disembowelment begins, with the guts starting to spill out. You shoot a zombie in the neck & watch the head tumble off like a bowling pin. THAT is fun!

    Level design is fantastic from start to finish, as you move from LA 'burb to 'burb and see the changing levels of visual luxury, complete with an awesome-looking "social media influencer mansion" containing an official apology script. Hilarious, and accurate.

    Enemy variety is also a plus! You have multiple types of common enemies: the shambling slow, the average movers & the runners, and several variations of those with a little extra punch. Some of the Specials return (the Ram is missing) and a few new ones have been added.

    Performance & combat smoothness is just great. This is a very polished game. Like I said above, Denuvo didn't seem to affect my gameplay in the slightest, and never experienced any crashing.

    The card system is interesting in that it makes you focus on exploration, and it can easily make you sink 25 hours into your first playthrough. It also provides you with bonus melee powers for nicely customizable hand-to-hand combat.

    And guns! Guns everywhere, after you reach a certain early point in the story. Firearm combat is smooth and satisfying, although the gun variety is fairly basic. You get a couple different shotguns, a couple different handguns, a few different rifles, etc.

    Weapon crafting has been improved, there are many more mods this time around. Several also have very situational bonuses that help you maximize your time spent out in the world without having to run back and forth to a safe location.

    You also have multiple survivors to choose from, each with their own unique personality & attributes. Dialogue & banter can go from silly to cliched to downright hilarious.

    The Bad:

    My 1st biggest gripe is also the same gripe that plagues Dying Light 1: the lack of environmental variety. There are no Acts/Chapters here, and you're stuck in the same cluster of areas for the entire game, just like you're stuck in Harran from start to finish.

    What made Dead Island 1 & Riptide so awesome is the environmental variety between Acts. You go from the picturesque beach and the lifehouse to the gloomy slums of Port Moresby, then you go through the jungle to reach the prison island. Then from that you fight for your freedom on board a military ship (loved that) and end up on another island, fight through the coastal town to get to the ruins in the middle of the jungle to find the sewers, etc etc.

    All that environmental variety adds a huge amount of replayability. It keeps boredom at bay because you're always moving from place to place, and gives you a true sense of progress. Sadly that's not present in DI2. There's a bit too much back & forth required story-wise for my liking, and each "suburb" is quite small.

    It also lacks a proper day/night cycle. The story back & forth I mentioned adds a small element of it, giving the illusion of "passage of time". For example when you leave Beverly Hills it's night time. When you get back to it to progress the story, it's daytime.

    The gun sounds are also not the best, they sound a bit hollow. Dead Island 1/Riptide got it right in that department. And speaking of sound, this leads us to my 2nd biggest gripe: the same Sound bug that plagued the releases of both Dead Island 1 & Riptide. The sound bug that greatly reduces overall game world sound. You can barely hear the ambience, the zombies or yourself. Not even the Loudness Equalization setting of my sound card made any difference.

    Deep Silver has a long bad history of hiring **** sound designers. I had to use Letasoft Sound Booster and set it to +350% in order to match the volume level the game SHOULD have.

    Conclusion: Dead Island 2 is definitely worth playing through once, just to get it out of your system after this insanely long wait. But it just doesn't have the replayability of its predecessors.    … Expand
  20. mightybaseplate
    May 21, 2023
    7
    Great game, came out polished and complete. Starts out great, I personally really like the dialogue and characters, it's a fun parody of LA.

    I wish the balance of the game was a little better, at the start of the game getting surrounded by zombies was something to be afraid of, you have so many tools at your disposal that nothing will really be a challenge once you learn how to play the game.
  21. infraRecon
    Aug 27, 2023
    7
    Dead Island 2 after 9 years of development, is good, It has actually been a while since I played an FP Zombie game, I tried out Dying Light 2, but that game didn't grab me as this one did,
    Just bear in mind I haven't finished DI 2 yet, but the flaws are noticeable for the few hours I've played.
    And by the way, when I finish reviewing this game I will factor in that this game has Denuvo    Dead Island 2 after 9 years of development, is good, It has actually been a while since I played an FP Zombie game, I tried out Dying Light 2, but that game didn't grab me as this one did,
    Just bear in mind I haven't finished DI 2 yet, but the flaws are noticeable for the few hours I've played.
    And by the way, when I finish reviewing this game I will factor in that this game has Denuvo DRM.
    I'll factor it in right now.

    So for the Time being this game is a 7/10 it is good but there are highly apparent and noticeable flaws present with this game.

    I will finish the review later...

    it's been a month, I guess and I haven't even touched this game, still playing Baldurs Gate 3...
    and I'm about to try out Armoured Core 6....It will take me, I think 8 years and 11 months to finish DI 2.
    Though my score still stands it's a 7/10.    … Expand
  22. george_bondo
    May 3, 2023
    5
    I had to drop this misunderstanding to chapter 21 because I was physically unable to play it, in the game, from the pros, only very decent graphics, good scenery and truly revolutionary decomposition of zombies to the bone, and everything else is a game design disaster
  23. Srik2022
    Aug 11, 2023
    5
    Serious Sam Cover, just shoot everywhere/everybody.. AI? nah, just run up and attack
  24. retroisback96
    Jul 29, 2023
    6
    Solid game, combat is visceral and gruesome just as a zombie game should be, story is meh but it's fun to hack up some zombies for a couple hours it gets tiresome after a while though, graphics are good with cool dismemberment not seen in other titles. It runs great as well something that is incredibly rare on pc these days, very well polished overall so far. I'm definitely more investedSolid game, combat is visceral and gruesome just as a zombie game should be, story is meh but it's fun to hack up some zombies for a couple hours it gets tiresome after a while though, graphics are good with cool dismemberment not seen in other titles. It runs great as well something that is incredibly rare on pc these days, very well polished overall so far. I'm definitely more invested than I was with dying light 2 but unfortunately nothing is blowing me away here it's very much a 6.5/10 sort of game. I completely disagree with the price point of this game as well perhaps if it was a straight to gamepass game I'd bump the score up but 60 quid for this is not worth it.… Expand
  25. akaike
    Apr 26, 2023
    6
    So, I gave it a whirl and the core gameplay ain't too shabby, but everything else? Yeah, not so hot. I mean, the story's a snoozefest, the characters ain't cringey and actually kinda alright, but the quests? Totally boring. Run here, chat with this dude, go all Rambo on 'em, rinse and repeat. Fun for an hour, but then it's just a drag.

    The combat system's got some chops, but those    So, I gave it a whirl and the core gameplay ain't too shabby, but everything else? Yeah, not so hot. I mean, the story's a snoozefest, the characters ain't cringey and actually kinda alright, but the quests? Totally boring. Run here, chat with this dude, go all Rambo on 'em, rinse and repeat. Fun for an hour, but then it's just a drag.

    The combat system's got some chops, but those scripted zombie takedowns? Locked animations, invincibility, and they just kill the vibe.

    Now, about the ranged weapons, they're pretty weak sauce compared to the melee stuff. Sure, they pack a punch and can off enemies in no time, but other than that? They're like playin' with toy guns. The gun feedback (sound design, recoil, handling), It's like it ain't even there.

    And then the loading screens and lack of open world. I can deal with no massive open world, but loading screens? The biggest bummer, though, is the jacked-up zombie spawning. These freaks just pop up outta nowhere, even when you're backed up against a wall. They still manage to be behind you out of nowhere. It's like they took notes from Cyberpunk's wonky police spawning. And the boss fights? More like bullet sponges with the same moves, I'm not kidding, mostly all of them have the same mechanics, well maybe sometimes they spit out fire instead of green crap. That's how much variation you get.

    The ending is super dull and doesn't do the story any favors. If they fix the spawning, it's a solid 5/10 or a 6/10. But man, what a letdown after waiting so long for it to be released. The only thing that is very positive is that the game is mostly bug free and really pretty. The game got definitely its moments but it's not enough to justify the price or a higher score.    … Expand
  26. Midyen
    Jun 5, 2023
    5
    Based on the gameplay, graphics, sound, content, and originality of the game, I will give it a rating of 5.
  27. JackFrostyG
    Sep 4, 2023
    6
    Pros:

    - Combat is fine - Being able to use the environment in fights is fun with water, fire, electricity and acid. - The graphics are good, especially the detail of gore on the zombies. Cons: - There is no sense of progression or powering up. The enemies scale to you and the card system is shallow with no meaningful stat increases. - Some of the dialogue is over the top    Pros:

    - Combat is fine

    - Being able to use the environment in fights is fun with water, fire, electricity and acid.

    - The graphics are good, especially the detail of gore on the zombies.

    Cons:

    - There is no sense of progression or powering up. The enemies scale to you and the card system is shallow with no meaningful stat increases.

    - Some of the dialogue is over the top and unfunny.

    - The fact you quickly out scale weapons and have to pay to keep using them reduces the fun in finding rare weapons.    … Expand
  28. 3or3
    Jul 30, 2023
    7
    Dead Island 2 is a game I was really hyped for, given how much I loved the original game in the series. It had constant action, numerous side quests, fun game mechanics, interesting character progression, a beautiful semi-open world, and high replayability. So far, I've spent 70 hours playing Dead Island 2. While it has been enjoyable overall, I can't deny feeling a bit disappointed withDead Island 2 is a game I was really hyped for, given how much I loved the original game in the series. It had constant action, numerous side quests, fun game mechanics, interesting character progression, a beautiful semi-open world, and high replayability. So far, I've spent 70 hours playing Dead Island 2. While it has been enjoyable overall, I can't deny feeling a bit disappointed with some aspects.

    Compared to Dead Island 1, there have been significant changes, especially with the playable characters. Now, there's a wider selection of characters, each with their unique skills, strengths, and weaknesses. The skill tree system has been replaced with a new skill card system, which I personally found to be a positive change. It allowed me to experiment with different playstyles and add more depth to my gameplay, thanks to features like the Autophage. Weapon customization has also been changed a lot, which allowed me to make really fun loadouts. The mid-game addition of using zombie parts to get even more special weapon customizations made this new change really interesting.

    The dialogues in the game are often hilarious and playful, filled with good one-liners. However, they started getting repetitive quite quickly, which took away some of the initial charm. The story itself didn't captivate me much, similar to Dead Island 1; it served its purpose in guiding me through the playthrough, but it wasn't particularly impactful. Still, I noticed that the story in Dead Island 2 was more intricate and structured compared to the first game. Additionally, the game offered more playable areas, although many of them were smaller than those in the first game. All of the old zombies are back, along with some new variations.

    One aspect that left me disappointed was the lack of replayability. Although there's a new character selection, Dead Island 2 lacks the "new game plus" feature like its predecessor. In the original game, starting a new playthrough with the same character, while retaining XP and weapons, added a lot to the game's longevity. Unfortunately, Dead Island 2 only provides a few post-story side quests, which isn't enough to keep the excitement alive. Furthermore, I found it frustrating that you receive legendary weapons in the late-game, but you can't carry them over to a new playthrough.

    The game is filled with bugs, and you'll probably encounter quite a few of them. From props and bodies clipping through the ground to missing geometry and zombies failing to pathfind, there were some noticeable issues. Although these bugs didn't significantly affect my gameplay, they were still pretty noticable.

    On a positive note, I'm impressed with how the playable areas turned out. Even though Dead Island 1 is a decade old game, Dead Island 2 managed to implement beautiful graphics. Many places are fully explorable, including the buildings. Sadly, a lot of exploration is stopped by random invisible walls.

    Meanwhile I understand some people might have found the next feature to be bad, but I found the way of going to other and older areas to find certain zombies holding keys to safes in other areas of the game to be fun. It added some replayability meanwhile trying to 100% the game. The game also includes co-op, which sadly I didn't try out so I cant leave a review about that, but I still believe it to be even more fun compared to the first game, since this game also includes some skill cards that are designed to be used in co-op in ways of support, defense, or offense.

    Overall, while Dead Island 2 has its strengths and enjoyable moments, it falls short in some areas, especially regarding replayability and bugs. However, the different playable characters and the well-designed areas make it a solid addition to the series. I hope to see some changes in the future to be included in updates, especially around replayability and quests.    … Expand
  29. madara17
    Aug 8, 2023
    6
    The usual simple game that has been fun for a long time. The characters are quite interesting, the action is fascinating, but later it gets boring.

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Most Discussed PC Game of 2023
2
#2 Most Shared PC Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Movies Games and Tech
    May 1, 2023
    70
    A sleek and good-looking zombie smashing experience. Great combat and sense of humour are shackled to a sadly formulaic feel.
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  2. Hooked Gamers
    Apr 28, 2023
    70
    Dead Island 2 is a remarkably solid game, one that doesn't make any attempt to reinvent the wheel, but nevertheless is a more than satisfying mindless casual zombie-killing gorefest. It won't be a game held up in years to come as the go-to model for open-world zombie games but given its decade-long tenure in development hell, it's nothing short of a miracle it ever managed to crawl across the finish line as anything less than a complete mess.
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  3. MGG
    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!
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