Dead Island 2

 PlayStation 5
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 341 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 236 out of 341
  2. Mixed: 53 out of 341
  3. Negative: 52 out of 341
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  1. EducatedReviews
    May 6, 2023
    9
    To put it simply, Dead Island 2 delivers a fun and mostly polished zombie-slaying experience. Most people who have heard of this title are aware of its infamous development cycle. I am happy to report that this game shattered all my expectations by keeping what worked in Dead Island (2011) and Dead Island: Riptide (2013), while also making some much needed changes and focusing on the funTo put it simply, Dead Island 2 delivers a fun and mostly polished zombie-slaying experience. Most people who have heard of this title are aware of its infamous development cycle. I am happy to report that this game shattered all my expectations by keeping what worked in Dead Island (2011) and Dead Island: Riptide (2013), while also making some much needed changes and focusing on the fun factor. The “slayer” I chose for my first playthrough is Jacob. Dead Island 2 is shorter than its predecessors, dropping the mostly serious tone of the originals for a more lighthearted approach, trading the few large open world maps for several smaller zones, and exchanging skill trees for an interchangeable skill card system. While some may not consider this title “groundbreaking,” all of the attention to detail, enemy and location variety, and quality of life updates make for a big difference and create a very engaging and replayable experience.

    Visually, this game is stunning. The “Flesh” system displays clear levels of zombie skin, muscle, organs, and bone—mirroring the new necromorph damage system seen in this year’s Dead Space remake. The game’s many environments, such as Beverly Hills and Venice Beach, manage to beautifully capture that “postcard aesthetic,” similar to that of Yara in 2021’s Far Cry 6. There is also plenty of environmental storytelling to be found throughout the game.

    Regarding performance, I have encountered very few bugs—with the most notable being the glitched “Max Headroom” (reach max level) trophy, and some lag when playing co-op with a friend. There were also some occasions where distant enemies would disappear from a zone if I was outside of combat and looked away from them for a brief moment, and a few instances where weapons would regress to their previous level after being matched to my character level and placed in the storage locker. I have faced no crashes during the entirety of my playthrough and endgame roaming up to the point of this review (over 50 hours of playtime).

    While the story and character work may not be the most iconic or original, what is present here is solid and moves at a good pace. I enjoyed what played out in the narrative, though this is a title where the gameplay will likely be the prime focus to many interested players. Without spoiling the development of the plot, the game does attempt to do something interesting in its last act, establishing material for the upcoming story expansions.

    Combat and weapon customization is mostly in line with the previous two titles: a primarily melee weapon-focused game with some firearms and throwable weapons. This title does support PlayStation 5 controller functionality, most prominently when using firearms. Weapon customization has been changed to give weapons more effective performance in the form of weapon mods and perks. Several named unique weapons are also earned throughout the game. These weapons cannot be broken down or sold, preventing any mistakes that could involve losing these precious items. Unfortunately, both the character and storage locker inventories are very limited and cannot make enough room for all six slayers to possess all named weapons, as the locker is shared. I do not know if this is an oversight, or if there are plans to expand the storage locker in the future through updates, but as it stands, there is almost no room for any other weapons unless players stick to a single slayer or avoid quests that reward unique drops.

    I found the new skill card system to be a welcomed change from the original skill trees. Although it may not be the most complex skill system, there are plenty of ways to make fun builds with the slayers, including later builds that trade recovery options for more damage-dealing capabilities.

    Almost every zombie type from the previous titles return in some form (with one notable exception), either faithfully added in with some new tricks, or present in a way that preserves the essence of that enemy type, while changing it to fit this new infection. The “common” zombies have been given more attention and several variants, adding to the pressure of combat in a meaningful way alongside the threatening “apex” zombies. While the combat is not as heavily layered or skill based as Doom Eternal (2020), there were countless times where I faced combat encounters that felt reminiscent of that title’s combat scenarios, from early game to endgame, thanks to this new variety of enemies, strengths, and resistances.

    Overall, I was surprised to find myself enjoying this title as much as I did. This surprise is not the result of the game finally delivering a playable experience after such a troubled development history, but rather because it more than justifies its existence with all of the fun combat and location variety and impactful innovations I listed above. This is a title I will be coming back to, and one I definitely recommend.    … Expand
  2. MrCoffeeFart
    Apr 24, 2023
    9
    Dead Island 2 does nothing to reinvent the wheel. BUT.... that wheel has been finely polished and spins like a champ. This is a zombie hack and slash video game that doesn't take it's story to seriously and neither should you. Reviews from the critics seem like they are hating on the game for the sole reason that they themselves, may be from Hell-A (LA) where the game draws manyDead Island 2 does nothing to reinvent the wheel. BUT.... that wheel has been finely polished and spins like a champ. This is a zombie hack and slash video game that doesn't take it's story to seriously and neither should you. Reviews from the critics seem like they are hating on the game for the sole reason that they themselves, may be from Hell-A (LA) where the game draws many stereotypes for its characters. The one thing I believe the game does very well at the beginning is to slowly introduce more mechanics instead of throwing everything at you all at once which keeps you entertained for longer. Personally, I have mainly co-oped the game (progress saved for both parties) but single player is doable.

    Pros: Weapon mechanics, crafting system, resources are plentiful yet restricted (different areas for different things), items are where you would expect them to be, whoever initiates quest is the main voice of a cutscene (this is a personal preference), awesome counter attacks for stunned zombies, GORE SYSTEM IS AMAZING, enough ammo for guns but not enough to make it all you use, very detailed locations and environmental story telling, smooth 60 fps, crisp graphics, story is entertaining enough, special zombies hold keys, and countless other minor things.

    Cons: Co-op kicks randomly at times, to many caustic ( electric, fire, and acid) hazards in the world at times, weapons can cause caustic damage to you when zombies catch, shotguns a little to weak or should maim more, not 100% open world (which may have lead to better location designs), characters are good but no strong attachments are built for most characters (one mission and done), Special zombies have the same attacks over and over which just make them tedious, zombies now crawl out of vents or storm drains which can take away from immersion.

    To end this, I believe personally too many people have come into video games demanding excellence and not just slowing themselves down while putting the real world behind them and JUST HAVE FUN. Thls game has been through development hell but I don't care about that. I care about finished products. You know what to expect if you like videogames like these. You can watch the trailers and see whether it is something you would like or not. If you bought it knowing you may not like it, you may want to critique yourself and make some changes. You know what you are getting with Dead Island 2 and the developers haven't lead people to believe it would be anything else.

    8.4 out of 10. Rounded up is a 9 (Played on Series X)    … Expand
  3. The_bomb
    Apr 30, 2023
    10
    Awesome zombie game runs well even on last gen consoles decent story amazing gore system
  4. Daniel0809
    Apr 24, 2023
    8
    Ive been playing all weekend and love walking around in L.A. like im really there and the graphics are stunning. The combat is very satisfying and playing as Ryan you bash the hell out of zombies. Sounds are also very nice to the ear, intro song drown is badass, but not much of a meaningful story, I didn't connect to any player but the voice acting was great! Addictive game and im happyIve been playing all weekend and love walking around in L.A. like im really there and the graphics are stunning. The combat is very satisfying and playing as Ryan you bash the hell out of zombies. Sounds are also very nice to the ear, intro song drown is badass, but not much of a meaningful story, I didn't connect to any player but the voice acting was great! Addictive game and im happy with it. Hopefully they release some DLC in the future. I have not tried the coop so I dont know.… Expand
  5. Dwunited
    Apr 24, 2023
    9
    This game is a great example that delayed games can become (mostly) flawless. I would like to thank the development team for their hard work it is really appreciated. It was worth waiting!
  6. FreeRunner29
    May 2, 2023
    9
    The gore is awesome but, the physics feel floaty at times. Regardless of that it's a bloody good time and a fun game to play. It's polished and just plain enjoyable. I usually skip the cutscenes and go straight to hack and slashing because at the end of the day, that's all I really wanted. I upped the rating one point because this generation has been full of unfinished, unplayable games.The gore is awesome but, the physics feel floaty at times. Regardless of that it's a bloody good time and a fun game to play. It's polished and just plain enjoyable. I usually skip the cutscenes and go straight to hack and slashing because at the end of the day, that's all I really wanted. I upped the rating one point because this generation has been full of unfinished, unplayable games. Kudos to the devs for finally finishing this project!… Expand
  7. jrallison75
    May 1, 2023
    7
    This is a fun zombie adventure that will keep you entertained. It has some replay value. I would consider this game as filler in between better and more important releases.
  8. UNTITLED808
    Apr 30, 2023
    10
    This is a solid zombie slaying game all around. I enjoyed every moment of this game. The new flesh mechanics never get old and the dialogue is very much how people in LA talk it's hilarious. Fun story from beginning to end as well, nothing to go bragging about but I was entertained with the story.
  9. Hodtu
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    Very fun love the physics and graphics. world definitely feels more "lived" in than other games. alot of small details everywhere and overall feels very immersive, the story is something that could of been done better though.
  10. enesco18
    Apr 22, 2023
    10
    dead island 2 best game and very very nice game dead island 2 better than dying light 2 action style is very very best
  11. 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
  12. Hectik
    Apr 24, 2023
    8
    Pros

    - Addictive gameplay, combat is brutal and gory
    - Great locations all around Los Angeles. Love the Bel Air neibourhood
    - Skill cards are interesting
    - Zombie voice acting is good : D

    Cons

    - Story is lackluster but who plays this for the story?
    - Slayer voice acting is bad
    - Some weapons are pretty underpowered (swords). Bats and hammers are the way to go
  13. Kazuma-Kiryu
    Apr 25, 2023
    4
    Generic zombie hack and slash, gets boring after 1st hour as you tediously go from point A to point B, boss fights are easy and tedious, not worth $70
  14. Makiverem
    Apr 22, 2023
    9
    Waiting 10 years for this game and it's better what I waiting for. Good gameplay and graphics and stable 60 fps on PS5, just some little bugs in it.
  15. sayaa82
    Apr 22, 2023
    1
    Ce jeu n'as rien pour lui. Gameplay daté de 2010, dying light premier du nom faisait tout bien mieux il y a 8 ans déjà, et surtout il en faisait beaucoup plus. La DA est absente, la narration éclatée au sol, même pas de VF, les personnages ultra caricaturaux mais mal faits... et alors le système de combat... je vais même pas en parler
  16. Steyraus
    Apr 22, 2023
    10
    Finally a game for dudes. A game made for the majority red blooded hetro majority that is gaming audiences. This is a game that prioritises Fun and being bad arse over all else, like games use to do before games had to be designed to keep the player playing and trying to draw money out their pockets. Combat is , visceral, varied and addictive . The map and progression keeps you engaged.
    LA    Finally a game for dudes. A game made for the majority red blooded hetro majority that is gaming audiences. This is a game that prioritises Fun and being bad arse over all else, like games use to do before games had to be designed to keep the player playing and trying to draw money out their pockets. Combat is , visceral, varied and addictive . The map and progression keeps you engaged.
    LA is a Gorgeous place for the mayhem and blood sheed Dead Island 2 encourages. Visually and artistically one of the most beutiful games I've seen thus gen..Had a blast messing around with elements and weopens to create the most insane zombie destruction possible.    … Expand
  17. Kells_ExE
    Apr 23, 2023
    3
    Wait for a sale. i've been waiting years for this game and to say i am disappointed would be an understatement, the game is really dated and the co-op is very laggy, they have retconned all characters from Dead Island 1 and the one extra playable character from Riptide, besides Sam B, the story is boring and combat get's stale after a few hours, gunplay is awful and the "side quests" areWait for a sale. i've been waiting years for this game and to say i am disappointed would be an understatement, the game is really dated and the co-op is very laggy, they have retconned all characters from Dead Island 1 and the one extra playable character from Riptide, besides Sam B, the story is boring and combat get's stale after a few hours, gunplay is awful and the "side quests" are nothing more than fetch quests, only positives are the graphics and even then the mirrors don't even try and show reflections the "Flesh system" is a gimmick that is barely noticeable in real time combat

    overall this game is stuck in 2010 and really shows it's age, i'd really wait for a sale this game isn't worth retail, don't give into the hype.    … Expand
  18. target6969
    Apr 23, 2023
    9
    addicting never got bored of the game just had to stop because i had work in the morning
  19. Phillerbaer
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    Never had so much fun playing a New game. Truly amazing. The dropkick mechanic alone is entertainment for days
  20. JustDeBreezy
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    Most addicting experience of video games for a while. Great graphics and performance stability on PC.
  21. Tekaino
    Apr 23, 2023
    5
    The game have not most an interesting gameplay and history. The dl2 is still better than di 2
  22. tbytz
    Apr 25, 2023
    4
    Mediocre at best, the game offers nothing new in the zombie slaying space, while it is fun enough to play for a few hours with some buddies, there is far better out there already. Given the price point for this title I would say avoid. Great map, but very linear much like the story, enemies are fairly generic and the hack/slash mechanics and gore get boring quick, I think too much of theMediocre at best, the game offers nothing new in the zombie slaying space, while it is fun enough to play for a few hours with some buddies, there is far better out there already. Given the price point for this title I would say avoid. Great map, but very linear much like the story, enemies are fairly generic and the hack/slash mechanics and gore get boring quick, I think too much of the focus went on the gore aspect of the game and not enough focus on actually making the game fun. The story is average and predictable (To summarize the story - go here, go there, fight this, fight that, find this, find that), I wasn't expecting it to take me a month to complete but I hoped for more than what was on offer.… Expand
  23. Purp1ebunny
    Apr 24, 2023
    8
    Dead Island 2 is just dumb fun. The writing is serviceable and even funny at times. The environment is fun to explore and look at, but my favorite thing is the melee combat. It's nothing special necessarily, but it's fun.
  24. OdinX1985
    Apr 24, 2023
    8
    It finally arrives! Dead Island 2 is gory, bone crushing, drop kicking theme park. In 2014 the teaser trailer dropped way before Dying Light to which that was released in 2016. Dead Island 2 is 16 years after the events of the first game. Dead Island 2 is a great game with gory slaughter against zombies and other monsters lurking around the streets of LA. However the game does suffer someIt finally arrives! Dead Island 2 is gory, bone crushing, drop kicking theme park. In 2014 the teaser trailer dropped way before Dying Light to which that was released in 2016. Dead Island 2 is 16 years after the events of the first game. Dead Island 2 is a great game with gory slaughter against zombies and other monsters lurking around the streets of LA. However the game does suffer some frustrating and technical problems. The pros: Mix and match skills that work well together, yes certain skill cards will grant you buffs into your weapons or drop kicking that gives that extra force to it. Weapons modification is well crafted and using your imagination run wild to make some bizarre combinations. Using environment like water on the floor throw electric weapons or battery whatever you have that has electricity. Pouring gasoline on the dead is a must and I tell you why. Once you kill the zombies, hordes of them will appear eating what you killed yes zombies eat other dead zombies burn them cause you might get a red skull zombie that is over your level point. Side characters and their quests is well worth doing and I had more fun fetch questing or favors it's actually pretty fun and rewarding. Like I said each slayer has their own personality and my time with Dani was so enjoyable due to her swearing and her Irish accent love it. Soundtrack has this retro 80's beat to it and first boss battle theme ost was funny. Now the cons: Okay, this is where the game needs to fix in patches or overhaul it.. keys and doors are locked behind progession. Back tracking to the very first house to unlock special doors for blueprints is so tedious. Each key to the blueprints is hidden or you have to battle hordes zombies then the boss zombie for the key. Not saying it's bad but wish there was an easier way to obtain the keys. Even smaller chests are locked behind some enemy who has the key. Unbalanced zombie types, now you can accidentally run into red skull enemies by opening a door an area that ur not suppose to be they are in the start of the first map and be warned these things will demolished you for entering so be cautious to where you open and have mercy on your soul. Each map is linear unlike the first game the map seems smaller in my opinion. You can't drive cars like you did in the first game to which it was a shame love road killing zombies. Technical issues.. the game crashed on me a few times during a side quest in Bel-Air and side quest failed to finish after completing it. Sometimes you can't pick up objects like car batteries in cars. You hit square and for whatever reason it doesn't respond, not all the time but it does happen a few times. Final thought: Okay, my 36 hours all content done, Dead Island 2 was a great experience for sure and glad it's out if they fix a few bugs and revamp some things I'll give it another go and tryout Amy next. For the graphics it's okay, it works and it's fine. For the price tag of 70 bucks um I honestly think 59.99 should've been the retail price for it but hey it is what it is. My score is an 8 for a game with so many developers working on it and never gave up on it my hats is to the development team. But in all the game is overall good and hopefully more content comes.… Expand
  25. TheMrCtulhu
    Apr 24, 2023
    9
    Отличная, залипная и красивая зомби бродилка-месилка. Без каких-либо пустых обещаний, ненужного пафоса и хайпа.
  26. Tool_
    Apr 24, 2023
    8
    I wouldn’t say it’s worth a wait through my entire childhood but I would say it has some of the best gory combat I have ever layed my fingers on.
  27. Niko007
    Apr 24, 2023
    7
    Dead island 2 is exactly what you expected it to be nothing more nothing less. Mindless zombie killing fun sadly it doesn't elevate itself beyond that but i guess it's a good thing
  28. RELOAD_PIXEL
    Apr 26, 2023
    6
    BON DEAD ISLAND 2

    Et bah franchement, on revient de loin, mais ce n'est clairement pas un jeu inoubliable… cela vaut 40€ pas plus, c'est un jeu qui a du potentiel et qui a pleins de belle mécanique de combat, mais c'est clairement un jeu sorti trop tard... Les combats avec le gore système sont vraiment cool et plutôt impactant, mais cela reste plutôt répétitif à la longue et    BON DEAD ISLAND 2

    Et bah franchement, on revient de loin, mais ce n'est clairement pas un jeu inoubliable…

    cela vaut 40€ pas plus, c'est un jeu qui a du potentiel et qui a pleins de belle mécanique de combat, mais c'est clairement un jeu sorti trop tard...

    Les combats avec le gore système sont vraiment cool et plutôt impactant, mais cela reste plutôt répétitif à la longue et ennuyant, j'ai clairement pref les dying light sur cet aspect… cependant cela reste un jeu sympa avec des GRAPHISME, mais MON DIEU C'EST BEAU À EN CREVER…
    Cependant, le scénario, l'ambiance, les dialogues CATASTROPHIQUE pour moi ça tue l'immersion ,mais bof bof ...

    Conclusion faite dead island 1, c'était vraiment bien et l'ambiance prime surtout le reste, vous vous laisserez porté…

    C'est un jeu cool sortie trop tard et trop cher…    … Expand
  29. WhiffLash
    Apr 23, 2023
    6
    Game has pretty big open areas for a linear game but that is not a bad thing as the world is packed with detail. However exploration is discouraged by the developers because as soon as you clear an area and want to explore the zombies respawn immediately, and the weapons you just repaired will be damaged for doing the same area all over again.You get 60 Fps with this game but graphics areGame has pretty big open areas for a linear game but that is not a bad thing as the world is packed with detail. However exploration is discouraged by the developers because as soon as you clear an area and want to explore the zombies respawn immediately, and the weapons you just repaired will be damaged for doing the same area all over again.You get 60 Fps with this game but graphics are ps4 pro xbox one Era. That would be fine if the combat was fun, but it's just a button smasher with very little mechanics. All weapons feel the same even though vastly different. Better game at discount and too short.… Expand
  30. FunkConveyor
    Apr 24, 2023
    10
    Trashy, insanely gory and unashamedly fun. Beautiful graphics, runs really smooth. Highly recommended!
  31. PunkRockLifer
    Apr 24, 2023
    10
    After waiting for an age for this to come out I was sceptical but oh man, I need not of worried cause this game so good and is pure fun. The graphics on PS5 are great and it runs super smooth without any drops. The game feels so polished, which is surprising considering the development hell. I really don't understand some of the bad reviews saying that it is short cause it really isn't.After waiting for an age for this to come out I was sceptical but oh man, I need not of worried cause this game so good and is pure fun. The graphics on PS5 are great and it runs super smooth without any drops. The game feels so polished, which is surprising considering the development hell. I really don't understand some of the bad reviews saying that it is short cause it really isn't. Yes you can run through the main story in 15 or so hours but that's about average really and there are loads of side missions and challenges and loads of collectables etc. too, then you have co op which is really fun. If you enjoy these types of games like I do then you will want to explore the big areas. I have spent over 20 hours already and I haven't even seen half of the game yet. The new gore system is so good and they have done such a great job on it. Will you like this game? Well, if you like the original then I would say yes definitely as this is the same but better and improved in every way imo. Also, if you like to just have fun killing zombies in awesome ways then this is a must buy. Brilliant… Expand
  32. HippyDaHer
    Apr 24, 2023
    9
    Dead Island 2 is a game filled with a lot although not a technical achievement in game development. It’s still a fun game with a bloody great gore mechanic. The fighting isn’t the best in the world but it does in fact, get the job done. The story is pretty average for a “lets kill zombies and have fun” game but, it is serviceable. There is an Alexa mode in the game that I tried but felt aDead Island 2 is a game filled with a lot although not a technical achievement in game development. It’s still a fun game with a bloody great gore mechanic. The fighting isn’t the best in the world but it does in fact, get the job done. The story is pretty average for a “lets kill zombies and have fun” game but, it is serviceable. There is an Alexa mode in the game that I tried but felt a little too gimmicky for my taste but it was pretty cool at first. Give this game a try especially if it’s on sell! I’ll give this pretty fun game a 9/10 because it’s pretty good in my book.… Expand
  33. Leszter
    Apr 24, 2023
    10
    Best Zombie slasher of the last 10 years! It has everything in it.. elemental synergy like you have never seen before.. Getting the card types time to time keeps leveling up interesting until the very end.
  34. aGrover12
    Apr 24, 2023
    10
    I have been playing this game non-stop since release. I truly haven't had this much fun in quite some time, and I'm glad that it was released. My friends and I truly enjoy DI2, and I hope there will be another game in the series in the future.
  35. z1y0n
    Apr 22, 2023
    9
    Having a lot of fun, just pure fun. Great environments, good colors, great detail, and enjoyable to explore. I think the semi open worlds like outer worlds allows for this concentrated amount of detail and I love it. Combat is decent the effects carry it me at least. At first combat was meh but more mechanics get introduced keeping it interesting enough. Audio is good the ambient noisesHaving a lot of fun, just pure fun. Great environments, good colors, great detail, and enjoyable to explore. I think the semi open worlds like outer worlds allows for this concentrated amount of detail and I love it. Combat is decent the effects carry it me at least. At first combat was meh but more mechanics get introduced keeping it interesting enough. Audio is good the ambient noises were my highlight. The voice actors and writing is good. Comedy is cheesy but not cringeworthy some parts had me laughing. I do love the characters. The Menus are terrible feels like the only area that didn’t get enough attention. Conclusion, I’m satisfied and thought I’d regret not waiting for a sale but I’m happy I got to enjoy it this weekend.… Expand
  36. MrRPG
    Apr 23, 2023
    9
    Dead Island 2 is exactly what I wanted, a ridiculous B-zombie movie in game form.
    Very much similar to it's predecessor in terms of gameplay, a little bit of polish applied to everything. Weapons feel their weight on collision, viscerally tearing through zombies with Gorey detail.
    What I didn't expect was rock solid world design, beautiful set pieces that are truly worth exploring, the    Dead Island 2 is exactly what I wanted, a ridiculous B-zombie movie in game form.
    Very much similar to it's predecessor in terms of gameplay, a little bit of polish applied to everything. Weapons feel their weight on collision, viscerally tearing through zombies with Gorey detail.

    What I didn't expect was rock solid world design, beautiful set pieces that are truly worth exploring, the open world replaced with expertly crafted zones with no detail spared.

    Dead Island 2 is my definitive zombie game already, it ticks all the boxes, knows exactly what it is and delivers the B-movie zombie experience I've been waiting for since Dead Island 1.    … Expand
  37. alsdkiller23
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    Cool game, a lot of items to kill zombies, and fun characters, I think good sequel
  38. ryudoshi
    Apr 23, 2023
    0
    I wanted to like this game, but it's just so mindless and empty and incredibly short.

    It's not worth your time. They had over a decade and this is what they came up with. just lol.
  39. Gambit6853
    Apr 22, 2023
    4
    Game is a fun game if we were in 2013. Not sure why we need another predominantly solo FPS zombie shooter in 2023 and this game adds very little to the genre. I guess fun to kill some time but def not worth the premium price
  40. balazs312
    Apr 23, 2023
    0
    combat is boring and full of bugs/glitches. Quests feel very repetitve and no real fun plus cringe voice acting.(Especially for Carla)
    Zombies keep spawning behind you and also IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES LOL
    Not to mention the constant crashes on PS5 Definitely not worth £80 Those 10 scores must be paid reviews or just the game devs... Save yourself some money and buy Dying Light 2 instead.    combat is boring and full of bugs/glitches. Quests feel very repetitve and no real fun plus cringe voice acting.(Especially for Carla)
    Zombies keep spawning behind you and also IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES LOL
    Not to mention the constant crashes on PS5
    Definitely not worth £80
    Those 10 scores must be paid reviews or just the game devs...

    Save yourself some money and buy Dying Light 2 instead. Thank me later    … Expand
  41. Viniboom
    Apr 22, 2023
    10
    ..................,.......................................................n
  42. Rodrigo957
    Apr 22, 2023
    10
    Jogo muito bom sistema de desmembramento e danos mais incrível que já vi até hoje, jogão recomendo a toda comunidade
  43. Yaroslav0202
    Apr 24, 2023
    8
    Как-бы неплохо, но есть подробности:
    - сюжет говна. Просто нудятина

    Зато разрушение тел зомби - моё почтение!
  44. TerAnYu
    Apr 26, 2023
    1
    Like a meat grinder - good, the graphics are good, but there are "GTA" problems:
    - zombies constantly respawn, even if they went around the corner, returned, and all the previously killed ones are back in their places;
    - in case of an alarm, zombies appear right before the game, appearing from the air. Not made so that they come running or crawling out from somewhere Well, let's wait    Like a meat grinder - good, the graphics are good, but there are "GTA" problems:
    - zombies constantly respawn, even if they went around the corner, returned, and all the previously killed ones are back in their places;
    - in case of an alarm, zombies appear right before the game, appearing from the air. Not made so that they come running or crawling out from somewhere
    Well, let's wait for a fix, which, most likely, will not happen.    … Expand
  45. el_ramon
    Apr 24, 2023
    9
    Do you like zombies? Do you like action?
    Do you line hack and slay games?

    If yes, instant buy it!

    If yes and you‘re not allowed to buy it, due to your age, don‘t write stupid 0 or 1 point user reviews on metacritic.

    If no, don‘t write stupid 0 or 1 point user reviews on metacritic.
  46. Cyanic_gaming
    Apr 24, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I do not understand how this game is sitting in the 70s right now! Anyone who doesn’t like this game or gave it a bad review has such a bad taste in video games! Dead island 2 is a 8.5/10 easy im just giving it a 10 because I don’t understand the hate! This is by far one of the best zombie games ever made and if I’m being honest one of the best coop games in years! From the fun combat, to the beautiful visuals to the crazy gore system and impressive performance across the board with no bugs, no glitches, no issues, this game is just a product of surprise! You have interesting and fun systems like the Fury mode which turns you into a zombie, the guns feel amazing, when you slice away flesh or break bones you see it and thanks to the ps5 you even feel it! Sure the story can be iffy but this game isn’t meant for story! This game is meant to be played with friends for fun and meant to be such a zombie paradise! No one should knock this game hard for having a goofy story when the game is literally meant to be nothing but goofy bloody fun! I’ll even say this game blows dying mid 2 out of the water story and gameplay wise! Even the upgrade system is wild, it allows you to drag loot you love for how ever long you want, upgrading it and keeping it relevant no matter your rank, meaning you never have to give up loot you love! Being able to put attributes on your guns like electric ammo with more crit damage, faster reload and tons of other attributes is amazing and gives this game such a rich gun gameplay element both dyinglight 1/2 and dead island 1/riptide were missing! Even the areas in this game were designed perfectly and feel refreshing to explore and loot, a lot of ppl say they wish this was open world, man not me….I am glad this game is linear, it feels a lot more fun and a lot more on edge when you have these tight areas to face zombies in! I can’t just stress how much I love and enjoy this game! All in all this is one of the best games in the market in 2023 to just kick back and play with your friends, it feels like a modern Xbox 360 experience in the best way possible and while this review was probably more of me just rambling I hope you support these devs, pay the 70$ or **** atleast buy it on sale and just enjoy it as much as I am! Happy surviving zombie slayers … Expand
  47. NintendoIsEA
    Apr 24, 2023
    10
    Absolutely flawless, unlike Dying Light 2. Dying Light 2 was BORING as hell. Dead Island continues the cartoony action feel and delivers on a stunning yet goofy experience. The combat is punishing and can catch you off guard at any point. The world building is nearly perfect. Dambuster has always been top tier world builders.

    This is not meant to be a huge open world game filled with    Absolutely flawless, unlike Dying Light 2. Dying Light 2 was BORING as hell. Dead Island continues the cartoony action feel and delivers on a stunning yet goofy experience. The combat is punishing and can catch you off guard at any point. The world building is nearly perfect. Dambuster has always been top tier world builders.

    This is not meant to be a huge open world game filled with nonsense filler (like Dying Light 2) but more a linear game like Dead Island 1.

    The visuals are of the best we've seen in a game this year. The audio is incredible. The Presentation is flawless.

    The game is pretty much bug free. I have beaten it now 3 times on 3 different characters and have no once encountered a bug in any form. The Characters are all unique and full of personality, much like Dead Island 1. The replay ability is above average strictly due to the interesting and unique characters.

    The Flesh system brings the absolute best gore mechanics ever seen in a game. It's truly the most innovative gore system we've ever seen in a game. Dambuster absolutely deserves the recognition for this part regardless of how you feel about this game.

    Dambuster has proven themselves a viable studio for big games for years to come. I CAN'T WAIT FOR TIMESPLITTERS 4    … Expand
  48. Tomas95
    May 18, 2023
    10
    This game ist the best zombie Game Ever and my Favorit of the game of the year 2023
  49. kylecarvelle
    Apr 24, 2023
    9
    I'm more in the 9.5 range but Metacritic doesn't have .5's

    I'm pretty sure this is the most severely underrated game I've ever played. I was not a fan of the original, I did love Dying Light 1 and 2, and I had little to no interest or expectations for Dead Island 2 considering its 10 year development and multiple developer switch-ups. I was definitely not anticipating even trying this    I'm more in the 9.5 range but Metacritic doesn't have .5's

    I'm pretty sure this is the most severely underrated game I've ever played. I was not a fan of the original, I did love Dying Light 1 and 2, and I had little to no interest or expectations for Dead Island 2 considering its 10 year development and multiple developer switch-ups. I was definitely not anticipating even trying this game out this year with all of these other games out.

    The level design and environmental storytelling of this game is genuinely jaw-dropping. These interiors and the love and care put into every corner of the game are Bioshock tier, made more impressive by the fact that it's borderline photorealistic. Couple that with some of the most satisfying first person melee combat ever and the absolutely disgusting gore physics and you've got a GOTY contender for me.

    Not a 10 because the mirrors don't work lol, which doesn't matter, but it's such a strange oversight in an otherwise incredibly polished and immersive world    … Expand
  50. jjwatson906
    Apr 24, 2023
    9
    It's a great game given you're here for killing zombies in fun and creative ways. I'm having a blast with it after having it for a weekend. It's certainly not going to blow your mind with its story or new gaming concepts, but if you're looking for a beautiful environment to live out your zombie apocalypse dreams then look no further.
  51. OnlyOneHere
    Apr 27, 2023
    0
    This game is a steaming pile of garbage. The gameplay is boring and repetitive. The side quests are awful and so is the story. The gore is pathetic. It literally looks like the zombies are filled with Kool-Aid. There are so many cars in the levels, but you can't drive any of them. The developers were too cheap and lazy to add driving mechanics. The physics are beyond horrible. I can't openThis game is a steaming pile of garbage. The gameplay is boring and repetitive. The side quests are awful and so is the story. The gore is pathetic. It literally looks like the zombies are filled with Kool-Aid. There are so many cars in the levels, but you can't drive any of them. The developers were too cheap and lazy to add driving mechanics. The physics are beyond horrible. I can't open drawers in real-time, I can't grab a soda in real-time. Nothing can be grabbed in real-time, except for a stupid hammer that was basically a cutscene. Speaking of which, I uppercut a zombie with a hammer only for it to magically get knocked down by an invisible roof.

    The co-op multiplayer is complete trash. And the greedy developers had the audacity to charge $70 for this low quality garbage. Aside maybe the graphics, there is not a single thing in this game that screams next-gen to justify that outrageous price. Forget the PS4, this game has the quality of a PS3 game. This is literally a PS3 game with a PS5 coat of paint. This game tries too hard to be funny. I don't recommend this game at all, unless you want to support laziness.    … Expand
  52. 5cps
    Apr 22, 2023
    10
    Great gameplay, graphics everything. Snowflakes, stop complaining about your broken life and grow up, this is a GOOD game.
  53. amg070892
    Apr 25, 2023
    0
  54. Zeon1982
    Apr 22, 2023
    8
    Wow, I was surprised i enjoyed Dead island 2 this much. I had an absolute blast. The awesome gameplay, the gore, and the graphics was the best things about it. The problems i had with it was there was no endgame content or no new game plus.
  55. DSouls_guy
    Apr 23, 2023
    8
    The fact that Dead island 2 went through hell in development, Dead island 2 is a good game! Dead island 2 doesn't do much to improve or impress you, but it is fun and has very nice visuals and smooth 60fps. It's not goty but still worth a try until ff16 comes out.
  56. RAWLiNGS
    Apr 27, 2023
    3
    This game is not worth to pay full price.
    Pros:
    - Graphics and performance is excellent,
    - gore system is excellent,
    - environment is excellent.
    - melee weapons crafting is good.
    Cons:
    - shallow gameplay and story
    - OP zombies
    - zombies respawn randomly
    - repetitive gameplay
    - in the first 30 minutes you will experience everything that this can offer
  57. Play5E
    Apr 24, 2023
    10
    El mejor juego de zombies que existe en este momento.
    Muy recomendable y divertido, novel de gráficos un 10. Eso sí la mejor versión es en playstation 5.
  58. Helix__006
    Apr 22, 2023
    8
    $50 for a luxury mansion, it's worth it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  59. maxpodolski
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    best gameplay and story, combat system very good! Awesome art-graphic and lights
  60. ankancr
    Apr 22, 2023
    10
    A classic zombie game who was really fun to play with friends. Very nice graphic also.
  61. Alex5482671
    Apr 23, 2023
    9
    I like more than Dying Light. The combat system is good. The plot is in the spirit of the first part.
  62. metacriticLOL
    Apr 24, 2023
    1
    We waited 10+ years for this? LMAO do not buy this generic unimaginative garbage
  63. Peter45
    Apr 23, 2023
    2
    Started off ok... loved dying light 2 was expecting more...BUT way too linear .. and WAY too easy.. and no difficulty setting?! For me posed no challenge and was a bit boring.. oh well :/
  64. WayfaringWalrus
    Apr 30, 2023
    0
    Devoid of any soul, a lifeless husk of a game that regresses backwards from even the original Dead Island back in 2011. The game boils down to fighting the same 3 or 4 enemies over and over again, each with enough hitpoints to make your weapons feel weak and pointless.

    The best part is the environmental hazards, which sap your health constantly, and they are EVERYWHERE. Caustic acid,    Devoid of any soul, a lifeless husk of a game that regresses backwards from even the original Dead Island back in 2011. The game boils down to fighting the same 3 or 4 enemies over and over again, each with enough hitpoints to make your weapons feel weak and pointless.

    The best part is the environmental hazards, which sap your health constantly, and they are EVERYWHERE. Caustic acid, electricity and fire litter the uninteresting world in every nook and cranny. Exploring feels futile, though the game is incredibly linear anyway. They even removed the driving mechanic, which may have redeemed a few points.

    Zombies consistently phase in and out of existence in front of you, breaking what little immersion you have and just becoming a hindrance from sprinting through to your next objective (of which there are about 3 different tasks, in a very short story) rather than becoming a threat or a tense encounter.

    If I could go back in time and not play this, I would. One of the worst games I've ever played.    … Expand
  65. Daimoz
    Apr 22, 2023
    10
    If u like slashing zombie games u will be like at home ,but if u like deep story with some deeper combat mechanics u will not.
  66. sternone
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    I am really having a blast and the coop works great! loving the game and the maps it's just a lot of fun
  67. Daniel_Endure
    Apr 30, 2023
    0
    The most infuriating game I’ve ever played. The story, characters, and gameplay are bare-bones. A broken mess. I want a refund on this overpriced garbage.
  68. SpiralNexus
    Apr 23, 2023
    8
    This was better than expected really yeah story isn't all that bad as people had made it but the fun part is the combat of a hack and slash gory zombie game. My friends and I have put in like 8 or more hours and only done 7 or 8 main missions as we explore and do side quests making for a very enjoyable experience and I see how it's a one play through kind of game for people and they willThis was better than expected really yeah story isn't all that bad as people had made it but the fun part is the combat of a hack and slash gory zombie game. My friends and I have put in like 8 or more hours and only done 7 or 8 main missions as we explore and do side quests making for a very enjoyable experience and I see how it's a one play through kind of game for people and they will go to another game. This game is a slow and pace yourself and when compared to dying light it's the complete opposite but a personal choice I like slower games that has me build up my character to be the strongest they can be and reason is that I played a lot of mmorpg so I developed the tendency to grind for the good stuff.… Expand
  69. EstleJ26
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    Not a thinker but lots of fun. Who doesn’t like chopping up zombies? If you’re unsure just wait for it to go on sale but it’s worth your time whenever you get it.
  70. Francyz
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    The best zombie game of the last 5 years. Fun gameplay and story complements the game.
  71. jhonny3u
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    muy entretenido y rejugable en cooperativo, buena inmersión y combate vale la pena cada centavo
  72. mathu222
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    Fantastic game! Fun, awsome graphics and good story! Could be a winner of the year!
  73. Tolaten
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    Mal wieder überzeugt mich das Spiel erneut nach den letzten Titeln von der Spielreihe muss ich sagen das dieses Spiel ein muss ist !

    Jeder der auf Gemetzel und Zerstücklung von Zombies steht kommt hier komplett an seine kosten!
    Die Story neben bei ist auch ein Hit und ein muss für jeden! Das Spiel ist für Koop bis 4 Spieler ein Top Game und nach endlich von einigen Jahren ein HIT !
  74. Strichstarke
    Apr 22, 2023
    9
    Considering that this game went through development hell, I'm surprised just how well it turned out to be. Its certainly not a masterpiece by any means, but it is fun. This game doesn't have an amazing story or interesting quests or anything like that. But its fun. If youre looking for a just a simple fun game this is it
  75. Sweetcheesus
    Apr 22, 2023
    10
    It's honestly everything I hoped it would be and you can't fully realize how great this is compared to Dead Island unless you play it right after finishing the first one which is exactly what my wife and I did. The graphics (I'm on PS5) are fantastic, HDR lighting looks superb, and the game runs at a solid 60fps with a motion blur toggle which is a really big deal for those who get motionIt's honestly everything I hoped it would be and you can't fully realize how great this is compared to Dead Island unless you play it right after finishing the first one which is exactly what my wife and I did. The graphics (I'm on PS5) are fantastic, HDR lighting looks superb, and the game runs at a solid 60fps with a motion blur toggle which is a really big deal for those who get motion sickness from it.

    The gameplay feels really good, combat is super crunchy and impactful, and exploration is most definitely rewarded. The gore system is unbelievably grotesque and detailed. Playing this with friends definitely makes the experience even more fun. I've been playing the past couple days with my wife and buddy and it's been a really great time. The open world has been reduced to somewhat open hub areas that have quite a bit of content.

    Overall, I absolutely love what the game offers. It's the most optimized third party title I've played at launch in a very long time which is refreshing. If you like zombies, action, copious amounts of gore, and being able to play with friends, then this is the perfect game. LOVE IT.    … Expand
  76. Focussed5
    Apr 23, 2023
    8
    It is fun to use the environment to clear zombies such as puddles or oil. The graphics are also good and it runs smoothly. One of the issues Is with the zombies spawning in areas too quickly. As I'll clear an area and then quickly return and they'll be load of zombies again which then becomes tedious to clear them all.
  77. Batman00
    Apr 23, 2023
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game is what you’re looking for in a zombie apocalypse game everything you want is there. Gore, combat, fun gameplay, the customization on your weapons, yes I understand the game isn’t how u except open world but it is when your playing. it feels and looks like it’s open world the story is mid I guess but you have to realize the story is perfect for this game a goofy funny fun game that’s playable unlike some games like **** ass re6,re5. :)… Expand
  78. EzHere
    Apr 22, 2023
    10
    Even though I’m rating the game a 10 out of 10, it’s still an exceptional game to be rated after spending 8-9 years in Development Heck/Hell
    I may have some things to criticize about Dead Island 2, but feels good to be played after years of being announced and delayed due to development teams changing
  79. Badger2012
    May 8, 2023
    8
    I've played every zombie game since Resident Evil 1 and if you enjoyed the previous Dead Island games your are going to love this. I am 25 hours into the game and have enjoyed every minute of it. There are some faults but in my opinion they are minor. The combat is extremely fluid and the skill cards really do add an extra dimension to how you can play characters and what suits your playI've played every zombie game since Resident Evil 1 and if you enjoyed the previous Dead Island games your are going to love this. I am 25 hours into the game and have enjoyed every minute of it. There are some faults but in my opinion they are minor. The combat is extremely fluid and the skill cards really do add an extra dimension to how you can play characters and what suits your play style. The story, humour and character actors are absolutely brilliant. This game looks really gorgeous too. Much better that Dying Light 2. The reason I am giving it an 8 currently is because zombies sometimes respawn behind you after you killed one and moved away, this looks stupid and is immersion breaking for me and the multi player works fine but needs some work. I'm sure that the developers will improve things via patches as time goes on. I wasn't sure about buying this after some of the reviews but I am glad that I did. I bought these season pass separately today because I really like this game and will continue to play it.… Expand
  80. GTAman
    Apr 30, 2023
    10
    The most fun I've had playing a coop game in a long time. If you like zombie games and playing in coop with your friends, I highly recommend playing Dead Island 2. I loved the first games and this one is in many aspects much better. It runs super well on PS5 and looks fantastic.
  81. Bulbotrax
    May 18, 2023
    9
    i really enjoyed to play this game. It was in devellopment hell for so long, i was afraid to deal with another duke nukem failure, but it's clearly not the case. Too bad there is no vehicles like in the first game.
  82. V3ctorPT
    Apr 27, 2023
    9
    Great hack and slash game... im having fun discovering all the places in any of the maps, I love the variety of things onscreen, so many details and colors...

    Its not on of those generic games, lots of detail. loved it until now
  83. SWERY_51
    May 1, 2023
    9
    Dead Island 2 is everything i was hoping for. A fun, technically solid, and immersive experience which fully respect the first game. Dambuster Studios nailed it pretty well.

    Pros : + Good graphics (especially the lighting) + Runs pretty well on PS5 (1800p at 60fps, can also adjust motion blur and FOV) + Fun gameplay, with a lot of different customizable weapons and skills to unlock    Dead Island 2 is everything i was hoping for. A fun, technically solid, and immersive experience which fully respect the first game. Dambuster Studios nailed it pretty well.

    Pros :
    + Good graphics (especially the lighting)
    + Runs pretty well on PS5 (1800p at 60fps, can also adjust motion blur and FOV)
    + Fun gameplay, with a lot of different customizable weapons and skills to unlock
    + You can actually play with physics (water + electricity for example) and set traps
    + Nice level design with shortcuts to unlock and rewarding exploration
    + I've completed the main story in 25 hours (solo) with only 45% of total completion
    + Zombies have a lot of different skins that are changing depending the area you are
    + Very, very gory (Flesh system thing is a blast)

    Cons :
    - You cannot close doors behind you while exploring
    - Storage locker is way too small (only 16 slots!?)
    - Low replay value (no new game plus mode yet)
    - Needs a photo mode    … Expand
  84. RenaudLemieux
    Apr 29, 2023
    5
    The amount of flaws completely absurd that has this game amazes me to the highest point.

    The camera does not tremble when we run which gives us a disgusting feeling like a ps3 era game. Light attacks as well as dodges do not consume endurance making the game too easy. Especially since there is no choice of difficulty which is completely unacceptable for players wanting a good challenge.    The amount of flaws completely absurd that has this game amazes me to the highest point.

    The camera does not tremble when we run which gives us a disgusting feeling like a ps3 era game. Light attacks as well as dodges do not consume endurance making the game too easy. Especially since there is no choice of difficulty which is completely unacceptable for players wanting a good challenge. There is no adaptive trigger for melee attacks. The impacts of blows are very low and the weapons pass through the enemies as in wind. There is no animation when we collect objects they come on us as if by magic. In the end the game has completely outdated mecanics apart for the graphics and the gore which are very very impressive.

    Dying light 2 compared to this is a real masterpiece. I never thought I would say something like this. I hope the company will do something to patch those absolutely unforgivable flaws. If not I'll just sell my game. God thanks I bought it physical.

    My only wish was to love this game but I just can't.    … Expand
  85. Syl20
    Apr 26, 2023
    5
    I have to admit that I might be a bit early on giving my toughts and impressions on this game since I've only played it for a couple of hours (maybe 3~4) but to be honest... nothing made me want to keep playing it any longer and I doubt I'll ever get back to it...
    Absolutely nothing thrilled me and got me excited within the first 3~4hours.
    The game has been an on and off project for    I have to admit that I might be a bit early on giving my toughts and impressions on this game since I've only played it for a couple of hours (maybe 3~4) but to be honest... nothing made me want to keep playing it any longer and I doubt I'll ever get back to it...
    Absolutely nothing thrilled me and got me excited within the first 3~4hours.

    The game has been an on and off project for more than 10 years now and it shows in every possible ways!
    It feels like games used to feel 10 years ago...
    Problem is we've seen a lot in the last 10 years of gaming and it really makes Dead Island 2 feel like it's 2013 again, for the worst of it...

    For me, the "spongy" and "wobbly" gameplay/combat melee animations totally killed it right from the get go!
    Swinging a sledgehammer or a wrench just doesn't feel right in this game.
    We can't feel any kind of impacts/physics besides the damage that pops through ennemies in a bizzare way.
    Even my 17 years old son who was watching my 1st couple of hours said : "It feels VERY average..." and that pretty much sums it all!
    Melee combat should feel gruesome and brutal, but gameplay mechanics and animations makes it feel clumsy and awkward.
    It feels like GTA which for melee combat wasn't much of a reference...
    Problem is, in Dead Island 2, Melee combat is pretty much everything!

    Dead Island 2 doesn't even manage to beat, nor equal first Dying Light game which became my "First person Zombie game" reference.
    From what I saw of it so far, I think I'd rather just give Dying Light Definitive Edition another go!
    At least that game felt damn right about pretty much everything!

    I bought a physical Dead Island 2 copy as I feared it might deceive me despite good reviews and I'm glad I did, I'll just sell back my copy so I didn't just wasted 100$ on a very VERY average experience...    … Expand
  86. Lance22
    Apr 27, 2023
    8
    I was worried about this game, jumping into it for the first time without looking at reviews and I have to say I’m glad I did, I did play the original dead island from 2011 and I really liked that game even though the main character didn’t speak that much I kind of made you feel like you were that character, dead island 2 those more of the depths with certain characters, and makes you feelI was worried about this game, jumping into it for the first time without looking at reviews and I have to say I’m glad I did, I did play the original dead island from 2011 and I really liked that game even though the main character didn’t speak that much I kind of made you feel like you were that character, dead island 2 those more of the depths with certain characters, and makes you feel for them, also your main character speaks and reacts to certain events. Even when you were attacking other zombies he or she will react to it, I know in the first game you’re main character didn’t talk, except when you accepted a quest, sure this does break the rule of immersion, but this works, break one rule of immersion in exchange for helpful hints, and a deeper story, dead island 2 proves you can shatter rules and still have a fun experience that’s why I’m giving this game a 8/10.
    Is it a perfect zombie game? No, but then again what game is? it does have its problems and its flaws, but in the end, Is it a fun zombie game? Absolutely.    … Expand
  87. JacoBee93
    May 2, 2023
    10
    Best slasher in years. Head and shoulders above many top tier games in terms of fun
  88. darklyluna
    Apr 27, 2023
    5
    Middling in every possible way. The story is just ridiculously stupid. The respawning zombies are pretty annoying. Even with upgraded gear to your level, zombies take too much punishment to die. Some of the fights are satisfying, most of them are just grindy.

    My biggest complaint comes from the levels. Most zombies seem to scale. Then there are just highly powered zombies peppered    Middling in every possible way. The story is just ridiculously stupid. The respawning zombies are pretty annoying. Even with upgraded gear to your level, zombies take too much punishment to die. Some of the fights are satisfying, most of them are just grindy.

    My biggest complaint comes from the levels. Most zombies seem to scale. Then there are just highly powered zombies peppered around for no reason that one shot you. Or random missions where you aren't quite high enough for them I guess and they just tack on an extra level (I'm level 8 the zombies are 9). While this latter issue isn't a big deal, it's still frustrating.

    They channeled the most insanely ridiculous parts of Far Cry games (the side quests are totally mad).

    If you can stomach how stupid everything is, then it's kind of fun. But I seriously regret wasting money on it.    … Expand
  89. waddon1
    Jun 19, 2023
    10
    An unexpectedly fun game. When I played Dead Island 2 I was not expecting to have as much fun as I did. I played Dambuster's previous game Homefront The Revolution and it was one of the worst games I have ever played. This on the other hand, is one of the most polished and fun zombie games around. I felt burned after playing Dying Light 2 which did not live up to the original. Whereas DeadAn unexpectedly fun game. When I played Dead Island 2 I was not expecting to have as much fun as I did. I played Dambuster's previous game Homefront The Revolution and it was one of the worst games I have ever played. This on the other hand, is one of the most polished and fun zombie games around. I felt burned after playing Dying Light 2 which did not live up to the original. Whereas Dead Island 2 far surpasses the others in the series. Overall I fully recommend it to anyone looking for a fun zombie game with a decent story, also very fun alone or with friends. My personal GOTY so far.… Expand
  90. AForwood
    May 14, 2023
    8
    So far so good. Much better than dying light 2. This game is actually worth the time and money.
  91. Anar-9999
    Apr 30, 2023
    6
    short game and graphics old pity everything could be much bette игра не плохая но увы графика и некторые аспекты плохие
  92. Matthii
    May 1, 2023
    9
    I bought this game without any expectations and I was genuinely surprised. The gore in the game is fantastic and story, special zombies and skill cards are very well implemented. My only caveat would be the mods for the weapons; a bit more diversity wouldn't hurt.
  93. MaccMosley
    May 24, 2023
    6
    This game looks amazing and that's about all it really has going for it. They should've made it free to play cause it's not worth $70. I should've listened to the reviews and my gut before I wasted my money on this game,its the same thing over and over and over,even the voice acting is horrible. All you do is clear zombies and walk around,the gore is pretty Cool but other than that thisThis game looks amazing and that's about all it really has going for it. They should've made it free to play cause it's not worth $70. I should've listened to the reviews and my gut before I wasted my money on this game,its the same thing over and over and over,even the voice acting is horrible. All you do is clear zombies and walk around,the gore is pretty Cool but other than that this games an absolute mess,I can't tell you how many times you'll see the exact same Zombies and do the exact same type missions,theu could've at least made it open world and made the "CO-OP" worth a crap. What a waste of money,don't buy this game new,wait 6 months and if you still wanna play it buy it used,trust me,you'll be sorry if u spend $78 on this game,I know Iam.… Expand
  94. RolandOG
    Apr 29, 2023
    10
    Love it- looks great and extremely entertaining. Could have been better without the last gen support and UE4, but there will be the next one. Played through as Jacob and found him to actually be funny, which is refreshing after a lot of boring, cringy characters in other recent games. The zombie gore is disgustingly detailed, and there’s no shortage of ways to take them on, either withLove it- looks great and extremely entertaining. Could have been better without the last gen support and UE4, but there will be the next one. Played through as Jacob and found him to actually be funny, which is refreshing after a lot of boring, cringy characters in other recent games. The zombie gore is disgustingly detailed, and there’s no shortage of ways to take them on, either with weapons or the world. Overall, I think this game is highly underrated. I decided to wait to look at reviews until after I played through, and I’m pretty shocked at the negativity. I was expecting an 80 at least. I know it sounds cliche, but I think reviews absolutely are rigged and bought. Just keep doing what you do and I’ll keep buying your games.… Expand
  95. marcolr91
    Apr 25, 2023
    8
    Such a shame is not an open world as the first one but so far I am having so much fun which is the most important thing regarding a videogame! The setting is amazing with such a lovely graphics. The gameplay is a little stiff and old style but still so satisfying! Nice job!
  96. Bashyboyy
    Apr 26, 2023
    10
    This game was definitely worth the wait, its pure zombie killing fun with amazing gore mechanics and a really vibrant setting.
  97. LoganSowers
    Apr 25, 2023
    10
    Pays respect to Dead Island 1 and Dead Island Riptide without overstepping. It improves on the first 2 games in every aspect imaginable, to the phenomenal graphics, realistic gore, melee and gunplay. I will gladly be replaying this game.
  98. Jt0429
    May 23, 2023
    8
    Good-
    Strikes a solid balance between being guided and open-ended; Combat always remains fun; Wide variety of weapons to use, most of which feel great; Environmental interactivity and elemental combat further spice up the gameplay; Impressive variety in design and visual style across several locations.
    Bad- The story is nothing to write home about; Annoyingly written characters.    Good-
    Strikes a solid balance between being guided and open-ended; Combat always remains fun; Wide variety of weapons to use, most of which feel great; Environmental interactivity and elemental combat further spice up the gameplay; Impressive variety in design and visual style across several locations.

    Bad-
    The story is nothing to write home about; Annoyingly written characters.

    Thoughts-
    Whether or not Dead Island 2 is a game that justifies the long wait leading up to its release is a difficult question to answer, not least because of just how long that wait has been- but maybe it’s ridiculous to even expect the game to live up to nearly a decade’s worth of anticipation. Here’s what I can say though- it’s an easy game to recommend. It may not necessarily offer anything we haven’t seen several times before in similar releases, but what it does offer is well-made and a hell of a lot of fun. From the buckets of gore to the hack-and-slash combat to how well it brings a zombie-riddled LA to life in its own fun way, there’s a lot to like about Dead Island 2.    … Expand
  99. Choppahawk
    Apr 25, 2023
    8
    The game isn’t anything special, however that is certainly not a bad thing. The game has definitely delivered for me. The graphics are beautiful, the gore is brutally amazing, and combat is so much fun. Whilst I had concerns about the amount of talking coming from the character, I felt that it was produced well, it worked for me anyway. I used the character Jacob and his lines were quiteThe game isn’t anything special, however that is certainly not a bad thing. The game has definitely delivered for me. The graphics are beautiful, the gore is brutally amazing, and combat is so much fun. Whilst I had concerns about the amount of talking coming from the character, I felt that it was produced well, it worked for me anyway. I used the character Jacob and his lines were quite funny and went along with the story well. The only thing I would say is that some of the boss fights were a little underwhelming and the story isn’t crazy either but it hasn’t impacted my experience much at all. Would definitely recommend the game to those who loved the original, like dying light or are a zombie fan. This game is the almost perfect zombie slaying first person game that we have been patiently waiting for since 2014.… Expand
  100. AndreCerk
    Apr 28, 2023
    10
    Da um show em Dyng light 2, DY2 foi muito chato e repetitivo, ja DI2 e muito divertido, Di2 consegue ser tudo o que DY2 não conseguiu ser...
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 87 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 87
  2. Mixed: 35 out of 87
  3. Negative: 1 out of 87
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 23, 2024
    80
    Many will argue that there aren't enough enemy types, or that the weapon upgrades that underpin it all seem as if they came out of a decades-old game. And they'd be right. This is a game that follows a simple template. But it does so in a confessed way, and in the end the authors didn't promise anything beyond mindless and fun zombie slaughter. [Issue#327]
  2. PLAY
    Sep 16, 2023
    50
    Neat zombie bashing mechanics are woefully under-served as it loses its way more with each hour, making the shiny hyper-violence yawnworthy by the end. [Issue#27, p.68]
  3. Pocket-lint
    Jun 23, 2023
    80
    We've had a pretty great time messing up some zombies in Hell-A. Dead Island 2 doesn't shoot for the stars, and therefore ends up neither overpromising nor under-delivering, so if you liked the first game you're pretty certain to have a fun time here.
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