Dying Light: The Beast

The Beast is the Dying Light sequel I always wanted. It's dark, literally and tonally, focuses on zombies instead of warring human factions, and expands on some of the more outlandish and interesting ideas hinted at in the original. If this is indicative of what to expect in the franchise going forward, and it certainly looks that way, then I am excited.

Dying Light: The Beast surpasses Techland's previous work with a very complete first-person offering. Zombies of all kinds, lots of weapons without turning the experience into a looter shooter, and a great campaign to play solo or with a friend are the roof of a structure that rests on the solid foundations of gameplay. Running, driving, jumping, fighting, and surviving in The Beast is tremendously fun, all in a beautiful, unique setting full of different areas that invite exploration and encourage you to visit every corner. A very good comeback that leaves me satisfied as a fan of Techland's zombies since the first Dead Island and, of course, the first Dying Light.

A solid title that brings the best of the franchise to the table while offering more than enough to stand on its own merits.

Techland made the right choice turning Dying Light: The Beast into a standalone entry in the series as it might just be the best in the series yet. Taking control of Kyle Crane again is fantastic, especially now that he can tap into the power of his inner beast. But despite this, it remains mostly a tense experience, with a fantastic open world that begs to be explored.

Dying Light – The Beast delivers a focused, action-packed experience that blends brutal combat, dynamic zombies, and fluid parkour. The new Beast Mode adds thrilling moments, while the smaller, lively world of Castor Woods keeps exploration tense and rewarding. Despite minor issues with climbing and inventory, it’s a must-play for fans and a gripping entry point for newcomers.

Techland has spent more than 10 years refining its open-world zombie-slicing sandbox blueprint, and there’s no doubt that The Beast is best rendition of that. Techland has clearly been listening to its fans on what they love about the series, as The Beast is a mix of everything that Dying Light has been made of thus far, but all the good bits. It’s got the survival horror of the first game, the heavy action approach of Stay Human and the vehicles of The Following. Castor Woods’ more condensed layout allows for the gameplay strengths to shine, with tight parkour mechanics, brutal and satisfying combat and a terrifyingly tense night time (even if it feels a little unbalanced) makes for a thrilling and comforting experience. It’s great to see Crane return and the story has some good moments, even if it’s a little plain and predictable. Regardless, Dying Light fans will be happy here.

Dying Light: The Beast shows that Techland has learned from what players didn’t enjoy from Dying Light 2 Stay Human. While this new entry isn’t exactly a return to the series’ roots, it relishes in the trademark speed of running across rooftops and avoiding the undead. Hefty combat that becomes more horrific and tense at night provides enough variety to keep players moving in its scaled back but more inviting world. Sometimes a more cohesive vision is better and Dying Light: The Beast is certainly stronger for its more constrained scope.

This expansion manages to surpass the original game, standing strong as the go-to entry even for newcomers to the franchise. Dying Light: The Beast shines with its more compact map, engaging quests, and the ever-satisfying thrill of bashing zombies.

Dying Light: The Beast, the franchise's peak, offers brutal combat, a modest open world, and intense nighttime chases featuring Kyle Crane. Despite a weak villain, repetitive bosses, few new enemies, and bugs, it is the definitive experience for zombie fans.

Dying Light: The Beast is a highly entertaining game that enhances the series' brutal melee combat alongside its satisfying parkour-based exploration, while adding a Beast mode that makes you feel like an unstoppable, bloodthirsty juggernaut. All of this combines to deliver a content-rich experience that can engage players for hours.

Dying Light: The Beast is another terrifying foray that provides a unique spin on the survival horror genre. However, its horde of bugged missions and objectives damage its otherwise immersive terror.

Dying Light: The Beast can feel a touch safe at times with a serviceable story, but the high-flying parkour and gorgeous graphics are top-notch. Castor Woods makes for the perfect zombie-slaying playground for you to enjoy. It’s pure adrenaline packed into its 20 hours, continuing to carve out its own corner of the crowded zombie space.

Focus instead of expanding: Unlike many other studios, developer Techland takes a different approach and presents Dying Light: The Beast, a game that knows what it's good at. There's no time for boredom or slow spells in this compact game...But apparently, there's no time for any special innovations either. A sequel, not a dimensional leap. On the other hand, it's just way too much fun to explore the world like a monkey climbing a tree and mauling zombies. It should get boring, but there are too many buttons being pressed for that.

The Beast brings effective tweaks that bring Dying Light back to the level that has earned it so many fans over the years. While the mission and activity structure doesn't offer any major innovations, the game is a strong indication that good things are in store for the future of the series.

Dying Light: The Beast is the franchise’s most cinematic and polished entry yet, blending intense parkour, brutal melee combat, and grotesque gore with a darker story set in the Alps. Its skill trees and Beast powers lack depth, but the survival intensity and nightmarish atmosphere make it a bloody strong comeback.

Dying Light: The Beast feels like the proper sequel fans have been waiting for all this time. While the new additions aren't amazing, the established facets of the game have been improved, making it a return to form.

Dying Light The Beast doesn't seek to reinvent the genre, but it does redefine what it means to be Kyle Crane. With a new savage setting, more visceral combat mechanics, and a narrative that relies on details and secondary characters, Techland offers a robust, bloody, and addictive product.

While more limited in scope than the mainline Dying Light titles, this side-quel ups the fun factor by giving the player a way to blow off steam with the addition of superpowers. Lighter in tone and with more room to breathe, Dying Light: The Beast puts just enough spin on the franchise's formula to keep from feeling like a retread. It turns out that the ability to stomp around and clear a room in 30 seconds was just what Dying Light needed.

Dying Light: The Beast brings back the series' roots with a brutal, more focused adventure led by Kyle Crane. Parkour remains sharp, melee combat is weighty and satisfying, and the open world offers tense moments, especially at night. While the progression system feels recycled and some fights get repetitive, the experience is technically solid. A strong return for fans, though its price may be a barrier.

Dying Light: The Beast marks the return of Kyle Crane in a thrilling sequel that breathes new life into the series. With ferocious beast powers, adrenaline-pumping Chimera boss battles, and parkour that’s as exhilarating as ever, the game delivers plenty of standout moments. The open world can feel a bit too sprawling, and the controls occasionally slip into clunky territory, but the fast-paced combat and amazing side missions more than make up for it. This is an excellent return to form — one that blends fresh ideas with the spirit of the original in a way fans won’t want to miss.

Dying Light: The Beast is a big improvement over Dying Light 2 and avoids feeling like an expanded piece of DLC. At its core, it has the same familiar gameplay that the franchise knows and loves, but there's a degree of polish and flavor that its predecessor was missing. Only a somewhat lackluster plot and disappointing Beast Mode drag down the game, but they won't get in the way of a fun European zombie vacation.

Although it doesn’t reinvent the formula, The Beast delivers bloodier horror, a more dangerous atmosphere, and enough new elements to justify its existence as a standalone game.

Dying Light The Beast capitalizes on the improvements made over the last two episodes and its numerous DLCs to offer the ultimate version of its game. It's not perfect yet, but The Beast is the most complete and entertaining episode of the franchise to date.

Dying Light: The Beast succeeds by understanding what made the original special and refining those elements rather than reinventing them. This is comfort food gaming at its finest: familiar mechanics executed with polish and focus.

Dying Light: The Beast is a must-play game if you’re a fan of the series, and gives a hero’s welcome to the protagonist that started it all. The new beast powers are a great addition to your arsenal and make combat more interesting, and the parkour is as fun now as it was all the way back in 2015. The game is only held back by a map with too much open space, and janky parkour that halts your momentum at the worst possible moments.

If you're a zombie fanatic and your dream is to experience a believable, yet scenic, terrifying, and atmospheric undead apocalypse, Dying Light: The Beast is a title you shouldn't miss. Kyle Crane's story is a classic, at times a bit predictable, but there are many other survivors with more unique stories waiting to grip you in the numerous side missions hidden in Castor Woods. A natural setting unlike the dense cities of Techland, where small, more refined "attractions" float in a more airy fabric of woods and minor secrets, as if we were in a zombie-themed amusement park. The combat is more violent than ever, the beast mechanics are a force, and the parkour works, albeit with a few uncertainties here and there. Honing Kyle's skills will keep you engaged throughout the 30 hours required for the main campaign. Repetitiveness is present, but less noticeable, given the compact setting and storyline. As far as we're concerned, The Beast is a more thoughtful chapter, which, while not attempting to revolutionize its formula, restructures it just enough: with passion, screams, blood and lots and lots of punches.

Dying Light: The Beast is not a safe sequel. It does not attempt to simply enlarge the cityscapes or double down on familiar systems. Instead, Techland recalibrates the franchise, opting for a more intimate, tension-driven approach rooted in the original’s survival horror fundamentals. While not every risk pays off, the ambition is appreciated. For players seeking another sprawling urban parkour playground, this entry may feel narrower in scope. However, for those who want to experience atmospheric, nerve-shredding moments, The Beast delivers. It challenges you not only to endure the infected but to examine the humanity you cling to in a world intent on stripping it away.

Dying Light: The Beast benefits from a more focused approach than the series usually has. Its obligatory suite of repetitive jobs still wears thin during extended play, but overall I enjoyed this one more than the prior outings. It’s a leaner game with a better story and some nice touches. Some of the series’ long running flaws still need ironing out, and without them we could have a legitimately great game. On a personal note, it’s really nice to see this series improve as it has over time. Despite being a vocal critic of its shortcomings, I want to love Dying Light, and if this represents where future games are going, I may just get what I’m hoping for.

In terms of quantity, Dying Light: The Beast deserves the upgrade to standalone release, having first been earmarked as DLC. It’s carried mostly by excellent game feel, combat and parkour as enjoyable as ever. However, its quality is where the game suffers, skimping on meaningful upgrades that would set it apart and push the franchise forward. It's worthy of your time, but otherwise a missed opportunity.

Dying Light: The Beast brings Kyle Crane back with a leaner, well-filled open world, satisfying parkour, and a brutal Beast Mode that injects fresh power into the series. Castor Woods looks great and runs smoothly, vehicles add a clever form of “flash travel,” and the Brazilian Portuguese dub stands out. Still, thin characters, frequent gun-heavy set pieces that clash with the survival horror core, clunky Chimera encounters, and progress bugs undercut the momentum. A spirited return that shines when it leans on parkour, scarcity, and transformation, uneven when it tries to be a shooter.

Techland delivers a solid new entry with *Dying Light: The Beast*. While it falls short in innovation and balance at times, its strong story, improved visuals, and generous content offer plenty of zombie-slaying fun.

Dying Light: The Beast is an enjoyable game for fans of combat and parkour, featuring an open world full of details and intense, gory moments, especially when using the Beast power. However, technical issues, inconsistent AI, repetitive missions, and an unstable save system reduce the fun of exploration and can make the experience frustrating at times. Despite this, fans of the series and violent gameplay will still find plenty of exciting moments.

It's clear that the emphasis of Dying Light and thus The Beast is to give you a world where you can run about within it and make infected corpses your playthings, but there's a lot of room for evolution. The Beast is successful at giving us another scrumptious slice of Dying Light, but the irony of The Beast is while it strives to be untamed, its leash can only extend so far before it's pulled forcefully back because of the limitations and lack of upgrades that meaningfully unleash the monster within. So yes, The Beast is good, but it's neutered.

Kyle Crane is back – and so is his darker self. What started as a planned expansion has grown into a full-fledged game, offering more brutal action and a more appealing setting. Unfortunately, it’s once again packed with recycled activities and an utterly unnecessary story. Fans of the first game will find plenty to enjoy, with dozens of hours of content to sink into, but it still feels like something essential is missing – and something unnecessary is weighing it down.

Though troubled and caught up in transition from expansion to a fully fledged game, Dying Light: The Beast still excels in the core fundamentals of combat and parkour. The story is forgettable, while the lack of night-time scenarios feels disappointing, but The Beast will give Dying Light fans more of what they most desire: decimating infected crowds and dashing across skylines with reckless abandon.

Dying Light The Beast is made for the crazed zombie games fans, it has everything they want from the ability to tear zombies and monsters to bits with different weapons or you turn into a beast yourself with Beast Mode and go ham. But the game just doesn’t go beyond that and falls very short in terms of the technical optimizations.

Dying Light: The Beast is fine, and that's about it. The parkour is fine. The combat is fine. The exploration is fine. The level design is … actually some of the best in the series. Maybe it would've been better off as just a DLC though.

The Beast still feels like an extended piece of DLC, which while entertaining in itself lacks any new innovations and has an unwelcome clutch of bugs.