A Quarantined City Beckons

Dead Island 2 takes place approximately 15 years after the events of its predecessors.

Amidst the chaos and destruction of a zombie outbreak, Dead Island 2 presents players with a visually stunning and immersive depiction of a quarantined Los Angeles. The game beautifully captures the eerie atmosphere of a city in ruins, offering a unique blend of desolation and beauty.

As you traverse the streets, you’ll witness the remnants of a once-thriving metropolis. Abandoned vehicles, crumbling buildings, and overgrown vegetation paint a vivid picture of a world in decay. The attention to detail in the environmental design truly brings the post-apocalyptic setting to life.

The developers have paid meticulous attention to creating a believable and atmospheric world. From the flickering lights of a deserted convenience store to the haunting echoes of distant screams, every sound and visual element adds to the sense of dread and suspense. The dynamic day-night cycle further enhances the immersion, as you witness the city change from the scorching sunlight of daytime to the ominous darkness of night.

Exploration plays a crucial role in Dead Island 2, and the open-world design encourages players to venture off the beaten path. Each zone offers its own unique ambiance and challenges, whether it’s the decaying streets of downtown, the overgrown nature of the suburbs, or the hauntingly beautiful beaches of Santa Monica. Discovering hidden secrets, stumbling upon survivor camps, and stumbling into unexpected encounters make each journey through the city a captivating experience.

The Road to Survival

Just like its predecessors, Dead Island 2 offers a thrilling first-person perspective, putting you right in the middle of the chaos. Before diving headfirst into the undead mayhem, you’ll need to choose one of six playable characters, each with their own set of skills and abilities. Will you opt for the brute strength of Bruno, the agility of Amy, or the precision of Jacob? The choice is yours!

Weapons Galore!

In Dead Island 2, your survival depends on your ability to wield an impressive arsenal of both melee and ranged weapons. From baseball bats and machetes to shotguns and assault rifles, there’s a weapon for every playstyle. What’s more, each weapon can be customized with mods and perks, allowing you to add elemental effects and enhance your combat prowess. But be warned, your weapons will degrade over time, so make sure to repair them at workbenches scattered throughout the game world.

The Art of Dismemberment

One standout feature of Dead Island 2 is the “Fully Locational Evisceration System for Humanoids” (FLESH). This innovative system introduces a procedurally generated dismemberment mechanic that lets you create weapon-specific wounds on zombies. Want to break some bones or tear apart internal organs? With FLESH, the power is in your hands. It’s a gruesome yet satisfying way to dispatch the undead and adds a new level of realism to the game.

Use Your Surroundings

In this zombie-infested wasteland, every advantage counts. Dead Island 2 encourages players to think creatively and use the environment to their advantage. For example, you can throw an electric weapon into a puddle to electrocute multiple enemies or strategically use explosive barrels to create devastating chain reactions. The possibilities are endless, and the satisfaction of turning the tables on a group of zombies is hard to beat.

The Skill Deck: Customizing Your Slayer

Unlike previous entries in the series, Dead Island 2 does away with traditional skill trees. Instead, it introduces a deck-building system that allows you to customize your character’s strengths and weaknesses. The Skill Deck is divided into four categories: Abilities, Survivor, Slayer, and Numen. Abilities unlock new active skills, Survivor cards boost your health and stamina, Slayer cards grant passive perks, and Numen cards unleash devastating special abilities. Experiment with different combinations to find the playstyle that suits you best.

The Tale Unfolds

The gripping narrative of Dead Island 2 centers around a group of survivors who manage to escape Los Angeles on one of the last evacuation flights. However, their journey takes an unexpected turn when an infected person infiltrates the plane, leading to a crash landing. The survivors soon discover that they are immune to the infection and must navigate the dangerous streets of Los Angeles in search of a cure. Along the way, they encounter various factions, uncover shocking secrets, and face formidable enemies.

A Long and Winding Road to Release

Dead Island 2 has had a turbulent development journey, with multiple studios working on the project over the course of several years. Originally announced in 2014, the game went through various changes and delays. Yager Development was initially tasked with its development but was eventually replaced by Sumo Digital in 2016. Finally, in 2019, Dambuster Studios took over and brought the game to its completion.