Play it if
You loved the first Dying Light and want a bigger city and more ways to move.
Skip it if
You want the sharp night-time fear of the original.
Exhibit label
- Players
- 1–4 players
- Online co-op
- Yes
- Cross-play
- No
- Solo
- Built as a single-player story first
- Voice chat
- Helpful
- Threat level
- Tense
- Survival time
- ~60 hours
1The outbreak
Fifteen years after Harran, humanity holds on in the City, split between factions. You play Aiden, a wanderer searching for his sister while slowly being infected himself.
2How you survive
Parkour is deeper than in the first game, with stamina upgrades and new tools for crossing big gaps. You must manage an immunity timer at night and in dark zones. Faction choices change who controls districts and what traversal aids appear.
3Alone or together
Up to four players can play the story in online co-op. The host's choices count for the world. Solo is the intended way to play the story, co-op is the fun way to clear the night.
4Look & sound
The City is dense and vertical, with excellent lighting at dawn and dusk. Combat feels heavier and more physical than in the first game.
5Setup & value
The Reloaded Edition lists at $59.99 and runs on Windows. It is Verified on Steam Deck. Years of updates mean it is a much better game than at launch.
Best bits
- Huge vertical city to explore
- Smooth, upgradeable parkour
- Big co-op playground
Watch out
- Story is less memorable than the world
- Nights are less frightening than in the first game
- High list price
Score sheet
- Survival feel 25%
- 86
- Gameplay 25%
- 89
- Easy to start 15%
- 82
- Replay 20%
- 88
- Value 15%
- 80
86 × 25% + 89 × 25% + 82 × 15% + 88 × 20% + 80 × 15% = 85.65 → 86
Curator's verdict
Verdict
“Dying Light 2 is bigger, smoother and more generous than the original, if a little less scary. Buy it on sale and bring friends.”
By the Zombie Game Guide editorial desk · Updated 8 Oct 2026 · How we score · Report an error
