Play it if
You want the best mix of freedom, fear and movement in a zombie game, alone or with three friends.
Skip it if
You want a tactical shooter or a slow, careful survival sim.
Exhibit label
- Players
- 1–4 players
- Online co-op
- Yes
- Cross-play
- No
- Solo
- The full campaign works well solo
- Voice chat
- Helpful
- Threat level
- Frightening
- Survival time
- ~45 hours
1The outbreak
Harran has been sealed off after an outbreak, and you arrive as an undercover operative with a mission that quickly falls apart. Survivors depend on airdrops, scavenging and anyone fast enough to reach the rooftops.
2How you survive
Movement is the core skill: climbing, vaulting and sliding get you out of trouble faster than any weapon. Melee weapons break and need repairs, crafting turns scrap into upgrades, and the day and night cycle changes the whole game. At night special infected hunt you, and getting home becomes the challenge.
3Alone or together
The full campaign supports online co-op for up to four players, with drop-in friends and small races between players. Solo is just as good. There is no split-screen on PC and no cross-play.
4Look & sound
Ten years on, Harran still looks great, especially at sunset from a radio tower. The night sounds and the chase music are what you will remember.
5Setup & value
The base game lists at $24.99, often much less on sale. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and is Verified on Steam Deck, which makes it one of the best portable zombie games.
Best bits
- Parkour that still feels excellent
- Night time is truly frightening
- Four-player co-op across the whole campaign
- Low price for its size
Watch out
- Story and dialogue are average
- Weapons break often early on
Score sheet
- Survival feel 25%
- 93
- Gameplay 25%
- 92
- Easy to start 15%
- 86
- Replay 20%
- 88
- Value 15%
- 94
93 × 25% + 92 × 25% + 86 × 15% + 88 × 20% + 94 × 15% = 90.85 → 91
Curator's verdict
Verdict
“Dying Light is still the benchmark for zombie action: fast, scary at night and great fun in co-op. At its price it is an easy first pick.”
By the Zombie Game Guide editorial desk · Updated 8 Oct 2026 · How we score · Report an error
