Dead Island 2 | Review Thread

[John Elden Ring]

Game Information​

Game Title: Dead Island 2

Platforms:

• PlayStation 4 (Apr 21, 2023)
• Xbox One (Apr 21, 2023)
• PC (Apr 21, 2023)
• Xbox Series X/S (Apr 21, 2023)
• PlayStation 5 (Apr 21, 2023)

Trailers:

• Dead Island 2 - Gamescom Reveal Trailer [4K Official]
• Dead Island 2 – Reveal Gameplay Trailer [4K Official]

Developer: Dambuster Studios

Publisher: Deep Silver

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 76 average - 60% recommended - 15 reviews

Critic Reviews​

AltChar - Asmir Kovacevic - 90 / 100

Dead Island 2 is everything its predecessor shined at and much, much more. This zombie shooter from Deep Silver brings us Los Angeles like we've never seen it before, full of beautiful landscapes, celebrities to rescue, and zombies to slay.

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AusGamers - Kosta Andreadis - 7.5 / 10

Although simple to the point where it feels more like classic arcade games Final Fight or Gauntlet Legends than Dark Souls, the interplay between strategic (or blind) melee swings and the physical damage, physics, and gore is as impressive as it is over-the-top.

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But Why Tho? - Arron Kluz - 8 / 10

With Dead Island 2’s development history, it is a pleasant surprise to see the game release in as complete and stable of a state as it is. It ran flawlessly on Xbox Series X and looked beautiful to boot, especially its incredible new gore system. While it may not deliver the interesting stories or new concepts of its genre contemporaries, its sharp humor and satisfying combat help make up for it.

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Cerealkillerz - Nick Erlenhof - German - 8.3 / 10

Dead Island 2 continues where its predecessors left off. The new gore system adds a lot to the game, but the bottom line is that it stays true to its formula and doesn't really reinvent anything. Boring mission design is more than saved by the massive variation of enemy variants and the very fun melee fights, and fans of blunt butchery should grab it anyway. Hell-A!

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GGRecon - Tarran Stockton - 2.5 / 5

Dead Island 2 could have been the Return of the Living Dead of zombie video games, making for an irreverent, B-movie romp through an undead-filled LA, but it just ends up marginally better than the original game without ever approaching its full potential.
The improved combat is the game's main saving grace, but it isn't enough to redeem the shallow progression mechanics, inconsistent tone, and unfocused story.

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GamesHub - Edmond Tran - 4 / 5

Dead Island 2 is a satisfying, perpetual cycle of gory combat, and its sunny surroundings are just inviting enough to keep that momentum going.

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Geek Culture - Jake Su - 8.1 / 10

Overall, Dead Island 2 knows exactly what it is under the skin’s surface. An action RPG that is all about explosive combat with some sprinkling of worthwhile exploration, and the realisation of zombie destruction on a scale unlike anything seen before. Just check your expectations of too involved a story and overlook the routine, and you might just agree that the series is back with some newfound vigour, unlike the many undead players will leave in their destructive wake.

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Hey Poor Player - James Davies - 3 / 5

Tedium is at a premium in Dead Island 2, but miraculously it has enough exuberance within its limb-carving gameplay to avoid falling into the damning pit of mediocrity. There’s plenty here to savour, both in solo and co-operative play too, so you aren’t without things to do. And the modifications, card system, and special skills of each playable character all go far in Dead Island 2’s favour. Yes, it can be a slog, and yes, it does outstay its welcome, but it can also be pretty badass, too. So if you can forgive a litany of eye-rolling modern triple-A videogame trappings, Dead Island 2 can be a zombie-squelching good time.

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PlayStation Universe - Neil Bolt - 8.5 / 10

Dambuster Studios has come in and created a highly entertaining cavalcade of carnage with Dead Island 2. It's a game that takes great joy in the simple act of smashing, splatting, and slicing the undead into meaty chunks and I'm very much here for that.

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PowerUp! - Leo Stevenson - 8.5 / 10

Dead Island 2 is a sum much greater than its parts. By rights, a game with gameplay roots and mechanics harkening back over 10 years shouldn't be this much fun in 2023, but it is.

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SECTOR.sk - Peter Dragula - Slovak - 8 / 10

Dead Island 2 departs from the original setting of an island and takes place in a zombie-infested Los Angeles. The game now offers a semi-open world, featuring satisfying combat mechanics, a vast array of upgradable weapons, and intense battles against hordes of zombies.

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Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 6 / 10

Moments of brilliance marred too often by frustrating and/or boring gameplay. Only recommended in co-op and then barely.

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TechRaptor - William Worrall - 7 / 10

Dead Island 2 manages to pull off an incredibly fun experience, and delivers on some of the missed promise of the first title. That said, there's not much here beyond hyper-active zombie slaying, so if that's not your bag you probably wont enjoy it.

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Try Hard Guides - Erik Hodges - 10 / 10

Dead Island 2 is a huge return for the series. Fans of the first game will find much more to enjoy than just their nostalgia in this new title, and I can see a whole new generation of gamers falling in love with zombie-chopping in Hell-A.

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Xbox Achievements - Richard Walker - 85%

A California scream, Dead Island 2 finally crosses the finish line after nine years as an accomplished and deliriously fun first-person zombie mash 'em up. The stomach-churning gore might not be for everyone, but fans of body horror and viscera will be well-served here.

 

[ethomaz]

I'm shocked... this game finally released.

 

[Shmunter]

Looks fun enough, will get one day. Backlog blues.

 

[Gods&Monsters]

10 years in the making and it looks mid. I will get it eventually.

 

[Vertigo]

People actually liked this. I’m surprised to see it’s launched as I’d forgotten it existed. Could be a hit.

 

[Satoru]

If it's like the first, it's fun for 2 hours and then rinse repeat. co-op seems interesting though.

 

[Shmunter]

If it's like the first, it's fun for 2 hours and then rinse repeat. co-op seems interesting though.

Apparently it’s a linear game, so hopefully it has a degree of pacing about it and not bogged down in meaningless loops

 

[KiryuRealty]

10 years in the making and it looks mid. I will get it eventually.

To be fair, it was really more like three and a half years in the making three times, not ten years once.

 

[peter42O]

Better than I was expecting. Will be picking it up on Friday. Looking forward to playing it as the gore system looks insane.

 

[TubzGaming]

Xbox Series S: 1080p/60fps
Xbox Series X: 1800p/60fps
PS5: 1800p/60fps
PC: 2160p with Max. Settings RTX 3060Ti|3080|4070|4080

 

[Shmunter]

To be fair, it was really more like three and a half years in the making three times, not ten years once.