Dead Island 2
Dead Island 2 released on April 21, 2023 for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Xbox Series X|S. Made by Dambuster Studios and published by Deep Silver, it keeps the zombie-bashing core of the originals but shifts the action to a sun-baked Los Angeles. You pick from several slayers, each with different quirks, and carve through waves of the undead using blades, guns, and over-the-top special skills.

Deluxe Edition — what’s included
- Golden Weapons Pack (Sam B’s pistol and Emma’s machete)
- Character Pack 1 and 2
- Bonus skins and outfits
Review
Dead Island 2 focuses on melee chaos, and it shows. The FLESH system makes every hit gory and specific, whether you’re chopping an arm, crushing a skull, or burning flesh with makeshift fire weapons. Combat feels heavy, and even though firearms are sharper this time, close-range fights remain the heart of it.
Los Angeles, cheekily called “HELL-A,” is broken into districts like Beverly Hills and Venice Beach. Each area has its own look and tone, though the segmented design limits exploration. Still, the density of zombies in every zone keeps the pace high, pushing you into fights whether you’re ready or not.
Weapons break down quickly. That forces constant repairs or replacements, which keeps tension but sometimes interrupts flow. Enemy types help mix things up, but bosses can feel like sponges. Co-op play livens the formula, turning gruesome combat into slapstick mayhem with friends. Solo works fine, but the game clearly leans toward shared chaos.
Performance is steady across platforms, with only minor hiccups in large fights. The gore system is a visual highlight, though environments outside combat lack depth once the novelty fades.
Verdict: messy, bloody, and not without flaws, but Dead Island 2 captures the dumb fun of smashing zombies in style.
PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-7700HQ / AMD FX-9590 | Intel Core i9-9900K / AMD Ryzen 7 7700X |
| Memory | 10 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 / AMD Radeon RX 480 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super / AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT |
| Storage | 70 GB available space | 70 GB SSD space |





