Dying Light is a game that makes you feel fear, excitement, laughter, and frustration all at once. The developers at Techland have created something between Mirror’s Edge, Dead Island, and classic zombie movies. If you want to experience the thrill of running across rooftops while being chased by a horde of the undead, this game is for you.
Story: Cliched but Effective
You play as Kyle Crane, an agent of the GRE organization, sent into the quarantined city of Harran, which has been overrun by a virus. Your mission is to infiltrate a group of survivors and find incriminating evidence on the local warlord, Rais.
It sounds like a typical action-survival plot, but the game does a decent job of exploring moral choices—who to trust, who to help, and what to do when the truth turns out to be more terrifying than the zombies.
However, the story is more of a bonus. It doesn’t try to reach The Last of Us levels of depth, but it keeps you engaged. There are moments when you genuinely care about the characters, but more often, you just want to grab a new weapon and smash another zombie’s skull.
Gameplay: Parkour, Gore, and Fear
1. Parkour
The game’s biggest feature is movement. You’re not just running; you’re vaulting over obstacles, clinging to ledges, wall-running, and diving off rooftops. And it all feels smooth and natural. The adrenaline rush of jumping from a fifth-floor rooftop into a pile of garbage while zombies chase you is something you won’t forget.
2. Combat System
At first, you’re armed with a stick and some sheer willpower. Zombies don’t mind getting hit with a stick, but as you progress, you find machetes, hammers, and brass knuckles. The combat system is similar to Dead Island—you can modify weapons with electricity, poison, or fire. There are guns, but ammo is scarce, and shooting attracts even more zombies.
Melee combat feels weighty: every hit results in crunching bones, severed limbs, and flying chunks of flesh. And if you get tired of fighting, you can just kick zombies off rooftops or blow them up with makeshift explosives.
3. Nighttime is Pure Horror
During the day, you’re the hunter. At night, you’re the prey. When the sun sets, Volatiles come out—fast, strong, and smart mutants. If daytime lets you explore the city in peace, nighttime turns every shadow into a threat. These moments make you want to uninstall the game, turn off your computer, and hug a teddy bear.
Graphics and Atmosphere
Visually, the game still looks great, even years after its release (2015). Harran is a mix of slums, ruins, and beautiful sunsets. By day, the city feels normal, but at night, it turns into a horror movie—red flashlight beams, shadows creeping on the walls, and the terrifying screams of zombies.
The sound design is top-tier. The groans of the undead send chills down your spine, and when a Volatile is breathing right behind you, your instincts scream, Run, fool!
Co-op is a Blast
Solo play is great, but co-op takes it to another level. Racing friends to safe zones or defending yourselves against hordes of zombies is pure fun. You can also troll your teammates by luring zombies their way or leaving them behind at the worst moments.
Flaws? A Few, But Nothing Major
1. The story is a bit generic. Interesting, but not groundbreaking.
2. Melee combat can get repetitive. After 20 hours, you’re just mechanically smashing heads.
3. Occasional bugs. Sometimes zombies get stuck in walls or start flying. It’s hilarious.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Playing?
Dying Light is a must-play if you love zombies, action, and parkour. It delivers unforgettable emotions—from the terror of nighttime chases to the joy of co-op chaos. Despite a cliché story and some repetitive combat, its gameplay and atmosphere elevate it to a top-tier experience.
Score: 9 severed zombie heads out of 10.