Dead Island Definitive Edition Reviews

This game is the most mid game ever in a good and bad way. In a good way because you not expecting a masterpiece as this game is mostly known for the Hoodoo you Voodoo Bitch song, but in a bad way since this game is literal false advertising and was outdated the moment it came out and for 20$ it is severely overpriced.

I had fun with the game but I still wouldn't recommend it due to the mouse input lag that's happening - however when I play it on my steam deck everything runs fine - though my pc is definitely more powerful compared to my steam deck so I don't see the reason as to why it performs worse on my pc.

There is something special about this game that I've never been able to definitively pin down. Not sure if I'm blinded by nostalgia (I played hundreds of hours of this game in the early 2010s on my PS3) or if it really is a special game. I certainly think it's underrated, and it's philosophy is based on the simple premise of having fun killing zombies. Is the story good? Not really, it drags the player along to give some sort of background objective to work towards, as do pretty much all the side quests and what not. All this busy work is usually worth it though in the form of weapon mods, or cool weapons that dish out more damage than the last (it's slightly similar to Borderlands in that way). This game was released at a time where games were starting to evolve into more serious, narrative driven experiences, Dead Island clearly tries to fit in with this trend, and fails, embarrassingly so. The voice acting and general writing Isn't good enough to evoke any sort of emotion, I wish the developers had stuck to the fun zombie romp, rather than try and shoehorn emotional plot points for the sake of fitting in. This trend of trying to have a good story continued into Dead Island: Riptide, that game is more boring than this one, more so because of the setting than anything else. In closing, this game is honestly low-key Euro jank, but it's good Euro jank (this game still has silly bugs and physics issues that I ran into a couple times, lol). If you want a fun zombie killing rampage simulator, there is no game better (I like Dying Light, but I just don't find it as fun as this game). This game is also Co-Op up to 4 players, a really fun game to play with friends. It's always cheap when on sale, so pick it up then. :)

I mostly enjoyed the game playing it on my Deck and completed the main story, but I can't recommend it at anything more than $10, and only for people who loved Dying Light and want to see what it evolved from (as I did). If you're new here and want a good first person zombie brutalizing game, play DL instead - Techland vastly improved everything compared to Dead Island (except the setting). As for Dead Island, it's good for a ps3/360 game, but in current year the movement, combat and driving is janky, the missions are terrible and nothing more than fetch-quests, and the characters and story are lame. That said, dismembering zombies with melee weapons IS still a lot of fun, and is what kept me interested enough to complete the main quest. Will I buy the sequel once its on sale for under $10 even though its made by another developer? Yeah.

🏝️ Dead Island: Definitive Edition Review 🏝️ 🕹 Length: 15–25 hours (main story), 30+ with side content 🤝 Co-op: 4-player online co-op — the best way to play 💰 Price vs. Content: Great value, especially in the Definitive Collection ⚙ Optimization: Improved over the original, though still not perfect 🎮 Difficulty: Balanced; scales with player level and co-op 🎮 Gameplay Dead Island: Definitive Edition is a first-person action RPG set in the tropical island of Banoi, now overrun by zombies. You choose one of four unique characters, each with different skill trees, and fight your way through quests, side missions, and hordes of the undead using a deep and satisfying melee combat system. The real highlight? 4-player co-op. Exploring the open world, looting, upgrading weapons, and bashing zombie heads is much more enjoyable with friends. The game blends RPG progression, crafting, and survival mechanics into a chaotic, gory, and strangely fun experience. ✅ The Good: ✔ Satisfying melee combat with a huge variety of weapons ✔ Fun and seamless 4-player co-op ✔ Deep crafting system and RPG-style leveling ✔ Atmospheric open world with varied zones ❌ The Bad: ✖ Combat can get repetitive over time ✖ Story is forgettable and voice acting is inconsistent ✖ Occasional bugs and awkward animations remain 💻 Technical Aspects 🎨 Graphics: Enhanced visuals with better lighting and textures 🎶 Sound: Solid effects; soundtrack fits the setting 🐞 Bugs: Fewer than the original, but some issues persist (enemy glitches, UI bugs) ⭐ Final Verdict Dead Island: Definitive Edition is far from perfect, but its brutal combat, loot-driven progression, and especially its 4-player co-op make it a uniquely enjoyable zombie-slaying experience. If you have a few friends to join you in the apocalypse, it’s absolutely worth the ride. 🧟‍♂️🔧 👉 Rating: 8/10 (9/10 with friends)

Polak beavers in Techland studio brainstormed a success formula: bikinis + zombies = surefire profit. So they rolled up their sleeves and built a high-quality simulator of smashing your neighbors heads with a shovel and slicing up your relatives limbs with a machete. Budget constraints (or some other amazing reason) led to a brilliant solution for the English dialogue writing and voicing: outsource it to the native speakers - the ever-charming reptilian Brits. Despite officially only 3.6% of the voice actors actually being British, the game is overflowing with cringe-worthy UK accents and the word 'bloody' is repeated about 666 million times. Obviously along with 'Jusus Christ', which is a total must for every movie and every game. This is just hilarious, but quite known satanic standard. Character models and their voices often seem like they were drawn from two different hats, suggesting there was a shortage of NPC textures. Maybe not quite on the level of Dying Light (keeping in mind it's 2011 vs 2015), but it's got its own charm. Co-op works flawlessly to this day. A surprisingly well-crafted game for its time. If vacation's off the table thanks to government taxes and fines, just grab this instead and drool over virtual corpses in swimsuits.

would recommend this game is fun good combat and alright story but the escort missions do repeat and it gets old after a bit

Dead Island: Definitive Edition, developed by Techland and published by Deep Silver, is a remastered version of the original 2011 zombie action-RPG, released on Steam in 2016. This edition bundles the base game with all DLC and visual enhancements, aiming to deliver a modernized experience of what was once one of the more ambitious attempts to blend open-world exploration, melee combat, and RPG progression within a zombie-infested setting. Though the core of Dead Island remains largely intact, for better and worse, the Definitive Edition offers a smoother, more visually appealing version of a game that is equal parts exhilarating and frustrating. Set on the tropical resort island of Banoi, Dead Island kicks off with a familiar setup: a zombie outbreak traps the protagonist—one of four immune survivors—on an island that transitions from luxury paradise to blood-soaked hell. The contrast between the sun-drenched beaches, decaying tourist spots, and infected-infested slums makes for a uniquely unsettling atmosphere. The setting is perhaps the game's greatest strength. It stands out from the grim, urban environments typically found in zombie games, delivering a beautiful yet horrifying open world filled with secrets, survivors, and savagery. In the Definitive Edition, environmental textures, lighting, and character models have been updated, resulting in a more immersive and visually polished experience, though it’s clear the game’s engine is still working within its original limitations. Gameplay in Dead Island centers heavily around first-person melee combat, an unusual but bold design choice for a zombie title. Rather than mowing down the undead with guns, players primarily rely on blunt instruments, blades, and improvised weapons that degrade over time. The visceral, weighty feel of smashing a zombie’s skull with a wrench or slicing off limbs with a machete adds a gritty satisfaction to combat. Each of the four playable characters has a unique skill tree and weapon preference, encouraging varied playstyles. As players gain experience, they can unlock abilities in three distinct skill branches—Fury, Combat, and Survival—providing a sense of character progression reminiscent of traditional RPGs. Crafting also plays a central role: scavenging materials and combining them to create custom weapons, from electrified knives to explosive baseball bats, keeps gear fresh and encourages exploration. The quest design in Dead Island, however, often falls short of the potential offered by its systems and setting. While the main story missions offer some engaging moments and set-piece battles, the narrative itself is serviceable at best and cringeworthy at worst, marred by flat characters and awkward dialogue. Side quests are numerous but frequently boil down to fetch objectives and repetitive errands. The lack of narrative depth or meaningful choices becomes more apparent as the game progresses, making the middle stretch feel padded and monotonous. Nevertheless, the moment-to-moment gameplay and the ever-present threat of being overwhelmed by the infected maintain a level of tension that helps mask some of the narrative shortcomings. Multiplayer co-op is where Dead Island: Definitive Edition truly shines. Playing with friends dramatically improves the pacing and fun of the game. Cooperative combat feels more dynamic, and the shared experience of scavenging, defending outposts, or just goofing around in Banoi’s chaotic world elevates the overall enjoyment. While matchmaking isn't always perfect, especially in terms of syncing players' progress, the shared loot and flexible party structure make it easy to jump in and out of sessions. Whether it's reviving a teammate during a surprise infected swarm or coordinating skill sets to survive tougher encounters, co-op reinforces the game's survival themes in a meaningful way. In terms of technical improvements, the Definitive Edition addresses many issues that plagued the original release. The lighting is richer, textures are sharper, and the game runs more smoothly on modern systems. However, not all bugs have been vanquished—there are still occasional AI glitches, ragdoll physics hiccups, and environmental clipping. Moreover, while the visual overhaul is appreciable, the underlying animations and character faces still reflect the game's 2011 origins. It’s a remaster in the most literal sense: a visual polish applied over an aging but mechanically solid core, rather than a complete reimagining. Despite its flaws, Dead Island: Definitive Edition holds a certain charm that few zombie games manage to capture. It’s unrefined and occasionally clunky, but its blend of immersive melee combat, open-world exploration, and RPG elements offer a unique take on the genre. The tropical setting provides a refreshing and eerie backdrop, the customization options are robust, and the cooperative experience adds genuine replay value. While it doesn't reach the narrative or mechanical sophistication of more recent survival titles, it remains a fun, brutal, and strangely addictive adventure through a paradise gone horribly wrong. For fans of the original, the Definitive Edition is the best way to revisit Banoi. For newcomers, it’s an imperfect but worthwhile dive into one of the more memorable zombie experiences of the past decade. Rating: 8/10

Started decent, but became boring. I understand it's an old game but that doesn't mean it's good . Combat is bad, driving is bad and the quests? Horrible. Felt like a chore.

A classic zombie game. If you love zombies you'll love this. Nothing like killing a zombie with a god damn a machete combined with an axe while it's on fire.