Dying Light 2 Stay Human

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Run the rooftops of the last city by day, and survive its streets at night.

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Stores: Steam, Epic
Price: Paid
Rated: Mostly Positive on Steam (79% of 220,940 reviews); Metacritic 76 from 62 critics (PS5); 4.07 out of 5 from 43,815 ratings on the PlayStation Store
Length: about 20 hours (main story)
Players: 1 to 4 (online co-op)
Controls: Keyboard and mouse or a controller.
Made by: Techland
Released: 2022

On PlayStation: one of the PlayStation horror games.

Get it on Steam Epic Games Store PlayStation Store (PS4 and PS5)Xbox Official site

What frightens Twenty years after the first game's outbreak, the last city on Earth is walled in by the infected; by day you climb and fight above the streets, but at sunset the dark interiors empty out, and fast, screaming Volatiles hunt you across the rooftops with only UV light to hold them off.
Content: gore, violence, strong language, suggestive themes, jumpscares.

An open-world zombie game in first person from Techland, set in Villedor, one of the last cities after the virus won. You climb, leap and fight across its rooftops searching for your lost sister, and when night falls the deadliest infected come out to hunt you. Up to four players can play the story together online.

About Dying Light 2 Stay Human

Dying Light 2 Stay Human was made by the Polish studio Techland and released on 4 February 2022 for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S. It is now sold as the Reloaded Edition, which includes later free updates and the Bloody Ties story expansion. It follows the first Dying Light, set two decades after its outbreak, when the Harran virus has spread across the world.

You play Aiden Caldwell, a Pilgrim who carries news and goods between the last settlements, searching for his sister Mia, taken as a child for a doctor's experiments. In Villedor you free-run across buildings, swing from ropes, glide from towers and fight with crafted blades, clubs and bows, while choices between the city's factions change districts and the story. Aiden is infected too, and a timer runs while he is in darkness away from UV light.

The horror lives in the day and night cycle. By day most of the infected doze in dark buildings, and searching them means creeping past sleepers. At sunset they flood the streets, and chases with howling Volatiles across the rooftops are the game's most frightening moments, with UV lamps and safe zones the only refuge.

It is a long action role-playing game more than a pure horror game, with a large city to explore, skills to unlock and many side quests. It suits players who liked the first Dying Light, Dead Island 2 or Days Gone and want zombie horror with freedom of movement.

Before release Techland put the main story at about 20 hours, or about 80 with the side quests, and said seeing everything takes around 500. On Metacritic the PS5 version holds a score of 76 from 62 critics, and Steam reviews are Mostly Positive.

How to play Dying Light 2 Stay Human

Buy it on Steam, the Epic Games Store, PlayStation or Xbox and start the story alone, or invite up to three friends.
Explore Villedor by day: climb, jump and run across rooftops to reach loot and safe zones.
Craft and upgrade weapons, and spend points on parkour and combat skills.
Go out at night only with a plan: grab rewards from emptied buildings, avoid chases and head for UV lights if you are seen.
Follow the story, choose between factions and unlock new districts and tools as you go.

Screenshots

Dying Light 2 screenshot: a skinless, bloody Volatile stands among corpses in an overgrown street under the full moon

Dying Light 2 screenshot: a UV flashlight lights infected lunging down a dark corridor under an exit sign

Dying Light 2 screenshot: at night the player raises an axe against a pack of mutated infected in purple light

Dying Light 2 screenshot: mid-leap over rooftop gardens and plank walkways in first person, with a grappling arm

Dying Light 2 screenshot: firing a rifle into a crowd of the infected in a sunlit street

Dying Light 2 screenshot: a masked bandit with a machete charges as the player aims a pistol at night

Dying Light 2 screenshot: a pale, bloody infected lunges at the player in a dark warehouse, more infected behind

Tips

Keep your immunity in mind at night: watch the timer and carry UV mushrooms or boosters.
If a chase starts, run to a UV safe zone rather than fighting the Volatiles.
Night runs give more experience for parkour skills, so use them once you have a few tools.
Search dark interiors in daylight carefully: the infected sleep inside them.

Questions

Can you play Dying Light 2 in co-op?

Yes. Up to four players can play the story together online. Cross-play works only between the Steam and Epic Games Store versions, and between console generations of the same family.

Do I need to play the first Dying Light first?

No. Dying Light 2 has a new hero and city and stands on its own, though it is set in the same world 20 years later.

Is Dying Light 2 on Switch?

No. Techland's official site lists it for PC, PlayStation and Xbox only.

What is the Reloaded Edition?

The current version of the game, with later free updates and the Bloody Ties expansion included.

How long is Dying Light 2?

Techland said about 20 hours for the main story, about 80 hours with the side quests, and around 500 hours to see everything.