Is Dead Island 2 worth playing in 2026? Yes, if you want a gory, melee-focused zombie game that you can play solo or with up to two friends in online co-op. Since its 2023 launch it has added two story expansions, New Game Plus and a co-op horde mode. Skip it if you want a true open world, survival crafting or crossplay between console and PC.

Below we explain what the game is like, what was added after launch, which edition to buy, how co-op works, who it suits and the most common mistakes. Platforms, editions and features were checked against Deep Silver's official pages and store listings in October 2026.

Official Dead Island 2 screenshot of melee combat against zombies
Melee combat and weapon modding are at the heart of Dead Island 2. Image: Deep Silver / Dambuster Studios

What Dead Island 2 is like

Developed by Dambuster Studios and published by Deep Silver, Dead Island 2 released on April 21, 2023. It is a first-person action RPG set in a quarantined Los Angeles nicknamed HELL-A, where you play as one of six Slayers who are immune to the zombie virus.

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The core loop is simple: explore districts such as Beverly Hills, Venice Beach and Hollywood, complete story missions and side quests, scavenge parts and turn ordinary weapons into elemental tools of destruction. The highlight is the gore system, which lets you break, burn and dismember zombies in very specific ways. Character builds come from skill cards, which you can swap at any time.

It runs on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), and Deep Silver also lists Mac and Amazon Luna. The Steam version arrived later, on April 22, 2024.

What has been added since launch

  • Haus (November 2, 2023): a psycho-horror story expansion in which you investigate a mysterious cult in Malibu. It adds an explosive crossbow and eight skill cards.
  • SoLA (April 17, 2024): a second story expansion set at a Californian music festival, with new enemies such as the Whipper and the Clotter and new legendary weapons.
  • Patch 6 (free): New Game Plus and Neighborhood Watch, a mode for up to three players that mixes roguelike runs, shelter defense and zombie hordes.
Official Dead Island 2 screenshot of a zombie horde in HELL-A
Patch 6 added New Game Plus and the Neighborhood Watch co-op mode to Dead Island 2. Image: Deep Silver / Dambuster Studios

Which Dead Island 2 edition to buy

There are three ways in. The base game includes the full campaign and the free Patch 6 modes. The Expansion Pass adds Haus and SoLA. The Ultimate Edition bundles the game, the Expansion Pass, every Slayer's Premium Character Pack and several cosmetic and weapon packs, including a Kingdom Come: Deliverance II pack.

Our advice: start with the base game and buy the Expansion Pass only if you finish the campaign wanting more, since both expansions are unlocked partway through the story anyway. The extra packs in the Ultimate Edition are mostly cosmetic. PlayStation players have an extra option: Dead Island 2 is one of the PS Plus monthly games for November 2026, claimable from November 3 to 30. If you own the old Gold Edition, Deep Silver says it upgrades automatically to Ultimate on Steam and can be claimed for free on PlayStation.

Dead Island 2 co-op and crossplay explained

The whole campaign can be played in online co-op with up to three players. According to Deep Silver's official FAQ, crossplay only exists on PC, between Steam and Epic. The FAQ does not list crossplay between consoles and PC, so the safe plan is to play with friends on the same platform. In New Game Plus, everyone in the session must be in NG+, and Neighborhood Watch can only be joined from the lobby before a run begins.

Official Dead Island 2 screenshot of a Slayer exploring Los Angeles
Dead Island 2 supports online co-op for up to three players. Image: Deep Silver / Dambuster Studios

Who should play Dead Island 2, and who should skip it

Play it if you enjoy over-the-top action, dark humor and experimenting with weapon builds, or if you want a campaign to clear with friends over a few weekends. Skip it if you dislike gore, want a serious survival-horror story, or need cross-platform co-op with friends on other systems. If co-op is your priority and Dead Island 2 does not fit, our list of the best co-op games to play with friends has alternatives.

Common mistakes new players make

  1. Expecting a seamless open world. HELL-A is split into large districts connected by travel points, not one continuous map.
  2. Ignoring skill cards. Swapping cards for each fight is free and changes how your Slayer plays.
  3. Overwriting your NG+ save. Exporting a Slayer to New Game Plus again replaces the existing NG+ slot for that character, and keys, journals and stored items do not carry over.
  4. Assuming crossplay with console friends. Check that your group is on the same platform before buying.
Official Dead Island 2 screenshot of a modded weapon in action
Weapon mods and skill cards define your build in Dead Island 2. Image: Deep Silver / Dambuster Studios

Dead Island 2 FAQ

Can you play Dead Island 2 solo?

Yes. The full campaign, both expansions and even Neighborhood Watch can be played alone, although the horde mode is harder solo.

Does Dead Island 2 have crossplay?

Only on PC, between the Steam and Epic versions. Deep Silver does not list crossplay between consoles and PC.

When do the Haus and SoLA expansions unlock?

Haus unlocks after the main story mission The Chosen One. SoLA becomes available at the mission Beach Offensive, when its destination appears on the fast travel board at the Blue Crab restaurant.

Is Dead Island 2 on PS Plus?

It is one of the PS Plus monthly games for November 2026 on PS5 and PS4, available to claim on every tier from November 3 to 30, 2026.