Is Dead Island 2 an open world game? Answered

Open? Yes. Open world? Hmm

After spending nearly a decade in development hell, Dead Island 2’s Hell-A is finally upon us. Much has changed in the game industry since Dead Island originally released in 2011, which naturally raises questions about the nature of Dead Island 2. Namely, is Dead Island 2 an open world game?

The short answer is no. Dead Island 2 isn’t what most would consider an open world game by modern standards. Don’t get the wrong idea, it is open-ended. For example, you’ll explore big hub areas filled with secrets to uncover and sidequests to complete. There are also optional challenges that will reward you for killing zombies in creative ways. If you don’t want to progress the main story, you’ll find tasks to keep you busy.

That said, the game distinctly separates its zones. This is a stark contrast to games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or The Witcher 3, which have huge seamless worlds to explore. Dead Island 2 is more comparable to the Borderlands series in this regard. Additionally, to unlock more areas in the game, you’ll have to advance the main story. There are even persistent yellow dots on your screen that will show you exactly how to reach your next story objective.

Personally, I don’t think the relative linearity of Dead Island 2 is a bad thing. The level design compliments its structure, so I haven’t found myself hoping the game would include more open areas. Still, if you were hoping Dead Island 2 would feature an open world, you’ll be disappointed.

Dead Island 2 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.