Dead Island Video Game Series
A series of first-person perspective (FPP) action games, combining zombie-slasher and RPG elements. The series was started by the Polish studio Techland, and then its development was handled by other teams, working on behalf of the publisher and owner of the rights to the brand - Deep Silver.
The plot of the games in the series Dead Island revolves around the plot of survival in a world overrun by the living dead. Players take on the role of the few remaining survivors, and their task is to face the zombie hordes, ensure their safety and help others who have resisted the plague. Common elements of the games in the series Dead Island include action presented from a first-person perspective (FPP) and an open world structure (sandbox). Players have a lot of freedom in exploring the terrain and completing tasks. During play, they develop character skills and modify the arsenal used to fight zombies (whom they eliminate mainly with white weapons).
Dead Island i Dead Island Riptide ran on Techland's proprietary engine, the Chrome Engine. Developers Dead Island 2 instead relied on Unreal Engine 4 technology.
Work on the first Dead Island began in 2008. Due to the lack of interest from publishers and the involvement of the development team in such productions as Call of Juarez: Ties of Blood or Nail'd, its implementation was temporarily put on hold. After Deep Silver decided to release that project, the developers returned to it, while making a number of changes to the original premise. Thanks to an extremely warmly received trailer (the best trailer of 2011 according to the editors of gametrailers.com), the emerging game aroused a lot of interest a few months before its release. Eventually the title hit store shelves in September 2011. Despite moderately good reviews from critics, the Polish zombie-slasher gained great popularity among gamers (more than 5 million copies of the game were sold). Its success encouraged the authors to prepare a sequel - Dead Island Riptide - which debuted in 2013. After its release, the paths of the Techland studio and the series initiated by them finally parted.
In 2014, a spin-off of the series saw the light of day under the title Escape Dead Island, the development of which the Fatshark team was behind. This TPP action adventure game did not get a very warm reception. Slightly better in terms of art did the next spin-off of the series, which was released in 2016 beat'em up titled Dead Island Retro Revenge, created by Empty Clip Studios. The same year also saw the debut of remastered versions of the first two productions, viz. Dead Island: Definitive Edition i Dead Island: Riptide - Definitive Edition. The year 2018, on the other hand, brought the release of yet another side-scroller in the series, a mobile tower defense game titled Dead Island: Survivors. Meanwhile, work was also underway on the MOBA convention-maintained Dead Island: EpidemicDead Island: Epidemic , however, they were eventually put on hold.
Full-fledged Dead Island 2 was announced in June 2014, but over the following years the title was stuck in so-called developer hell, changing hands. Initially, the project was handled by German studio Yager Development, then Sumo Digital took over, and in 2019 we learned that it ended up in the hands of Dambuster Studios. The last-mentioned team managed to bring the project to completion, thanks to which Dead Island 2 could finally debut in 2023.
The popularity of the brand Dead Island was also reflected in other spheres of mass culture. Writer Mark Morris (also known as J.M. Morris), who specializes in horror and thrillers, was tempted to write a novel based on the game's plot, while Lions Gate Entertainment, Motion Picture Group, Sean Daniel Company and Sunny Field Productions were even planning a film adaptation.
Dead Island Series Evolution
2023
Dead Island 2
2018
Dead Island: Survivors
2016
Dead Island: Definitive Collection
2016
Dead Island: Definitive Edition
2016
Dead Island: Riptide - Definitive Edition
2016
Dead Island Retro Revenge
2014
Escape Dead Island
2013
Dead Island Riptide
2011
Dead Island
Dead Island 2
Action
April 21, 2023
The second installment of an FPP action series set during the zombie apocalypse. Dead Island 2 takes place in Los Angeles, where a few lucky survivors turn out to be immune to the zombie virus. They thus attempt to learn the origin of the epidemic by traversing the city, completing quests and wiping out hordes of undead.
- Dead Island 2: Haus November 2, 2023
- Dead Island 2: SoLA April 17, 2024
Dead Island: Survivors
Action
July 4, 2018
A mobile tower defense title and a spin-off of Dead Island series. We build and expand our base to defend the survivors against hordes of zombies by using traps and melee weapons.
Dead Island: Definitive Collection
Action
May 31, 2016
A bundle including both installments of the Dead Island series, first-person action games with RPG elements developed by Techland for PC and 8th-generation consoles. The set contains the remastered editions of Dead Island (2011) and Dead Island: Riptide (2013), featuring almost identical stories and focusing on four characters forced to fight for survival on the zombie-infested islands of Banoi and Palanai. The games put a great emphasis on cooperation mode. What distinguishes the remastered versions are the graphics, powered by Chrome Engine 6, that boast sharper textures, a new lighting system, improved character models, and enhanced visual effects. Both games offer a revised user interface and a complete collection of DLCs. Dead Island: Definitive Collection comes with a bonus side-scroll fighting game titled Dead Island Retro Revenge.
Dead Island: Definitive Edition
Action
May 31, 2016
A remastered edition of the first installment in the Dead Island series, which was originally launched in 2011 by the Polish studio Techland. In the game, we are transported to the island of Banoi, located near Papua New Guinea, where we assume the role of one of four characters that have to fight for survival in a zombie-infested tropical paradise. As far as gameplay is concerned, the title is a first-person action game with RPG elements, allowing the player to explore, undertake various primary and secondary quests, and, obviously, fight hordes of zombies with a wide arsenal of melee weapons and firearms. The game shines in cooperation mode, where up to four players can play together. Compared to the original, Dead Island: Definitive Edition offers enhanced visuals powered by Chrome Engine 6 as well as a modified user interface and a number of other minor improvements. The game comes with all DLCs released for the original and can be bought either separately or in the Dead Island: Definitive Collection bundle.
Dead Island: Riptide - Definitive Edition
Action
May 31, 2016
A remastered version of the second installment in the Dead Island series, originally launched in 2011 by the Polish studio Techland. The game picks up after the events of its predecessor. While going back home, the four protagonists had to land on a military ship which soon after became a zombie-infested hell. Eventually, we end up on the entirely new island, Palanai, where we have to fight for survival. As far as gameplay is concerned, the title is practically identical to the 2013’s original. However, compared to it, Dead Island: Riptide – Definitive Edition offers remastered visuals with high-quality textures as well as improved lighting effects and character models. The game also introduces a reworked user interface, a number of technical fixes, and all DLCs released after the launch of the original. The game is available separately or as a part of Dead Island: Definitive Collection.
Dead Island Retro Revenge
Fighting
May 31, 2016
An oldschool side-scroll 2D beat 'em up game, created by Empty Clip as extra content for everyone, who purchased Dead Island Definitive Collection including the remastered editions of Dead Island and Dead Island Riptide by Techland. Dead Island Retro Revenge faithfully recreates the classic arcade beat 'em up spirit, popular from the early 90s. During the game, you keep going right, facing waves of enemies, consisting mostly of various kinds of bloodthirsty zombies, just like in the original production. Dead Island Retro Revenge features colorful, although very oldschool visuals, and the game's screen is stylized to resemble a pixelated arcade screen.
Escape Dead Island
Adventure
November 18, 2014
A spin-off to the series of action games with RPG elements, originally developed by Polish studio Techland. As the owner of the title, Deep Silver chose the Swedish Fatshark studio as the developer for the spin-off. They are known for multiplayer-oriented games such as War of the Roses and War of the Viking. As a result, the players received a third-person perspective action-adventure game, the story of which takes place in between the first and the second part of the series and connects them together. The main hero – Cliff Calo – decides to trace the origins of the zombie virus outbreak and document them. Together with his friends, Cliff sets out on an expedition that soon turns out to be nothing more than a constant fight for survival, as any contact with the living dead ends up in death. You can use a wide arsenal of inventive weapons, but the gameplay emphasizes stealth elements and silent elimination of the enemies. The game features distinctive colorful graphics that utilize cel-shading technology.
Dead Island Riptide
Action
April 23, 2013
A sequel to Dead Island, the bloody FPS survival horror released in 2011. The game was developed by Polish studio Techland with publishing support from Deep Silver company. Dead Island Riptide picks up where the first game left off. Although a few lucky survivors managed to escape the zombie-infested island of Banoi, they never managed to get home, as their ship crashed by the shore of another tropical island – Palanai. Unfortunately, the epidemic has reached this place too, and the heroes again have to face the hordes of undead. The game inherits the gameplay mechanics from its prequel, featuring FPS action combined with RPG elements, as well as a online co-op mode for up to four people.
Dead Island
Action
September 6, 2011
A first person survival-horror action game with cRPG elements. Dead Island was developed by Techland Studio, together with the Deep Silver company. The story features a tropical island, cut off from the world, where a zombie epidemic spreads out. Few remaining people are trying to survive and find a way to escape the living dead. Gameplay in Dead Island is built around exploration, completing quests, crafting useful items, and fighting undead opponents. This last element frequently features contextual weapons (sticks, pipes, etc.). Apart from the single player experience, the game offers multiplayer with several cooperative and competitive play modes.
- Dead Island: Ryder White February 1, 2012
Dead Island: Epidemic
Strategy
cancelled
Spin-off of Dead Island series, created in the convention of MOBA game (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena). Dead Island: Epidemic was developed by the Swedish studio Stunlock, which previously created Bloodline Champions. The gameplay has been designed with a view to rivalry between three 4-person teams, which in addition to struggles with each other must also face the zombie hordes. Clashes take place, among others, in the tropical jungle and on the sunny beach.
Dead Island Series News
7 Million Dead Island 2 Players Defeated 24 Billion Zombies. Devs Promise Further Development of Successful Action Game
It's been more than a year since the release of Dead Island 2. Dambuster Studios was tempted to give a small summary of the past 12 months to mark the occasion.
video games
Kamil Kleszyk
May 10, 2024
After Year on Epic Games Store, Bestselling Dead Island 2 Hits Steam. It’s Available 50% Off, but Still Has „Mixed” Reviews
Dead Island 2's release on Steam hasn't gone as planned. The main reason is players' doubts about using Epic Games' launcher.
video games
Adrian Werner
April 24, 2024
Dead Island: Riptide - Definitive Edition Free on Steam. Sequel Heading to Valve's Platform
Dead Island: Riptide Definitive Edition can be grabbed for free on Steam. Deep Silver organized the promotion in connection with the upcoming release of the sequel on Valve's platform.
video games
Zuzanna Domeradzka
February 14, 2024
Dead Island: Riptide - Definitive Edition Free on Steam. Sequel Heading to Valve's Platform
Dead Island: Riptide Definitive Edition can be grabbed for free on Steam. Deep Silver organized the promotion in connection with the upcoming release of the sequel on Valve's platform.
video games
Zuzanna Domeradzka
February 14, 2024
Dead Island 2: Haus Will Focus on the 'Techno-death' Cult; Details Revealed
We know the release date of the first major expansion for Dead Island 2. The Haus DLC, which will tell the story of the „techno-death” cult, will be released in early November, this year.
video games
Marcin Przała
October 11, 2023
Dead Island 2 Will Get Two Expansions; First Details Revealed
Dambuster and Deep Silver have announced two major story expansions for Dead Island 2.
video games
Adrian Werner
June 14, 2023
Dead Island 2 In for an Earthquake; Big Changes Coming
Plaion intends to merge its Deep Silver, Prime Matter and Ravenscourt divisions and start publishing games under its own banner.
video games
Adrian Werner
May 7, 2023
Dead Island 2 vs Dying Light 2 - Which to Choose?
Dead Island 2 and Dying Light 2 are very similar, post-apocalyptic action games where the main opponents are zombies. Which one is better for you? How are they different?
video games
Adam Adamczyk
April 25, 2023
Dead Island 2 Needs Even More Zombie Carnage? Developers May Have a Plan
Dead Island 2 developers admit that they are considering adding a New Game Plus mode to the game, which would make re-playing the campaign more interesting.
video games
Adrian Werner
April 25, 2023
Dead Island 2 Visual Comparison on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X
Noteworthy videos have appeared online, showing the differences in graphics in Dead Island 2 on various hardware platforms.
video games
Adrian Werner
April 21, 2023