Dying Light: The Beast officially launched on September 18, 2025, bringing back franchise protagonist Kyle Crane for a revenge-driven adventure. After years away from the zombie-infested world, Techland delivers a back-to-basics approach that both satisfies longtime fans and highlights the series’ limitations.
Story and Setting: Kyle Crane’s Dark Return
Following brutal experiments, Kyle Crane seeks revenge as a half-man, half-beast hybrid in the scenic yet dangerous Castor Woods near the Swiss Alps. The game’s villain, known as the Baron, has transformed Crane through cruel experimentation, setting up a personal vendetta story.
The Swiss Alps setting provides stunning visual diversity from forested countryside to abandoned villages, creating atmospheric zombie encounters across varied terrain. However, the open-world design frequently reduces exploration to repetitive fetch quests and tower-unlocking mechanics.
Combat Excellence and RPG Progression
Melee combat remains the franchise’s strongest element, featuring gory, visceral encounters using improvised weapons like shovels, pipes, and hammers. When Crane transforms into his beast form, combat intensifies dramatically, allowing players to tear through zombie hordes with enhanced strength.
The RPG progression system maintains series traditions with XP gains, skill upgrades, and weapon customization. Rare loot with special effects provides “Borderlands-style” progression, encouraging continuous gear hunting and character development.
Multiplayer Shines Despite Limitations
Four-player cooperative gameplay remains the experience’s highlight, featuring seamless drop-in/drop-out mechanics and distress call systems. Boss encounters become more manageable and exploration gains excitement when shared with friends.
The major disappointment is lack of crossplay support, preventing PC and console players from joining forces a significant oversight in modern gaming.
Technical Performance and Accessibility
Unlike its predecessor’s problematic launch, The Beast demonstrates impressive optimization. High-end systems maintain steady 60fps performance even during intensive zombie swarm encounters, while PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions arrive by end of 2025.
Verdict: Nostalgic Return with Familiar Limitations
Dying Light: The Beast offers approximately 40-50 hours of content for completionists, delivering polished zombie action that satisfies series veterans. However, the experience feels overly cautious, retreating to familiar mechanics rather than pushing innovative boundaries. While entertaining and technically solid, it represents a missed opportunity for franchise evolution.
