Dying Light’s main story revolves around Kyle Crane, an undercover Global Relief Effort operative. Taking control of Kyle, you are parachuted into the zombie-infested city of Harran to stop Suleiman, a rouge operative threatening to overthrow the agency. Unfortunately, the moment Kyle lands, he is bitten by an infected.

Rescued by one of the city’s factions of survivors and treated with a serum that inhibits the bite’s zombifying effects, Kyle must choose between his mission and his new allies. The paid action game’s whole tale is a bit convoluted and filled with many side-quests, but Dying Light should satisfy anyone seeking a long adventure.

Rich gaming mechanics

Fortunately, the overarching storyline has almost no bearing on Dying Light’s entertainment value. The open-world first-person gameplay is a true sandbox experience, thanks to the free-running mechanics. While these start quite modest—dashing over the rooftops of favelas and making impossibly long jumps between them—it doesn’t take long before you begin to level up. Once you unlock skills, you will soon find yourself sliding under low beams or springing from ramps over fences.

Eventually, you will be able to use a grappling hook to shoot skywards onto buildings. It may be a touch ridiculous, but, once mastered, its fluidity is incredibly satisfying. It’s also great that it’s so easy to run as, once night sets in, the game gets far more challenging. Darkness brings the most vicious zombies out of hiding and they wander the streets of Harran.

Once spotted by these beasts, the only option is to flee. Put enough distance between Kyle and his pursuers and they may lose interest—especially if you slow them with the various traps hidden around the map. On the other hand, while narratively no excuse is given for a multiplayer mode, nearly the whole game can be experienced with friends to add even more fun to the open-world parkour.

Can be played alone or with others

Overall, Dying Light offers a thrilling and immersive experience for players willing to dive into its desolate world, with its rich gaming mechanics and challenging gameplay outweighing any narrative shortcomings. In it, players assume the role of Kyle Crane and try to combat the threat of Suleiman. While already enjoyable solo, you can multiply the fun by playing with other people.