Three games. One city after dark.

Dying Light: a zombie survival game where night hunts back.

Looking for a first-person open-world zombie survival horror game? Dying Light blends fast parkour, scavenging and brutal close-quarters combat with a day/night cycle that makes every trip after dark a risk. Compare the games and choose the one that fits your kind of fear.

Compare Dying Light games Find your playstyle

01 Open-world zombie horror02 First-person parkour03 Solo or co-op

Move fast. Scavenge smart.Traverse the infected world on foot and search for what you need.

Daylight is not a promise.Nightfall changes how dangerous the streets and wilderness become.

Pick your Dying Light.Compare three standalone entry points, their tone and platforms.

Compare before you buy

Which Dying Light game is for you?

Start with the kind of zombie game you want: classic city survival, vertical open-world action, or Kyle Crane’s latest standalone chapter.

Infected crowd surrounding Harran at dusk in Dying Light

01 · THE ORIGINAL2015

Kyle Crane · HarranDying Light

The outbreak begins

Dying Light

A first-person open-world zombie survival action-horror game built around parkour, scavenging, improvised weapons and a tense day/night cycle. Explore Harran by day; after dark, the infected make familiar streets feel unsafe.

Best fit: players who want the original parkour-survival formula, a dangerous night cycle and Kyle Crane’s story from the beginning.

WorldQuarantined Harran

PlaySolo or up to 4-player co-op

EditionDefinitive 10th Anniversary Edition includes major story expansions

Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. Current store listings and backward compatibility vary.

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A survivor surveys the rooftops of Villedor in Dying Light 2

02 · A CITY TO CLIMB2022

Aiden Caldwell · VilledorDying Light 2

Humanity’s last city

Dying Light 2: Stay Human

A first-person open-world action RPG with zombie survival horror, rooftop parkour, co-op and choices that shape Villedor. Aiden’s search for his sister pulls you into a city where daylight and darkness bring different threats.

Best fit: players drawn to a huge vertical city, freerunning, faction choices and a long co-op-friendly adventure.

WorldVertical city of Villedor

PlaySolo or up to 4-player co-op

EditionReloaded Edition includes the Bloody Ties expansion

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4 / 5 and Xbox One / Series X|S. Not on Nintendo Switch.

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Kyle Crane faces the infected in the woods of Castor Woods

03 · CRANE RETURNS2025

Kyle Crane · Castor WoodsThe Beast

A standalone survival adventure

Dying Light: The Beast

Kyle Crane returns in a first-person open-world survival horror adventure set in Castor Woods. Parkour, brutal combat, off-road driving and the threat of night give this chapter a wilder feel than the city games.

Best fit: players who want Kyle’s next story, a wilderness setting and a more demanding optional survival mode.

WorldOpen wilderness of Castor Woods

PlayMain game solo or up to 4-player co-op

SurvivalRestored Land adds scarce resources and lasting world changes

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5 / PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X|S. No PS4, Xbox One or Switch version is listed.

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Choose by what you enjoy

What kind of zombie horror are you after?

These games share infected enemies and parkour, but the best starting point depends on the experience you want—not just the release number.

For night-time tension

Start with Dying Light

Choose the original for Harran, the series’ classic day/night rhythm and parkour-based survival horror.

For open-world movement

Choose Dying Light 2

Pick Stay Human for rooftop traversal, a larger vertical city, faction choices and a co-op-ready campaign.

For a harder survival run

Look at The Beast: Restored Land

Its optional Restored Land experience makes supplies scarce and changes persistent, with an optional One Life rule. Restored Land is designed as a solo experience.

Story order, without the guesswork

How to play the Dying Light games in order.

Follow this order for the clearest character timeline. Each main game can still be played on its own.

01 · MAIN GAME

Dying Light

Meet Kyle Crane during the outbreak in Harran.

02 · STORY EXPANSION

The Following

Continue Crane’s story beyond the city. It is an expansion, not a separate main game.

03 · YEARS LATER

Dying Light 2: Stay Human

Enter Villedor with Aiden Caldwell, years after the first outbreak.

04 · KYLE RETURNS

Dying Light: The Beast

Return to Crane’s story in a standalone chapter set in Castor Woods.

New to the series? You can start with any main game. The Beast is fully standalone; playing the original first adds context to Kyle Crane’s return.

At a glance

Compare the games before you choose.

Use the differences that matter to a purchase decision: atmosphere, survival focus, co-op and platform availability.

What matters	Dying Light	Dying Light 2: Stay Human	Dying Light: The Beast
Lead & setting	Kyle Crane Harran	Aiden Caldwell Villedor	Kyle Crane Castor Woods
Core appeal	Classic parkour survival horror and a dangerous night cycle.	Vertical open-world traversal, faction choices and co-op.	Wilderness exploration, physical combat and Crane’s next chapter.
Survival style	Scavenge, craft and plan around the changing threat after dark.	Balance exploration, combat and changing day/night dangers.	Restored Land offers scarce resources, persistent changes and optional One Life.
Can I start here?	Yes. The first game in the series.	Yes. New hero and setting, years later.	Yes. Standalone, with extra context for returning fans.
Platforms	PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch	PC, PS4 / PS5, Xbox One / Series	PC, PS5 / PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X\|S

Store catalogues, editions, prices and platform availability can vary by region. Check the linked store before buying.

Questions players ask before buying

Dying Light FAQ

Quick answers for players comparing zombie survival games, survival horror, parkour and co-op.

Is Dying Light a zombie survival game?

Yes. The series combines first-person zombie combat and scavenging with open-world movement, parkour and day/night danger. The exact survival pressure varies by game; The Beast’s optional Restored Land mode is the most resource-focused experience.

What type of game is Dying Light?

It is an open-world first-person action-horror series with zombie survival, parkour traversal and melee combat. The games also include story campaigns and optional co-op; they are not pure crafting simulators.

Is Dying Light like Resident Evil?

There is overlap in zombie horror and survival tension, but the play feels different. Dying Light focuses on first-person parkour across open environments, real-time traversal and close-quarters combat. If you want that movement-led, open-world take on survival horror, it may suit you; it is not a direct Resident Evil clone.

Which Dying Light game should I buy first?

Choose the original for the beginning of Kyle Crane’s story and classic parkour survival horror. Choose Stay Human for Villedor’s vertical city and choices. Choose The Beast for a standalone Crane story and Castor Woods; earlier games add context but are not required.

Is Dying Light: The Beast a standalone game?

Yes. Techland describes The Beast as fully standalone. You can start there without owning the earlier games.

Which Dying Light game has the strongest survival mode?

The Beast’s Restored Land is the clearest choice if you want limited supplies and lasting consequences. Defeated infected and collected items do not simply respawn, and an optional One Life rule raises the stakes. It is a separate solo experience, not just a difficulty setting.

Can I play Dying Light solo or in co-op?

All three main games can be played solo and support co-op for up to four players. Co-op availability and online requirements can differ by platform; Restored Land in The Beast is designed for solo play.

Which Dying Light games have parkour?

Parkour is a defining feature across the series. The original uses it to move through Harran, Stay Human emphasizes rooftop routes across a vertical city, and The Beast combines it with wilderness traversal and off-road driving.

Can I play Dying Light on PS4, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch?

The original supports PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Dying Light 2 is available on PS4 and Xbox One, but not Switch. The Beast is listed for PC, PS5 / PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X|S, not the previous console generation or Switch.

What is the Dying Light story order?

Play Dying Light, then its The Following expansion, then Dying Light 2: Stay Human, then Dying Light: The Beast. You can still start with any main game; The Following is optional story context between the first two.

Ready to choose? Compare current editions and availability at the store for your platform.

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See it before you decide

Watch the worlds in motion.

Preview the parkour, the infected and the atmosphere in official Dying Light videos.

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