After two mainline games, survival-horror series Dying Light makes a return in Dying Light: The Beast, where gamers will see the return of Kyle Crane, the protagonist of the first game who escapes from the Baron after having endured painful experiments for years. But the scars remain. Having been left on the edge of humanity with both human and zombie DNA, Kyle struggles to control his inner beast and the conflict that comes with it. He is of course out to seek revenge on the man who did this to him.
The game’s brutal combat reaches new heights in its latest instalment, pushing the boundaries of savagery as players unleash rage-fueled, beast-like powers that evolve with every encounter. From crushing skulls to tearing enemies limb from limb, the visceral intensity is dialled up to eleven, challenging players to harness their monstrous abilities while maintaining control in a world teetering on chaos.
True to the series’ roots, the game delivers a dual experience shaped by the relentless passage of time. Daylight offers a tense window for scavenging and exploration, but as night falls, the world transforms into a nightmare of horrors that demand quick decisions: run, hide, or fight for survival. This dynamic cycle keeps players on edge, constantly adapting to the shifting threats around them, as can be seen in the later portion of the Gamescom demo gameplay below.
Movement remains a cornerstone of the experience, with fluid first-person parkour allowing players to leap across rooftops and scale obstacles with ease. Whether sprinting through the city or tearing through zombie hordes in off-road vehicles, the open world offers unmatched freedom. The setting is Castor Woods, inspired by the Swiss Alps, is a hauntingly beautiful expanse filled with diverse biomes, from serene national parks to decaying industrial zones, each telling its own story of survival and ruin.
Cooperative gameplay takes centre stage with up to four players joining forces to tackle the dangers of Castor Woods together. Shared progression ensures that every battle, discovery, and narrative twist is experienced as a team, forging bonds through relentless combat and desperate rescues.
Dying Light: The Beast is scheduled for release on 19 September 2025 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Yonk is a geek who is fortunate enough to have an equally geeky Star Wars fan for a wife, who owns a LEGO Millennium Falcon encased in a glass coffee table as their home’s centre-piece.
Kevin Low
