If you know how close I am to this franchise, you will know that this review is somewhat slightly biased. I love Techland and have genuinely enjoyed their work since Dying Light. I have an abnormal connection to this game and some weird nostalgia attached to it that even I cannot explain. When I first played this game, I was done with my exams and was finally feeling free. I could do whatever I wanted to and had no work the next day – this feeling of freedom combined with being able to play something unique and visually stunning for its time, a genre I thoroughly enjoy – DL became a standard for when I was happy.
I remember playing this game on my old PC with the windows wide open at around 2-3am, with complete silence, clear skies and the moon shining on my balcony… Goddamn those were some good times.
Dying Light: The Beast launched on September 18, 2025 for PC (Windows), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are slated for later in 2025.
Originally the game was meant to drop on August 22, 2025, but Techland delayed it for extra polish and then moved it forward a day to September 18. Because The Beast started life as a DLC for Dying Light 2, owners of Dying Light 2: Stay Human Ultimate Edition may have gotten it as part of their package.
Story & Plot: Much Awaited Return of Kyle Crane
If you thought Kyle Crane was done, think again. The Beast brings him back in a darker, twisted form. Years ago he was captured and transformed by a mysterious figure known as The Baron, forced through experiments melding zombie DNA with his human form. I genuinely missed hearing his voice. Chills when he appears!! I honestly really miss Brecken too man…
Anyway, he spends 13 years imprisoned and tortured. When chaos breaks out, Crane escapes and sets out to exact revenge while also wrestling with the beast inside himself.
You’ll meet other survivors, unmask the Baron’s plans, chase your identity, and face mutated horrors that blur the line between monster and man. The narrative is more linear than Dying Light 2’s branching style, giving a tighter, more directed experience.
The world you explore is Castor Woods, a dense, forested realm combining rural stretches and abandoned settlements. It’s smaller in scale than DL2’s massive map, but more focused and dense in design.
Gameplay: Parkour, Beast Mode, Tension & Combat
If you love the original Dying Light’s free movement, you’ll feel right at home. Crane retains, and refines, the parkour and traversal systems; vaulting, wall runs, ledge grabs – all very much in the DNA of the series.
One of the new highlights is Beast Mode. As Crane flips between human and beast, you get access to powerful melee abilities. Charging through crowds, slamming into hordes, tossing environment pieces – these visceral powers bring a more brutal edge to confrontation. You can lift a fuckin boulder and throw it across lmao
Another recurring toy is the grappling hook. It becomes available partway through the campaign, during a main quest in the Vale region. While it isn’t as central as in some open-world games (due to fewer tall building cores), it smooths traversal and adds late-game flexibility.
Combat mixes melee weapons, firearms, and beast powers. Ammo is less forgiving than DL2, making you more strategic in gear usage. Weapons degrade, tools wear out, so improvisation and scavenging feel meaningful. Zombies follow the day-night cycle as usual: in daylight they’re slower, but at night they become aggressive, fast, and dangerous. That heightened tension returns as a core mechanic.
The map is more compact than DL2’s, but every corner is intentionally crafted. GamesRadar praises Castor Woods for making every centimeter matter. You can play up to 4-player co-op, sharing progression so your friends jump in at your pace.
Legendary weapons are sprinkled in – 15 or so have been catalogued, unlocked via treasure hunts, maps, or story progression.
Differences from Predecessors & What’s Improved or Rolled Back
More Focus, Less Scope
The Beast is less sprawling than Dying Light 2. It traded a massive map and branching story for a distilled, more consistent narrative arc. Some fans see this as a “step backwards,” but many see it as smart refinement.
Sharper Combat
Beast powers and melee improvements push combat harder than before. Enemies feel more dangerous, ambushes are more precise, and the merging of zombie DNA into Crane makes the fight personal.
Optimization Gains
On PC, performance is solid. Even without ray tracing in the initial build, the game runs well across quality presets. Users with lower VRAM face stutters, but most setups manage fine.
Techland has been praised for optimization in contrast with other major titles.
Reduced RPG Depth
Some RPG mechanics introduced in DL2 – branching choices, large crafting webs – are dialed back. The Beast leans more survival-action than sprawling role choice.
Vehicle Use & Rural Zones
Vehicles make a return – 4×4 cars help traverse rural segments. Because the map is more forested and less urban, traversal tools are balanced accordingly.
Reception & Criticism: What’s Working, What’s Wobbling
The Praises
- Many critics and players say The Beast is a high point for the series – refined, moody, gory and fun. I missed Crane’s voice and the fact that he’s back in action brings a lot of good memories back.
- Beast Mode and mutated creature fights are often highlighted as standout moments.
- Castor Woods is lauded… dense, immersive, cohesive. Many say it’s the best open world in Dying Light history.
- Optimization and performance are solid on many setups, which keeps flow intact for most players.
The Critiques
- Some say the story is serviceable but thin – especially once you’ve seen the “revenge the Baron” arc begin to repeat.
- Repetitive zone design – especially in rural areas – is noted. Some side mission corridors feel too familiar.
- Glitches in traversal: Crane sometimes “misses” ledges, or stutters when bumping into objects – breaks immersion.
- Low VRAM systems face frame drops or stutter. Ray tracing is missing initially, though Techland promises to bring it later.
- On forums, some fans call The Beast a regression, missing the features introduced in DL2.
- The soundtrack personally just doesn’t do it for me this time. I wish they stuck to their roots. I know its a glorified part 3 converted from the DLC they were planning for DL2 but… it could be much MUCH better…
Final Verdict
Dying Light: The Beast doesn’t reinvent the wheel but it polishes it until it gleams. For fans wanting return to high tension, visceral combat, parkour thrills and a more focused story, it checks nearly every box. Its flaws – repetition, occasional glitches, lighter RPG systems – are real but rarely fatal.
Here’s why it’s worth your time:
- It refocuses the series’ core strengths with new brutality via Beast Mode
- Castor Woods delivers a denser, better thought-out world
- Performance is strong overall, especially so early in launch
- Co-op and multiplayer carry that signature joy
- It’s the most “pure Dying Light” title since the original
If you loved the first game and felt DL2 wandered too far, The Beast feels like coming home – while wearing razor claws. Like… Wolverine ig lmaooo?
When you’re ready to play, snag your copy from Gamers-Outlet.net for great deals on standard, deluxe, or key versions. Let the beasts come, and bring your friends.
