From big-name franchise revivals to small-scale indie productions, horror gaming on PlayStation was in good health in 2023. PlayStation LifeStyle selects 14 of the year’s best horror games on PlayStation consoles.

Resident Evil 4 Remake (Capcom)

Few remakes would come with such expectations as Resident Evil 4, and yet Capcom managed to exceed them.

Resident Evil 4 Remake takes everything players loved about the 2005 classic and integrates a flurry of modern touches to make it feel like a natural evolution of the original.

Dead Space (EA Motive)

While Resident Evil 4’s remake reimagined the original, EA Motive’s Dead Space largely stuck to the script with a smattering of improvements where they were needed.

The spirit of the original is kept intact, but a PS5 sheen made every Necromorph encounter and gore-splattered outcome a grisly treat. But the real star of the new show is the Ishimura, which no longer feels like a series of interconnected rooms masquerading as a spaceship but more like an actual place.

No One Lives Under the Lighthouse (Marevo Collective)

Finally getting a console release, Marevo Collective’s atmospheric PSX-style horror is a delightful slow-burner that makes the most of its minimalist structure.

The ambiguity of the story keeps players on edge, and when chase scenes kick in, the perspective shift adds another layer to the unsettling atmosphere.

Amnesia The Bunker (Frictional Games)

Frictional Games’ ability to rewrite the rulesets of its story-led horror games is admirable and with Amnesia: The Bunker, it does its biggest edit yet.

Amnesia: The Bunker is a self-contained sandbox set in a wartime bunker where the player has to find the means to escape whilst evading a deadly monstrosity. Think of it as small-scale Alien Isolation meets Immersive Sim.

The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners 2 (Skydance Interactive)

PSVR2 had plenty of horror goodies in 2023. The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners 2 was my personal pick from the brand-new bunch.

Why? Well, its immersive, intense gameplay translates so much better to the PSVR2 than the original game did with PSVR. The dread of getting cornered by the undead is offset by improvised weapons. Throw in a seemingly unstoppable behemoth out for blood and Saints and Sinners 2 will have you working up a sweat.

Killer Frequency (Team 17)

Killer Frequency stands out for me because it’s clearly doing something quite different in the horror space. Playing the part of a washed-up DJ who finds themselves having to help save locals from a returning legendary serial killer. Killer Frequency limits you to the radio station as to the extent of your help, but within that station is plenty of exploration and opportunity.

Not only can you find things to guide potential victims away from their fate, but you get the chance to play as a DJ, putting on records, ads, and, of course, taking calls. Killer Frequency does everything possible to immerse you in the role.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals (Night School Studios)

Oxenfree’s dialogue system remains one of the most refreshing and ingenious of its kind, so a return to that with Oxenfree II would always be welcome. That system is more refined now, but it’s Oxenfree II’s story is where it excels.

After the teen-centric tale of the original, Oxenfree II shifts things to an adult perspective and, in doing so, gives us a wonderfully melancholy flipside to the first game.

Homebody (Game Grumps)

Homebody puts a modern spin on classic survival horror, with plenty of homages to Clock Tower, especially on show.

A young woman and her friends are stuck in a time loop that keeps them inside a strange old house. She must solve the many puzzles of the house in order to break the loop, but every time the loop begins, the threat of a masked killer arrives with it.

Trepang2 (Trepang Studios)

If you miss the frenetic supernatural shooter action of F.E.A.R. then Trepang2 has your early 2000s needs covered. A labor of love that transformed into a full game, Trepang2 is a lovely reminder that shooters can simply be big, loud, bloody slabs of nonsense.

The slo-mo ability turns large-scale chaos into a ballet of bullets and blood, but truly the art of Trepang2 comes in chaining together kills at full speed, utilizing the various other superpowers at your disposal.

Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment)

Thirteen years after Remedy Entertainment’s Alan Wake, a sequel finally arrived, and it’s the quintessential distillation of everything the developer has done up until this point.

It’s a weird, meta tale that blends mediums in an impressively seamless way. The shift between Alan’s and Saga’s sides of the story gives us two distinct flavors of horror that intertwine at key moments.

Stay Out of the House (Puppet Combo)

It was pretty remarkable that Amnesia: The Bunker condensed a horror immersive sim into such a small space, but Puppet Combo’s Stay Out of the House manages to pack that into an even smaller space.

You have to escape the house of The Butcher by utilizing whatever you can find. Get caught, and it’s back in your cage. Each run gives you the opportunity to discover more about how the house works and the backstory behind The Butcher.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Gun Media)

After an unfortunate licensing drama with Friday the 13th, Gun Media clearly wasn’t deterred from bringing beloved horror franchises to life in video game form, and we should be glad because it gave us The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Taking the asymmetrical multiplayer model of games like its Friday the 13th game and Dead by Daylight, Gun, and Sumo change things up by pitting a team of three family members against four unlucky potential victims. The change makes for an intense cat-and-mouse dynamic distinct to this game.

Dead Island 2 (Dambuster Studios)

Given the rocky history of Dead Island 2’s path to release and the emergence of rival franchise Dying Light by original Dead Island developers Techland in the years since it would have been understandable if Dead Island 2 turned out to be a bit of a stinker.

Yet, thanks to Dambuster Studios, it turned out to be not only good, gory fun but the best Dead Island game by far. Its tongue-in-cheek humor, detailed zombie degradation system, and general blood-splattered combat combine to make for a fine multiplayer hoot.

Dredge (Black Salt Games)

Fishing has been a staple of game activities for some time now, but few outside actual sims make that the basis for an entire game. Black Salt Games thought it was worth a go, and Dredge was the unholy result.

This open-world fishing sim has an increasingly dark undertone that taps into the core of Lovecraftian horror. The murmured warnings not to stray too far at night, the messed up fish you occasionally haul in, and the strange, ambiguous way locals talk about things. When the horrors of the deep do finally show themselves, your little fishing boat never felt more vulnerable.

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Dead Island 2 launched with a season pass, but details were thin. Dambuster Studios has now explained more about the Dead Island 2 DLC and revealed around when each pack will come out.

The Dead Island 2 DLC includes cosmetics, weapons, and levels

The first bit of paid DLC is out right now and takes advantage of Dead Island 2’s new skin system. In addition to a number of bug fixes, the update contains six free skins in the ‘Til Dawn Collection (one for each character), but the other costumes are divided up in an orthodox way that’s contingent on what version players own.

Season pass owners will get the Gaelic Queen Dani costume. Those with the Deluxe, Gold, or Hell-A editions will get the Silver Star Jacob and Cyber Slayer Amy skins. The Jungle Fantasy Ryan, Steel Horse Carla, and Venice Vogue Bruno skins are not included in any pass and must be purchased separately. Every pack contains a skin and weapon and is available for $4.99 separately. And while the weapon can be used by anyone, the skins are locked to a specific character.

Those with Amazon Prime can get the From Dusk Collection of skins through Prime Gaming Rewards. The first one is Dusk Dani, which will be available from June 15 to July 17. It’ll have a special skin and set of claws, the latter of which can be used by any character (while the former is locked to Dani). The rest of the costumes will come out during 2023.

The other parts of the season pass are not divided up so strangely. The first story-based expansion will be called Haus and features a “techno-death cult” and a billionaire preparing for the apocalypse. It’ll have new missions, weapons, skills, and areas to explore and is currently slated for Q4 2023.

SOLA is the second expansion and takes place on festival grounds and stars eco-friendly ravers. SOLA is scheduled for Q2 2024. Both Haus and SOLA are included in the season pass, but will be available to purchase for an unknown price.

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Dead Island 2 has been a long time coming. The game has been through development hell and back again, which is ironic given this game’s zombie population and their refusal to die and stay dead. In my preview, I wrote that I was impressed by the opening couple of hours, noting that it was surprisingly polished. But how do I feel after beating the game’s 14-16 hour-long campaign? Here’s my final verdict.

Tools of the trade

Dead Island 2 keeps things simple. Zombies are infesting Los Angeles and it’s up to the resistant player to go around killing them, all the while helping locals with their own survival efforts. The story does enough to move things forward and justify traversing to and from the 10 districts, but I didn’t find myself invested in the characters or caring much about their survival.

This horror game leans more on comedy than on exploring the bonds of remaining humans. Think more Shaun of the Dead or Zombieland, than 28 Days Later or The Last of Us. Dead Island 2’s characters are funny, but pretty stupid, as are the errands they task players with.

Missions are fairly basic in structure and players get to do a bunch of fetching. Thankfully, the foundation of the gameplay, an extremely satisfying combat system, helps give Dead Island 2 a huge boost.

Powered by the “FLESH” system, combat is easily the best thing about Dead Island 2. Weapons hit hard, with blunt instruments slamming into zombies and sending them flying. Sharpened blades cut through enemies just as brilliantly, causing blood to gush out. And these are just the standard weapons, as the action only gets more entertaining when elemental damage is introduced.

Pick a card, any card

There are six characters to choose from, all of which have their own strengths and weaknesses. While there are differences between them, it quickly became clear to me that there are only two things you really need to worry about when making your selection. First, whether they Dodge or Block, as each character can only do one of these actions. Second, how they sound, as some characters are voiced better than others. I landed on Jacob as my favorite, both for his dodging and British accent.

Dead Island 2’s skill tree takes the form of cards that players choose from. There’s no deck-building or anything like that, it’s just a U.I. shift that functions in much the same way as traditional perk and ability trees.

Some skill cards are better than others, though my favorites enhance the player’s dodge/block abilities. As Jacob, I can weave and dodge a series of incoming attacks, recovering some health, before going on the counter-attack and enjoying increased damage with each subsequent hit I land.

Looks to die for

Visually, Dead Island 2 looks remarkable. The LA environments are beautifully rendered and the devs have clearly worked hard to add subtle details to each space. It’s hard not to explore each new room, as handcrafted scenarios hide in wait. An influencer’s bedroom, for example, features a whiteboard with a script for a not-so-sincere apology video, which I found especially hilarious.

The game runs well, too, with PS5 hitting the 60 FPS mark with very few hiccups. Perhaps the smaller levels help keep gameplay smooth? Whatever magic is going on here, Dead Island 2 achieves 60 FPS and looks good doing it, which really helps to sell those brutal melee swings.

What works well as a single-player game works even better in co-op. Up to two other players can be brought in to assist with the zombie slaying. Finding other players or having them join has worked flawlessly in my experience. It’s just unfortunate that you need to get through an hour or so of gameplay before you can invite your buddies in, which is always annoying.

Dead Island 2 Review: The final verdict

The odds were stacked against Dead Island 2, and yet here stands a solid zombie game with a compelling combat system that delivers exactly what I’m looking for when it comes to hitting the undead with a big stick. It’s gory, gruesome, and a ton of fun with friends.

Aside from the winning combat formula, however, Dead Island 2 doesn’t push the envelope in any other noteworthy ways. It’s a very safe game, which was perhaps the wisest decision made by Dambuster Studios and Deep Silver, given the development hell that the game has been through since its 2014 reveal. I’d count that a win, all things considered!

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Dead Island 2 launches later this week and will support co-op for three players from day one, but it seems like some PS4 console owners won’t be able to host co-op sessions. While all PS5 and PS4 players can join co-op sessions, they can only be hosted by those using consoles from more recent generations.

Who can host a Dead Island 2 co-op session?

To host a Dead Island 2 co-op session, players must be using a PS5 console or a PS4 Pro console, otherwise known as a Generation 8+ console. Those using the base PS4 console, or an ordinary Generation 8 console, will not be able to host a co-op session on day one due to the game’s graphics requirements.

Developer Deep Silver Dambuster has said they’re “working on giving the option to host on all consoles in the future”, so it could be this functionality will be added for base PS4 players in a future game update. For now, base PS4 players will be able to join co-op sessions hosted by players on PS4 Pro and PS5 consoles.

Co-op play will be unlocked once players reach Emma’s mansion in the ‘Call the Cavalry’ mission, which is estimated to take about 20-30 minutes. Those aiming for the game’s Platinum trophy will need to spend some time in co-op to earn a couple of the game’s trophies that require that game mode.

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Claims of Dead Island 2‘s download size have surfaced ahead of the game’s release. The install sizes of both the PS5 and PS4 versions have reportedly been leaked, with the current-gen version significantly larger than the last-gen variant.

Dead Island 2 install size revealed for PS5 and PS4

The Dead Island 2 install size reportedly comes in at 48.219 GB on PS5 and 19.916 GB on PS4.

According to @PlaystationSize on Twitter, which has proven accurate in the past, the PS5 version of the game will take up more than double the space of the PS4 version.

If the report proves accurate, pre-load for both versions of the game will be available on April 19. This will give players two days to make sure it’s installed ahead of release. Those on slower internet connections are sure to appreciate the pre-loading period, especially if they are downloading the larger PS5 edition.

You’ll need to get some friends to also download the game if you’re hoping to earn the Platinum Trophy. You see, 100% completion requires co-op play.

Wondering if Dead Island 2 will be worth making space for? Read the PSLS preview to get a vibe for how the game is shaping up.

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Those players aiming to earn the Dead Island 2 Platinum Trophy will need to make sure they grab a willing co-op partner as the list includes a couple of multiplayer trophies. In fact, the list will require players to experience pretty much everything the game has to offer.

Dead Island 2 partial PS5 trophies list

The Dead Island 2 trophies list revealed by TrueTrophies will need players to grab a co-op partner to complete five quests. They’ll also need to be a bit useless seeing as they’ll need to be revived five times too. Aside from that, all other trophies can be completed in single-player mode.

Players will also need to complete a fair number of side quests, complete the first tier of several categories of challenges, find every type of zombie, locate collectibles, and kill zombies in imaginative ways. The list doesn’t include story trophies as Deep Silver Dambuster will be revealing those closer to the release date to avoid spoilers, but here are the trophies we know about so far:

• Making Your Mark – Complete 10 non-Story Quests [BRONZE]
• Rising Star – Complete 20 non-Story Quests [SILVER]
• LA Influential – Complete 40 non-Story Quests [GOLD]
• Ooh, Shiny! – Find your first Legendary Weapon [BRONZE]
• Zombologist – Unlock every zombie type in the Zompedia. [BRONZE]
• On Safari – Complete the first tier of every Zombie Challenge. [SILVER]
• Variety is the Spice of Death – Complete the first tier of every Weapon Challenge. [SILVER]
• Zombicidal Maniac – Complete the first tier of every Combat Challenge. [SILVER]
• Survival Skills – Complete the first tier of every Survivor Challenge. [SILVER]
• Smorgasbord – Complete the first tier of every Exploration Challenge. [SILVER]
• Sharpest Tool in the Box – Complete 5 Lost & Found Weapon Quests. [SILVER]
• Sole Survivor – Complete all Lost & Found Missing Person Quests. [SILVER]
• Jumbo Keyring – Unlock 10 Lockboxes. [SILVER]
• Bookworm – Collect 20 Journals. [SILVER]
• Stacking the Deck – Collect 30 Skill Cards. [BRONZE]
• Max Headroom – Reach level 30. [GOLD]
• Anger Management – Slay 50 zombies with Fury Attacks. [BRONZE]
• This is My Weapon – Fully upgrade a Superior weapon and customize it with a mod or perk in every slot. [BRONZE]
• Hazardous Materials – Slay 100 Zombies using Caustic, Fire, or Shock damage. [BRONZE]
• Break a Leg – Maim 100 limbs. [BRONZE]
• Slayer Squad – Complete any 5 quests in co-op. [BRONZE]
• I Am the Resurrection – Revive other Slayers 5 times. [BRONZE]
• Coup de Grâce – Slay 25 zombies using finishing moves. [BRONZE]
• Perks of the Job – Complete 5 Blueprint Challenges. [BRONZE]
• Donk! – Throw a melee weapon and hit a zombie 35+ metres away. [BRONZE]
• Apex Predator – Knock down 10 Apex Variants. [BRONZE]
• I Got a Zombie Army and You Can’t Harm Me – Perform 25 perfect defensive moves. [BRONZE]

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Dead Island 2 has been a long time coming. Since its E3 2014 reveal, it’s had multiple development studios working on it and its target release date has been pushed back time, and time, and time again. It’s surreal to finally get my hands on it before its April 21 release date for a brief hands-on preview.

From development hell to hel-LA

During the slice of gameplay provided for the preview, I spent time in Bel-Air and Beverly Hills. While they certainly capture the Californian vibe, the sheer amount of zombies, blood, and guts quickly distract from the well-realized locales.

The game looks and runs fantastic on PC, which should hopefully be good news for the PS5 version. Developer Dambuster Studios is targeting 60 FPS for the current-gen and, if my fantastic experience on PC is anything to go by, I’m feeling optimistic for current-gen console players. (I’m a tad concerned about the PS4 edition, but my fingers are crossed.)

I hope you like killing zombies

Dead Island 2 is yet another game that tasks players with killing a bunch of zombies. It leans into the melee side of combat which, while more uncommon, is not unique. Thankfully, the game’s “FLESH System” acts as an enhancement to melee attacks, making zombie kills all the more satisfying with increased gore.

Thanks to FLESH, players can target individual body parts to damage. Using a bladed weapon to slash at a zombie’s arms and head, or a blunt weapon to knock down multiple foes at once before stomping on their heads before they had a chance to get up, didn’t get old. There are also weapon mods and elemental damage buffs to take advantage of, another tried-and-true mechanic for zombie games. For those who can appreciate messy zombie kills, Dead Island 2 may well have the messiest.

Throughout the mayhem of zombie blood spurting everywhere from increasingly violent attacks, my chosen “Slayer,” Jacob, was dropping one-liners and making snarky responses. There’s a fine line between being Boring Protagonist #512 and a Deadpool wannabe, and Jacob manages to deliver some fun humor without becoming annoying. I’m looking forward to trying the other five Slayers, who are hopefully equally as charming.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint

I had no idea what to expect going into this Dead Island 2 preview. I had visions of a rat king of convoluted ideas from too many devs being involved. Happily, Dambuster Studios appears to have concentrated its focus on simply making a bigger-and-better sequel to the original Dead Island and, following my couple of hours with the game, it’s shaping up to be one of the better games of 2023.

Pre-order Dead Island for PS5 for $69.99.

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Dead Island 2 will come with skill cards that allow players to customize their perks, abilities, and special powers as they take on the zombie hoard in LA. The cards are arranged into decks that players can switch up and completely change at any point during their battle against the undead Angelinos.

How to get more Dead Island 2 skill cards

Players will be able to earn skill cards by leveling up their character or by scavenging them from dead enemies. The collectible items can also be found scattered around the city, so exploration will also be needed.

First seen in today’s gameplay video, the cards grant special powers, abilities, and boons to help in combat. Skill cards are sorted into different categories — innate, abilities, survivor, slayer, and numen — with players able to select a different number of cards in each. These cards can be changed at any time during the game, even in midair if you choose. While the majority of cards can be used with all six Slayers, it seems like the innate cards will be restricted to one character only. These are just some of the cards we’ve seen so far:

• [INNATE] Thunderstruck – Dani’s heavy attacks trigger a forceful explosion on impact.
• [INNATE] Bloodlust – Dani regains health when slaying multiple zombies in quick succession.
• [ABILITIES] Block – Defend against incoming attacks. Well-timed blocks regain your stamina and stun zombies, leaving them open to a devastating counter attack.
• [ABILITIES] Dodge – Evade incoming attacks. Well-timed dodges regain your stamina and stun zombies, leaving them open to a devastating counter attack.
• [ABILITIES] Dropkick – Perform a forceful jump kick attack that can send regular zombies flying.
• [ABILITIES] Flying Kick – Perform a powerful jump kick attack.
• [ABILITIES] War Cry – Let out a fierce yell that boosts toughness for you and nearby squad members. It also weakens nearby zombies.
• [ABILITIES] Dash Strike – Dash forwards and strike zombies, leaving them weakened.

The exact descriptions of others haven’t been revealed, but the combination of Dash Strike and the Slayer skill Hammer Fist will “unleash a strike capable of launching zombies into the stratosphere”. Meanwhile, the Ground Pound Abilities card combined with the Survivor cards Flare Up and Quake will “create a truly devastating ground smash that topples zombies and ignites the floor underneath them”. Deep Silver Dambuster Studios suggests players will find a build to suit every situation and playstyle.

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New Dead Island 2 gameplay is now available to watch. Developer Dambuster Studios has put together a 14-minute showcase providing viewers with a generous look at the next-gen visuals and enhanced combat.

Watch the new Dead Island 2 gameplay trailer

The new Dead Island 2 gameplay trailer features Dani, a Slayer, who must make her way through the streets of Beverly Hills and Bel-Air. To aid her in her travels, she can use new weapons and powerful skills like ground pounds.

The FLESH dismemberment system is a particular highlight, with players able to target specific weak points and cause major damage. This damage is reflected in the blood and guts that litter the roads and mansions.

Skill Cards are also spotlighted in this extended gameplay trailer, with players able to mix and match skill cards to tailor their build to each scenario.

Another highlight is the ground pound, which is especially effective at quickly knocking down enemies that are starting to surround Dani.

Dead Island 2 has “gone gold,” which means the game is finally ready for distribution. The release date has been a long time coming, after being delayed multiple times.

Curiously, Dead Island 2 is the first game that will have Alexa controls.

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The 2023 video game delay season has kicked off early with Dead Island 2 release date being pushed by 12 weeks. The news formed part of parent company Embracer Group’s latest financial report, and comes at the heel of Saints Row reboot failing to meet expectations. Dead Island 2 has faced quite a few development hurdles over the years, including but not limited to a change in development teams.

New Dead Island 2 release date set in April 2023

Instead of February 3, 2023, Dead Island 2 will now release on April 28th. Developer Dambuster Studios and publisher Deep Silver acknowledged that the news will disappoint fans who’ve waited a long time, but said that the delay was necessary to release a game the developer is “proud to launch.”

“The irony of delaying Dead Island 2 is not lost on us and we are just as disappointed as you undoubtedly are,” the statement reads. “The delay is just 12 short weeks and development is on the final straight now; we’re going to take the time we need to make sure we can launch a game we’re proud to launch. For those of you who’ve been waiting for years, thank you for hanging in there with us.”

To make it up to fans, Deep Silver will hold a Dead Island 2 showcase on December 6th.

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