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Dead Island Definitive Edition

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2016

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Quick resume

Welcome to the zombie apocalypse experience of a lifetime – and now more beautiful than ever. Caught in the midst of an epic zombie outbreak on the tropical island of Banoi, your only thought is: Survive!

Global score

82/100

Genres

Action

Similar games

    Pros

    • Fun co-op multiplayer experience
    • Extensive weapon crafting and customization
    • Open world exploration with diverse locations
    • Improved graphics and stable performance in definitive edition
    • Engaging melee combat with satisfying gore effects

    Cons

    • Repetitive quests and side missions
    • Some bugs and technical issues remain
    • Clunky vehicle controls and movement
    • Weak and generic story with poor character development
    • Motion sickness issues due to camera effects

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Violence. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Leadership.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players can choose from multiple characters with unique skills and freely explore an open world, deciding how to approach quests and combat."

    • Competence
      3

      "The game involves skillful melee combat, weapon crafting and upgrading, and managing stamina, providing a moderate challenge."

    • Competition
      -2

      "Focus is mainly on cooperative and solo play with no strong emphasis on competitive modes or leaderboards."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Many players report long play sessions, replaying the game multiple times, and habitual return due to co-op fun and exploration."

    • Cooperation
      5

      "Strong emphasis on 4-player co-op gameplay with team-based objectives and shared survival experience."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Extensive weapon crafting and modification system allows players to create unique melee weapons and customize playstyle."

    • Domination
      -3

      "Interactions are cooperative and balanced; no evidence of dominance or power imposition over other players."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game as a fun distraction with immersive tropical island setting and zombie combat to escape real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and nostalgia, not out of obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players experiment with different weapons, skills, and combat tactics, though quests can be repetitive."

    • Exploration
      4

      "Open world with multiple islands and diverse locations encourages discovery and curiosity-driven activities."

    • Expression
      3

      "Character choice and weapon customization provide some self-expression, though character appearance is fixed."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Zombie apocalypse setting with exaggerated gore and fictional virus provides an imaginative fictional experience."

    • Fellowship
      4

      "Strong community and social play through co-op mode fosters group identity and shared achievements."

    • Growth
      3

      "Skill trees, leveling, and weapon upgrades offer learning and personal development opportunities."

    • Health
      -4

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; some players report motion sickness due to camera effects."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires consistent attention and focus during combat and exploration; not suited for casual background play."

    • Intimacy
      -3

      "Social interactions are mostly functional and surface-level within co-op; no evidence of close emotional bonding."

    • Leadership
      -2

      "Players mostly collaborate equally; no strong leadership or authoritative roles described."

    • Progression
      4

      "Leveling up, unlocking skills, and collecting/upgrading weapons provide clear progression and rewards."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "Some players find the game fun and immersive, but combat and bugs can cause frustration and tension."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Enjoyable gore effects, weapon impact sounds, and tropical visuals provide sensory stimulation and excitement."

    • Status
      -3

      "Achievements and progression are mostly personal; little emphasis on social recognition or popularity."

    • Story
      1

      "Story is present but considered weak and generic; some players appreciate it while others find it shallow."

    • Strategy
      2

      "Combat requires some tactical thinking about stamina, weapon choice, and enemy weaknesses, but quests are simple."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Combat and survival elements provide moments of suspense and excitement, though overall difficulty is moderate."

    • Value
      3

      "Good value especially on sale; offers many hours of gameplay and co-op fun for a low price."

    • Violence
      5

      "High enjoyment of violent combat with gore, dismemberment, and creative melee weapon use against zombies."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players manage stamina, weapon durability, and resource gathering to survive threats in a hostile environment."

    Last update: 29/04/2026