Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 368 sampled Steam reviews (280 positive / 88 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Story & writing23% mention it
- Combat11% mention it
- Visuals & art10% mention it
- World & exploration8% mention it
- Progression & loot7% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Story & writing38% mention it
- Combat20% mention it
- Bugs & crashes16% mention it
- Visuals & art15% mention it
- Progression & loot13% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
51%
35 reviews
5-15h
70%
57 reviews
15-40h
76%
174 reviews
40-100h
88%
80 reviews
100h+
86%
22 reviews
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 81 | 200 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 75 | 2 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 87% | 80 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 86 | 496 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 84% | 77 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Dec 1, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 13888 total reviews in window · weighted 199.6 up / 48.2 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (163)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“It’s not flawless, clunky writing, occasional bugs, and some difficulty spikes drag it down, but as a complete package, this is Techland’s best work since 2015. For anyone who ever whispered “Good night, and good luck” before sprinting into the dark in DL1, The Beast is a triumphant homecoming.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Dying Light: The Beast is neither an expansion nor a sequel. However, it is another good opportunity for an extremely spectacular extermination of zombies in a beautiful, open world of reasonable size.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“On a personal note, it’s really nice to see this series improve as it has over time. Despite being a vocal critic of its shortcomings, I want to love Dying Light, and if this represents where future games are going, I may just get what I’m hoping for.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Dying Light: The Beast is a must-have for fans of the series, zombie lovers, and anyone who appreciates a dark, post-apocalyptic vision of the world where survival depends on fighting for resources. It is an incredibly atmospheric production with a sensational soundtrack, evocative gore, and impressive visuals. Above all, however, it provides a lot of fun from the gameplay itself. And it doesn't matter at all that we've seen it all before, that the game itself is incredibly repetitive and derivative, and that the plot, despite interesting and well-played characters, is silly, absurdly simple, and predictable. The Beast is addictive and will make you want to come back to it again and again, even after you've finished it.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Dying Light: The Beast offers a great survival horror and action experience that has been long-awaited, succeeding in putting the series back on the right track with clear improvements to the gameplay fundamentals, most notably, the parkour system has become smoother. The world of Castorwoods gives the game a beautiful rural character and a vast space for exploration, along with a strong ending, excellent graphics, and stable technical performance. The game proves itself as one of the most prominent games of this year.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Dying Light: The Beast isn’t a revolution, but it’s a well-crafted, brutal ride that builds on the strengths of the series while adding its own flair. The fast parkour, visceral combat, and new Beast mode keep the gameplay fresh, while the atmospheric Castor Woods setting and impressive gore system elevate the experience. The story is simple, and the villain is underdeveloped, but the charismatic return of Kyle Crane makes up for it. Solid optimization is occasionally hindered by technical issues, such as the broken day-night cycle and minor bugs, yet the game still delivers a highly engaging and atmospheric survival adventure. In the end, The Beast has earned its place, and fans of the franchise will find exactly what they came for.”
read full review ↗ - 75
- 80
“Dying Light: The Beast marks the return of Kyle Crane in a thrilling sequel that breathes new life into the series. With ferocious beast powers, adrenaline-pumping Chimera boss battles, and parkour that’s as exhilarating as ever, the game delivers plenty of standout moments. The open world can feel a bit too sprawling, and the controls occasionally slip into clunky territory, but the fast-paced combat and richly designed side missions more than make up for it. This is an excellent return to form, one that blends fresh ideas with the spirit of the original in a way fans won’t want to miss.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The decision to transform Dying Light 2’s second DLC into a full game was a right one. Dying Light: The Beast is a big, new adventure that blends well all the best parts of DL, DL2 and The Following. This is a game for all the fans of the franchise, and one that has a surprisingly cool story to tell.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Dying Light: The Beast is the promised sequel we were all waiting for. Its new combat additions make fighting more enjoyable and visceral, while Castor Woods provides not only the best setting of the franchise but also the ultimate post-apocalyptic parkour sandbox.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Dying Light: The Beast is a strong redemption arc for Techland, delivering exceptional fun. Aside from a few bugs that will likely be patched soon, it offers real bang for your buck if you’re a fan of the FPS survival horror genre.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Dying Light: The Beast is a strong comeback for the series after the disappointment of the second installment. The game offers a short but thrilling story filled with impactful characters, with gameplay that blends action, parkour, and horror, bringing back the terrifying nighttime atmosphere the series is known for. The open world is smaller in scale but carefully designed, rich with details and side quests. The graphics have reached the highest level in the series’ history, despite some technical issues and the absence of ray tracing at launch. It can be said that The Beast represents the most cohesive and satisfying experience for fans of the series since its very beginning.”
read full review ↗
TheBigBois
Gamepressure
The Jimquisition
ZdobywcyGier.eu
Eternal Games
INDIANTVCZ
3DNews
PLAY Zine
GRYOnline.pl
The Nerd Stash
EmuGlx.org
Arabhardware …and 151 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Hotfix 1.6.3 - Restored Land EditionApr 23, 2026
- Hotfix 1.6.1 - Restored Land EditionApr 2, 2026
- Find out more about our biggest update yet!Dec 1, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Update 1.4 - Video Dev DiaryNov 28, 2025
- Update 1.4Nov 27, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Update - Patch 1.3Oct 30, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- HotfixOct 17, 2025
- Hotfix 1.2.4Oct 9, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- HOTFIX 1.2.3Sep 30, 2025
- Dying Light: The Beast Dev UpdateSep 27, 2025
- Hotfix UpdateSep 26, 2025
- Hotfix 1.2.1 just dropped on PCSep 22, 2025
- Incoming Hotfix — AnnouncementSep 20, 2025
- Dying Light Franchise Update - August 2025Aug 19, 2025