20 Most Anticipated Video Games Of 2023
18. Dead Island 2
Platforms: PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, PC
Just look at that screenshot. Blue skies, a shambling zombie and a sledgehammer to smash its head in.
Sometimes, that's all you really want from a game.
Dead Island 2's troubled, eight year long development finally comes to an end next year as Dambuster Studios finish the job Deep Silver started. There were various times the game looked to join the likes of Silent Hills and Prey 2 in the dumpster of video game history, and Dambuster Studios deserve huge props for ensuring Dead Island's sequel will meet a kinder fate.
Granted, Dead Island 2 doesn't look like it will be the Next Big Thing in gaming. But then, it's not trying to be. The developers have been remarkably candid about wanting to create a gross, enjoyable B-movie of a game. One where the zombies, not humanity, are the monsters, and the closest thing to a big question is "Should I smack this zombie with a shovel or a crowbar?"
Dead Island 2 looks to be good dumb fun, and there will always be room in our hearts - and our hard drives - for games that deliver exactly that.