Dying Light: The Beast is now less than a month away from release, and fans of Techland’s survival horror franchise are sure to be excited to dive into the new adventure that the studio is bringing to them. With Klye Crane returning as the protagonist, taking over from Dying Light 2: Stay Human’s Aiden Caldwell, the Castor Woods are sure to bring new terrors and narrative twists to the table.
If you’re thinking about picking up a copy after the latest Gamescom 2025 showcase but are on the fence about forking over your hard-earned cash, read on to see if this one’s going to be a good fit for you.
Without further ado, let’s dive into a few things you must know before you buy Dying Light: The Beast.
1. New Levels of Realism
Techland has pulled out every trick up its sleeve to make the Castor Woods look and feel like a real-world setting, complete with varying biomes and a lot of attention to detail. It’s a frankly astounding level of detail, made all the more amazing with the revelation that several secrets and in-game objects were crafted from personal possessions of the studio’s team.
The Gamescom 2025 showcase featured a blanket that belonged to an employee’s grandmother, a wholesome way to make the team behind this gorgeous open-world a part of the adventure that they crafted. They further elaborated on how several locations in the game are places that many of the studio’s people actually grew up in, a facet that lends both authenticity and credibility to the experience.
2. The Volatiles Are Quite, Well, Volatile
The game’s trademark day and night cycles are making their presence felt in The Beast, with zombies known as Volatiles that can be quite a threat if you take them on unprepared. Not only are they stronger and faster than normal zombies, but they’re also quite intelligent in how they deal with your presence.
They don’t let you get away as easily as their lesser counterparts, and can hunt you down with their heightened sight and smell. Making things worse is the fact that they’re also quite good at parkour and can easily keep up with even the most skilled players. The Beast is certainly living up to its name as far as its threats are concerned.
3. A Beast of Your Own
Speaking of beasts, Kyle’s Beast Mode could be more than just a Hulk-esque transformation that gives him an edge in combat. While that’s certainly part of the attraction, the developers were quite enthusiastic to point out that the Beast Mode could come with a lot of utility that could have you wondering about the right time to activate it in any given situation.
The boost it gives to Kyle’s abilities could also let him reach otherwise inaccessible areas in the world, uncovering secrets and perhaps upgraded weapons to gain an advantage over his foes over the course of his adventure. He’s also slated to gain more control over it as his adventure progresses, potentially mirroring the previous game’s narrative struggle of embracing power versus trying to preserve his humanity.
4. You And Your Army
Co-op multiplayer with up to 4 other players is making a return in The Beast, letting you indulge your most primal hunting instincts to unleash your best attacks against zombie hordes.
It’s a great choice on Techland’s past, showcasing the studio’s commitment to making its upcoming title the definitive Dying Light experience for its players.
5. Mind Your Aim
Combat in Dying Light: The Beast is also getting some improvements, with Kyle able to aim attacks at enemy weak points in the heat of battle to either disable them or quickly remove them from the battlefield in a pinch.
You have the ability to aim attacks at enemy limbs, for example, hacking them off in a glorious and very satisfying display of blood and guts to render them less effective against your overwhelming attacks. It adds a layer of strategy to every fight, while also making each battle unpredictable. A tactical approach to each enemy could see you tearing through zombie hordes with style and quite a bit of glee.
6. Explore With Abandon
Considering the size and scope of the Castor Woods, The Beast features a reworked stamina system that factors in Kyle’s new abilities. You don’t lose stamina when you’re out and about exploring the world, using your parkour skills to traverse it and explore every nook and cranny it has to offer.
However, you still need to manage your stamina in the heat of battle, making The Beast a very intuitive experience that does not limit you in ways that ruin the experience. The new stamina system is a great way for the game to play to its strengths on every front.
7. Watch Out for the Weather
Another facet of The Beast’s attempt to bring an authentic and immersive experience to the table is the manner in which its weather system affects its gameplay loop. You’re going to have to keep an eye on the conditions in which you take on zombies and use the best tools for every situation in order to emerge victorious.
For instance, Molotov cocktails are not going to cut it when you use them in the rain. However, electric tools could be that much more potent when they are used in water. It’s a great way to have players using every tool at their disposal, adding a layer of nuance to combat while also making the entire experience feel that much more immersive.
8. More Dying Light Dilemmas
Techland’s representatives were quite enthusiastic to point out the presence of the franchise’s trademark dilemmas in a conversation with IGN. Showcasing an early portion of the game, the developers elaborated on a side mission that involved Crane being tasked with identifying the reason for the water supply a group of NPCs were reliant on being cut off.
With several ways to uncover the truth and several options at his disposal, it’s clear that Techland’s penchant for creating impossible choices is very much a part of the experience. Those choices could very well influence the game’s narrative and Kyle’s eventual fate if past titles in the franchise are any indication.
9. Kyle Crane’s Darker Side
The Kyle Crane we embody in The Beast may not be the one we’re familiar with from the first game. It seems that he’s had quite a rough time in the aftermath of that title and events in Dying Light: The Following. Being tortured and experimented upon, it seems that his character is going to be more layered and a whole lot darker than his appearance in the first game if its trailers are any indication.
10. An Arsenal of Weapons
The IGN interview we mentioned earlier brought another significant detail to light: the existence of more than a hundred different weapons for Kyle to wield against the zombies. From your standard fare axes, wrenches, and the like, to medieval swords and a host of firearms, there are several ways to kill, maim, and otherwise seriously mess up zombies that try to obstruct Kyle’s quest for revenge.
We’re particularly stoked to find out first katana, or samurai sword, as the developers call it!
11. More Responsive Enemies
With great weapons come greater threats. The zombies you will have to face down don’t just rely on their strength in numbers, with Dying Light: The Beast bringing a lot of nuance to how its threats respond to your presence in the Castor Woods.
Expect zombies to react to signs of your presence, such as the sound of a firearm being discharged, and to try and pursue you once they know you’re in the vicinity. It’s a system that could work very well with the new combat mechanics, weapon variety, and of course, Beast Mode, to bring a lot of tension and exhilarating fun to your time with the game.
12. PS5 Pro Enhancements
We already spoke to franchise director Tymon Smektala, who vouched for PSSR as one of the most defining features of the PS5 Pro. That same conversation also highlighted his enthusiasm to make the most of the PS5 Pro’s advanced capabilities to make The Beast a literal beast of an experience on Sony’s gaming powerhouse.
While there’s a lack of information on how the console’s prowess is going to be used to elevate the experience at the time of writing, we expect those improvements to be quite significant.
13. Dialing Back The RPG Trappings
Despite the presence of a rather large open world, it seems that the story in Dying Light: The Beast could be more linear than the one on offer in Stay Human, allowing Techland to present a story that’s more focused on Crane’s quest for revenge, which could effectively tie the franchise’s disparate narratives together.
That’s a welcome move considering that there’s a lot to resolve for players who have been invested in the franchise’s complex lor,e while giving newcomers an adventure that they can just go ahead and enjoy from start to finish without worrying too much about their build. The decision also fits well with the revamped gameplay loop, allowing Kyle to just go all-in on his revenge-filled rampage through Castor Woods in his search for The Baron.
14. A Return to the Franchise’s Roots
Moving away from an RPG-oriented gameplay loop, The Beast is also slated to bring back its horror elements. From the terrifying Volatiles to a feeling of terrifying uncertainty when you set out at night, this is an experience that could be quite the treat for the adrenaline junkies among you.
Expect a lot of tension and suspense when you explore the world, with the night’s darkness bringing a suffocating sensation of danger at every turn.
15. Better Gun Combat
Guns are better in Dying Light: The Beast, perhaps the best in the series so far. They sound right, kick properly, and a close-range shotgun blast really knocks foes back. However, this isn’t a military shooter, as the soldiers and gear appear because a local boss runs a private army. The game is still zombie-first and choice-driven: use melee, throwables, ranged weapons, or even turn the horde on your enemy. Techland insists that the improved gunplay is an upgrade, not the main focus.