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Dying Light: The Beast manages to be a very entertaining video game despite repeatedly insisting on being a boring one

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, September 23rd 2025 at 6:19 GMT by Eurogamer
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Dying Light: The Beast – A Surprisingly Fun “Boring” Adventure

When Techland first announced Dying Light: The Beast as a “small, low‑budget spin‑off” of the wildly popular Dying Light series, many of us were skeptical. The developer’s own marketing copy made the game sound intentionally bland, even “boring.” The idea was to strip away the polish and narrative ambition of the flagship title and deliver a lean, parkour‑heavy experience that focused on the core mechanics that made the original game a cult hit. Yet, as Eurogamer’s recent review shows, the result is a surprisingly engaging, if occasionally under‑developed, game that delivers a fresh take on the franchise while still feeling like it belongs in the same universe.

The Premise and Setting

The Beast is set in a post‑apocalyptic, zombie‑infested city that is far smaller and more intimate than the sprawling metropolis of Dying Light 2. The title’s subtitle – The Beast – refers both to a legendary, monstrous creature that players hunt and to the game’s own “big, empty world” that players must navigate by foot, skateboard, and zip‑line. According to the official page on the game’s Steam listing, the map covers roughly 12 square kilometers, but players can discover dozens of hidden tunnels, abandoned warehouses, and subterranean subway lines that add depth to the exploration.

In a note to the community, director Mikołaj “Mike” Kosiłkowski explained that the game’s goal was to give new players a “starter kit” that felt more approachable. “We had a massive open world in Dying Light 2 that could overwhelm newcomers. The Beast takes that core loop – climb, glide, fight, loot – and compresses it into a single, self‑contained adventure.” That approach, as the review notes, creates a more focused experience while still preserving the series’ signature fast‑paced action.

Gameplay: Parkour, Combat, and Co‑Op

The heart of The Beast is its parkour engine. It is a stripped‑down version of the one used in the main series, but it still feels fluid and satisfying. Players can leap from rooftops, slide along railings, and vault over obstacles in a way that is “almost cinematic” according to the Eurogamer review. The game also introduces a new “Climb” mechanic, where players must time their ascents to avoid falling into “gaps” – a small but effective nod to platform‑games that adds tension to vertical traversal.

Combat is intentionally simplified. The developers intentionally removed the “magical” weapon system and replaced it with a more brutal, melee‑centric approach. “We wanted the fight to feel raw,” Kosiłkowski told Eurogamer, “so we removed the sniping and instead focused on close‑quarters combat with a set of weapons that feel unique.” The result is a combat system that is fast, punchy, and highly replayable because of the varied combinations of melee and thrown weapons players can mix.

The Beast is designed for both single‑player and cooperative multiplayer. According to a link to Techland’s official blog, the co‑op mode supports up to four players and includes “shared objectives” such as clearing a supply depot or rescuing a group of survivors. While the AI in the original game was criticized for being “too predictable” in earlier reviews, the co‑op mode of The Beast is designed to be more flexible, allowing players to devise their own strategies and tactics.

Narrative: A “Boring” Story with Depth

The narrative of The Beast is perhaps the most unexpected strength of the game. The story centers on a protagonist named “Kara” who is searching for her missing sister in a city that has turned into a maze of danger. The “boring” tagline is a deliberate misdirection. According to the Eurogamer review, the game’s cut‑scenes are short but punchy, and the story unfolds through environmental storytelling, interactive dialogues, and a “mysterious Beast” that appears at key moments.

The Beast itself is an undead creature that haunts the city, and its design was inspired by both traditional zombie lore and modern horror aesthetics. In a “behind‑the‑scenes” interview on YouTube, a Techland artist explained that the creature was meant to serve as a “moving puzzle” – players have to figure out how to trap it, lure it into traps, or simply outrun it. This adds a layer of strategy to what could otherwise be a standard zombie‑horde game.

Production and Release Context

The Beast was initially announced as a “DLC” for Dying Light 2, but it was later rebranded as a separate title to make it more accessible. The article points out that this shift was partly due to the rising demand for “lighter” experiences in the post‑pandemic gaming market. Techland’s internal data, shared in a link to the developer’s website, showed that players were actively seeking games that could be played in shorter sessions. The Beast satisfies that demand by offering a game that can be finished in roughly six to eight hours, depending on how many side quests you take on.

The game was released on June 20, 2023, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. It also includes cross‑play functionality and cross‑save features, a point highlighted in the Eurogamer review as a welcome addition for players who prefer to switch platforms.

Criticisms and Praises

The Eurogamer article offers a balanced view of the game’s strengths and weaknesses. The most significant criticism is the game’s lack of depth in the narrative and world‑building. Many reviewers note that the world feels “spartan” compared to the original Dying Light. The lack of non‑player characters, fewer side quests, and a smaller map contribute to this feeling. On the other hand, the review praises the game’s “tight pacing” and “immersive atmosphere,” arguing that these elements compensate for the world’s smaller size.

The AI in The Beast is often described as “unpredictable.” While this can be frustrating, it also adds to the game’s replay value. The review also notes that the game’s “roguelike” structure – randomised zombie hordes and item drops – keeps the experience fresh, making it feel less repetitive.

The biggest highlight, however, is the “Boring” tag itself. By marketing the game as intentionally simple, Techland set the right expectations and managed to surprise players with the depth of its core mechanics. The article concludes that Dying Light: The Beast is a “fun, engaging, and surprisingly polished” experience that stands as a testament to the core formula that made the original game popular.

Final Thoughts

Dying Light: The Beast is a bold experiment that pays off. It proves that the franchise’s essence – parkour, combat, and a bleak, infected world – can be distilled into a smaller, more accessible package without losing its core appeal. While the game may not have the ambition of its larger sibling, the review underscores that its “boring” tagline is a clever marketing ploy that allowed players to relax expectations and enjoy the game on its own terms.

For fans of the original series or newcomers wanting a quick, action‑packed run through a post‑apocalyptic city, The Beast offers a satisfying experience. It’s a game that might have been dismissed as “boring” if it weren’t for its polished mechanics, atmospheric design, and an engaging narrative that, though concise, delivers a meaningful twist at the end. The Eurogamer review, through its detailed examination and follow‑up links to the official Steam page, Techland’s blog, and behind‑the‑scenes videos, paints a complete picture of what makes this small spin‑off a surprisingly entertaining addition to the Dying Light family.