Dying Light

Dying Light combined two things that at first glance have nothing to do with each other, namely parkour and a zombie apocalypse, and squeezed exceptionally addictive gameplay out of that combination. Polish studio Techland set the game in the fictional city of Harran, where the player, an agent sent to retrieve a stolen document, gets caught up in fights between survivor communities and armed gangs. The story isn't what matters most, though, it's the feeling of movement: climbing along ledges, jumping between rooftops, and sliding evasions from a horde give the city a dynamic entirely different from typical action games.

The gameplay splits day and night into two different worlds. By day the infected are slow and can be avoided or dealt with using improvised weapons that wear out and must be crafted and upgraded from scavenged scrap. At night, fast and aggressive creatures wake up and chase the player across rooftops and alleyways alike, and the only solution is often to flee to the nearest safe house. This cycle creates tension that the player largely doses out themselves, since nighttime excursions bring significantly higher rewards. The entire campaign can also be played cooperatively with other players.

On PlayStation 4 the game felt generous thanks to a sprawling, vertically layered city, a smooth day-night transition, and convincing dusk lighting that alone stirs unease. Sound is one of the game's key tools, since the distant screams of nighttime creatures function as a merciless countdown. Contemporary reception was favorable, and thanks to long-term support and expansions Dying Light kept an active player base for many years after release. Today it is remembered as the title that defined the shape of parkour-driven action games and inspired numerous successors. The Following expansion additionally added a sprawling rural area and a modified buggy, pushing the gameplay another step further. Today Dying Light is easily accessible and remains one of the most enjoyable cooperative experiences on PlayStation 4.