TheDead Islandseries is finally set to return after 11 years with a new location, fresh zombie types, and six characters who need to make their way across Hell-A. Each of the six characters, called Slayers inDead Island 2, have their own backstories and reasons for being in the area. As with the first game,Dead Island 2players will likely have to pick one of the slayers at the start of the game, and while each have innate skills, the game will allow players to freely customize themselves to fit a preferred playstyle.
The six Slayers - Bruno, Dani, Amy, Jacob, Ryan, and Carla - will each have two innate skills at the start of the game, giving players a template to build off if they desire to do so. It’s likely that each of theDead IslandSlayers will have backstories play into the main narrative, either by providing information only they know or by having special missions that are directly related to each of their missions.
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Bruno
A Los Angeles local, Bruno spent much of his time before the outbreak pulling heists on spammers and con artists, using his skills as a hustler and his natural charisma. As withevery slayer inDead Island 2, Bruno has two innate skills: Backstab which boosts his damage when attacking zombies from behind, and Rapid Reprisal which boosts his agility and heavy attacks following a successful block or dodge. Backstab makes Bruno the perfect stealth character for players at the start ofDead Island 2and Rapid Reprisal will give him a boost when fighting human enemies.
Dani
Dani is a former roller derby player from Ireland with a headstrong attitude and a foul mouth, using her talent that once helped her plow through her opposition teams on the zombies instead.Dani’s two innate skills inDead Island 2are Bloodlust, which allows her to regain her health for killing zombies in quick succession, and Thunderstruck, an area-of-effect attack that triggers an explosion when she uses a heavy attack. As a result, Dani will make a solid brawler inDead Island 2, restoring health as she takes out zombies and using her heavy attack is she gets overwhelmed by their numbers.
Amy
A high-octane Paralympian from California, Amy has let go of the thrills from her athletic past in exchange for the thrills that can only come from dispatching zombies. Her innate skills - Relief Pitcher which allows her to regain stamina for every successful weapon throw, and Divide & Conquer which boosts her damage against isolated zombies - are perfect for new players. With these skills, Amy is able to keep her distance from largergroups of zombies inDead Island 2, which lets her finish off zombies that she can isolate using gates or traps to occupy the rest of the group.
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Jacob
Hailing from London, Jacob gave up his successful job as a stockbroker to pursue his true dream of becoming a professional stuntman in Hollywood.Jacob’s twoDead Islandinnate skillsare Feral, which gives him a stackable boost to damage for successful attacks in quick succession, and Critical Gains, which gives him a moderate boost to critical damage when his stamina is low. These skills make Jacob the perfect brawler inDead Island 2and the best character for any player that is not afraid to rush into battles against multiple zombies.
Ryan
A former exotic dancer from Fresno, California, Ryan is on a mission to find his missing brother who he has not seen since the outbreak, braving the streets of Hell-A to ensure his brother’s safety. His innate skills are Retaliation which gives him a boost to his force stat after a successful dodge or block, and Seesaw which allows him to regain health after knocking down a zombie.Ryan is likely the heavy-hitting tank character ofDead Island 2, capable of dealing with large groups comfortably and using his health regeneration skill whenever he finds himself in sticky situations.
Carla
Last but not least there is Carla, a former motorcycle stunt rider who once found joy in jumping through rings of fire, now takes pleasure in slaying zombies throughout Hell-A. Dig Deep and Mosh Pit, her two innate skills inDead Island 2, are well suited for the current situation in L.A., with the former boosting her toughness stat when her health is critical and the latter boosting her damage when close to multiple zombies. Thispotentially makes Carla a great character inDead Island 2for dealing with larger groups and surviving even the most dangerous encounters.
The six slayers inDead Island 2will undoubtedly have their own stories and personalities that players will be able to explore. While the buffs given to these slayers at the start of the game could dictate the future skills assigned to each of them,theDead Island 2gameplay traileralso mentions the ability to customize each slayer as they see fit, so some may be able to turn Bruno into a heavy-hitting tank. Whether the player enjoys seeking out hordes to eliminate, or prefers to remain hidden as they get around Hell-A, the six slayers are perfectly equipped to give each player their desired playstyle right at the start.
Dead Island 2is scheduled to release on July 24, 2025 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X\S.
