How long is Dead Island 2? Main story length & time to complete

Nathan Warby
Dead Island 2 slayer being chased by zombies

Players have been waiting years to get their hands on Dead Island, and with the release now upon us, many will be wondering how long the game is. Here’s everything we know about how many hours it takes to beat Dead Island 2.

Nine years on from its first reveal, Dead Island 2 finally arrives on April 21. The sequel is looking to build on the successful original, bringing six new Slayers with unique abilities and a bigger multiplayer component.

But with plenty more features and a gorgeous new map to explore, players are wondering how long this next zombie-killing adventure will last.

Here’s everything you need to know about how long it takes to beat Dead Island 2, whether you’re sticking to the main story or want to see and do everything.

How many hours to beat Dead Island 2?

The developers have confirmed that it will take the average player around 20 hours to beat Dead Island 2, assuming they take in some of the optional content on offer as well as the main story.

When asked about the length of the game in an interview with wccftech, Dead Island 2 Art Director, Adam Olsson, said: “I don’t know exactly. I think we do have guidance stating that if you take part in some secondary missions and other activities, the whole experience is around 20 hours. That’s what we have.”

Amy on counter in Dead Island 2Dead Island 2 offers plenty of objectives away from the main story.

This means that most players will roll credits after around 20 hours, but your mileage could vary depending on how you choose to play. Those who mainline the story missions will likely reach the end much quicker, whereas a completionist run will take closer to 30 or 40 hours.

Dead Island 2 features plenty of side missions and collectibles to take players off the beaten path, so the number of hours to beat depends on how much time you invest in optional objectives.

There are also six different Slayers, all with their own special abilities, so there’s plenty of replayability once the end has been reached.

Whether you just want to rush through the campaign or tick off every mission, players can rest assured that there are hours of zombie-slaying fun to be had in Dead Island 2.


For more on Dead Island 2, be sure to check out our other guides:

Is Dead Island 2 coming to Steam? | Dead Island 2 pre-order bonuses | Is Dead Island 2 on Game Pass? | Will Dead Island 2 be crossplay?

Image credit: Deep Silver Dambuster Studios

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About The Author

Nathan is a Senior Writer at CharlieIntel. He’s an expert in EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, and Overwatch, as well as superhero games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man. With a master's degree in Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University, he worked as a Trainee Reporter for Derbyshire Live before moving into games media, with bylines at Dexerto, Cultured Vultures, and more. You can contact Nathan by email at [email protected].