Is Dead Island 2 open world?

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How open is Dead Island 2's Hell-A setting?

Is Dead Island 2 open world?
(Image credit: Deep Silver)

Considering previous games in the series, the question of whether Dead Island 2 is open world or not feels like it should be obvious. But it's more complicated because it both is and isn't, with a hub system of limited but open levels to explore. This hybrid setting in Dead Island 2 is a post-apocalyptic version of Los Angeles now known as Hell-A, and with so many iconic locations contained there it's understandable if you want to see everything it has to offer, or pick your own routes to objectives without restrictions. To help explain the way this sandbox is configured, here's everything you need to know about the open world setting in Dead Island 2 and how to navigate it.

Does Dead Island 2 have an open world setting?

Dead Island 2 open world hub

(Image credit: Deep Silver)

Basically, yes, Dead Island 2 is open world, however there are caveats to that. The setting of Hell-A is divided into 10 distinct locations, or zones, which you'll move between by passing through Zone Exits such as military checkpoints. You'll gradually unlock these locations as you progress through the story, and once you reach Venice Beach you'll unlock Dead Island 2 fast travel to quickly move between areas by interacting with maps in certain places.

Within each of these locations you have open world freedom to explore, and there are plenty of secrets to be discovered if you go off the beaten path. Objectives will often have waypoints marked, but in most cases you can plot your own route for how you want to reach them. That being said, you will find obstacles blocking off certain routes to keep you contained within each area, and some zones are much more open than others – while Venice Beach and Ocean Avenue have huge spaces to run around in, locations such as Brentwood Sewer and The Metro are little more than a series of interconnected corridors. So don't expect to find endless expanses in Dead Island 2, but there's more than enough open space to investigate freely.

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Iain Wilson
Iain Wilson
Guides Editor

Iain originally joined Future in 2012 to write guides for CVG, PSM3, and Xbox World, before moving on to join GamesRadar in 2013 as Guides Editor. His words have also appeared in OPM, OXM, PC Gamer, GamesMaster, and SFX. He is better known to many as ‘Mr Trophy’, due to his slightly unhealthy obsession with amassing intangible PlayStation silverware, and he now has well over 900 Platinum pots weighing down the shelves of his virtual award cabinet. He does not care for Xbox Achievements.