Waiting for Dying Light: The Beast can feel like a test of survival all on its own. But instead of aimlessly wandering your backlog, you can walk a purposeful journey on the Player’s Path to Dying Light: The Beast.
This series charts five games that define the roots of survival horror, showcase innovations in movement and melee combat, and highlight Techland’s own experiments leading to their highly anticipated sequel. For The Beast, your path blends classic survival horror, genre-defining open-world design, and emotionally resonant zombie narratives, all to sharpen your instincts for what’s coming.
Resident Evil 4 (2005)
Modern survival horror owes much to Resident Evil 4. Its tight combat design, resource management, and terrifying atmosphere redefined what it meant to survive in a world overrun by monsters. The DNA of tense encounters and tactical resource play is still alive in today’s zombie games.
Takeaway: Understand the modern roots of survival horror action before stepping into Techland’s undead playground.
Mirror’s Edge (2008)
While not horror, Mirror’s Edge proved first-person parkour could be fluid, thrilling, and immersive. Its movement systems directly influenced how Techland approached traversal, turning Dying Light into more than just another zombie brawler.
Takeaway: Experience the DNA of movement that made Dying Light’s parkour possible.
Dead Island (2011)
Before Dying Light, Techland experimented with open-world melee survival in Dead Island. It introduced weapon crafting, RPG progression, and chaotic co-op zombie slaying. Though rough around the edges, it laid the foundation that Dying Light would refine.
Takeaway: See Techland’s prototype — the ideas that grew into their defining franchise.
Dying Light (2015)
Here is the breakthrough. Dying Light fused Dead Island’s melee combat with Mirror’s Edge’s parkour and layered in a terrifying day-night cycle. It pushed the survival horror genre into true open-world territory and cemented Techland as innovators.
Takeaway: The essential centerpiece. Everything in The Beast builds upon the foundation of Dying Light.
The Last of Us Part II (2020)
Though more narrative-driven, The Last of Us Part II offers a grounded, brutal take on survival. Its stealth, visceral combat, and emotionally heavy atmosphere echo the tone Techland is aiming for in The Beast — a world where the monsters are both human and infected.
Takeaway: Arrive at The Beast with the emotional readiness to face horror and humanity alike.
Recap: The Player’s Path to Dying Light: The Beast
| Order | Game | Role in the Path | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Resident Evil 4 | Modern survival horror roots | 2005 |
| 2 | Mirror’s Edge | The parkour movement foundation | 2008 |
| 3 | Dead Island | Techland’s prototype for melee survival | 2011 |
| 4 | Dying Light | The breakthrough — parkour and open-world survival | 2015 |
| 5 | The Last of Us Part II | Emotional bridge into brutal survival horror | 2020 |
Final Thoughts
Player’s Path isn’t just a backlog checklist, it’s a curated journey. By following this path, you’ll experience the roots of survival horror, the birth of first-person parkour, and the evolution of Techland’s own design philosophy.
When Dying Light: The Beast finally unleashes its monsters, you won’t just be ready to fight — you’ll carry the lessons, atmosphere, and instincts from the games that paved the way. Until then, check out our Games of the Week to see what else can sharpen your survival skills before launch.