After a wait of nearly a decade and a rather troubled development history, Dead Island 2 is finally here. The game, of course, is full of zombies to slay in the most disparate ways and is packed with a good dose of dark humor, which contributes to the over-the-top experience this title has to offer.

　　While the first hours into Hell-A might seem relatively straightforward, there are actually some details that, if known before starting to play, can make all the difference. You can find them all in our Dead Island 2 guide with tips and tricks for beginners.

　　

Aim for the legs

You’ll get to fight against dozen of zombies since the first hours of the game, and they can easily kill you if you don’t come prepared. As you will quickly learn, their head isn’t the only sweet spot to hit if you want to finish them off fast. Dead Island 2 offers a wide range of options to eliminate the hordes of undead hunting you, and breaking their legs seems one of the most effective ways to neutralize them. This won’t kill them instantly but will slow them down considerably. Moreover, it will allow you to perform a brutal Skull Stomp by pressing the dedicated button when the enemy has less than half its health left.

　　

Choose your preferred weapons carefully

Dead Island 2 offers plenty of weapons to use against enemies, each with unique stats and characteristics. You can find knives, swords, katanas, crowbars, axes, pipe wrenches, and much more and quickly equip them from the weapon wheel. That said, your choice shouldn’t be based solely on the item’s power, as many aspects need to be considered. Weapons in Dead Island 2 belong to four categories: Maiming, Frenzy, Bulldozer, and Headhunter.

　　Weapons that fall under the first profile deal extra damage to limbs; all hits on arms and legs are critical, and you can maim zombies easily with them. Frenzy weapons are the perfect choice for those who like to hit fast, no matter which part of the undead’s body they hit. They allow you to land consecutive critical hits for a short time. Bulldozer weapons are a great resource against large groups of enemies, as heavy attacks will always grant critical hits and also deliver additional stability damage. Headhunter weapons, finally, are the perfect pick for players that like to break zombies’ heads, no matter what. Every successful strike on the enemy’s skulls equals a critical hit.

　　

Exploit the environment to your advantage

Dead Island 2 lets you kill zombies in many ways, making your adventure an absolute blast. You can rely on your weapon and slay them with the most traditional approach, or go creative and exploit the environment to your advantage. For example, you can lure enemies into a pool and throw a battery in the water to electro-conduct them or pour a jerrycan full of fuel and ignite your foes with fire. You have plenty of options and should check your surroundings carefully to take advantage of them fully. Some zombies may be resistant or even immune to certain types of damage, but this doesn’t apply to most of them during the game's first hours, so you have all the time to learn which attacks represent the best option against specific enemies.

　　

Knock back zombies with a kick

Early on, you learn to knock back zombies with a well-placed kick by pressing the dedicated button. This will significantly help you during your first hours in the game, as you will be able to momentarily stop them from attacking you and have a chance to damage them with your preferred melee weapon. The kick also slightly lowers the enemies’ health, so don’t forget you have this valuable resource at your disposal. It won’t work against all types of zombies, but it will be enough for the standard enemies. As you progress in the game, you will eventually unlock new skills to improve this move further and make it even more effective.

　　

Always have fuses with you

As you explore LA looking for resources and crafting material, you will eventually come across locked doors that can only be accessed by placing a fuse inside the fusebox nearby. The best loot is hidden behind these doors, so stock up on fuses before exploring or starting a new mission. Unfortunately, killed zombies won’t drop them, and the only way to get your hands on fuses is by buying them from a trader. They cost 1500 dollars each, but the investment is totally worth it.

　　Take your time to become familiar with the game mechanics and your character’s unique skills because you won’t be able to change your slayer once you confirm your selection. You can, however, always start a new playthrough with another character, as you have different save slots available, one for each of them. If you are looking for more tips on the game, stay tuned! More Dead Island 2 guides are coming soon.