Dead Island

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Dead Island is hard to replace: few games combine deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 13 gameplay attributes and found 53 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Dead Island 2, Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition and Grounded lead the list, with Dead Island 2 reaching a 99/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Dead Island special.

iRank71/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

Tags

DarkSoloMultiplayer

Year 2011Dev Techland

Quick answer

The closest game to Dead Island is Dead Island 2 — scoring 99/100 on our similarity scale. Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition and Grounded follow close behind.

#1Dead Island 299 #2Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition97 #3Grounded93 #4Chernobylite94 #5Warhammer 40,000: Darktide95

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Games like Dead Island

53 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

#1Dead Island 2

99

Dead Island 2

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

Co-opSoloMultiplayerDarkHorrorPost-ApocalypticSkill TreeFirst Person

Steam👍 77%· 26KIGDB74· 6OC75· 159

Year 2023Dev Deep Silver Dambuster Studios · Deep SilverOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, horror tension and open world exploration

Steam Epic Xbox

#2Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition

97

Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

Co-opMultiplayerSoloDarkHorrorPost-ApocalypticFirst Person

Steam👍 79%· 213KRAWG👍 65%· 444MC77IGDB77· 11OC76· 184

Year 2022Dev Techland · Techland PublishingPlaytime ~23hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and survival mechanics

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, horror tension and strong narrative focus, while skipping shooter

Steam Epic Xbox

93

Grounded

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

MultiplayerSoloCo-opHorrorFirst Person

Steam👍 90%· 94KIGDB78· 5OC82· 58

Year 2022Dev Obsidian Entertainment · Xbox Game StudiosOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, survival mechanics and horror setting

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, horror tension and sandbox freedom, while skipping action RPG combat

94

Chernobylite

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerCo-opDarkHorrorPost-ApocalypticFirst Person

Steam👍 82%· 15KIGDB76· 3OC76· 104

Year 2021Dev The Farm 51 · All In! GamesOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, survival mechanics and shooter

≠ Where it differs: brings horror tension, adventure storytelling and deep simulation, while skipping action RPG combat

#5Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

95

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

Co-opSoloMultiplayerDarkHorrorSkill TreeFirst Person

Steam👍 71%· 132KIGDB78· 5OC75· 80

Year 2022Dev FatsharkOn Xbox · PC · PS5

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter

≠ Where it differs: brings horror tension, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus, while skipping survival mechanics

#6Killing Floor 2

92

Killing Floor 2

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

MultiplayerCo-opSoloDarkHorrorPost-ApocalypticSkill TreeFirst Person

Steam👍 88%· 129KIGDB81· 13OC78· 62

Year 2016Dev Tripwire Interactive · Iceberg InteractiveOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter

≠ Stands apart with horror tension, strong narrative focus and melee combat

Steam Epic Xbox

#7Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide

91

Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

Co-opSoloMultiplayerDarkPost-ApocalypticHorrorSkill TreeFirst Person

Steam👍 80%· 21KIGDB80· 8OC77· 45

Year 2015Dev FatsharkOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, horror tension and strong narrative focus

90

Dying Light

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

Co-opMultiplayerSoloDarkHorrorPost-ApocalypticFirst Person

Steam👍 95%· 486KRAWG👍 84%· 1.4KMC74IGDB72· 17OC74· 117

Year 2015Dev Techland · Warner Bros. InteractivePlaytime ~22hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and survival mechanics

≠ Its own twist: horror tension, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus, while skipping skill tree progression

#9Dead Island: Riptide

92

Dead Island: Riptide

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerDarkHorrorSkill TreeFirst Person

IGDB64· 11

Year 2013Dev Techland · Deep SilverOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter

≠ Where it differs: brings open world exploration, melee combat and exploration and discovery, while skipping post-apocalyptic world

#10Dark and Darker

92

Dark and Darker

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerCo-opFirst PersonPvP

Steam👍 65%· 83K

Year 2023Dev IRONMACEOn PC

✓ Fits the first-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, shooter and first-person shooting

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, combat tactical and stealth mechanics, while skipping action RPG combat

#11Hellgate: London

92

Hellgate: London

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerDarkHorrorPost-ApocalypticSkill TreeFirst Person

Steam👍 57%· 2.3KIGDB70· 2

Year 2007Dev Flagship Studios · HanbitSoftOn PC

✓ Fits the first-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter

≠ Where it differs: brings third-person shooting, strong narrative focus and procedural generation, while skipping co op

#12Arena Breakout: Infinite

86

Arena Breakout: Infinite

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

MultiplayerCo-opFirst PersonOnlinePvP

Steam👍 74%· 55K

Year 2025Dev Morefun Studio GroupOn PC

✓ Fits the first-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, shooter and first-person shooting

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, combat tactical and online features, while skipping action RPG combat

#13The Ship: Murder Party

86

The Ship: Murder Party

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

MultiplayerSoloFirst PersonMeleeStealth

Steam👍 86%· 6.0KRAWG👍 41%· 179MC76IGDB80· 2

Year 2006Dev Outerlight · Blazing GriffinPlaytime ~3hOn PC

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, shooter and first-person shooting

≠ Stands apart with strong narrative focus, melee combat and stealth mechanics, while skipping action RPG combat

83

Arx Fatalis

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloDarkHorrorPost-ApocalypticFirst Person

Steam👍 88%· 2.5KRAWG👍 79%· 171MC77IGDB78· 2

Year 2002Dev Arkane Studios · Bethesda SoftworksPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, puzzle design and strong narrative focus, while skipping action RPG combat

#15Stalcraft: X

85

Stalcraft: X

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

MultiplayerCo-opFirst PersonOnlineOpen World

Steam👍 73%· 99K

Year 2022Dev EXBOOn PC

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, shooter and first-person shooting

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, open world exploration and setting scifi, while skipping action RPG combat

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The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

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The Outer Worlds

The Outer Worlds

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Bright Memory: Infinite

Bright Memory: Infinite

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RoboCop: Rogue City

RoboCop: Rogue City

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The Elder Scrolls: Arena

The Elder Scrolls: Arena

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Atomic Heart

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Elite Dangerous

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ULTRAKILL

ULTRAKILL

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Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077

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Rankings in the same genre

Best First-Person Action RPGs Best Action RPGs Best RPG Games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Dead Island?: The closest game to Dead Island is Dead Island 2, scoring 99/100 on our similarity scale. They share 13 gameplay attributes, including deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Dead Island?: The three closest games to Dead Island are: 1. Dead Island 2 (99/100, 13 shared attributes) 2. Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition (97/100, 10 shared attributes) 3. Grounded (93/100, 7 shared attributes). All share Dead Island's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 53 candidates across 13 dimensions.
Is Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition similar to Dead Island?: Yes, very much so — Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition scores 97/100 similarity to Dead Island. They share 10 attributes, including deep RPG systems and action RPG combat. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What RPG games are similar to Dead Island?: The best RPG games similar to Dead Island are Dead Island 2, Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition, Grounded and Chernobylite. All share the RPG genre alongside other key Dead Island attributes like deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and shooter.
How is similarity to Dead Island calculated?: We compare Dead Island against every game in our catalog using 13 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Dead Island experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.
Are there free games similar to Dead Island?: Yes — Path of Exile is free and scores well on similarity to Dead Island. It's a great way to test whether the play style clicks before investing in other paid titles.