One of My All-Time Favorite Action Games Is Free This Week

If you’re hunting for a new adrenaline rush—like, a game that makes your heart race—guess what? Dead Island 2 is yours for free on the Epic Games Store, but only for a bit. It usually costs about 50 bucks! Weird, right? Anyway, you’ve got until May 22, 2025. Mark it somewhere visible because, yeah, you’d totally forget otherwise. Just pop onto the Epic Games Store, and bam, it’s in your library. Even if you’re more of a console person, might as well snag it while you can, just in case.

I checked out Dead Island 2 when it dropped in April 2023—feels like ages ago—and gave it an almost perfect score. Not to toot my own horn, but I called it “an amazing action-horror game.” Did I mention I’m a sucker for zombie smashin’? This game is like a chaotic zombie party, whether you’re flying solo or grabbing a friend for co-op.

Oh, and for those obsessed with details: it’s a sequel picking up after the earlier games. This time, escape a zombie-cluttered LA. It’s all about, uh, creative melee combat—lots of zombie types, sneaky tactics, and environment hazards. Man, I always end up choosing the character who’s all about sneak attacks. Why? No clue, maybe just to ambush those brain-eaters with a surprise smackdown.

Throughout the game—do I need to spell this out?—you stack up skill cards for all sorts of quirky combat tricks. And, oh boy, weapon variety! I mean, imagine a sledgehammer wrapped in electric wires. Nice, huh? It’s like a playground full of crazy weapon mods and upgrades.

Let’s talk “Hell-A” — a.k.a. the game’s sandbox version of LA. It’s mind-blowingly fun. Between the goofy physics and absurd levels of gore animation—there’s a system for gore, and it’s got the wildest name: F.L.E.S.H. Brutal, but oddly satisfying. Chuck in some killer game design, hilarious B-movie vibes, and you’ve got dumb fun at its finest.

Bummer if you’re on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Steam, or PS5/PS4 ’cause the freebie isn’t available there, though Xbox Game Pass folks are in luck. There are discounts flying around as well, so it’s not full price if you decide to dive in elsewhere.

That’s all, for now. Somehow ended up rambling. Enjoy the chaos, if you dare.