Dying Light is an open world, action horror game set in the large city of Harran, influenced by ancient Turkey, overrun by a mysterious epidemic. The protagonist, Kyle Crane, is an undercover GRE operative sent inside a quarantine zone to neutralize the rogue operative Kadir Sulaiman, but can also choose to help survivors instead.
The focus is on melee weapons and crafting items using gathered supplies, similar to Dead Island . The game features a stamina bar that prevents continuous hitting, and guns can be used, but sound attracts others. Players must progress through the game to level up their character's abilities in the skill trees for agility, power, and survival.
Progressing through the city is furthered by unlocking safe zones where zombies cannot enter. During the day, Crane mainly needs to scavenge, locate and save survivors, explore, set up traps, and locate air drops. At night, the game's pace changes with more focus on stealth as slow-moving zombies become agile and deadly.
The game features a dynamic weather system and offers various ways to counter the aggressive zombies, such as using UV light to slow them down. Experience points are doubled at night, making the game harder but rewarding for players who persevere.
Dying Light offers an online co-op mode for up to four players, including the Be the Zombie mode with asymmetrical multiplayer where one player-controlled powerful Night Hunter can invade another player's game at night.
The game was updated on 9th February to an Enhanced Edition version for all platforms through a free patch, replacing the default version.