Dead Island: Epidemic
Dead Island: Epidemic is a free-to-play, hack-and-slash spin on the MOBA formula, set inside the Dead Island universe. Instead of traditional lane pushing, it focuses on quick isometric brawls, scavenging, and co-op survival across the zombie-ridden island of Amaia, with players controlling infected survivors who have retained their humanity.
 | Publisher: Deep Silver Playerbase: Medium Type: MOBA Release Date: November 20, 2014 (NA/EU) Shut Down Date: October 15, 2015 Pros: +Easy to pick up for newcomers. +A solid spread of playable survivors. +Entertaining co-op-focused action. +Surprisingly polished presentation. Cons: -Earning enough points for new characters can feel like a grind. -Movement and ability inputs may feel clunky at first. |
Dead Island: Epidemic Overview
Dead Island: Epidemic drops you into Amaia, an island where supplies are scarce, zombies are everywhere, and other survivors are not necessarily allies. Branded as a ZOMBA (Zombie Online Multiplayer Battle Arena), the game blends top-down arena combat with scavenging and light crafting, asking you to juggle PvE threats while still competing with human opponents. Between matches you earn resources, unlock blueprints, and build improvised weapons, which fits the series’ “make do with what you find” vibe even in this more arcadey format.
One of the big hooks is its three-faction PvPvP mode, where three teams fight over objectives while the undead complicate every engagement. It is a clever twist on the usual two-side MOBA structure, and it helps matches feel chaotic in a good way. Unfortunately, the game did not maintain a large enough audience, and Dead Island: Epidemic ultimately shut down on October 15, 2015.
Dead Island: Epidemic Key Features:
- Fast-paced Action – movement is handled with WASD, keeping fights snappy and more “brawler-like” than click-to-move MOBAs.
- Choose a character – 15+ playable characters, each built around distinct roles and ability kits.
- Co-op PVE – team up to clear missions and adapt to changing map goals and encounters.
- PvPvP – a three-team, 4v4v4-style contest where positioning and timing matter as much as raw damage.
- Craft Your Own Weapons – collect blueprints through play and turn scavenged materials into practical, deadly gear.
Dead Island: Epidemic Screenshots
Dead Island: Epidemic Featured Video
Dead Island: Epidemic Classes (Characters)
Starting Characters:
Berg – a burly lumberjack built for close-range trouble, ideal for players who like to stand their ground. Berg can function as Starter, Support, or Disabler.
Amber – a compassionate animal enthusiast whose kit leans toward keeping teammates alive and effective. Amber fits Starter, Healer, or Support roles.
Bryce – a laid-back surfer who prefers to pressure enemies from a safer distance. Bryce covers Starter, Ranged, and Steady Damage.
Isys – a nimble fighter designed to start engagements and weave through danger while dealing consistent damage. Isys fills Starter, Initiator, and Steady Damage.
These are just the starting characters. There are a total of 15+ characters in the game.
Dead Island: Epidemic Review
Dead Island: Epidemic (often shortened to DIE) is a 3D, isometric hack-and-slash MOBA hybrid developed by Stunlock Studios and published by Deep Silver. It launched on Steam as an Early Access title on November 20, 2014, following an open beta that began on December 5, 2014. While the concept was promising, the game later closed due to limited long-term interest, ending service on October 15, 2015.
At a narrative level, it is firmly anchored in the Dead Island universe, with familiar faces like John Sinamoi and Sam B. showing up to connect it to the mainline games. Instead of playing ordinary survivors, you control infected characters who have resisted becoming mindless zombies. That “halfway” state is the excuse for the game’s more heroic skill sets, letting your character pull off superhuman moves while still fighting for the same necessities, medicine, weapons, and safe passage.
The biggest departure from the earlier Dead Island titles is perspective and pacing. Epidemic is built around an overhead, third-person isometric camera, and the action is tuned for short sessions rather than long open-world exploration. Visually, it leans into a stylized, cartoony look rather than gritty realism. It is not cutting-edge, but it is readable in motion, and it gives the game a lighter tone that suits the fast match structure. Sound work is serviceable, with effective zombie ambience and combat effects, although the music does not leave a strong impression.
Survivors Roster
You begin with a small starter lineup, Berg, Amber, Bryce, and Isys, each aimed at a different playstyle and team role. Choosing early matters because you cannot freely sample everything up front, and your first pick is likely to be your main character for quite a while. The broader cast (15+ total) is unlocked through character points earned by playing, which can take time given the relatively slow accumulation rate. There is also the option to use Cash (the premium currency) to speed up access, which makes progression feel more convenient for paying players even if it is not outright “pay to win.”
Learning the Basics
The onboarding is straightforward. A tutorial introduces core fundamentals such as movement, basic attacks, abilities, and collecting supplies, then funnels you into starter missions that gradually expose different systems and modes. Progression is tied to your account level, and leveling is not just cosmetic, it affects what you can do in combat. Key features unlock as you gain levels, including additional ability slots and your ultimate (for example, a third skill slot appears at level 3, and the ultimate becomes available at level 4). Until you reach those milestones, you can feel under-tooled in PvP, even with matchmaking attempting to keep things fair.
Combat and Game Modes
Moment to moment, the game plays like a brawler wearing MOBA clothing. WASD movement keeps you engaged in positioning, dodging, and chasing rather than issuing clicks, while skills are mapped to keys like Q, E, R, and T. For players coming from shooters, this can feel natural; for traditional MOBA players it may take a few matches to stop feeling awkward.
Mode variety is one of the game’s strengths. There is solo content via a single-player campaign, and there is co-op PvE through Crossroads, which uses dynamic maps and rotating objectives such as gathering supplies or hunting specific zombie targets. The standout is Scavenger mode, a PvPvP format where three teams of four compete over resources and map control while zombies pressure everyone. That third team changes the usual rhythm of MOBA fights, making it harder to predict safe rotations and easier for a “winning” team to get punished if they overextend.
Your Hub, the “Crib”
Between matches you return to your Crib, a compact home base that acts as the game’s menu space. From here you pick characters, queue for modes, sort inventory, craft items, and browse the shop. It is functional and easy to navigate, although it also feels like a missed opportunity. A little personalization or upgrade path for the Crib could have added extra long-term motivation, especially for players who enjoy collecting and customization.
Microtransactions and Premium Currency
As a free-to-play release, microtransactions are expected, but Epidemic is notably aggressive in how often it presents Cash as a shortcut. Many currencies and convenience options can be purchased, and while that does not automatically translate into direct PvP dominance, it does smooth out friction points such as unlocking characters and accessing resources faster. In practice, it can create an uneven feeling of momentum between players who grind and players who pay, particularly early on.
Final Verdict – Great
Dead Island: Epidemic is not a traditional Dead Island experience, but it succeeds at being a quick, cooperative, action-heavy alternative with a distinctive three-team PvPvP twist. Its controls and progression can be divisive, and the character unlock pace is slower than many players would prefer, yet the core combat loop is lively and the modes do a good job mixing zombie pressure with human competition. For players who enjoy MOBA structure but prefer direct movement and hack-and-slash energy, it was an easy game to recommend during its run, even if it ultimately could not sustain an audience long term.
Dead Island: Epidemic Links
Dead Island: Epidemic Official Site
Dead Island: Epidemic Steam
Dead Island: Epidemic Wiki (Database/Guides)
Dead Island: Epidemic System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 7 or newer
CPU: Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz
Video Card: GeForce 8800 GT / Radeon HD 3870+
RAM: 2 GB
Hard Disk Space: 3 GB
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 7 or newer
CPU: Core i5-2300 or better
Video Card: GeForce GTX 660 / Radeon HD 7870+
RAM: 4 GB
Hard Disk Space: 4 GB
Dead Island: Epidemic Music & Soundtrack
Coming Soon!
Dead Island: Epidemic Additional Information
Developer: Stunlock Studios
Game Engine: Unity Engine
Release Date: November 20, 2014 (Early Access)
Shut Down Date: October 15, 2015
Development History / Background:
Dead Island: Epidemic was created by Swedish developer Stunlock Studios and built on the Unity engine. The studio is also known for Bloodline Champions (published by Funcom). The project was revealed on August 7, 2013, and later arrived on Steam via Early Access on November 20, 2014. Deep Silver published the title, consistent with the rest of the Dead Island franchise, and Epidemic stands out as the series’ first free-to-play entry.
Despite the recognizable brand and some inventive mode ideas, the community never grew large enough to keep matchmaking healthy over time. As a result, the game officially shut down on October 15, 2015 due to a lack of playerbase. Rest in peace.