DayZ is a fantastic open-world survival game. If you’ve already played it and are looking for a similar experience, here are the best games like DayZ.
In the last few years, we have seen a swarm of survival games hit the market across all platforms. The inspiration for most of these survival games was DayZ. A post-apocalyptic open-world survival game that gives the player complete freedom on how they would like to approach the game.
DayZ was a combination of PvP and PvE, where you are constantly on the lookout for new gear and tools while also surviving against zombies and other players. If DayZ was your jam back in the day and you are looking for something new to try out, here are 7 of the best games like DayZ.
DayZ offers one of the biggest online sandbox experiences where players have the liberty to do whatever they want. DayZ’s success brought a lot of these online survival games to the table, and we compiled a list of a few of those for you.
State of Decay 2
- Release Date: May 18, 2018
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
State of Decay 2 is very similar in structure to DayZ. Although it doesn’t have the PvP element, State Of Decay 2 is a true test of your survival and man management skills. As you build your base, you will need survivors that can help around your base and make it stronger. You will have to hunt for supplies and food to keep your fellows alive.
Outside of the base, the world is swarming with flesh-hungry zombies, and you will need to be well prepared before you step out into the open.
Dying Light 2
- Release Date: February 4, 2022
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Dying Light 2 is another story-driven game that you can play cooperatively with your friends. It also implements the Day-Night cycle element really well, where it gives zombies superhuman abilities at night. The parkour in Dying Light 2 makes traversing the big open city really easy for the player.
The game requires the players to go out at night during some main and side quests making the experience even more challenging and horrifying to go through.
7 Days To Die
- Release Date: December 13, 2013
- Platforms: PC
7 Days To Die borrows a lot of things from DayZ. It is an open-world survival game where you have to explore and hunt for supplies as much as you can. The primary purpose is to rack up enough supplies within the day to build up a base. In the night, the zombies will become much more aggressive and attack your base.
On every 7th night, the blood moon appears, and that makes the zombies come at you in much larger numbers. By the time night ends, you will either be dead or just be scrapping by as you begin your quest to rebuild your base.
Days Gone
- Release Date: April 26, 2019
- Platforms: PC, PS4
Days Gone might not be an online game, but it sure does resemble DayZ in several different ways. Post-apocalyptic Oregon is very similar to the setting that you will find in DayZ. You will constantly be on the hunt for supplies while you try to avoid hordes of enemies.
The zombie hordes in Days Gone are easily the best part of the entire game. If you run into one of them without the proper loadout and supplies, the result is certain death. These zombies are constantly evolving, too, as the hordes rest in the day and come out at night, which makes it all more difficult to survive at night.
Deadside
- Release Date: April 14, 2020
- Platforms: PC
Deadside is a game made for someone who likes things to be ultra-realistic. This game combines modern first-person shooting mechanics with some brutal open-world survival gameplay.
Deadside is set in a post-apocalyptic environment so you can feel the similarities between this and DayZ. You can interact with other players on the map or simply get into an all-out shootout. You can also build your own fortress and protect it from other players.
Top 5 Best Games Like DayZ
Here are the top 5 best games like DayZ.
- Deadside
- Days Gone
- 7 Days To Die
- Dying Light 2
- State of Decay 2
Conclusion
Open-world survival games are actual masterpieces that you can dump hundreds of hours into. DayZ was the start of the online survival sandbox era, and we have gotten many great games since then. If you are a fan of DayZ’s gameplay, you are bound to love all of these games.
Looking for more from our “Games Like” category? We also have these guides:
- Best Games Like Summertime Saga
- Best Games Like Detroit Become Human
- Best Games Like It Takes Two (Co-op)
- Best Games Like Fallout
- Best Games Like Subway Surfers
DayZ is available to play on PC via Steam.