The short answer is – yes, Dying Light 1 can be obtained for free, but it is not permanently free. There have been various promotional offers that have allowed gamers to download Dying Light Enhanced Edition at no cost for a limited time. However, outside of these special events, you‘ll have to purchase Dying Light if you want unlimited access.
As an avid gamer and streaming enthusiast myself, I totally understand the desire to score amazing games like Dying Light for free! With the cost of building a tricked out gaming PC setup or buying the latest consoles, our budgets are stretched enough as it is. So I‘ve dug deep and outlined all the possible ways current and aspiring Dying Light fans can grab this fantastic zombie survival game without spending a dime.
A Legendary Zombie Survival Game
For those who aren‘t familiar with the game, let me provide a quick overview. Dying Light is an open-world first-person survival horror game developed by Techland and published in 2015 by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
You play as an undercover agent named Kyle Crane who is airdropped into the quarantined city of Harran. The city has been overrun by a terrifying zombie virus that turns people into vicious undead predators at night. As Kyle, you must complete mission objectives while also mastering parkour movement to traverse the urban landscape and scavenge for supplies.
Combat is frenetic and satisfying, with a huge variety of melee weapons and customizable firearms. The day and night cycle completely transforms the gameplay – nighttime is extremely dangerous but also more rewarding. With its exhilarating movement, visceral combat, deeply layered progression systems and 4-player co-op, Dying Light has earned its reputation as one of the best zombie games ever made.
The Enhanced Edition bundles the base game with its massive The Following expansion and numerous DLC additions. There are easily over 100 hours of content for zombie apocalypse fans to sink their teeth into!
Free for a Limited Time on Epic Games Store
The most straightforward way to get Dying Light Enhanced Edition for free is to grab it when it‘s being given away on the Epic Games Store.
From February 2nd to February 9th, 2023, Dying Light Enhanced Edition was available for FREE to download and keep forever as part of Epic‘s weekly free game promotions. Over 7 million copies of the game were claimed during this week.
Unfortunately, the promotion is now over. But based on Techland‘s positive relationship with Epic, more free giveaways could happen in the future. Make sure to check the Epic Games Store every Thursday for new deals and freebies. Create an Epic account now so you‘ll be ready to claim Dying Light immediately next time it pops up for $0!
Free Weekend Events on Steam
Dying Light‘s publisher Techland has generously run multiple free weekends for the game on Steam over the years.
During these promos, anyone can download and play the FULL version of Dying Light Enhanced Edition completely free. All game content is unlocked – the only limitation is the time duration.
For example, in October 2022 there was a Halloween themed free weekend from October 13th to 16th. For those 3 days, the Dying Light experience was 100% free.
Free weekends usually occur around big seasonal sales or as promotion when new DLC releases. Follow Techland‘s social media and subscribe to Dying Light on Steam to be notified immediately when the next one is scheduled.
If you miss out on the timeframe, your free access expires and you‘ll have to buy the game to keep playing. But free weekends are great for trying before you buy!
Limited 3 Hour Trial on PlayStation
On PlayStation 4 and PS5, there is a handy way to sample Dying Light for free via a time-limited trial version. This trial download is freely available on the PlayStation Store.
The Dying Light trial grants you access to the opening hours of the campaign, up to story mission 3. You can play for up to 3 hours, which is ample time to get a feel for the gameplay and atmosphere. Any trophies and progress earned in the trial carry over seamlessly if you decide to upgrade to the full version.
One tip is to avoid completing story mission 3 until the timer hits 2.5-3 hours. That maximizes your gameplay while staying within the trial constraints. Turn off auto-save so if you do pass the time limit, you can manually reload an earlier save.
For PlayStation owners, the trial is your best bet to check out Dying Light risk-free before purchasing.
Grab Deals or Discounts
Outside of limited-time free promotions, Dying Light Enhanced Edition normally sells for $39.99 USD across all platforms. However, considering the game originally launched in 2015, it goes on sale frequently with generous discounts.
Here are some tips for grabbing Dying Light at the lowest possible price:
Watch for seasonal sales on digital storefronts like Steam, PlayStation Store, and Microsoft Store. Discounts of 50-75% off are common during big events like summer and holiday sales.
Retailers like Amazon and GameStop often mark down prices for physical copies during sales. You can find great deals on used copies too.
Key selling sites like CDKeys sell digital codes at steep discounts. Make sure to buy from reputable sellers with lots of positive reviews.
Add Dying Light to your wishlist on sites like gg.deals to receive alerts when it goes on sale. Signing up for newsletters from stores can also notify you of deals.
With a little patience and timing, you could potentially get the Dying Light Enhanced Edition (which includes over $100 worth of expansions and DLC) for as low as $10-15!
Is Dying Light Worth Playing in 2024?
With the recent release of Dying Light 2 Stay Human, some players may be wondering if it‘s still worth jumping into the original Dying Light game in 2024. In my opinion – absolutely!
Here‘s why Dying Light remains an incredible game that holds up strongly eight years later:
Satisfying combat – Whether you‘re slicing zombies with blades or bashing skulls with pipes, the visceral melee combat is still some of the most enjoyable in the genre. Guns feel great too.
Unmatched freedom of movement – Running, jumping, and grappling around the city still feels amazing. The fluid parkour traversal has yet to be topped.
Beautiful visuals – While not as technically advanced as the sequel, the original game still looks fantastic. The atmosphere is especially stunning at night.
Massive amounts of content – With all DLCs included, Dying Light Enhanced Edition offers well over 100 hours of gameplay between the huge story campaign, side quests, challenges, and multiplayer options.
Co-op is a blast – Teaming up with up to 3 friends makes enjoying the frenetic gameplay and creepy world even better.
It‘s more scary – Dying Light 1‘s nights are terrifyingly dark. The sequel‘s nights are brighter and less dangerous. Fans of horror should check out the original.
Story sets up sequel – You‘ll better understand references and returning characters in Dying Light 2 if you play the first game and learn Kyle Crane‘s story.
Thanks to its superb gameplay fundamentals and wealth of content, Dying Light remains one of the best zombie survival games you can play in 2024. Don‘t miss out on this classic!
In Summary: How to Get Dying Light 1 For Free
While Dying Light Enhanced Edition is not permanently free, here are tips for grabbing it at no cost:
Claim it if there is a free promotion on Epic Games Store or Steam. Follow their social media to know when the next one occurs.
Try the 3 hour trial version on PlayStation. This allows you to test the game extensively before buying.
Watch for seasonal digital sales on platforms like Steam and PSN where the price may be discounted up to 75% off.
Look for great deals on physical copies at retailers like GameStop and Amazon, especially used.
Use legit key seller sites like CDKeys to find deals on digital codes.
I hope this detailed guide gives you all the tips you need to start experiencing Dying Light‘s addictive zombie survival action for yourself without breaking the bank! Let me know if you have any other questions. Stay human out there!
