DayZ

DayZ

Released Dec 2018

How long can you survive a post-apocalyptic world? A land overrun with an infected "zombie" population, where you compete with other survivors for limited resources. Will you team up with strangers and stay strong together? Or play as a lone wolf to avoid betrayal? This is DayZ – this is your story.

77% positive · 470K reviews
Not yet
Released, but content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned
Not yet
Released, but content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned

Where to buy

Steam $49.99
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Evaluation

DayZ reached its 1.0 launch on December 13, 2018 and has continued to receive major content updates and expansions. The most recent large paid expansion — DayZ Frostline, adding the frozen Sakhal map — released on October 15, 2024. The base game received update 1.29 (a substantial update focused on stability improvements and new content) on April 8, 2026, followed by an additional "Road to Badlands" content drop on July 15, 2026, which brought select assets from the upcoming expansion into the live game ahead of its release. The next major paid expansion — DayZ Badlands — is actively in development and officially listed on the Steam store as unreleased. As of July 25, 2026, the developer confirmed that Badlands is scheduled for release in October 2026. The team has been publishing dev blogs every three weeks covering the expansion in detail; the most recent dev blog (Dev Blog 6, Week 79) was posted on August 7, 2026, covering dust particle effects and a new firearm. The developer notes that version 1.30 has been reserved for DayZ Badlands and its accompanying main game update. Bohemia Interactive has maintained consistent, active communication throughout 2026, with multiple news posts per month covering update releases, expansion dev blogs, and seasonal event announcements. The developer has explicitly described 2026 as "an important year for DayZ" and committed to ongoing post-launch support including modding tools improvements and seasonal events beyond Badlands.
Evidence
Dev Blog 6 (Week 79) covers dust particle effects and the Lee-Enfield rifle for DayZ Badlands, with the developer noting the 'release window is just a few months away' and dev blogs continuing every three weeks.
news post · Aug 7, 2026 source content planned
high
Flash sale announcement confirms DayZ Badlands is scheduled for release in October 2026.
news post · Jul 25, 2026 source content planned
high

Content

2 of 3 released · 1 planned
Planned
—
Released
Oct 2024

Media

Details

Publisher
Bohemia Interactive
Achievements
13
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Unsupported
Players
Multiplayer · Co-op · PvP

About this game

This is Your Story

DayZ is a hardcore, survival-focused multiplayer sandbox. Thrown into post-apocalyptic wastelands, you have a singular goal: survive. There are no missions or quests. Your story will be written by facing the unpredictable challenges created by the environment, the infected, and your interactions with other survivors. Every decision is yours. This is your ultimate survival story.

Immersion First 

You will find no map markers, mini-maps, or navigational HUDs. From diseases and immunity to hunger and body temperature, information is conveyed through a minimal, toggleable HUD or, more importantly, through your own observations. To survive, you must physically search for every tool, ration, and piece of gear. Your survival depends on reading the environment, monitoring the state of your character, and looting strategically.

Two Terrains to Explore 

DayZ is set in fictional countries crafted with a commitment to authenticity. The base game includes two distinct maps: legendary Chernarus and the mysterious woodlands of Livonia. 

Chernarus, a sprawling 230 km² post-Soviet landscape, remains the quintessential DayZ experience. This community favorite is a hand-crafted terrain, inspired by real-world locations in North Bohemia of the Czech Republic. 

Livonia offers a different challenge. This 168 km² map may seem more habitable with its lush, dense forests, but looks can be deceiving. Beneath its surface lies a deep secret: one that presents a fresh survival trial for even the most experienced players.

Survive, Survive, Survive 

Everything is out to get you. Dangers lurk in plain sight and in the shadows, from aggressive infected who attack on sight to wolves and bears prowling the forests. But that's not all. You'll also have to tackle various diseases, learn to diagnose them by observing your condition, and find the necessary treatments. 

Loot and gear are scarce, but crafting features can help fill the gap. Patch up your damaged clothes, make a fire to cook your rations, craft improvised tools, and scour the quiet yet deceptively dangerous villages and cities.

Friendly or Foe: You Decide 

Keep in mind that up to 60 players are trying to survive along with you at any time. They can be an obstacle to clear, a helping hand to cherish, or anything in between. Emote and say “friendly!” over voice chat. Maybe you’ll find yourself staring down the barrel of a gun, tied up and gagged with a rag in your mouth. Or maybe you’ll encounter the helping hand of a friendly veteran and make a friend for life. The possibilities are endless in DayZ. Every encounter is a unique experience.

Beyond Survival 

Build a base, cultivate a farm, hunt, fish, and place traps to protect your space. Or fix a car or truck and cruise through the wasteland with a friend, searching for high-tier loot at various dynamic events like train crashes, abandoned military convoys, PvP hotspots, points of interest, and more. You can even find full NBC suits to enter dangerous contaminated zones. The arsenal you can search for is vast, with over 50 types of firearms available, along with their unique magazines and ammo.  

It won’t be easy. And no two lives will ever be the same.

Join the DayZ Community 

The motto “This is DayZ, this is your story!” is more than a design philosophy, it’s embedded in the game’s identity. As a title that was born from the DayZ community, we deeply value and continuously support modders and private server owners. 

Discover a thriving ecosystem with thousands of mods and community-run servers that allow you to tailor your experience to your taste. Manage them all with ease directly from the game launcher. 

Beyond the game itself, a vibrant network of content creators, event organizers, and community leaders is constantly creating new ways to entertain and engage. Your story is waiting to be written.

10+ Years of Evolution 

The DayZ team has grown alongside the game, delivering year-round improvements to stability, content, and features for over a decade. This ongoing support has built a richer and more robust community, and you can become a part of the DayZ experience today.

Last evaluated Aug 19, 2026
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