DayZ

About

About the Game This is Your Story DayZ is a hardcore, survival-focused multiplayer sandbox. Thrown into post-apocalyptic wastelands, you have a singular goal: survive.

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6
Based on
208563 reviews
Country Compatibility:
Languages:
Developer:
Bohemia Interactive
Engine:
Enfusion
Release date:
13 December 2018
Genre:
Action,Massively Multiplayer,Adventure
Recent Steam reviews:
Not specified
All Steam reviews:
Mostly Positive (208563)

Game features

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Description

About the 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.

Recommended system requirements

minimum*

OS:
Windows 10 64-bit
Processor:
Intel Core i5-4430 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Six-Core
Memory:
8 GB RAM
Graphics:
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 or AMD R9 270X
DirectX:
Version 11
Storage:
25 GB available space
Sound Card:
DirectX®-compatible
Additional Notes:
Internet connection

recommended*

OS:
Windows 10 / 11 64-bit
Processor:
Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD R5 1600X
Memory:
12 GB RAM
Graphics:
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD RX 580
DirectX:
Version 11
Storage:
30 GB available space
Sound Card:
DirectX®-compatible
Additional Notes:
Internet connection

User reviews

MaffYoo
Not recommended | 02 Jun 2026
104h played

As someone who fell in love with this game during the days of the ARMA 2 mod, it genuinely breaks my heart that I have just played it for the last time. I simply cannot recommend this game with the rampant hacking scene

Helpful: 1
Brewdude
Recommended | 02 Jun 2026
4670h played

I started playing DayZ Standalone in 2013 when it first launched as early access. I really loved the concept but damn it was far from perfect in implementation. I also played the mod for Arma 2 and remember it fondly.

Helpful: 0
TooFar_GoHard
Recommended | 03 Jun 2026
114h played

Was surprised at how fun and addictive this game is but I'm so very happy I bought it. Its challenging. Sometimes ridiculously so. Start out on some heavily modded, easy servers until you get good and you'll enjoy it.

Helpful: 0
darrenjsmith56
Recommended | 02 Jun 2026
671h played

It like gambling, when you start playing its hard to stop and when you find the stuff your looking for you get so happy but then as fast as you got it you can lose it all.

Helpful: 0
JuicerJohn
Recommended | 02 Jun 2026
3304h played

best game off all time, wanted it since i was 12 got it when i was like 15 and have been addicted ever since, play how you want, and get sad when someone ruins that.

Helpful: 0
Devsis
Recommended | 02 Jun 2026
5.2h played

as a person only playing this for around 8 hours, i am nowhere qualified to speak on the game as a whole but what i have played of the game so far its amazing. My first character i ever used i played for about 5 hours

Helpful: 0