Dying Light (Microsoft Xbox One, 2015)

Gamers scrounge for supplies during the day and battle undead abominations at night in Techland Software's open-world adventure Dying Light. Players choose from four customizable characters and then head into a decaying world overrun by infected zombies. The first-person, free-running action is reminiscent of EA DICE's Mirror's Edge, but instead of speeding across rooftops to avoid agents of a totalitarian government, gamers bound through cluttered alleys and ramshackle dwellings as they attempt to rescue survivors, gather needed supplies, and upgrade their weapons.

Dying Light features realistic day/night cycles that not only provide atmosphere but also drastically alter the gameplay. The plodding zombies shuffling about during the day can be extremely dangerous, particularly in large numbers, but blunt weapons and deft parkour skills are generally enough to keep players alive. But when darkness falls the creatures become faster, more dogged, and they transform into something even more terrifying than reanimated corpses, turning the action-oriented gameplay into more of a survival horror affair. Gamers can fight back thanks to environmental attacks and crafting system that lets them upgrade and customize dozens of melee and ranged weapons, including axes, bats, knives, and guns. Multiplayer fans can also get in on the action thanks to a four-player co-op mode.