Deadside is an open-world multiplayer survival shooter that combines elements of games like DayZ and Rust, allowing players to explore a dangerous post-apocalyptic world, build fortified bases, drive vehicles and fight for survival against other players and armed enemies.
Developed by Bad Pixel, the PC game takes place in a vast post-Soviet environment filled with abandoned settlements, dense forests, rivers and hostile territories. Unlike traditional zombie survival games, Deadside focuses on realistic gunfights against human enemies, with both PvP and PvE gameplay available.
Players begin with limited equipment and must explore the world in search of weapons, ammunition, supplies and valuable resources. The game features more than 30 firearms, alongside weapon attachments such as suppressors, scopes, extended magazines and flashlights.
Base building is another major part of the experience. Players can construct everything from small wilderness shelters to heavily fortified compounds, complete with storage facilities, defensive turrets and traps. These bases provide somewhere to store valuable equipment, protect vehicles and prepare for future encounters.
Travelling across the map is possible using cars, motorcycles and boats, while a fast-travel metro system provides another way to reach distant locations. Players can also secure their vehicles with code locks and use them to transport additional supplies.
Deadside offers several multiplayer server options, including unrestricted PvP, PvE and servers where base raiding is only permitted during scheduled periods. This allows players to choose between a more competitive survival experience and one focused on exploration, missions and cooperative gameplay.
The game also features dynamic encounters with armed NPCs, challenging missions and opportunities to raid enemy bases for valuable supplies. Rather than relying on traditional character levels, progression is determined by the equipment players acquire and their ability to survive.
Since leaving Early Access in December 2024, Deadside has continued receiving updates introducing additional content and gameplay improvements.
Its September 2026 update introduced new vehicle mechanics, including speed boosts, destructible tyres and custom vehicle skins. The update also added wild boars, improvements to crafting and equipment repairs, and numerous balancing changes affecting loot, missions and vehicles.
Deadside is currently available on PC through Steam, offering an alternative for players interested in open-world survival games with realistic combat, exploration and extensive base-building mechanics.