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DayZ guide - how to survive the definitive PC zombie game

Staying alive was never more difficult. Here's how to get by in PC's ultimate zombie survival game.

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Our DayZ guide starts at the beginning, and assumes you've never played before. Part of the DayZ's charm, similarly to Minecraft, is in its opacity: nothing's explained. You begin standing in the middle of the countryside in the post-Soviet state of Chernarus. You can see trees, hear the birds and relax to the swish of the leaves. Until, obviously, you're eaten to death by zombies because you were having a little happy party instead of taking your survival seriously. And make no mistake: DayZ is a serious game.

Researching DayZ a little will benefit your experience. Our guide tells you how to get going from the very first screen, teaching you how to use the inventory, manage space and which items you should be focusing on acquiring. A water vessel, for instance, is vital if you're going to be able to stay alive and explore, as drinking cans of Coke will only get you so far. We've given you a list of controls as well, because, to be brutally honest, DayZ's a bit weird. It's a first-person action game as opposed to a shooter (don't forget that you can play it in third-person as well), but many of the defaults aren't what you'd expect and there are certainly no little messages popping up telling you what to do and when. You're on your own here. It pays to be informed.

The world of Chernarus is a violent, frightening place, but with the right knowledge and a suitably paranoid outlook you will survive. Just remember: trust no one. You can buy the game on Steam. We'll be updating this guide in the future.

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Patrick Garratt avatar
Patrick Garratt is a games media legend - and not just by reputation. He was named as such in the UK's 'Games Media Awards', the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award. After garnering experience on countless gaming magazines, he joined Eurogamer and later split from that brand to create VG247, putting the site on the map with fast, 24-hour a day coverage, and assembling the site's earliest editorial teams. He retired from VG247, and the games industry, in 2017.
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DayZ

PS4, Xbox One, PC

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