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Banished vs DayZ

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

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Banished
BanishedLead exiled travelers to build a thriving, sustainable society in a harsh wilderness.
DayZ
DayZStay alive in a harsh post-apocalyptic world overrun by the infected.
Overview
Description

In this city-building strategy game, you take charge of a group of exiled travelers with only the clothes on their backs and a cart of supplies, seeking to restart their lives in an untamed land. Your primary objective is to keep your population alive, manage limited resources carefully, and grow a small settlement into a successful, self-sustaining culture. Survival requires balancing diverse industries such as farming, hunting, fishing, and trading while enduring harsh weather and aging populations. Careful planning and sustainable practices are essential to ensure your citizens thrive and your community avoids tragedy over the long term.

DayZ is a hardcore open-world survival game where your only goal is to stay alive no matter what. Navigate a massive post-apocalyptic landscape overrun by an infected zombie population while competing against other players for scarce resources, weapons, and medical supplies. Make critical choices about cooperation and betrayal as you forge your own story. Whether you team up with strangers or survive as a lone wolf, every decision matters in a persistent world where death is permanent and loses everything you've gathered.

Pricing
Paid (One-time)
Paid (One-time)
Category
City Builders & Management
Survival Crafting
Best for
Strategy and simulation gamers
Hardcore survival and tactical shooter fans
Specifications
General
msrp
$19.9960%
$49.99
release date
2014-02-18
2018-12-13
Specifications
developer
Shining Rock Software
Bohemia Interactive
publisher
Shining Rock Software
Bohemia Interactive
age rating
CLASS_IND 12, USK 12
PEGI 18, ESRB M+50%
multiplayer
Single player
Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO), Battle Royale
critic score
68/100
69/100+1%
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Engaging and challenging survival mechanics
  • Deep resource and economic management
  • Clean and intuitive user interface
  • Rewarding long-term town progression
  • Tense, immersive atmosphere
  • Massive open world to explore
  • Deep survival mechanics
  • Unpredictable player interactions
Cons
  • Steep learning curve for new players
  • Limited official combat or external threats
  • No multiplayer mode available
  • Steep learning curve
  • Occasional technical bugs
  • Unforgiving death penalty
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
0
User rating
Not enough data
Not enough data

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DayZ
DayZ

Stay alive in a harsh post-apocalyptic world overrun by the infected.

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Dead Nation
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Banished
Banished

Lead exiled travelers to build a thriving, sustainable society in a harsh wilderness.

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The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

Banished offers a low‑cost, single‑player settlement simulation, while DayZ provides an expensive, hardcore open‑world survival shooter with multiplayer.

Key differences

  • Genre: DayZ is a shooter/tactical survival; Banished is a city‑building strategy simulation.
  • Multiplayer: DayZ supports co‑op and massive PvP; Banished is single‑player only.
  • Price: DayZ costs $49.99; Banished costs $19.99.
  • Audience focus: DayZ targets hardcore survival/tactical shooter fans; Banished targets strategy and simulation gamers.
  • Content emphasis: DayZ centers on combat, infection, and player interaction; Banished centers on resource management and town growth.
DimensionWinner

Gameplay & fun factor

DayZ delivers tense combat and emergent PvP, appealing to players seeking high‑adrenaline survival experiences.

DayZ

Platform availability

Platform details not specified for either title, so no clear advantage.

Tie

Price & value

Banished costs $19.99 versus DayZ's $49.99, offering more value for budget‑conscious buyers.

Banished

Multiplayer / co‑op

DayZ includes multiplayer, co‑op, MMO and battle‑royale modes; Banished has no multiplayer.

DayZ

Content & replayability

DayZ's open world, random encounters, and PvP create varied replay scenarios; Banished is more static.

DayZ

Difficulty & accessibility

Banished has a steep learning curve but no unforgiving death penalty; DayZ is noted as unforgiving and technically demanding.

Banished

Graphics & performance

Graphics and performance details not provided for either game.

Tie

Choose Banished if…

Players who prefer affordable, single‑player city‑building strategy with deep resource management.

Choose DayZ if…

Players who want intense, open‑world survival combat with multiplayer and can afford a higher price.

Common questions

Which game is cheaper?

Banished costs $19.99; DayZ costs $49.99.

Do either of these support multiplayer?

DayZ supports multiplayer, co‑op, MMO and battle‑royale modes; Banished is single‑player only.

Which game is more beginner‑friendly?

Banished is less punishing on death, though both have steep learning curves; DayZ is noted as unforgiving.