Dead Zone

Dead Island: Riptide contains special areas known as Dead Zones. These areas feature a higher than normal concentration of zombies, and usually contain at least one Special Infected, making them far more difficult than other areas of the game.

General

Dead Zones are treated as separate areas, appearing as area transitions when viewed on the map. Most do not need to be entered in order to progress through the game. However, several Dead Zones contain Mod Blueprints which cannot be obtained anywhere else, and usually contain at least one chest. Additionally, some Dead Zones contain more powerful "named" versions of Special Infected. These Named Bosses have higher than normal health, are usually immune to any form of knockdown, and will regenerate health whenever they successfully damage a player. Once defeated, Named Bosses will not respawn inside that area, though the other zombies will.

Dead Zones are also the only source of certain Rare Modification Items, required for completing all third-level Team Quests. These items will respawn whenever the Hero leaves the Dead Zone and re-enters, along with any enemies except for Named Bosses.

Notes

All Dead Zones are separate maps from either the Flooded Jungle or Henderson, and as such have different loot pools. Notably, this means that it is possible (though rare) to find pistols or shotguns in the Flooded Jungle Dead Zones, despite those items being completely unavailable in the Flooded Jungle itself.
The area where Marcus Villa is first encountered is not classified as a Dead Zone, despite the similar appearance and layout.

Trivia

The term Dead Zone was first used in the original Dead Island at the Paradise Beach Resort. The words are etched in white at a poolside bar close to the hotel structure itself. The bar hut interior is not accessible and the term can also be seen written on the door in blood.

Flooded Jungle Dead Zones

Abandoned Bungalow

Named Boss: None
Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: AC Power Box, Heavy Duty Tape, Propane Cutter
Chests: One Common chest, one Level 2 chest, and one Level 3 chest
Workbench: None
Other notes: Special enemies include one Thug, several Toxic Walkers, and Infected. A Butcher may spawn, but is not guaranteed to appear.

Abandoned Movie Set

Named Boss: None
Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: Circuit Boards, Heavy Duty Tape
Chests: One Common chest
Workbench: Yes
Other notes: Access to this area is only possible after taking the quest Genre: Horror Slasher from Dave. This location is also a guaranteed spawn point for the Chainsaw, as well as a leveled Claws. Zombies do not respawn after completing Genre: Horror Slasher, making this location ideal for obtaining any of the rare loot found within.

Crossroads Bungalow

Named Boss: None
Mods: Diamond Edge Mod
Rare Modification Items: AC Power Box, Aluminum Tube, Circuit Boards x2
Chests: One Common chest, and one Level 3 chest
Workbench: None
Other notes: Though the sound of a Butcher can be heard from the second building, the only enemies inside this Dead Zone are Walkers, Toxic Walkers, and Infected.

James Nisira's Bungalow

Named Boss: James "Killer" Nisira (Thug)
Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: Propane Cutter, Semiconductors, Titanium Pipe
Chests: Two
Workbench: None
Other notes:

Jimmy O'Neill's Cave

Named Boss: Jimmy "Deathtrap" O'Neill (Frenzied Infected)
Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: Aluminum Tube
Chests: One Common chest, and one level 3 chest.
Workbench: None
Other notes: Other enemies include Walkers and Infected

Lonely Cave

Named Boss: my balls

Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: Aluminum Tube
Chests: Two Common chests
Workbench: No
Other notes: Special enemies include one Thug. Also the location of the "Drugged Infected" enemy, seen during the quest Alternative Medicine

Mataka Village Bungalow

Named Boss: None
Mods: Sharp Edge Mod
Rare Modification Items: AC Power Box, Semiconductors, Titanium Pipe
Chests: One Common chest, one level 1 chest, one level 2 chest, and one Level 3 chest that is hidden in the courtyard
Workbench: None
Other notes: Special enemies include one Thug, two Frenzied Infected, and one Butcher

Ocean View Bungalows

Named Boss: Eduardo "Quickdeath" Petoia (Frenzied Infected)
Mods: Shock Mod
Rare Modification Items: Circuit Boards, Heavy Duty Tape
Chests: Two Common chests
Workbench: Yes
Other notes: Also the location of the "Infected Doctor" special enemy, part of the Antidote quest

Oliver Wenge's Hideout

Named Boss: Oliver "Deathbone" Wenge (Frenzied Infected)
Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: AC Power Box, Titanium Pipe
Chests: One Common chest and one level 3 chest.
Workbench: None
Other notes: Other special enemies include two or more Frenzied Infected

Peter Spicer's Shack

Named Boss: Peter "Undying" W. Spicer (Thug)
Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: Propane Cutter, Titanium Pipe
Chests: One Common chest, one Level 1 chest, and one level 3 chest.
Workbench: None
Other notes: Other special enemies include one Thug and three or more Frenzied Infected

Henderson Deadzones

Dr. J J Evans' Clinic

Named Boss: Dr. J J "Scar" Evans (Thug)
Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: Aluminum Tube, Blanket, Cyanoacrylate Glue, Insulating Tape, Water Purification Tablets
Chests: One common chest, two level 1 chests, one level 2 chest
Workbench: None
Other notes: Other enemies consist solely of Walkers and Infected

Frankie O’Hara’s Apartment

Named Boss: Frankie "The Scourge" O’Hara (Grenadier)
Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: Circuit Boards, Heavy Duty Tape, Water Purification Tablets
Chests: Two common chests, one level 1 chest, two level 2 chests
Workbench: None
Other notes: Other special enemies include one Screamer and at least one Suicider

Geoffrey Nape’s Warehouse

Named Boss: Geoffrey "Walking Carcass" Nape (Wrestler)
Mods: Piranha Mod
Rare Modification Items: Heavy Duty Tape, Highly Conductive Wire, Propane Cutter, Titanium Pipe
Chests: Three common chests, one level 1 chest, one level 2 chest
Workbench: None
Other notes: Other special enemies consist of Frenzied Infected. Both Frenzied Infected and Walkers will gradually respawn as you spend time inside the location.

George Serero’s Apartment

Named Boss: George "Body Eater" Serero (Thug)
Mods: Hooligan Rifle Mod
Rare Modification Items: Lightweight Frame, Titanium Pipe, Water Purification Tablets
Chests: Two common chests, one level 1 chest, two level 2 chests
Workbench: None
Other notes: The only other enemies are Walkers, who will gradually respawn as you spend time inside the location.

Infested Apartment

Named Boss: None
Mods: Meat Cutter Mod
Rare Modification Items: Lightweight Frame, Titanium Pipe
Chests: Three common chests, two level 1 chests
Workbench: None
Other notes: This location is inhabited exclusively by Walkers, who will gradually respawn as you spend time inside the location.

Infested Basements

Named Boss: None
Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: Aluminum Tube, Cyanoacrylate Glue, Highly Conductive Wire, Lightweight Frame, Semiconductors x2
Chests: Two common chests, three level 1 chests
Workbench: None
Other notes: Special enemies include one Wrestler, one Screamer, and at least one Suicider

Infested Depot

Named Boss: None
Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: AC Power Box, Insulating Tape, Propane Cutter, Titanium Pipe
Chests: Two common chests, two level 1 chests, one level 2 chest
Workbench: None
Other notes: This location is inhabited exclusively by Walkers, who will gradually respawn as you spend time inside the location.

Infested House

Named Boss: None
Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: AC Power Box, Propane Cutter
Chests: Two common chests, one level 1 chest, one level 2 chest
Workbench: None
Other notes: Special enemies include a Screamer and at least one Suicider

Infested Storage

Named Boss: None
Mods: Hooligan Gun Mod
Rare Modification Items: AC Power Box, Insulating Tape, Lightweight Frame
Chests: Two common chests, two level 1 chests, one level 3 chest
Workbench: None
Other notes: A Screamer may spawn in the upstairs area. Walkers will gradually respawn as you spend time in the area.

Infested Warehouse

Named Boss: None
Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: Circuit Boards, Semiconductors
Chests: Two common chests, two level 1 chests
Workbench: None
Other notes: Special enemies include one Screamer and at least one Suicider

Joel Chubalba's motel

Named Boss: Joel "Blackheart" Chubalba (Toxic Frenzied Infected)
Mods: Old Smoky Mod
Rare Modification Items: Blanket
Chests: Two common chests, one level 1 chest, one level 2 chest
Workbench: None
Other notes: All other enemies are Infected or Walkers

Metzger Sloat's Hideout

Named Boss: Metzger "Skullcrusher" Sloat (Wrestler)
Mods: Slash Mod
Rare Modification Items: AC Power Box, Aluminum Tube, Circuit Boards x2, Cyanoacrylate Glue, Heavy Duty Tape, Highly Conductive Wire x2, Semiconductors
Chests: One common chest, one level 1 chest, one level 2 chest, one level 3 chest
Workbench: None
Other notes: Other special enemies include one Screamer and one Suicider

Motel "Safe Haven"

Named Boss: None
Mods: Shocking Sledge Mod
Rare Modification Items: Blanket, Cyanoacrylate Glue, Water Purification Tablets
Chests: Two common chests, two level 1 chests, one level 2 chest
Workbench: None
Other notes: Special enemies consist of at least one Screamer. This location contains the quest item "Letter to Maggie", needed to complete the quest "Safe Haven" given by Maggie. Picking up the letter will open a room near the exit containing a number of Infected and the level 2 chest. The room is inaccessible prior to picking up the letter.

Ogio Moke's Laundry

Named Boss: Ogio "Blindspot" Moke (Toxic Frenzied Infected)
Mods: None
Rare Modification Items: Aluminum Tube, Blanket, Insulating Tape
Chests: One common chest, one level 1 chest, two level 2 chests
Workbench: None
Other notes: All other enemies are either Infected or Walkers.