Message in a Bottle

Follow this Dead Island 2 walkthrough to find the SOS bottle, track down the trapped food critic's clues, and defeat the Slobber to earn the Caustic Blight skill card.

Alright, so you're looking to tackle the 'Message in a Bottle' side quest in Dead Island 2. This one pops up pretty late in the game, specifically after you've finished up 'Boardwalking Dead.' Keep an eye out on the beach south of the lifeguard station; you won't find an NPC handing this one out. Instead, you're looking for a lonely bottle washed ashore. Grab it, and you'll learn about a trapped food critic who needs your help.

Once you've got the SOS message, it's time to head onto the pier to start piecing together the critic's last known whereabouts.

Where to Find The Food Critic in Dead Island 2

This quest will have you visiting three different spots to track down clues left by our unfortunate food critic. The first clue is located near the arcade on the right side of the pier. Head into the Bucket O’ Fish establishment and make your way downstairs. You'll need to watch out for traps down there, so tread carefully. Look for a crate near the store's exit; it should have a glowing note on it. This is your first critic review and the next piece of the puzzle.

After snagging that first review, the next clue is a bit more cryptic. You'll need to head down the boardwalk towards the city area. This time, your destination is the Pier Grill. Don't go inside; instead, check out the outdoor seating area. You'll find the next review sitting on a table in the top-left corner of the seating area.

The final location is pretty straightforward. Keep heading down the pier towards the city. You should spot a hotdog stand in the distance. Just behind it is a parking lot, and that's where you'll find the food critic himself. Surprise! He's turned into a Slobber, and he's brought a whole horde of zombies with him. Your best bet is to take him out quickly because dealing with him and his undead pals can get pretty annoying. Once the Slobber is down, the quest wraps up, and you'll earn the Caustic Blight skill card, which adds melt damage to your Fury Mode attacks.