I would definitely advice playing the first game before the second. It's 15 years after the first and they nod to Harran, where the first game took place is mentioned often enough to want to be in the loop. DL1 is awesome, its a zombie game that has true scares especially at night. DL2 is a parkor game at heart, and zombies just so happen to linger below on the streets while you jump and swing on building tops. In DL2 you start in a what you think is the city, but just wait. You actually get to go to a place that shows where the game truly shines. I won't spoil the fun. Both games are awesome and honestly one isn't better than the other. They have solid differences that make them unique.