Is DayZ worth getting into in 2026?

I’ve been thinking about finally trying DayZ, but I’m curious what the game feels like in 2026.

I always see people talk about how unique the stories are, how tense random encounters can be, and how no other survival game really creates the same feeling. That honestly sounds really interesting to me.

For someone starting now, is the game still beginner-friendly enough to learn, or is it mostly veterans at this point? And what makes DayZ still worth playing today?