Days Gone Remastered is an updated release of the 2019 game, featuring slight graphical enhancements and new game modes. The core mechanics remain unchanged, and thankfully, they haven’t aged a bit over time. But does this new version deserve your attention? This article aims to answer that question.
Sony’s Remaster Trend
Sony has been actively re-releasing many of its successful PlayStation 4 titles on PS5 and PC in recent years. Days Gone joins this trend, bringing slight graphical updates and new modes to the post-apocalyptic adventure. While some players feel these remasters offer minimal changes, they provide an opportunity for new audiences to experience acclaimed games or for existing players to revisit them with modern performance and DualSense features.
How the Days Gone Remaster is Distributed
If you already own the original Days Gone digitally on PlayStation, the PS5 remaster costs $10. PC version owners will receive all graphical improvements at no extra charge. However, those who want the new modes included in the remaster package will need to purchase them separately for $10. Whether these modes are worth the price is debatable. If you don’t own Days Gone digitally, the remaster is available for purchase at $50.
About the Original Days Gone: A Polarizing Post-Apocalyptic Action Game
Days Gone faced a peculiar reception. It received mixed reviews from journalists, averaging 71/100 on Metacritic, but was well-liked by players. Due to its post-apocalyptic setting, it was often compared to The Last of Us. And developers Bend Studios, known for Syphon Filter and Uncharted spin-offs for PS Vita, seemingly couldn’t compete with giants like Naughty Dog. But Days Gone is a fundamentally different game. For example, it features a well-developed open world and a decent story that finds its footing closer to the end. While based on familiar clichés, it works thanks to competent delivery, building intrigue, relatable characters who evoke emotions, and excellently chosen music. Overall, the world of Days Gone feels naturalistic, making the events unfolding believable.
Deacon St. John: A Complex Protagonist
Deacon St. John, the protagonist, deserves special mention. Even before the epidemic, he went through a lot – including serving in Afghanistan, suffering from PTSD earned there, and a hatred for taking orders. He’s even described as broken. Yet, he retains a spark of kindness, such as his warm feelings for his missing wife Sarah and his motorcycle club. Depending on the circumstances, he can show both compassion and cruelty towards others.
The Game’s Flaws
It’s important to note that the game is far from flawless. It has a notoriously slow opening that players must endure. Many dialogues in side quests also sound awkward, almost like the work of AI rather than professional writers. Another questionable decision is the constant chatter from the main character and his allies. This is a very distinct trait that might remind players of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. But while dialogue there thrived on jokes and banter, here it’s theoretically meant to reveal lore and show how people live after the apocalypse. This doesn’t always work – at a certain point, the irrelevant chatter can become irritating.
Gameplay: Familiar Mechanics and Horde Battles
The gameplay is difficult to describe as groundbreaking; almost every element has been seen before. It combines standard third-person action with gunplay and melee combat, motorcycle riding, RPG-like skill progression, and simple survival mechanics. Even the heavily advertised motorcycle, which you’ll upgrade, repair, and constantly refuel, brings to mind the underrated Mad Max, where the protagonist also spent most of his time on his vehicle. However, riding the bike in Days Gone is genuinely engaging – it handles differently depending on the road surface, and certain parts unlocked during the playthrough slightly alter the handling physics.
But the most interesting aspect of the game is the battles against hordes of mutants, known here as Freakers. They often attack in massive swarms. Deacon, the protagonist, doesn’t have heavy weaponry or power armor like Lieutenant Titus from Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, so a frontal assault will guaranteed lead to the hero’s death. If surrounded, escaping alive is impossible. You constantly have to retreat and try to improvise. You can use explosive traps, bear traps, Molotov cocktails, regular firearms, and much more. If a marauder camp is nearby, there’s nothing stopping you from trying to pit the bandits against the infected. Clashes with the horde are a real test, as in addition to regular enemies, you often encounter mini-bosses and surprisingly fast wolves that you can’t outrun even on the motorcycle. All of this is genuinely interesting… at least for the first five times.
Unfortunately, the game’s gameplay doesn’t fully justify its runtime of several dozen hours. Once you get used to the basic mechanics, they stop surprising you. Meanwhile, the story campaign drags on for an absurdly long time, and at some point, you risk losing interest in what’s happening. To be fair, pacing issues occur even in highly-rated projects like Red Dead Redemption 2.
We haven’t focused on Days Gone‘s flaws without reason. In our opinion, this is a polarizing game that can either provide enjoyment or leave you howling with boredom. Your final impression directly depends on whether the gameplay and story captivate you enough to want to finish the single-player mode.
Improved Graphics
Originally, Days Gone was released on PlayStation 4, and two years later, it was ported to PC. The PC version received several graphical improvements not present on the Sony console. However, the remaster offers an even more advanced visual presentation with increased detail, greater draw distance, improved lighting, and sharper textures. The remaster’s appearance isn’t jaw-dropping, but Days Gone now looks like a contemporary game.
Horde Rush and Other Questionable Modes
The PS5 remaster and a paid add-on on PC include additional content in the form of unique modes. The most interesting of these is ‘Horde Rush.’ You’re tasked with battling waves of Freakers, with each new attack bringing more and more of them. During breaks, you have the chance to explore the area, gather medkits, ammo, and valuable items for crafting explosives. You can play not only as Deacon but also as other characters – Sarah, Rikki, Eddie, Carlos, and many others. Earned points unlock new heroes, maps, cosmetic upgrades, and special modifiers. These can either simplify or complicate the process of eliminating the zombie hordes. Something similar was featured in the Halo series.
These challenges are aimed at those who have already finished the main game and want new trials with similar mechanics. But whether these battles can hold your interest apart from the main story is debatable. We found them to be entertaining for only a couple of tries, at most.
If you want to return to the single-player campaign but tackle it under special conditions, check out the ‘Permadeath’ mode. It leaves no room for error – if Deacon dies, you’ll have to start the game (or the current act, your choice) over. There’s also ‘Speedrun’ mode, which invites you to compete with other speedrunners. Special timers will track how quickly you progress through the story and compare your result with other players’ achievements.
Frankly, these types of challenges could have been added as part of a regular patch rather than being sold for money, even if it’s a small amount. As an example, large updates for Baldur’s Gate 3 were distributed completely free of charge.
Should You Buy the Days Gone Remaster?
If you missed Days Gone when it first came out and want to catch up now, feel free to pick up the remaster. It can also be recommended for those who, for some reason, want to replay the original game. Everyone else can probably pass – the changes are too minor, and the new modes aren’t worth your attention.
It’s important to note that the remaster improved the game and didn’t spoil anything. There have been cases in the industry where remasters turned out worse than the original, like the shooter XIII, whose visuals were based on a comic book style.
Days Gone Remastered is a quality re-release of the 2019 game for the current generation of Sony consoles and PC. Don’t expect surprises – it’s essentially the same project as six years ago, but with improved visuals and new content. Spring 2025 has been packed with major releases that deserve your attention first. Perhaps replaying Bend Studios’ project can be postponed for the future.
