Developer: Bend Studio
Platforms: PS5 (Reviewed), PS5 Pro
Gene(s): Adventure, Action
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Days Gone thrusts you into the boots of Deacon, a hardened biker navigating the remains of civilisation after the world went to hell. While it follows familiar zombie apocalypse and open-world formulas, it doesn’t feel like a copycat. Sure, there are Walking Dead vibes, but the game carves out its own identity with confidence. Deacon’s outlaw biker persona is a perfect fit for this brutal landscape. Scattered camps and outposts dot the beautifully rendered wilderness, and tearing through it all on your customizable motorcycle feels genuinely satisfying. The main storyline provides a solid backbone to your adventure, but there’s plenty of side content that lets you break away and explore the open world at your own pace. Between zombie hordes, rival gangs, and various survivors, you’ll never lack for something to shoot at or run from. As you progress, you’ll unlock skills through a decent progression tree, gradually transforming Deacon into a more capable survivor. Better weapons and motorcycle upgrades become available as you complete missions and build trust with different camps. Yes, the gameplay loop follows the typical mission/side-mission pattern we’ve seen before, but that doesn’t stop it from being thoroughly enjoyable! I mean, who doesn’t like killing zombies in lots of ways!
The combat absolutely shines, especially when you start getting creative with explosive traps and brutal melee weapons. There’s something deeply satisfying about luring a pack of freakers into a well-placed proximity mine or finishing off the last raider with a spiked baseball bat. The motorcycle was a stroke of genius as your primary vehicle—it lets you squeeze through tight spaces and navigate rough terrain where cars would be useless, adding genuine tactical options to exploration and escapes. And thankfully, when you don’t feel like making another cross-map journey, the fast travel system kicks in to eliminate tedious backtracking. Visually, the game holds up beautifully with its lush, overgrown Pacific Northwest setting that changes dramatically between seasons and weather conditions. The voice acting delivers genuine emotional weight, particularly from Sam Witwer as Deacon, who brings authentic grit and vulnerability to what could have been just another gruff protagonist. Put it all together, and you’ve got a remarkably polished experience that knows exactly what kind of game it wants to be.
Some of the features for Days Gone Remastered:
DualSense controller support, you feel the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers as you roam around on your motorcycle in particular.
There is also a survival mode called Horde Assault, where you will try to survive as long as possible while hordes of zombies come at you.
There is also a permadeath mode if you have the will to try it; if you die during the game, you will either have to start all over or again from the start of the second act.
Graphical Modes PS5:
Performance Mode: 1440p / Aiming for 60FPS
Quality Mode: 4K / Aiming for 30FPS
Graphical Modes PS5 Pro (At launch you can choose between):
Performance Mode: 1800p / Aiming for 60FPS
Quality Mode: 2880p / Aiming for 30FPS
Quality Mode: 1584p / Aiming for 60FPS with PSSR
On PS5 Pro, you will have the option to select between three graphical settings with an additional 40FPS mode coming in a later patch.
Days Gone Remastered pulled me into its post-apocalyptic open world filled with zombies, outlaws, and desperate survivors. I found myself completely immersed before I even realised it. While the game doesn’t reinvent the wheel with its mechanics, the balanced mix of zombie hordes and human enemies alongside a compelling narrative kept me playing for hours.
The environments are beautifully rendered, and I particularly appreciated how the world transforms at night, which meaningfully impacts gameplay rather than just being cosmetic. Some might find the acting a bit hammy, but I thought it suited the tone perfectly. The story isn’t ground-breaking, but it complements the game world and keeps you invested. The NPCs and story did add another element to the whole killing zombie affair.
Overall, it’s a well-crafted zombie game that makes thoughtful use of its open world design rather than falling into common traps. 8/10
Enjoys more than the odd game, long time gamer, somewhat a technologist and everything else in between.
Also enjoys a good solid game of FIFA online. Currently PS4, XBOX 360 and STEAM.
