Days Gone Remastered

For the love of the game, Bend Studio has proudly brought back Days Gone with a PS5 version that truly shines on Sony's current-gen system - and even brighter on PS5 Pro. It's shrugged off the original PS4 launch to prove the title has always been great, and now with Horde Assault, it delivers a comprehensive package coursing with quality. If the original game released like this, perhaps we really would have a sequel by now.

Days Gone Remastered is the best way to play Bend Studio's open world zombie game thanks to the PS5's unique features and Horde Assault mode.

In the years since Days Gone was first released back in 2019, many zombie games have come and gone. Last of Us Part 2, multiple Resident Evil remakes, and the entire Dead Island and Dying Light Franchise — to name a few. Days Gone might be inevitably compared to those games, but its vibe and aesthetic carry it through, even if some parts of it come off as cheesy or even dated. It’s a solid zombie biker trek through the wilderness and does enough differently so that it deserves better than to be relegated to a Last of Us with a motorcycle.

Days Gone Remastered is a refresh that wasn’t particularly necessary. The base version of the game on PlayStation 5 already delivers the expected quality and fluidity, and the new edition only slightly enhances that experience. However, it’s undeniable that this is the best way to experience Bend Studio’s latest game. Over the years, the title has been significantly improved, resulting in gameplay that is largely free of major technical issues. Let's hope we will get a sequel.

Days Gone Remastered came at a time when audiences were expecting a sequel, to fill what void, I wonder? In our review you can read the reasons to prefer it or leave it aside.

Days Gone Remastered: Better visuals, same soul. Fixes the ‘how it runs’ but not the ‘why it drags.’ A solid upgrade for first-timers.

Was this Days Gone Remastered necessary? No. Would many have preferred a sequel? Absolutely. But is it still an enjoyable game six years on? You can be sure of that! It gives the original a fresh shine, which it certainly deserves. Days Gone Remastered is the perfect excuse to head back to virtual Oregon. Or to explore it for the first time and immerse yourself completely in this wonderful post-apocalyptic world. Do bear in mind, though, that you’re essentially playing a six-year-old game. But once you realise that, you’re in for hours of fun.

Days Gone Remastered offers a solid graphical and performance upgrade with the help of the PS5’s beefy hardware and has some nice additions to help onboard new and inexperienced gamers. Horde Assault, in particular, is a wonderful and exciting addition worthy of your time. Unfortunately, the rest of Days Gone’s core issues are built directly into the DNA of the game and cannot be mended. As a fully-priced remaster of a 6-year-old game (unless you upgrade your PS4 copy for $10), I simply cannot recommend Days Gone Remastered. If you are still desperate for a hit of Deacon St. John, I implore you to go and buy a second-hand copy of the original and upgrade for $10; the asking price is just too steep to justify.

So, to invest money in this remaster just seems like giving some false hope to fans that are interested in seeing more from Deacon and gang but who am I, just a black guy reviewing games. I am sure Sony knows what they are doing……right?

Days Gone Remastered, from developer Bend Studio and publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment, brings a more defined and pointed experience, as well as a bigger world and a more refined amount of gameplay. While the story feels disconnected from said gameplay, which does hurt the game, the overall gameplay experience is pretty solid.