Days Gone

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 29,073 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Days Gone Game Cover
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In Days Gone, play as Deacon St. John, a bounty hunter in a post-pandemic Pacific Northwest wilderness, filled with dangerous gangs and hordes of enemies. Scavenge for supplies, craft weapons, and navigate through harsh landscapes on your drifter bike to survive. Experience a variety of environments, from forests to caves, each with its own challenges.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 29,073 reviews
story7,743 positive mentions
stability550 negative mentions
  • story18,165 mentions

    The story of "Days Gone" is a compelling blend of personal loss, survival, and redemption, centered around the protagonist, Deacon St. John, as he navigates a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies and human threats. While many players praise its emotional depth and character development, some criticize the pacing and repetitiveness of missions, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the narrative's twists and engaging moments resonate with players, making it a memorable journey worth experiencing.

    • “The story is made memorable by a very engaging narrative, well-timed dramatic moments with the characters, and heart-pounding action in an open world.”
    • “Days Gone is a stunning open-world action-adventure game that masterfully blends survival, exploration, and storytelling in a beautifully crafted post-apocalyptic setting.”
    • “The story, characters, and dialogue really shine, and I absolutely loved it.”
    • “The story falls so flat so fast.”
    • “The gameplay is alright, but the story is terrible and the dialogue is some of the cringiest sh** I have ever had the displeasure of listening to.”
    • “The story is a mix of heartwarming, tragic, and 'wait, I’m supposed to care about these people while running for my life?' Deacon’s journey is emotional, though he’s so gruff, I’m surprised he didn’t growl at his bike.”
  • gameplay5,350 mentions

    The gameplay in "Days Gone" is generally well-received, praised for its engaging mechanics, particularly the motorcycle traversal and horde encounters, which add a unique layer of strategy and excitement. While the game offers a satisfying mix of action, stealth, and exploration, some players note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, with a reliance on familiar open-world tropes and side missions. Overall, the combination of solid mechanics, a compelling story, and immersive environments makes it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

    • “The gameplay is incredible; it is very clear that the game was originally created for PlayStation 4, but it is incredible nonetheless.”
    • “Days Gone excels in its gameplay mechanics, offering a mix of stealth, combat, and exploration.”
    • “The motorcycle mechanics add a unique element to traversal, making exploration feel exhilarating as you navigate the vast open world.”
    • “I really wanted to get this game and love it, but kept reading reviews either singing Bend Studio's praises or trashing the inconsistent story, slow start, and punishing gameplay with shallow mechanics.”
    • “The last 2 hours of gameplay I spent 90% of it driving back and forth on the map for the main quest (I had cleared everything else and completed all side content available) and it was so annoying to constantly get gas in areas infested with bandits and freakers.”
    • “The gameplay loop is mind-numbingly boring.”
  • graphics2,761 mentions

    The graphics in "Days Gone" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and attention to detail, particularly in the depiction of the post-apocalyptic environment. Many players noted that the game runs smoothly on high settings, even on mid-range PCs, and praised the dynamic weather effects and lighting. While some minor graphical glitches were reported, they did not significantly detract from the overall immersive experience, making it a visually impressive title for both PC and console.

    • “The graphics are stunning, especially the snow, rain, and scenery.”
    • “The graphics are insane and the characters are amazing.”
    • “The graphics, the story, even the side stuff is fun.”
    • “You have to disarm 3 bombs and the graphics don't load for the 3rd bomb.”
    • “In my time with the game, I experienced a significant number of glitches, particularly graphical ones, but also quest bugs and crashes to desktop.”
    • “The graphics were something from long ago and the animation was limited.”
  • optimization793 mentions

    The optimization of "Days Gone" has received mixed feedback from players. While many commend the game for its solid performance and smooth gameplay on various systems, particularly after patches, others report persistent issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and technical glitches, especially during intense scenes or on lower-end hardware. Overall, the game is generally considered well-optimized for a console port, but some players still experience significant performance problems.

    • “The game is exceptionally well-optimized for PC, ensuring that your journey through the apocalypse is as seamless as it is enthralling.”
    • “I had no performance issues at all, and the game ran very fluently at a high frame rate.”
    • “The game runs smoothly, plays well, and has beautiful aesthetics.”
    • “The PC optimization is really bad since it was primarily designed for PS.”
    • “The graphics are good, but the game is very poorly optimized to the point of being unplayable for me.”
    • “Game optimizations are what you would expect from a port to PC, which is terrible; constant choppy frame drops and crashing on a 3080.”
  • music746 mentions

    The music in "Days Gone" has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere and emotional depth. Reviewers praised the soundtrack for its fitting integration into gameplay, with dynamic music that intensifies during combat and exploration, creating a sense of tension and immersion. While some noted occasional repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the music, including standout tracks and vocal performances, significantly contributes to the game's narrative and emotional impact, making it a memorable aspect of the experience.

    • “The music and sound design enhance the game’s atmosphere, adding depth to both the tranquil and intense moments.”
    • “The music is extremely well done, along with the sound effects, perfectly complementing the mood and tone of the post-apocalyptic setting.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely amazing and probably the strongest point of the entire game, especially the freakers' theme.”
    • “The only minuses: the graphics as for 2024 a bit old (but just a bit), and I would really wish they could make better music/sound effects while the protagonist is in the zone of the cannibals.”
    • “Furthermore, there were parts in the story that were meant to be emotional due to the seriousness of the situation, but I kept getting distracted by the overly dramatic music that was being played over the dialogue.”
    • “I didn't like the music very much, although ambient sounds are very atmospheric, building up tension in the right moments.”
  • stability703 mentions

    The stability of the game has been a significant point of contention among players, with many reporting a variety of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. While some users note that these issues are often minor and do not severely impact the overall experience, others express frustration with more serious problems, including crashes and mission-breaking glitches. Overall, the game is described as having improved since its initial launch, but it still retains a reputation for being somewhat buggy, particularly in certain areas or during specific missions.

    • “Absolutely no glitches, crashes, or slowdowns on this version and it loads quite fast when compared to console versions.”
    • “The game runs great on both Windows and Linux from my experience.”
    • “The game is beautiful and runs great with everything on the highest settings.”
    • “The game is just a buggy mess.”
    • “In my time with the game, I experienced a significant number of glitches, particularly prevalent in physics and graphics, as well as quest bugs and crashes to desktop.”
    • “This game should have never released in this state; it's one gigantic buggy mess.”
  • emotional517 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Days Gone" is widely praised, with players describing it as a heartwarming and gut-wrenching journey that explores themes of love, loss, and survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Many reviewers highlight the deep character development, particularly of the protagonist Deacon, and the emotional weight of his relationships, which resonate strongly throughout the narrative. While some critiques mention pacing issues and occasional predictability, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers an emotionally charged experience that leaves a lasting impact on players.

    • “An emotionally charged narrative centered around survival, loss, and brotherhood set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombie-like creatures known as freakers.”
    • “From beginning to end it is a heartwarming, gut-wrenching, and epic story without compare; it's almost like I can feel everything Deacon feels all the way through, his struggles, his frustration, his pain, and his joy... it all feels real in a way that no other game does.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters and their relationships adds a layer of authenticity to the post-apocalyptic setting.”
    • “Fun to play, but pretty boring story (especially with my wife, wanted to skip all that 'lovely history'), hard challenges, sadly the game ends at the best and most interesting moment.”
    • “Go into it for the awesome bike driving and immersion of being in a world like this, but the forgettable and boring story will be a drag.”
    • “The game gives you 0 choice in anything and you just have to follow a stupid and boring story which is entirely predictable.”
  • grinding494 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it can be tedious and repetitive, it is often balanced by engaging gameplay and a compelling storyline. Some players found the constant need to gather resources, manage fuel for the motorcycle, and complete similar side missions to be a drag, while others appreciated the survival mechanics and felt that the grind was rewarding in the context of the game's immersive world. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant part of the experience, with varying opinions on its impact on enjoyment.

    • “The storyline is really good so far and the side activities are quite varied but not too grindy.”
    • “Very compelling storylines, reasonable character upgrades not too grindy, stealth works and gunplay gets better as you progress.”
    • “Gameplay is great, the gathering of crafting materials is finely tuned so that it isn't grindy but is still satisfying to find a big cache of materials.”
    • “To be honest, the game is quite repetitive, grindy, and overall slow, but just fast enough with a good enough storyline to keep me gripped.”
    • “Constantly grinding in this game to hunt for fuel and to fix my bike and weapons so that I could simply use said bike and weapons to play said game became rather tedious at times, making an otherwise enjoyable experience often feel more like busy work than escapism.”
    • “The game becomes a tedious slog of doing the same stuff over and over again.”
  • atmosphere442 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Days Gone" is widely praised for its immersive and haunting quality, enhanced by stunning graphics, dynamic weather, and a compelling sound design that includes both music and ambient effects. Players appreciate the beautifully crafted post-apocalyptic world, which features lush environments and eerie settings that contribute to a sense of tension and urgency during gameplay. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout element, effectively drawing players into its narrative and survival mechanics.

    • “Visually, the game captures the beauty of its environment, with lush forests, desolate towns, and the eerie atmosphere of the freaker-infested world.”
    • “The post-apocalyptic world is beautifully crafted, with a haunting atmosphere that perfectly complements the intense survival gameplay.”
    • “The atmosphere is stunning, with realistic weather effects, a dynamic day-night cycle, and gorgeous landscapes that contrast with the horror and chaos of the freaker-infested world.”
    • “The atmosphere is tense and oppressive, the mechanics are focused, and the story is emotional and smart.”
    • “The game loses some atmosphere due to the almost daylight nights.”
    • “There is so much atmosphere getting lost with these weird breaks and the all over the place style of the cutscenes that gives you a piece of information and instantly switches to another scene making you feel like you lost plot.”
  • humor198 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it both engaging and unintentionally hilarious due to bugs and glitches, such as ragdoll physics and awkward animations. Characters like Deacon and Boozer provide comedic relief through their banter, while some writing is described as "hilariously awful." Overall, the humor adds a unique charm to the game, balancing moments of levity with the more serious themes of survival and emotional storytelling.

    • “The game masterfully blends humor, suspense, action, and drama, keeping you engaged and on the edge of your seat.”
    • “The characters and story had me laughing, thinking, and even shedding tears.”
    • “The radio broadcast from Copeland always made me laugh, and Deacon's responses to them are great; in fact, Deacon's responses to a lot of things made me laugh.”
    • “I threw 10 euros in the bucket buying that unfunny game.”
    • “The jokes fell flat and felt forced, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
    • “I expected a lot of laughs, but instead, I just rolled my eyes.”
  • character development191 mentions

    Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, particularly through the protagonist's journey and relationships with other characters. Many reviewers highlight the strong voice acting and well-crafted narratives that enhance player investment in the story. However, some critiques mention a lack of development for certain characters and a slow start to the overall progression, suggesting that while the main character's arc is compelling, not all supporting characters receive the same level of attention.

    • “The world is breathtaking, the character development is deep, and the emotional beats hit hard.”
    • “The character development, particularly in the interactions with other survivors and flashbacks to his past, adds depth to the otherwise familiar apocalyptic setting.”
    • “Deacon's journey from a gritty drifter to a relatable and compelling hero is a testament to the game's excellent character development.”
    • “Character development is poor; I ended up not caring about anyone.”
    • “The character development is very boring and stale; the lack of settlement development is annoying.”
    • “You suck at character development from 6 different camps all on your quest to find your wife, who gets zero character development or any real reason why Deacon should still be chasing her.”
  • replayability136 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits a strong sense of replayability, with many players praising its engaging story, diverse gameplay mechanics, and various modes that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some reviews note limitations in replay value after completing the main storyline, features like New Game+ and challenge modes significantly enhance the experience for many. However, a few users express disappointment regarding the lack of dynamic elements and choices that could further enrich replayability.

    • “The story is really great, replayability is great.”
    • “There's a ton to do as you traverse the world that gives it plenty of replayability, and the way the game scripts things makes every encounter manage to feel organic.”
    • “Great replayability factor such a long game; new game + available after you beat it, with expanded selectable difficulties, achievement gets and a whole other 'challenge mode' game and tons of things to see and do.”
    • “The gameplay itself is just not really exciting or worthy of replayability.”
    • “Also, there's no replayability to it, and the quests just go there and don't have a real story in them, making it less interesting to do them.”
    • “The lack of random, dynamic gameplay elements seriously hampers replayability, which is something many want in an open-world game.”
  • monetization29 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, with many reviewers appreciating the absence of microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics, which contrasts with the industry's trend. However, some players feel the game has a rushed, cash grab quality, citing issues with gameplay mechanics and misleading advertising. Overall, while the lack of intrusive monetization is praised, concerns about the game's execution and design persist.

    • “No microtransactions or pay-to-win.”
    • “You get what you paid for and no extra monetization schemes.”
    • “Open world done right, no microtransactions, interesting and engaging storyline and just when you think you've reached the ending, the game throws another 30 hours of amazing content at you.”
    • “It just feels like a rushed cash grab.”
    • “I don't recommend this type of cash grab laziness.”
    • “Fuck this game, it's a cash grab and not worth the money.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Days Gone

Play time

45hMedian play time
45hAverage play time
36hMain story
65hCompletionist
15-67hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 259 analyzed playthroughs

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