Days Gone is one of those games I will defend to anyone. It came out, got a rough ride at launch, and then slowly turned into a cult favourite as people realised how good the survival, the bikes and the absolutely terrifying hordes actually were. So I was genuinely pleased to see it get a proper remaster, released on the 25th of April 2025 for PS5 and PC, because this is a game that deserved a second shot at first impressions.
The visual overhaul
The visual side is the obvious upgrade. Better fidelity, longer foliage draw distance so the forests of the Pacific Northwest feel even denser, improved shadows and lighting, and noticeably darker, more natural nights. On PS5 you get DualSense haptics, 3D audio and variable refresh rate, with the usual quality and performance modes. It is the prettiest this world has ever looked, and given how much of Days Gone is about atmosphere and dread, that matters.
I do not say that lightly, because a prettier coat of paint on its own is rarely worth your money. Here it pulls more weight than usual. So much of what made the original land was mood: the rain coming in, the light dying, the forest closing around you while you listen for the wrong sound. Push the draw distance out and drop the nights into proper darkness and you are not just polishing screenshots, you are deepening the exact thing that made the game frightening in the first place.
The new modes are aimed at us
The real reason to come back, though, is the new modes, and they are aimed right at people like us. Horde Assault is a survival arcade mode where you take on escalating waves of freakers, which is essentially the best part of the original game distilled into its purest, most stressful form. The one that made my eyes light up is Permadeath. One life, the whole story, no second chances. That turns Deacon’s entire journey into a single nerve-shredding run, and it is exactly the kind of self-imposed challenge that makes for great content and even better personal stakes. There is a Speedrun mode too, and an enhanced photo mode for anyone who likes to frame their misery nicely.
Horde Assault deserves a closer look, because the hordes were always the headline act and now they have got their own stage. Stripping away the open-world travel and just throwing escalating swarms at you is a smart distillation: it takes the single most heart-stopping thing in the game and refuses to let up. And Permadeath is the one I keep thinking about. A horde in the base game is terrifying enough when a death just means reloading. Make every death final and the calculus changes completely; suddenly you are playing scared, picking your fights, treating fuel and ammo like they actually matter. That is solo survival turned up to its absolute limit.
Pricing, so nobody gets caught out
A couple of practical notes so nobody gets caught out. The remaster is fifty dollars standalone, but if you already own it on PS4 you can upgrade for ten. On PC, the new content arrives as the Broken Road DLC for around ten dollars rather than a free update, so factor that in. Work out which camp you are in before you buy: a returning PS4 owner is looking at a ten dollar refresh, a newcomer is buying the full thing, and a PC player who already has the base game is paying for the new modes on top.
Who should buy it
Why this fits the channel so well is simple. Days Gone is solo survival in a living, hostile open world, with a genuinely good story underneath the bikes and the blood. The hordes are some of the most heart-pounding PvE encounters in any game, and Permadeath turns the whole thing into the kind of all-or-nothing run I love putting on the channel.
If you never gave it a fair go, this is the version to do it on, no question: it is the prettiest, the most complete, and it comes with the modes that show off its best ideas. If you already poured a hundred hours into the original on PS4, the ten dollar upgrade for Horde Assault and Permadeath is an easy yes, and the full-price standalone is harder to justify on visuals alone. And if hordes and one-life stakes do nothing for you, the new content will not change your mind. For everyone else who likes their survival lonely, hostile and beautiful, this is an easy recommend.
If you want to see Horde Assault actually kicking off rather than just reading me bang on about it, I put the new mode through its paces in Exploding Zombies in Days Gone Remastered: Horde Assault on Cedar Lake.
I have ridden a lot of miles through this one already, and there is a full run waiting for you right here: WillyB’s Days Gone.
FAQ
What does Days Gone Remastered add?
It brings a visual overhaul plus new modes: Horde Assault, a one life Permadeath run, a Speedrun mode and an enhanced photo mode.
How much does Days Gone Remastered cost?
It is fifty dollars standalone, or a ten dollar upgrade if you already own the PS4 version. On PC the new content arrives as the Broken Road DLC for around ten dollars.
Is Days Gone Remastered worth it if you already played the original?
If you want to see the game at its best or try the new Horde Assault and Permadeath modes, yes. It is the prettiest the world has looked and the new modes are aimed squarely at solo survival players.
What platforms is Days Gone Remastered on?
PS5 and PC. It launched on the 25th of April 2025 for both, and on PS5 you also get DualSense haptics, 3D audio and variable refresh rate.
What is Horde Assault in Days Gone Remastered?
It is a survival arcade mode where you take on escalating waves of freakers. It is essentially the best part of the original distilled into its purest, most stressful form.
Is Days Gone Remastered good for solo players?
Yes. It is solo survival in a living, hostile open world, and the new Permadeath run, one life for the whole story, is aimed squarely at solo players who want all-or-nothing stakes.