The Last of Us Part 1 & 2are often cited as the best zombie games of all time. With the second season of HBO’s adaptation now airing, fans are returning to see the story told once more, while many newcomers are getting to experience it for the first time.
So, while we’re all gathered here in the mood for some good ol’ zombie-ridden dystopias, please playDays Gone Remastered.
Days Gone’s Days Are Gone, But You Should Still Play It
Obviously, the easy recommendation for fans of The Last of Us HBO show would be to play the games that inspired it, but Days Gone didn’t get a lot of love the first time around when it launched back in 2019.
There are valid reasons for that, and I won’t sit here and glaze the game without recognising its flaws There were bugs, there was a lack of depth and diversity, and the creative director was publicly a bit of a…well, you may look into it, but I won’t waste my time creatively direct any words towards that guy.
Bend Studio has stated thatit plans to work on some cool stuff in the future, but it won’t be Days Gone.
Nonetheless, Days Gone is great. It easily remains one of my favourite zombie games out there, only topped by The Last of Us Part 2. In many ways, it almost hits the same notes - the gameplay isn’t quite as impressive as Naughty Dog’s, but the world, tension, crafting system, and encroaching sense of dread feel almost equal.
Sneaking through the ruins of a beautifully overgrown building, crafting molotov cocktails for the worst-case scenario while tensely avoiding the path of a zombie horde, and hoping an unstoppable worst doesn’t come knocking makes it feel like you’ve been dropped into this world and must do everything in your power to survive.
It’s Basically Open World ‘The Last Of Us’ With Motorbikes
While Days Gone doesn’t have a story as emotionally resonant as The Last of Us, or even particularly excellent narrative and characters at all, it still has so much going for it as an open-world zombie adventure. Not only for the crafting and tense stealth segments I previously mentioned, but also the anger carried forward by protagonist Deacon St John as he brutally steamrolls his way through zombies and humans alike.
But the freedom that Days Gone offers instead is wonderful. If you’re a fan of the open sections of Seattle in The Last of Us Part 2, then get ready for a lot more of that. Only the horse is a badass motorbike. But aside from customisation and upgrades, the bike is especially prevalent in this game as a resource. You need to keep on top of its condition, its fuel, and not be too reckless with it and the noise it creates.
I’m not saying Days Gone is going to be your next favourite zombie game, but the remaster is the perfect time to give it that one last run it deserves. Since its 2019 release, it has ironed out the largest of the issues it faced at launch, and now, with a remaster on PS5 and PC, I welcome those who haven’t played it yet to give it one last farewell.
