Days Gone Remastered showcases a game that was simultaneously ahead of and behind its era.

      Is Days Gone a misunderstood masterpiece?

      That’s a question some gamers have pondered since April 26, 2019 — the day Sony’s open-world zombie game was released. A wave of lukewarm reviews, including a disappointing “6.5” from IGN, sparked a minor culture clash as the game’s ardent supporters rallied for it before many had even played it. Whether driven by genuine affection or console loyalty, a dedicated group of fans has long been committed to giving Days Gone a redemption arc.

      Now, they have a significant opportunity to do so with Days Gone Remastered, Sony’s latest re-release for PS4. This new version enhances the visuals, introduces new modes, and includes some welcomed accessibility options. Is that enough for it to be seen as a misunderstood classic? Definitely not, but it does leave me contemplating how Days Gone might have performed had it debuted in a different environment. Playing it again now, it seems both outdated and oddly ahead of its time.

      Another remaster

      The least interesting aspect of Days Gone Remastered is its remastering itself. Similar to the recent upgrades of The Last of Us Part 2 or Horizon Zero Dawn, this re-release feels like a potentially unnecessary use of developer Sony Bend’s resources. Days Gone launched at the end of the PS4 era, which means it was already one of the console's more technically impressive titles (let’s not forget that PS5 games like God of War Ragnarok were still being released on PS4 just a few years ago). The visual upgrades are, frankly, barely noticeable. At times, I’ve found myself wondering if the only change is the color temperature, which seems slightly cooler now, creating a placebo-like effect. Sony’s application of "Remastered" in its recent PS4 updates seems to stretch the term’s meaning; it feels more like marketing than substance.

      The notable improvement lies in performance, as the remaster now runs at 60 frames per second at 1440p resolution on PS5 and 1880p on PS5 Pro. That’s great for those who can't enjoy a game at 30fps, but it hardly justifies a paid rerelease. After all, Days Gone received a 60fps update on PS5 years ago, so this isn't exactly groundbreaking. My playthrough was still plagued by lengthy load times and unsightly bugs, making it feel like a very modest upgrade. The most significant changes come from the new accessibility menu, which offers more players the chance to engage with the adventure by adjusting game speed or enabling auto-completion of quick time events. I also appreciate the DualSense enhancements, as adaptive triggers give Deacon’s motorcycle a bit more realism.

      A better way to view Days Gone Remastered is as a DLC package bundled with quality-of-life updates. The collection adds several new modes, which feel justified for the $10 upgrade fee. Horde Mode is a fun addition, letting players battle large waves of zombies, which remains one of Days Gone's standout features. The most clever addition is a Permadeath mode, which forces players to restart the entire game upon dying. This smart fit for a survival-focused game like Days Gone increases the tension. Conversely, the Speedrun mode caters to those who have extensively played the original and want to speed through it quickly.

      This approach mirrors what Sony did last year with The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, adding new modes to Naughty Dog’s game. I was critical of that strategy, noting that elements like Speedrun mode felt contradictory to the story's themes of cyclical violence. Days Gone avoids that issue for a simple reason: it’s a rather foolish game. And that may just be its best quality in 2025.

      On the road again

      For those who missed Days Gone in 2019, the open-world game follows Deacon, a motorcycle enthusiast living in the Oregon woods during a zombie apocalypse. The narrative parallels The Last of Us to the point of humor, as if Sony hoped to replicate its success. Deacon is a rugged character with a deceased wife who revels in violent confrontations with both humans and the so-called “Freakers," the game’s quirky term for zombies. At times, it veers into laughable seriousness, while other times, Deacon finds himself battling a bear. For anyone expecting the remaster to shift the narrative surrounding Days Gone and uncover a hidden masterpiece, they might be disappointed.

      However, that doesn't mean Days Gone isn’t enjoyable. In fact, I find myself quite fond of it in 2025.

      Sony

      Don’t get overly excited: I believe critics were spot on in 2019, if not slightly lenient. Days Gone is a tedious open-world game built mainly on overused cliches from the PS4 era. It incorporates crafting from The Last of Us and a radial menu reminiscent of Horizon Zero Dawn. There are collectible audio logs scattered around, and I’ve lost track of how many times Deacon