Days Gone

Days Gone is a post-apocalyptic open-world action-adventure game centered on Deacon St. John, a biker trying to survive amid hordes of infected called Freakers. Players praise its engaging storyline with emotional depth, strong character development, and impressive voice acting, particularly Sam Witwer's portrayal of Deacon. The vast Oregon-inspired world offers dynamic weather, varied biomes, and immersive environments that enhance exploration and survival.

Gameplay features a satisfying mix of stealth, combat, and resource management, with the motorcycle serving as a lifeline requiring upgrades and maintenance. Hordes of Freakers provide intense, adrenaline-pumping encounters that are a highlight for many. However, the game is noted for its repetitive mission structure and pacing issues, with filler content and frequent backtracking that may frustrate some players. Technical issues like audio glitches and occasional crashes have been reported but largely addressed through patches. Overall, Days Gone is regarded as a solid, atmospheric experience with room for improvement, deserving attention from fans of narrative-driven open-world games.

Highlights

Players especially praise the storyline and character development, highlighting Deacon's flawed humanity and emotional journey. The graphics and atmospheric world design capture the Pacific Northwest beautifully, with dynamic weather and diverse biomes.

Combat mechanics, particularly the intense and strategic Freaker hordes encounters, are highly regarded for their adrenaline and challenge. The motorcycle gameplay adds a unique survival element, requiring upgrades and fuel management, which deepens immersion.

Voice acting and motion capture contribute significantly to the game's emotional impact, making the narrative compelling and memorable.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include repetitive mission design with many fetch and camp-clearing tasks that feel like padding rather than meaningful content. Players find the pacing slow, especially in the early and late game sections, with some missions involving frustrating invisible boundaries or excessive escort segments.

Technical issues such as audio inconsistencies, occasional crashes, and problematic saving mechanics detract from the experience. Combat, while enjoyable, is sometimes described as bland or unpolished, with melee and gunplay lacking impact. The HUD and control schemes, including excessive hold-to-interact actions, are seen as intrusive. Lastly, some players feel the open world is static and could benefit from more dynamic events and variety.