Days Gone

Days Gone drops you into a broken, beautiful Oregon two years after a global pandemic turned most of humanity into Freakers, zombie-like creatures that swarm in terrifying hordes. You play Deacon St. John, a former outlaw biker who scrapes by as a drifter and bounty hunter. When he hears a rumor that his wife Sarah, whom he thought dead, might still be alive, he sets off across the open world to find her. The game plays from a third-person perspective, letting you explore a vast landscape on your trusty motorcycle, which doubles as both your lifeline and your escape route. Combat mixes gunplay, melee, and improvised weapons, and stealth is often your best friend when a horde of hundreds of Freakers starts chasing you down. The bike isn't just for show; it's a core mechanic, and keeping it fueled and repaired adds a constant layer of survival tension.

Bend Studio, the developer behind the classic Syphon Filter series, took a big leap here. Days Gone was their first open-world project, their first original property since 1999, and their first home console game after years of handheld spin-offs. The studio spent about six years on it, nearly tripling in size to pull it off. They chose Central Oregon for its diverse terrain, from dense forests to snowy peaks, and drew storytelling inspiration from Netflix shows, while the narrative itself was influenced by World War Z, The Walking Dead, and Sons of Anarchy. The game was first shown at E3 2016, with a planned 2018 release that slipped multiple times before finally landing on PlayStation 4 in April 2019, then on Windows in May 2021. A remastered PS5 version arrived in April 2025, bundled with new game modes for PC.

Critics were split when it launched. Many praised the graphics, the smart enemy AI, and Sam Witwer's gritty performance as Deacon, but they dinged the mission design and some technical rough edges. The story got a mixed response, though players who stuck with it often found an emotional core beneath the grit. By February 2022, Days Gone had sold 7.32 million copies, and a sequel pitch was reportedly turned down by Sony in 2021. A film adaptation is currently in the works. [edit]

Playing as Deacon St. John, you navigate a hostile open world primarily on your motorcycle. This bike is more than just transport; it's a living part of the game, requiring regular refueling, maintenance, and repairs. Running out of gas in the wrong place can be a death sentence, especially with the constant threat of Freaker hordes. Combat is a mix of third-person shooting, brutal melee attacks, and using crafted weapons. Stealth is often your best bet, particularly when confronting large groups of enemies. The world reacts to your presence, with Freaker migrations, weather changes, and dynamic events keeping you on your toes. Managing resources like ammunition, fuel, and crafting components is essential for survival. [edit]

Two years after a pandemic wiped out most of civilization and turned survivors into ravenous Freakers, Deacon St. John roams the Pacific Northwest. A former outlaw biker, Deacon now works as a bounty hunter, taking on dangerous jobs to survive in the harsh new world. His driving force is the persistent hope that his wife, Sarah, who he believes died in the initial outbreak, might still be alive. This quest for answers and reunion fuels his dangerous journeys across a landscape filled with both human and Freaker threats. [edit]