What Is Days Gone? The Underrated Zombie Game You Need to Play

At first glance, Days Gone may seem like just another entry in the crowded genre of zombie survival games. So, what is Days Gone? Check out this full review to discover more about this underrated zombie game.

Beneath its rugged surface lies a deeply emotional narrative, a beautifully rendered world set in post-apocalyptic Oregon, and a protagonist whose journey is as heartfelt as it is harrowing. 

Released in 2019 for the PlayStation 4 and later for Windows and PlayStation 5, Days Gone might not have received the widespread acclaim it deserved at launch, but over time, it has gained recognition as one of the most underrated titles in its genre. 

This game offers more than just battling the undead. It invites players into a complex world of human survival, loss, and redemption, delivered through engaging gameplay mechanics and one of the more memorable stories to emerge from a PlayStation-exclusive title.

What Is Days Gone?

Days Gone is a third-person action-adventure game developed by Bend Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Initially released in April 2019 for the PS4, the game later expanded to Windows in 2021, and received a remastered version for PlayStation 5 in 2025. 

The game is set two years after a global pandemic that turned much of humanity into feral, zombie-like creatures called Freakers.

Players assume the role of Deacon St. John, a former outlaw biker turned drifter and bounty hunter, roams the ruined Pacific Northwest searching for clues about his wife Sarah, who was presumed dead during the early days of the outbreak. 

The core of the game revolves around Deacon’s personal journey, balancing intense combat and exploration with emotional storytelling. The combination of zombie horror and biker drama gives Days Gone a unique identity among other open-world survival titles.

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Days Gone Gameplay

Days Gone offers an expansive open-world experience set in the rugged landscapes of Oregon. It combines survival mechanics, resource gathering, stealth elements, and dynamic combat, giving players multiple ways to approach each encounter. 

The Freakers, fast, aggressive, and often appearing in overwhelming numbers, are just one of the threats in this harsh world. Players must also contend with hostile humans, wild animals, and limited resources.

The motorcycle is central to both gameplay and narrative. It serves as Deacon's main mode of transportation and must be maintained with fuel and repairs. As players progress, they can upgrade the bike’s performance and customize its appearance. 

Strategic elements like weather, time of day, and noise levels play important roles during exploration and combat. Fast travel is available but comes with conditions, such as clearing out Freaker nests between locations.

Missions in Days Gone range from main story quests to side objectives such as rescuing survivors, clearing enemy camps, or hunting specific targets. 

The game uses a skill-based progression system, allowing players to tailor Deacon’s abilities to fit their preferred style, whether that’s stealth, direct combat, or survival-based tactics.

Its dynamic AI, particularly in how hordes of Freakers behave, brings a sense of constant danger and urgency to exploration.

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Days Gone Characters

At the heart of Days Gone are its characters, each with their own motivations, flaws, and story arcs. The game’s protagonist, Deacon St. John, is a complex figure. 

He is not a traditional hero but a man shaped by loss, loyalty, and the will to survive. His character development drives much of the emotional weight in the game.

Key characters include:

• Sarah Whitaker: Deacon’s wife and a government scientist who becomes central to the game’s main plot. Her survival becomes the emotional anchor for Deacon’s journey.

• William "Boozer" Gray: Deacon’s best friend and fellow biker. After suffering a brutal injury, his story becomes one of pain, recovery, and renewed purpose.

• James O’Brian: A NERO researcher who plays a pivotal role in revealing the truth about the outbreak and Sarah’s whereabouts.

• "Iron" Mike Wilcox: Leader of Lost Lake Camp, a moral counterweight to Deacon’s more violent tendencies.

• Raymond "Skizzo" Sarkozi: A divisive figure in Lost Lake Camp and one of the game’s key antagonists.

• Lisa Jackson: A teenage survivor who develops a unique bond with Deacon.

These characters, along with others like Rikki Patil, Colonel Garret, and Captain Kouri, form a cast that evolves over time, reflecting the game’s central themes of survival, trust, and redemption.

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Days Gone Story

The story of Days Gone begins with a tragedy. As society collapses due to the Freaker virus, Deacon is forced to separate from his wounded wife Sarah, who is evacuated by helicopter while he stays behind to care for Boozer. 

Believing Sarah to be dead, Deacon becomes a drifter, taking on dangerous jobs in exchange for resources.

Two years later, signs suggest Sarah may still be alive, and Deacon embarks on a journey that reveals a web of military secrets, evolving threats, and personal vendettas. 

Days Gone’s plot unfolds gradually, from skirmishes with cultists known as the Rippers to uneasy alliances with camps scattered across Oregon.

Eventually, Deacon discovers Sarah working with a powerful militia in the south, led by the fanatical Colonel Garret. She is no longer trying to destroy the Freakers but is now seeking a cure. 

Together, they confront the deeper mystery behind the virus and the role played by NERO, the government agency that may have engineered the outbreak.

The climax is both explosive and emotional. Deacon leads an uprising against the militia, rescues Sarah, and learns that NERO’s experiments have created a new kind of intelligent Freaker. 

While the story concludes with a sense of victory and hope, it also leaves the door open for future developments.

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Days Gone Development

The development of Days Gone was ambitious. It marked Bend Studio’s first open-world project and their first original IP since Syphon Filter in 1999. 

Production began in 2015 and took nearly six years to complete. The studio grew significantly during this period, expanding from 50 to 130 members.

The setting in Central Oregon provided a natural backdrop for the game’s post-apocalyptic world. Developers focused on delivering an open-world experience without relying on filler content. 

Most missions are directly tied to the story, enhancing immersion. The team also invested heavily in creating realistic horde behavior, with dynamic AI and terrain-based strategies.

Though initially criticized for technical issues and repetitive mission design, the game’s graphics, voice acting, particularly Sam Witwer as Deacon, and its layered story have been praised by players. 

By February 2022, Days Gone had sold over 7.3 million copies, demonstrating strong commercial performance despite its mixed reviews.

A proposed sequel was pitched to Sony but ultimately rejected, which sparked debate among fans and developers about the game's potential and its underrated status in the PlayStation catalog.

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Conclusion

Days Gone is more than just a zombie survival game. It is a story about love, loss, loyalty, and the relentless will to survive. Its compelling characters, emotionally driven plot, and expansive gameplay make it one of the more memorable titles on the PlayStation 4. 

While it may not have received the critical acclaim of some of its peers, the game's strong narrative, atmospheric world, and evolving mechanics have earned it a loyal fanbase and belated recognition as an underrated gem.

If you're looking for a gripping story-driven experience set in a beautifully desolate world, Days Gone is a game you shouldn't overlook.

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FAQ

Why did Days Gone flop? 

Days Gone performed poorly when it first launched mainly because it was very badly optimized, leading to many bugs. While those issues have since been fixed and the game is much better today, it's very difficult and takes a long time for video games to recover from a bad release.

Is Days Gone a good game? 

Yes, Days Gone is generally considered a good game by players. Recent reviews are "Very Positive," with 89% of user reviews in the last 30 days being positive. Overall, 92% of all user reviews are positive.

Is Days Gone 2 confirmed? 

No, developer Bend Studio itself has stated they will not be working on a Days Gone 2. Surprisingly, this was the studio's own decision, not Sony's.

Is Days Gone really open-world? 

Yes, Days Gone is an open-world, third-person action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Players control Deacon St. John, a drifter and bounty hunter who prefers living on the road.

Why do critics hate Days Gone? 

Critics often disliked Days Gone due to its weak shooting mechanics and some bad weapons, similar to criticisms leveled at Red Dead Redemption II. However, unlike other highly-rated games, Days Gone was heavily affected by its launch bugs, which significantly impacted its reception.