Days Gone - PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4

You would be forgiven for thinking Days Gone is like every other zombie game out there, and in some ways it is. But it's got enough to make it stand out in terms of the gameplay, story and themes. I haven't beaten it yet but the open-world gameplay mixed with Last of Us-style crafting and survival was right up my alley. That combined with motorcycle traversal, stealth takedowns and GTA-style side missions made this a really fun game to sit down and play. The soundtrack is also really good, from the main theme to the scary beats that play when night falls and the zombies become more dangerous. And the graphics look great and showcase some beautiful vistas based on the Oregon countryside. They really nailed the feel of this game, and while it's not the most original thing you can find, it's definitely one with a lot of heart and soul put into it.

I absolutely loved Days Gone. The characters grew on me the same way as they did in the TV series The Walking Dead. The hordes of mutant freakers are something out of World War Z. Combat with them can be intense as you face off with what feels like a hundred of them at once. The game is fairly long and with it being open world there are a ton of things to do. You will spend a lot of time traveling on your motorcycle which has a lot of customization options. You can change almost every aspect of your bike from the engine, tires, suspension, gas tank, muffler, and more. There are plenty of paint options for your bike and some unique designs that can be unlocked from completing objectives. The survival elements of having to find gas and scrap to fix your bike really add to the immersion of the game. Crafting in the game is a lot like The Last Of Us as you will scavenge resources to create items for use in combat. There are also plenty of weapon options that can be unlocked from outposts ranging from pistols, assault rifles, shotguns, smgs, and a crossbow. There is even options for survival mode and the ability to reset freaker hordes for unlimited replay value.

This Playstation exclusive title has one of the best video game narrative experiences in recent years. While its expanding open world map contains a handful of different activity types to complete, it is the many twists in the Main Storyline, the ones that keep you hypnotized in front of the tv for hours at a time. I highly recommend this title.

Days Gone is a fantastic open world zombie apocalypse. Graphics are quite impressive for a PS4 title running on the PS5. You can see the details like beads of sweat. If I didn’t know better I would assume it was a PS5 upgradable game. It does run at 60 frames per second on the PS5 but not a graphical upgrade which again very surprising. The gameplay is spot on and storyline is very interesting. This game makes you feel like you are in the walking dead and the main character Deacon St James is clearly inspired by Daryl Dixon the cool biker renegade. If this sounds interesting than this is your game. Hopefully, Sony will make a sequel as this game has gained a lot of traction over the past year or so.

By far one of the best games of the year, story development, great visuals, and Amazing gameplay! So much to do in the open world! Like they say “This world comes for you” so keep your guard up!