Days Gone: Complete Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in Days Gone

Days Gone opens with a slow prologue that establishes Deacon's backstory and the outbreak's beginning. The first several hours focus on story before fully opening the map. During this period: follow the main missions, collect all Freaker Ears you find (sold at camps for trust and credits), and don't ignore the NERO Injectors — each one permanently upgrades health, stamina, or focus.

Camp trust is your social currency. Three camps in the Farewell region — Iron Mike's farm, Tucker's hot spring resort, and Copeland's camp — each trade trust for services and upgrades. Deliver Freaker Ears, complete missions, and rescue survivors to build trust with each camp independently. Higher trust unlocks better weapons, bike upgrades, and crafting recipes.

Bike Management

Your bike's fuel gauge is always your highest-priority stat. Gas runs out faster than you expect — keep it above half at all times. Siphoning protocol: approach abandoned vehicles on the roadside and hold triangle to siphon. Store found fuel cans in your bike's carry rack. Before any long journey, find a fuel station (marked on map) or siphon multiple vehicles in sequence. Running out of fuel during a Horde fight or night Freaker chase is effectively a death sentence.

Repairs: your bike takes damage from crashes, combat, and environmental hazards. Repair kits (craftable from scraps) fix tire damage. Major damage (smoke from the engine) requires a camp mechanic. Keep 3+ repair kits in your inventory at all times.

Horde Elimination Strategy

Horde prep: scout the location with binoculars first. Count the Freakers and identify the nest (a cluster of sleeping bodies — usually in a cave or abandoned building). Map the terrain for chokepoints. Gather: 5+ Molotovs, 3+ Proximity Bombs, 2+ gasoline cans, and a noise maker. Approach at daytime (Freakers are slower), place traps along a 30-meter corridor leading to the nest entrance, then throw a noise maker into the nest entrance. As the Horde emerges, trigger the Molotovs and bombs from the far end of the corridor. Use your bike to escape the survivors.

Essential Tips

1. Never fight Freaker crowds head-on. Deacon's weapons run dry fast — use environmental hazards (propane tanks, beehives, gasoline barrels) to eliminate groups.
2. Beehive throws (pick up a beehive and throw into a Freaker group) create chaos that distracts and injures large groups simultaneously — one of the game's most effective tools.
3. NERO Injectors are the most important collectibles — each one permanently upgrades Deacon. Prioritize finding them in every NERO checkpoint you clear.
4. The Focus ability (slow-motion aim, unlocked early) is essential for precision shots on fast Freakers and NERO helicopter sniping opportunities.
5. Complete Ambush Camp missions early for consistent camp trust gains — they repeat across all three game regions.
6. Night exploration is dangerous but yields more resources — Freakers return to nests at dawn, leaving their nesting areas clear for looting.
7. Save frequently. Days Gone's autosave is frequent, but manual saves before major Horde attempts prevent frustrating repetition.

First Horde: Belknap Caves Horde

Your first mandatory Horde (approximately 50 Freakers) occurs in the Belknap region. Preparation before approaching: 3 Molotovs, 2 Pipe Bombs, and full fuel tank. The cave entrance is the natural chokepoint — position your traps 10 meters in front of it. Throw a noise maker into the cave, then move to the far end of your trap corridor. Detonate as the leading Freakers hit the first bomb placement. The remaining Freakers in the cave take 3–4 more Molotovs to clear. Your bike is parked nearby — use it to escape survivors if your traps don't eliminate them all. This fight teaches all the Horde mechanics used throughout the entire game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Days Gone get mediocre reviews at launch?
A: Slow opening pacing, technical issues on base PS4, and reviewer fatigue with the zombie genre contributed to underwhelming initial coverage. The game significantly improves after its first 8 hours.

Q: Is there a Days Gone sequel?
A: Sony declined to greenlight a sequel despite strong sales. Bend Studio is currently working on a new IP.

Q: How long is Days Gone?
A: Main story is 30–35 hours. Completing all Hordes, Ambush Camps, and side content is 45–55 hours.

Q: Is the PC version good?
A: Yes — the PC version received improvements post-launch and now runs excellently with full graphics options and unlocked frame rate.

Q: Can I eliminate all Hordes?
A: Yes — there are 40 Hordes total across Oregon. Eliminating all of them is a significant challenge and unlocks special content.