Days Gone: 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. Camps such as Copeland's Camp (Cascade region, the first camp you meet), Hot Springs (run by Ada Tucker, in Belknap) and Lost Lake (run by Iron Mike) 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 use the on-screen prompt to siphon fuel. The prompt can show a different button on PC controllers, so check your settings if it does not respond. 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 it with scrap, and use camp mechanics for upgrades.

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 Molotovs, proximity bombs, gasoline and a noise maker. Place traps along a corridor leading away from the nest, then use a noise maker to draw the Horde in. As it bunches up, trigger the explosives from the far end. 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. Ambush Camps are optional side content you can clear for supplies and rewards.
6. Night exploration is dangerous: Freakers are more active after dark, so plan routes and fuel before you head out.
7. Save frequently. Days Gone's autosave is frequent, but manual saves before major Horde attempts prevent frustrating repetition.

Taking On Your First Horde

Hordes in the early regions (Cascade and Belknap) are comparatively small, while later regions have much larger ones; the Sawmill Horde tied to the story mission "I'll Save Some for You" is the largest in the game. Before any Horde fight: scout the nest, plan an escape route, keep your bike fuelled and nearby, and prepare Molotovs, pipe bombs and noise makers. Use a noise maker to draw Freakers into a chokepoint, throw explosives as they bunch up, and use the bike to escape survivors. The mechanics learned on small Hordes apply throughout the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Days Gone get mediocre reviews at launch?
A: Reviewers cited slow opening pacing and technical issues at launch. Later versions scored higher on Metacritic: 71 (PS4), 76 (PC), 78 (PS5 remaster).

Q: Is there a Days Gone sequel?
A: Bend Studio pitched a sequel, but Bloomberg reported that Sony rejected it; director Jeff Ross confirmed the pitch but could not confirm the rejection. Bend later cancelled a live-service project and laid off roughly 30% of its staff in 2025, with a new project said to be in development; no details have been announced.

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: The PC version released on 18 May 2021 (Steam and Epic; GOG followed in October 2023) and scores 76 on Metacritic.

Q: Can I eliminate all Hordes?
A: Guides count 37 Hordes across six regions (Cascade 8, Belknap 7, Lost Lake 6, Crater Lake 3, Highway 97 13), per PowerPyx. Other sources give different totals, so treat the number as approximate.