Finding Your Next Post-Apocalyptic Adventure
Days Gone delivered a unique blend of open-world survival, brutal zombie hordes, tactical third-person combat, and an emotionally driven story. Riding Deacon St. John's custom drifter bike through a hostile, post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest captivated millions of players. Maintaining your vehicle, crafting resources on the fly, and managing massive Freaker swarms created an unforgettable loop of tension and exploration.
If you have finished Deacon's journey and are craving more, several titles offer similar thrill rides. Whether you are looking for terrifying undead encounters, deep vehicle customization, or rich narrative-driven open worlds, here are the absolute best games like Days Gone to play next.
What Makes a Great Alternative to Days Gone?
When searching for a comparable game, players usually look for a few core mechanics:
- Post-Apocalyptic Settings: Desolate, overgrown, or ruined environments filled with danger.
- Engaging Traversal: Vehicles, horses, or fluid parkour systems that make moving across the map satisfying.
- Resource Management & Crafting: Scavenging for scrap, ammo, and medical supplies to survive tough encounters.
- Terrifying Enemy Hordes: Undead or mutant threats that overwhelm you if you do not plan ahead.
- Strong Narrative Focus: Character-driven stories grounded in survival, loss, and loyalty.
The Best Games Like Days Gone
1. The Last of Us Part I
If the cinematic storytelling and deadly infected in Days Gone were your favorite elements, The Last of Us Part I is an essential title. Developed by Naughty Dog, this story follows Joel and Ellie as they navigate a devastated United States overrun by Cordyceps-infected creatures.
While it is a more linear experience compared to the open world of Days Gone, the third-person stealth, resource crafting, gunplay, and oppressive atmosphere feel remarkably similar. Every bullet counts, and fighting off Clickers requires the same tactical caution Deacon uses against Freakers.
2. Mad Max
For players who loved upgrading Deacon's motorcycle and driving across dangerous badlands, Mad Max is the ultimate companion piece. In this open-world action-adventure, your vehicle—the Magnum Opus—is your primary tool for survival.
You scavenge scrap to upgrade your vehicle's engine, armor, weapons, and performance, echoing the garage mechanics of Days Gone. Combined with brutal melee combat and dynamic vehicular battles across a vast wasteland, Mad Max offers a strikingly similar loop of exploration and survival.
3. Dying Light 2 Stay Human
If fighting massive undead swarms gave you the biggest rush in Days Gone, Dying Light 2 Stay Human takes zombie action to the next level. Set in a vast open city filled with dangerous infected, the game combines fast-paced parkour traversal with intense melee combat.
Just like in Days Gone, the daytime offers relative safety, while nighttime brings out the most aggressive, terrifying mutants. Crafting weapons, managing stamina, and exploring a world reclaiming itself after societal collapse will make Days Gone fans feel right at home.
4. State of Decay 2
For players who want a heavy emphasis on survival management and base building alongside zombie fighting, State of Decay 2 is an outstanding pick. You manage a community of survivors, scavenge abandoned towns for fuel, medical kits, and food, and keep your vehicles repaired and gassed up.
The threat of zombie hordes attacking your base or trapping you in the wild mirrors the constant tension present in Days Gone. Vehicle physics, fuel management, and resource runs make every excursion into the countryside a high-stakes mission.
5. Metro Exodus
While played from a first-person perspective, Metro Exodus shares the gritty, immersive survival tone of Days Gone. You travel across a post-nuclear Russian wilderness aboard a steam train named the Aurora, stopping in large sandbox environments full of deadly mutants and hostile factions.
Weapon customization on the fly, crafting supplies from junk, and maintaining equipment like air filters and flashlights bring a deep survival feel. The atmospheric storytelling and bond between survivors closely reflect Deacon's journey with Boozer and Sarah.
6. Horizon Zero Dawn
Another flagship open-world adventure from PlayStation Studios, Horizon Zero Dawn offers a lush, post-apocalyptic world filled with lethal machine beasts instead of zombies. You play as Aloy, a hunter using stealth, traps, and bow combat to take down massive adversaries.
If you enjoyed stealthily setting traps for Freaker hordes in Days Gone, you will love preparing tactical ambushes for machines in Horizon Zero Dawn. The open-world exploration, crafting loops, and mysterious lore keep players hooked for tens of hours.
7. Red Dead Redemption 2
While lacking zombies, Red Dead Redemption 2 shares key thematic bonds with Days Gone. Both games star gritty outlaws navigating a changing world while maintaining a strong sense of loyalty to their brotherhood.
Arthur Morgan's horse functions much like Deacon's motorcycle—it requires care, bonding, and upkeep. The living open world, top-tier third-person gunplay, cinematic narrative, and camp-building mechanics make this a masterpiece for any fan of atmospheric open-world games.
Comparison: Which Game Fits Your Playstyle?
Here is a quick overview to help you choose your next title based on what you loved most about Days Gone:
- Best for Hordes & Fast Combat: Dying Light 2 Stay Human
- Best for Vehicle Upgrades & Wastelands: Mad Max
- Best for Emotional Storytelling & Stealth: The Last of Us Part I
- Best for Base Building & Resource Management: State of Decay 2
- Best for Immersive Atmospheric Survival: Metro Exodus
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there going to be a Days Gone 2?
Currently, Sony has not greenlit a sequel to Days Gone, and developer Bend Studio is working on a new original IP. However, the original game remains popular on both PlayStation consoles and PC.
Which game has hordes like Days Gone?
Games like World War Z and Dying Light 2 Stay Human feature massive crowds of aggressive infected that can overwhelm players quickly, offering similar horde combat tension.
Are there any games with motorcycle mechanics like Days Gone?
Mad Max is the closest match in terms of vehicle management, upgrading parts, and maintaining fuel while exploring a hostile open world, though it focuses on cars rather than motorcycles.
Final Thoughts
While Days Gone delivered a unique combination of drifter culture and zombie survival, these alternative titles deliver similar thrills across narrative depth, intense horror, and open-world freedom. Pick the title that matches your preferred gameplay features and jump back into the fight for survival.
