Days Gone, developed by Bend Studio, is an open-world action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by Freakers—zombie-like creatures that pose a constant threat. One of the most notorious aspects of the game is its horde mechanic. While the game offers a richly detailed world and compelling narrative, the horde system stands out as one of the most exhilarating yet challenging features. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the issue of handling hordes in Days Gone, exploring strategies, difficulties, and the balance between frustration and satisfaction.
Understanding the Horde Mechanic
Days Gone’s hordes consist of dozens, sometimes hundreds, of Freakers that move and attack as a collective unit. These hordes roam the world, sometimes resting in caves or train depots during the day, and come alive at night.
H3: Why Hordes are Unique
Hordes in Days Gone aren’t just random enemy encounters. They are meticulously designed to present a high-stakes, high-tension scenario. The sheer volume of enemies and their unpredictable nature make them a dynamic challenge. Unlike other enemies in the game, hordes can’t be dispatched easily; they require tactical planning and resource management.
H4: Initial Impressions of the Horde System
For many players, the first encounter with a horde can be overwhelming. The game doesn't provide much warning before you stumble upon one, and facing an unprepared horde head-on is often a death sentence. The challenge lies not just in survival, but in developing an effective strategy.
The Importance of Preparation
Before taking on a horde, preparation is key. Players need to be well-equipped with weapons, explosives, and traps to even consider taking down one of these massive groups.
H3: Crafting and Gathering
Collecting resources is a critical part of the game. You’ll need items such as scrap, nails, and kerosene to craft essential explosives and traps. Early in the game, the scarcity of these resources can make confronting a horde seem impossible.
H4: Upgrading Weapons
As the game progresses, players have access to better weapons through upgrades. A higher-damage rifle or faster-reloading shotgun can make a huge difference when tackling hordes. Investing in the right skills is crucial for increasing damage output and survivability.
Terrain as a Strategic Tool
The environment plays a massive role in horde encounters. Players can use the landscape to their advantage by funneling hordes into tight spaces, setting up ambushes, or utilizing environmental hazards.
H3: Choke Points and Bottlenecks
Finding narrow pathways or enclosed areas allows players to limit the number of Freakers attacking them at once. This can make it easier to deal with the horde in smaller, more manageable numbers.
H4: Using the Environment
Explosive barrels, fuel tanks, and other environmental hazards can be found around horde locations. These can be used strategically to deal large amounts of damage quickly, thinning out the horde early in the fight.
Managing Resources During Battle
Horde battles are long and drawn-out, requiring players to be frugal with their resources. Running out of ammunition, health, or explosives can lead to a quick and gruesome death.
H3: Ammo Management
Ammunition is limited in Days Gone, especially in early game stages. Players need to ensure they have enough ammo before engaging a horde, and using it wisely during the battle is just as important. Headshots and explosives should be prioritized to maximize efficiency.
H4: Health and Stamina
Managing health and stamina is equally crucial. Taking damage and sprinting away from the horde will drain resources quickly. Players must learn to manage their stamina bar effectively, using short bursts of running to avoid being overwhelmed.
The Role of Stealth in Horde Battles
Stealth plays an underappreciated role in fighting hordes. While the game encourages players to unleash all-out assaults, taking a more stealth-oriented approach can sometimes yield better results.
H3: Luring with Distractions
Distraction devices like firecrackers or rocks can be used to pull smaller portions of the horde away from their larger group. This allows players to pick off Freakers in smaller numbers before engaging the full horde.
H4: Silent Takedowns
While not as effective against hordes as they are with regular enemies, silent takedowns can help thin out the perimeter Freakers before a full engagement. This can give players more room to maneuver when the full horde is alerted.
Panic Management and Psychological Impact
The psychological toll of facing a horde in Days Gone cannot be overstated. Even with a solid strategy in place, the sheer volume of enemies and the claustrophobic feeling of being surrounded can induce panic.
H3: Staying Calm in High-Pressure Situations
As the horde bears down on you, staying calm becomes a critical skill. Panic leads to poor decisions—using explosives at the wrong time, sprinting when you should be conserving stamina, or missing key shots.
H4: Overcoming the Mental Hurdle
Over time, players learn to master their fear of hordes. After several encounters, the panic begins to subside, and players start developing a rhythm for these battles. Success against hordes is as much a mental game as a physical one.
Balance Between Challenge and Frustration
Days Gone's hordes represent one of the game's most controversial elements. While they provide a thrilling challenge, they can also lead to significant frustration, especially in the early stages when resources are scarce.
H3: Frustration from Unpreparedness
Many players report frustration from accidentally stumbling into a horde without the necessary preparation. Without sufficient resources or a plan, these encounters often result in repeated failures, which can break immersion and lead to feelings of helplessness.
H4: Rewarding Success
On the flip side, successfully defeating a horde is one of the most rewarding experiences in Days Gone. The combination of strategy, resource management, and combat skills makes each victory feel hard-earned and satisfying.
Hordes as a Late-Game Mechanic
As players progress through the game, hordes become less of an impossible challenge and more of a central feature. The late-game sees players actively seeking out hordes, viewing them as obstacles to overcome rather than nightmares to avoid.
H3: Upgraded Weapons and Skills
By the late game, players have access to higher-tier weapons and better skills, which make fighting hordes much more feasible. The increased firepower and stamina recovery allow for longer, more sustained battles without the fear of running out of resources.
H4: The Final Horde
The final horde battles in Days Gone push players to the limit. These are massive confrontations requiring everything players have learned throughout the game. The scale, intensity, and stakes make these battles unforgettable.
Conclusion: Mastering the Horde
The horde mechanic in Days Gone is a testament to the game’s ability to balance high-tension combat with strategy and resource management. It pushes players to their limits, forcing them to think, adapt, and execute. Although it can be frustrating at first, persistence and preparation pay off. By the end of the game, facing a horde feels less like a nightmare and more like an exhilarating test of all the skills you’ve honed throughout the journey.
