Remnant: From the Ashes is a third-person survival action shooter with RPG progression elements. Set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by creatures from another dimension called the Root, the game tasks players with using portal technology to explore alternate realms, gather resources, and fight back against the invasion to help humanity survive and rebuild.
Gameplay
Players control a customizable survivor who wields a combination of firearms, a melee weapon, and special weapon modifications that provide abilities such as teleportation or area effects. Combat emphasizes positioning, dodging through rolls whose speed depends on armor weight, and managing limited resources like ammunition and healing items called Dragon Hearts. Resting at World Stones serves as checkpoints that restore health and ammo while respawning enemies in the area, creating a loop of exploration, combat, and recovery similar to other challenging action titles.
Progression centers on collecting experience to level up, unlocking and upgrading traits that grant passive stat bonuses, and finding materials to enhance weapons and armor. Worlds are procedurally generated, so layouts, enemy placements, and events change with each playthrough. This system supports both solo runs and drop-in drop-out sessions with up to two other players, where difficulty scales based on party size and loot is shared among the group. Over 100 enemy varieties and 20 major bosses appear across the varied biomes, requiring adaptation through different builds and loadouts.
Game Modes
The core experience unfolds through Campaign mode, which follows the main narrative across multiple realms and includes a secondary story campaign added through downloadable content. Adventure mode lets players select and replay individual worlds outside the main story for targeted item farming and exploration without affecting campaign progress.
Survival mode, introduced in the Swamps of Corsus expansion, functions as a roguelike challenge. Players begin with minimal equipment and must navigate randomized biomes, defeat bosses, and manage a timer that steadily increases enemy strength until death ends the run. Multiple difficulty options in this mode adjust timer length and rewards, encouraging repeated attempts focused on build experimentation and boss knowledge.
Multiplayer and Progression Systems
Online co-op supports two to three players and requires a PlayStation Plus subscription on PS4. Sessions use drop-in drop-out functionality, allowing friends or public matches to join at checkpoints. Progression carries over seamlessly between solo and group play, with traits and equipment benefiting teamwork through shared buffs and coordinated strategies. Friendly fire is active, adding tension to group encounters.
Character development encourages specialization through trait allocation and gear choices that suit different roles, from aggressive damage dealers to supportive builds. The absence of permanent item loss on death keeps focus on learning enemy patterns and refining approaches rather than grinding back lost progress.
Is It Worth Playing?
Remnant: From the Ashes delivers a distinctive blend of shooter mechanics and demanding encounters that rewards persistence and experimentation. Player feedback highlights its strong co-op dynamics and replayability through procedural worlds and multiple modes, though solo play demands careful resource management and precise dodging. The game remains available on PS4 with its full suite of expansions, offering substantial content for those who enjoy challenging third-person action with RPG depth and group coordination. It suits players seeking intense boss fights and build variety over lighter, story-driven experiences.
