Remnant: From the Ashes

A good game with gameplay quite similar to a Souls like (with guns). The combat and the feeling of the weapons is pretty good. The game is quite short and the story isn't very good, but the original art direction makes up for it a little. I still had a good time playing it and I recommend it, but buy it when it's on sale.

Remnant is a souls-like shooter RPG, taking an interesting spin on the traditional renowned formula. Unlike a traditional souls-like, one is given access to a wide array of ranged weapons. The ranged gameplay is a methodical ordeal, as clear ammo management and controlled spacing will become quite invaluable - enemy reinforcement waves led by officer units can cause devastating damage in melee range.

Remnant shines in its procedurally generated adventure system - every new NG will be different for every person, and joining people in public lobbies will also allow you to get a new experience of your own. Regional themes will remain the same, but the available dungeons and potential ‘map blocks’ can change to access previously unseen content. For example during one playthrough you may encounter a sewage system with a mutated mushroom boss. The next playthrough, this exact map spot might have sprawling gardens with Giant tree enemies.

The character building in Remnant is based on interchangeable ability nodes, armor sets, boss weapons, and equipment rings. Abilities are active buffs which are charged by killing enemies, and can be freely moved between weapons, allowing situation-tuned customization. Armor sets, if fully built and equipped, offer unique set bonuses - for example, drinking a healing flask granting nearby allies a damage buff.

Upgrading items from +1 to +10 requires various types of progressively more rare iron alloy, which is found across the world regions. Crafting and upgrading rare weapons usually requires a unique droppable boss item, and Lumenites, which are guaranteed items from area-diverse mini-bosses which will ambush you along your way.

This Remnant installment possesses a hands-on exploratory potential - maps are intertwining, offering multiple side paths, nooks and crannies to investigate. Remnant rewards gradual exploration, as it's feasible to find loot and secrets across the world.

For example, wandering in the desert, you may find a secret alien mechanism which leads to an ancient armory. Or you may find an abandoned lab, which if you carefully investigate, may unveil logs on human civilization attempts at stabilizing the viral outbreak, alongside a mutated boss nearby. Abandoned buildings may contain crafting materials, untrodden forest paths might bear equipment lost to time, while returning to places past visited with new keys might unlock secrets.

Probably my favourite third-person shooter, the guns just feel great to use and character movement is so fluid. Love the setting/lore, love the enemy designs and world aestetics, love the awesome weapons and mods and the fact the mods even visually alter the weapons looks, love all the character build options. Crazy amount of replay value too, the main campaign will be different every time, even different area's, weapon/armour unlocks and bosses. There's also shorter form adventures to play and a rogue-like mode.
It won't be for everyone though, even on normal difficulty this is a hard game, especially some of the bosses (including the first one, took me over an hour to beat and I came close to giving up). I does click eventually though, a lot like the Dark Souls games the more you play the easier it becomes. I did play solo though, I'm pretty sure it would be more accessable in co-op.
One of the few games I've finished and then straight away started playing again and now I've pottered round solving puzzles and reading lore on my own, I guess it's time to try co-op.

The shooting feel and melee feel are good, the monster design is rather one-dimensional, but the bosses are all pretty well done, and the weapons and monsters are well-designed and very fun to play.

easy recommend
good art, nice enemies, good atmosphere, smooth fun gameplay, high replayability

Remnant: From the Ashes is a third-person action shooter built on procedural world layouts and high difficulty. The player faces an invasion of corrupt creatures called the Root and travels between realms to stop the spread. The story is minimal and acts mainly as context for combat progression and exploration.
Core gameplay blends ranged and melee attacks. Weapons have mod slots that grant abilities like summoning allies or firing elemental bursts. Positioning matters because enemies rush and flank frequently. Dodge rolls carry invincibility frames and define survival at higher difficulties.
Progression centers on gear upgrades and traits. Traits grant passive bonuses that improve damage, stamina, survivability, or resource gain. Many are unlocked by completing hidden events. This rewards curiosity and encourages multiple runs. Armor sets add bonuses that support focused playstyles.
World design is semi-random. Each campaign generates different dungeons, bosses, and quests. This variability increases replay value but can gate specific items behind new runs. Some encounters maintain high difficulty spikes that require gear checks and team coordination.
Enemy variety changes by region. Factions have distinct attack patterns and elite units. Boss fights often spawn additional mobs, forcing constant movement. Weapon mods and elemental builds help control crowds and break resistances. Team play amplifies these strengths.
Visual presentation uses overgrown urban ruins, alien deserts, and corrupted forests. Sound design telegraphs heavy attacks with clear audio cues. Performance is stable, though some boss arenas feel cramped. Music underscores tension with rhythmic percussion.
Remnant: From the Ashes targets players who enjoy challenging combat loops, loot progression, and replay variability. Solo play is viable, but co-op improves pacing and survivability. Fans of souls-influenced shooters will find satisfying depth and long-term build experimentation.

Performance could be better at times but it's really solid still considering it does not utilise DLSS / FG.
It does a lot better than Remnant 2 - it also does a few things worse...
This Remnant actually has somewhat of a story though, it's DLC also had NEW areas rather than just reusing the same areas like it's sequel Remnant 2...
The best thing? "Survival" mode - it's a roguelike where you start from nothing but 1000 scrap and have access to a few shops that you and your party share. Limited weapons/armour and stuff, decide who wants what, make some crazy builds.
The effects in survival are buffed through the roof, the standard traits in story mode are amplified meaning you can have some crazy builds by mixing just a few of these traits.
Endless fun, even after finishing Remnant 1 and 2 multiple times, me and my friend still prefer Remnant 1 for survival.