Remnant: From the Ashes – A Comparative Analysis
By PlayerProX
Introduction
Released on August 20, 2019, Remnant: From the Ashes by Gunfire Games mixes tough, souls-like combat with random looter-shooter elements. You and up to two friends explore dangerous worlds to close dimensional rifts, gather supplies, and push back an ancient threat called the Root. In a market full of co-op RPG shooters, Remnant stands out for its sharp gunplay, ever-changing maps, and hard boss fights.
Story and World-Building
Unlike the vague lore in Dark Souls, Remnant’s story is clear. Humanity fights for survival against an otherworldly plague. There are four unique realms. Rhom’s jungle villages, Yaesha’s desert tombs, the Waking Shores’ nightmares, and the Root’s carcass. Each setting uses environmental clues, notes, NPC chats, and world events, instead of long cutscenes. It may not reach Bloodborne’s narrative depth, but its atmosphere grows through small details you uncover.
Gameplay Mechanics
Combat:
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Uses cover-based shooting, dodge rolls, and weapon mods.
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Rifles hit hard like in Monster Hunter, while shotguns feel as satisfying as Borderlands.
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Melee weapons exist but rarely beat guns.
Progression:
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Earn experience, Glim (the in-game currency), and loot to upgrade gear.
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Traits work like class skills in Diablo 3 but are simpler and faster to pick.
Procedural Generation:
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Maps, enemy spots, side events, and boss locations shuffle every playthrough.
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This boosts replay value more than fixed-map shooters like Destiny 2, though pacing can feel uneven compared to handcrafted souls-likes.
Visuals and Audio
Remnant: From the Ashes audio design is a standout: bone-chilling creature roars, subterranean drips, and a dynamic score that intensifies before boss fights. Visually, the game leverages a dark palette soaked in Lovecraftian dread. While some textures stutter on mid-range PCs and consoles, the art direction remains strong, outpacing the cartoonish realism of Borderlands 3 with a grimmer, more oppressive atmosphere.
Co-op and Multiplayer
Invade and defend worlds with up to two teammates. Matchmaking is more seamless than Dark Souls 3’s covenant system and faster than Monster Hunter’s lobby queues. Boss encounters scale to party size, rewarding coordinated tactics and mod synergy. However, three-player scaling can make solo attempts brutally difficult—sometimes more so than facing solo Demons in Demon’s Souls.
Comparing Remnant: From the Ashes with Similar Titles
- Dark Souls 3: Trades melee depth and interlocking world design for gunplay precision and procedural variety.
- Borderlands 3: Shares the looter-shooter ethos, but Remnant’s tighter encounters and higher difficulty curve cater more to hardcore audiences.
- Monster Hunter: World: Both emphasize co-op and boss hunting, yet Remnant simplifies resource gathering in favor of modular weapon customization.
- Diablo 3: Procedural levels and loot drops recall Diablo’s loop, but Remnant’s third-person, cover-based combat offers a distinct pacing shift.
User Reviews and Reception
On Steam, Remnant: From the Ashes holds a “Very Positive” status with 87% recent approval (88 reviews) and 85% all-time (43,420 reviews). Key takeaways include:
- Replay Value: Procedural worlds keep each run fresh.
- Gunplay: Responsive shooting and diverse weapon roster receive high praise.
- Co-op Dynamics: Smooth online integration and rewarding team strategies.
- Difficulty: Challenge is deemed fair but tough, ideal for players seeking hardcore experiences.
Common critiques revolve around RNG loot frustration, a somewhat skeletal main storyline, and occasional performance hitches on launch hardware. Overall, the community lauds Remnant’s core loop and co-op synergy, with minor gripes that rarely overshadow the gameplay high points.
Conclusion
Remnant: From the Ashes masterfully fuses souls-like brutality, looter-shooter complexity, and procedural replayability into a cohesive package. While it may not match the deep lore of FromSoftware’s masterpieces or the narrative breadth of AAA looter shooters, its dynamic world generation, polished gunplay, and robust co-op mechanics carve a unique niche in the current gaming landscape. With an 85% all-time user approval rating, Remnant proves itself a must-play title for hardcore gamers craving fresh challenges.
