Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon Review

It’s finally here. Gunfire Games promised three DLC expansions for Remnant 2, and while the final DLC was delayed, it has arrived. Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon takes players back to N’Erud, revamps some systems, and offers even more fantastic gameplay for those who enjoyed the base game and the prior expansions. However, the lingering question remains: can this DLC improve upon the previous outings?

Game Name: Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon 
Platform(s): PC (reviewed), PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Developer(s): Gunfire Games
Publisher(s): Arc Games
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Price: $9.99

While there haven’t been any major changes to the gameplay we enjoyed in the base game of Remnant 2 and the prior expansions, there have been some noteworthy tweaks. When I spoke with Gunfire Games’ Cindy To (Game and Level Designer) and Ben Cureton (Lead Gameplay Designer), they mentioned that players had “complained” that the world of N’Erud was, for lack of a better word, boring. But fear not—Gunfire Games has listened, and the number of changes introduced in this DLC is sure to make some players reconsider N’Erud as one of their favorite locations.

On the surface, it may still look like N’Erud, but with the addition of verticality and areas accessible only by the newly added glider, I’m confident it’s going to put a smile on the face of any Remnant 2 fan.

Dark Horizon Adds Lots Of Verticality And Platforming

Several changes have been made to N’Erud—a location I’ve previously said was my least favorite in Remnant 2. Fortunately, Gunfire Games has listened to player feedback and worked to make N’Erud more engaging, and from what I saw in my preview, it looks like they’ve succeeded. The most notable change? Verticality—lots of verticality.

When I first hopped into the DLC, I was greeted by a completely different version of N’Erud. Instead of the flat, dense environment it used to be, there’s now an entirely new area to explore, featuring much more elevation and variety. This section of N’Erud was preserved by some unknown force, one that you’ll need to figure out as you uncover what’s going on.

There’s also the addition of a glider that players will use to traverse the new area. It’s not a powered glider, so you’ll need to pay attention to wind streams that will send you soaring and keep you afloat. However, the glider isn’t just for traversal; it also helps you gain access to plenty of new secrets to discover. I won’t go into further detail, but just keep your eyes open when using it.

It’s not just the glider or the verticality that makes this experience different. As I played, I also noticed a lot more platforming, requiring me to jump from one spot to another. There’s even a segment where you have to leap past moving trains and failing to do so results in a spectacular game over screen.

Say Hello To The Warden

We’ve all heard about it: the new archetype added in this DLC, the Warden. It’s a fantastic class, thanks to the drone that accompanies it. This drone sets the Warden apart as more than just a companion class; it can be configured as a healing drone, a shield drone, or my favorite, the DPS variant, which adds extra firepower. Pairing the Warden archetype with the Engineer’s cannon was my favorite setup, delivering so much additional damage that it helped shred through aberrations and bosses.

The Warden class starts with the Plasma Cutter, a weapon from the base game that’s usually RNG-based. If you’ve been grinding to get your hands on it, the Warden has you covered—no more wasting time. The class also comes equipped with an upgraded version of the Scythe and a new pistol called the Repair Tool. While the Repair Tool can deal damage, it truly shines by allowing players to heal from a distance and features a slick reload animation. You can heal everything with this weapon—other characters, companions, and more. Plus, it’s not a special weapon, meaning it can be outfitted with both a modification and a mutator, which is fantastic news. If you ever wanted to heal your buddies from afar or save them from an “Oh Crap” moment, this could be your solution.

No More Cycling Through Massive Item Lists

One of the biggest complaints about Remnant 2—and, to be fair, most Soulslike games—is the overwhelming amount of gear to collect. Trying to build the perfect loadout or track down a specific piece of equipment in a sea of items can be a huge pain. However, it seems Gunfire Games has come up with a worthwhile solution: a new filtering system—at least for the rings and talismans.

With the upcoming update, players will be able to filter rings and amulets by specific attributes, making it easy to highlight exactly what they’re looking for. Let’s say you want a ring or talisman of gear that reduces damage, but also provides support options. You simply select those attributes and once filtered, you’ll be shown a list of items that match your criteria. This is a massive improvement over having to scroll through hundreds of items, and when I saw it during my Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon hands-off preview, I geeked out.

For someone like me who has collected an absurd amount of items, this feature will be a godsend. I can only hope that other Action RPG and Soulslike developers take note and replicate it. Yes, I’m looking at you, FromSoft!

Fragments and Prisms, Oh My

One of the biggest frustrations for high-level players in Remnant 2 has been the Relic Fragment system. Once you reach the maximum number of fragments, any additional ones you collect become useless. Thankfully, Gunfire Games has given this system some much-needed attention, streamlining it and adding extra utility for players.

The layout has been completely revamped, with Relic Fragments now segmented by type, making it much easier to choose which ones you want active at any given time. Additionally, Relic Fragments have been decoupled from the Dragon Heart, which was always a hassle, in my honest opinion. Previously, swapping out the Dragon Heart relic meant you had to fiddle with the Relic Fragments as well—but after this update, that’s a thing of the past.

If I remember correctly, around 14 redundant Relic Fragments have been removed, while 20 new ones have been added to take their place. This rework should make the system far more intuitive and rewarding for players moving forward.

That’s not all—Gunfire Games has also introduced a new system called Prisms. The Prism system provides an additional layer of buffs, offering players even more ways to enhance their builds.

For players sitting on an abundance of Relic Fragments, you can now feed those into a Prism, leveling it up in the process. Once leveled, the Prism unlocks a selection of bonuses that can be slotted in, stacking with your currently equipped fragments. What’s great is that these bonuses are permanent—meaning even if you swap out your fragments, the Prism bonuses will remain active.

There are up to five different Prisms to level up, giving players a lot of flexibility in customizing their builds. With the Prisms, we’re likely to see some very overpowered builds, which is exactly what some players wanted or needed to stand a better chance in the harder difficulties. I love it!

Rushing Those Bosses

Initially, when Gunfire Games announced the Boss Rush mode for Remnant 2, I assumed it would be a straightforward sequence of fighting and defeating one boss after another. However, it turns out the mode is much more complex. It combines elements of horde, survival, and traditional boss rush mechanics, allowing players to tackle it solo or with others across three difficulty levels: Triple Threat (3 bosses), Trial by Fire (7 bosses), and The Gauntlet (18 bosses). And yes, the bosses are random!

Once you choose your mode and difficulty, you’re dropped into a world where a taskbar prompts you to complete objectives like “kill enemies” to fill it up. Completing these tasks triggers a challenge from an Aberration. Defeat it, and you’ll get a brief window to heal, swap gear, and prepare for the next challenge. There’s also a buff highlighted on the map that grants random abilities reminiscent of roguelike games.

After defeating a boss, you’ll see a summary screen detailing your performance. This screen displays your time, the number of bosses defeated, difficulty level, enemies killed, damage taken, and more. You’ll also be presented with another buff that you can either skip or take.

The great thing about the Boss Rush mode is that it caters to both newcomers and veterans. All bosses drop loot from the same pool as in campaign or adventure modes, making it perfect for players just starting or veterans looking to farm specific gear. Gunfire Games wants players to fully engage with this new mode, offering an opportunity to compete against friends or other players to see who can achieve the best results.

I’ve been having a blast running through this mode both solo and with friends. It’s a great way to polish off your skills, especially if you want to jump up to higher difficulties, and it provides access to gear that I didn’t already have.

And if anything, it’s an excellent way to farm Relic Dust!

Speaking Of Gear

It wouldn’t be a new DLC without a host of new gear, and there’s plenty to discover! Numerous rings and amulets have been added that completely transformed my build. What if I told you there’s an amulet that gives you infinite ammo? Or a ring that reloads your guns when you slide? There’s a lot to find, much of it typical of Remnant 2, relying on RNG or obtained from specific aberrations that you’ll need to track down.

There’s also the Harvester Scythe and the Repair Gun, both of which come default with the Warden archetype. While I’ve managed to find the scythe, I haven’t had any luck unlocking the secrets to the Repair Gun… but I feel like I’m close!

Seamless Online Play Enhancements

Remnant 2 players who enjoy cooperative gameplay will be thrilled with a recent undocumented change that enhances the online experience. During our review period, we discovered that Gunfire Games has streamlined the joining process for online sessions. Now, when you join a friend’s game, you no longer have to wait at the World Stone; you can dive right into the action!

Initially, we thought this was a glitch, but after multiple tests, it became clear that players can join at any time without interruption. This fantastic update not only improves gameplay flow but also makes it easier for friends to team up and tackle challenges together. More importantly, I was able to drop into the host’s game even during a boss fight, and it still worked seamlessly. This is a game-changer.

Fun While It Lasted

I loved everything about Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon, and the DLC has changed my outlook on N’Erud. However, despite the extra lore that has been added, no new story has been included. This means we still don’t know what’s happening with Clementine and Commander Ford, characters who went missing during Remnant 2. I have a feeling that either a final DLC will be released to wrap things up or we’ll be crossing our fingers and hoping that Gunfire Games gets a chance to work on a Remnant 3 title.

Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon is on the short side if you’re not a completionist and only care about getting from point A to point B. Most players will be able to blast through it in about 4 to 5 hours, while those who explore every nook and cranny will take upwards of 7 to 8 hours.

Despite that, Gunfire Games has accomplished what it set out to do with Remnant 2—provide its fans with a fun and fantastic universe to explore. The only thing I’m disappointed about is that this DLC seems to mark the end of Remnant 2. Unless there’s one more DLC or Remnant 3 on the horizon, it’s hard to say goodbye to a franchise I’ve loved since day one, and has given me so much fun, while driving me crazy as I tried to figure out every secret.

Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon will launch on September 24, 2024, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It will be available as part of the Remnant 2 Ultimate Edition or for $9.99.

Be sure to check out our reviews of Remnant 2, Remnant 2 – The Forgotten Kingdom, and Remnant 2 – The Awakened King.