Bend Studio brought Days Gone to PC on 18 May 2021, two years after the PlayStation 4 release, with unlocked frame rates, a wider field of view and ultrawide support. Deacon St. John rides through post outbreak Oregon across six regions, from Cascade in the north down to Crater Lake, and his bike is the only transport he gets. Hordes are the reason to stay: the Old Sawmill horde alone packs roughly 500 Freakers into one moving mass, and there is no version of that fight you win by standing still.
Days Gone features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cascade | Opening region, available from the start | Copeland's Camp shop, early bike upgrades, the first NERO checkpoints | Horde Runner |
| 2 | Belknap | Opening region, available from the start | Hot Springs Camp weapon stock, Tucker's bounty missions, additional NERO injectors | Horde Runner |
| 3 | Lost Lake | Mid game, unlocked by story progress | Drifter Crossbow, Iron Mike's bike upgrades, Rikki's mechanic services | Stealth Trapper |
| 4 | Iron Butte | Mid to late game | Old Sawmill horde clear, Ripper camp loot, high value NERO checkpoints | Stealth Trapper |
| 5 | Crater Lake | Late game, reached through the main story | Wizard Island and Diamond Lake shops, top tier weapons, the militia storyline | Stealth Trapper |
Cascade: Starting Area
The northern forest region where the story opens, thick with trees and short sightlines. Copeland's Camp sits here, built on Mark Copeland's radio broadcasts about personal freedom, and it is the first place to spend credits.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Opening region, available from the start |
| Key Rewards | Copeland's Camp shop, early bike upgrades, the first NERO checkpoints |
| Recommended Role | Horde Runner |
| Key Weapons | MWS |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Bike fuel and durability. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first weapons upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Belknap.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Belknap: Early Game
More open than Cascade, with wider roads and longer engagement distances. Hot Springs Camp, run by Ada Tucker as a forced labour operation, trades better weapons than Copeland does once its Trust rises.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Opening region, available from the start |
| Key Rewards | Hot Springs Camp weapon stock, Tucker's bounty missions, additional NERO injectors |
| Recommended Role | Horde Runner |
| Key Weapons | MWS |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Camp Trust and credits. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for MWS if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Lost Lake.
Lost Lake: Mid Game
Opened after the No One Saw It Coming mission, and home to Iron Mike Wilcox's camp, the one settlement actually trying to rebuild something democratic. It supplies the Drifter Crossbow and better bike parts.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid game, unlocked by story progress |
| Key Rewards | Drifter Crossbow, Iron Mike's bike upgrades, Rikki's mechanic services |
| Recommended Role | Stealth Trapper |
| Key Weapons | MWS |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Drifter Crossbow becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Freaker hordes for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Iron Butte: Late Game
West of Lost Lake and south of Belknap, dry, industrial and heavily contested by Rippers. The Old Sawmill horde and its 500 Freakers sit in this part of the map, which makes it the region that tests a horde build properly.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid to late game |
| Key Rewards | Old Sawmill horde clear, Ripper camp loot, high value NERO checkpoints |
| Recommended Role | Stealth Trapper |
| Key Weapons | Drifter Crossbow |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Drifter Crossbow should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Survival Vision and Focus mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Crater Lake.
Crater Lake: Endgame
The southern region and the endgame, dominated by the Deschutes County Militia. Wizard Island is Colonel Matthew Garrett's fortified stronghold and Diamond Lake is the militia outpost under Captain Derrick Kouri.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Late game, reached through the main story |
| Key Rewards | Wizard Island and Diamond Lake shops, top tier weapons, the militia storyline |
| Recommended Role | Stealth Trapper |
| Key Weapons | Drifter Crossbow |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Explosives Specialist for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Cascade → Belknap → Lost Lake → Iron Butte → Crater Lake. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your weapons: Some areas favor different weapons types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Days Gone Guides
- Days Gone Days Gone Overview
- Days Gone Best Builds
- Days Gone Tier List
- Days Gone Walkthrough
- Days Gone Beginner's Guide
- Days Gone Tips & Tricks
- Days Gone Weapons Guide
- Days Gone Combat Guide
- Days Gone Boss Guide
- Days Gone Crafting Guide
- Days Gone Classes & Characters
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