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Pixel Sundays: Remnant – Soulslike with Guns and Chaos
In today’s Pixel Sundays article, we take a look at the Remnant games, which combine two genres that rarely work well together. When most people think of Souls-like games, they imagine swords, shields, spears, and maybe bows, so more medieval-style weapons. However, the Remnant games focus on ranged weapons and precise gunplay.
Summary
- Remnant From the Ashes – The unexpected surprise hit
- Remnant 2 – Bigger, better, more complex
- Gameplay – Soulslike meets third person shooter
- Procedural worlds – Why every run is different
- Development of Gunfire Games – From Darksiders roots to Remnant
- Future of the Remnant franchise
- Conclusion – A unique genre mix with a strong future
Instead of swords and magic, weapons take center stage. You use guns with mods and skills, yet the typical Souls feeling remains with stamina, dodging, and tough enemies. The game also offers co op, where up to three players can fight bosses and explore worlds together. In addition, the game features procedurally generated worlds, which increases replay value. There are now two games in the series, and we will take a closer look at both.
Remnant From the Ashes – The unexpected surprise hit
The first entry in the Remnant series is called Remnant From the Ashes and was released in August 2019 for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. The game was developed by Gunfire Games, a studio with experience in action RPGs like Darksiders. At release, the game received little attention due to limited marketing. However, the mix of Souls like and third person shooter was unusual at the time and attracted many players. The game included classic Souls elements such as dodging, checkpoints, and high difficulty. However, the focus was on ranged combat with rifles, shotguns, and mods. Weapons could be actively modified to deal additional damage.
The difficulty is strongly inspired by Souls games. Mistakes are punished heavily, and every enemy can kill you quickly. Many enemies use ranged attacks or move very fast to balance your advantage. The game also features true co op, allowing up to three players to play together. Naturally, the game becomes harder with each additional player, and while loot is shared, world progression remains individual.
The story is fairly well designed. Interdimensional plant like creatures have destroyed Earth, and you travel through different worlds to fight the source. Remnant From the Ashes features multiple biomes. Earth is a ruined city, Rhom is a desert world with an ancient civilization, Corsus is a dark swamp filled with parasitic creatures, and more. Many of these areas are procedurally generated, meaning each campaign plays out slightly differently. You encounter different enemies, events, and loot, and you will not see everything in a single run. This makes the game highly replayable and keeps it from becoming boring.
Boss fights introduce new mechanics due to the focus on ranged weapons. There are many adds, specific weak points to target, and arena based mechanics. You need to learn patterns and adapt, which creates dynamic fights, especially in co op. The game was initially underrated, but it has since sold more than 3 million copies. The community especially appreciates the co op and replayability.
Remnant 2 – Bigger, better, more complex
Remnant II released in 2023 as the direct sequel to Remnant From the Ashes. The developer remained the same, and the game builds consistently on the success of its predecessor. The systems from the first game were expanded and deepened. However, Remnant 2 also introduces major changes, with a stronger focus on classes, called archetypes. You choose fixed roles like Gunslinger, Challenger, or Handler. Each class brings its own skills, perks, and playstyles, but you can combine two of them. This creates much more build variety compared to the first game. It also allows players to specialize more in damage, support, or tank roles, which is especially useful in co op.
The graphics and world design were significantly improved in the second game. Environments are more detailed, with better lighting and effects. The world feels more alive and unique. The random generation system was also expanded, with even more procedurally generated events, dungeons, and storylines. Even NPCs, quests, and boss variants can differ in each playthrough. This means players often experience completely different content from others.
The gameplay has also evolved. Players now have access to new skills with cooldowns, adding more dynamics to combat. There are also passive bonuses that strengthen your build over time. The arsenal has been expanded with more unique weapons featuring special effects. Mods provide additional attacks or utility abilities. Combining these allows for creative combat styles. The developers also aimed to make boss designs more varied, including multiple phases, puzzle elements, and arena interactions.
Story and lore also play a bigger role in Remnant 2. There are more dialogues, NPCs, and narrative elements. Each world has its own story and background, often discovered through exploration. One thing that has not changed is the importance of co op. The game still supports up to three players, with better balance between solo and co op experiences. Solo play is now much more enjoyable than in the first game.
Gameplay – Soulslike meets third person shooter
Remnant combines classic Souls like mechanics with third person shooter gameplay. The inspiration from games like Dark Souls is immediately noticeable, but the use of firearms creates a very different gameplay focus. The result is a hybrid combat system that feels unique. Actions such as dodging, sprinting, and melee attacks consume stamina. Without it, survival becomes difficult, making stamina management extremely important. Playing too aggressively often results in taking heavy damage. As in most Souls like games, bosses have clear attack patterns that you learn through repeated deaths to perfect your dodging.
The focus is on rifles, pistols, and special weapons. Melee weapons exist but are mostly secondary. You need to aim, reload, and manage your ammunition carefully. Weapons can be equipped with mods, allowing them to fire faster or deal specific types of damage. There are also summons, explosive attacks, and healing fields, which are especially useful in co op. To balance the power of firearms, many enemies attack from a distance or in large groups. This forces you to stay constantly in motion and actively use cover and the environment.
Good aim alone is not enough in Remnant, your builds are just as important. The right combination of traits, weapons, and mods determines your strength. There are many ways to customize your playstyle. Items like ammunition and healing are limited, creating constant pressure during boss fights and requiring some planning. Due to ranged combat and enemy groups, fights are more chaotic and faster than in traditional Souls games. The shooter elements also add a higher level of action.
Procedural worlds – Why every run is different
One of the most important features of the Remnant series is its procedurally generated worlds. Maps are reassembled with each playthrough. Layouts, enemy placements, and dungeon entrances constantly change. This means you can never rely on familiar paths, and major skips are less likely. Some bosses only appear in specific world versions, just like certain side quests or NPCs. This makes every run unique, and even on your second or third playthrough, you will still discover completely new content.
The world also offers a large number of secrets and hidden items. There are hidden rooms, alternative boss kills, and special events that can only be found through exploration. Some bosses must be farmed to obtain specific weapons or gear. This is something rarely seen in other Souls like games. The search for perfect items, traits, or mods provides long term motivation.
Development of Gunfire Games – From Darksiders roots to Remnant
Gunfire Games was formed by former developers of Vigil Games, known for the Darksiders series. After the studio closed, the team reformed and continued focusing on action heavy third person systems. Their experience with Darksiders influenced the design of Remnant, especially its fast and direct combat. The focus is clearly on gameplay rather than pure storytelling. With Remnant, the studio took a deliberate risk by combining unusual genres. However, because it was not an established genre, there was little direct competition.
Despite the risks, they built Remnant as their own standalone IP. Without an existing franchise as a base, they created a new world, lore, and a clear gameplay identity. Remnant stands out due to its unique genre mix. The developers actively listened to community feedback, making balance adjustments and releasing quality of life updates after launch.
Both games received DLCs after release, adding new areas, bosses, and story content. These expansions also introduced additional builds and equipment, increasing variety. With Remnant II, the studio successfully entered the mainstream. The game reached a much wider audience and improved in technology, systems, and presentation.
Future of the Remnant franchise
After the success of Remnant II, the future of the series looks promising. More DLCs could introduce new worlds, archetypes, and story content. A third installment is also a realistic possibility in the coming years. The concept still offers a lot of room for innovation, including larger worlds and more complex systems. The procedural system can also be expanded further with more variation in events, storylines, and bosses, making each run even more unique. Co op will remain a core feature, though group size or new modes could evolve in the future.
Conclusion – A unique genre mix with a strong future
The Remnant series clearly shows that unusual genre combinations can work. The mix of Souls like and third person shooter creates a fresh gameplay experience that requires both tactical thinking and good aim. Procedurally generated worlds and a strong co op focus provide high replay value and long term motivation. While Remnant From the Ashes laid the foundation, Remnant 2 expands the concept and takes it to the next level. With potential for more DLCs and future entries, the series remains exciting and could establish itself as a major name in the genre.
Hey, I’m Kilian, but online you’ll probably know me as “Tux1243.” I've been part of the team for almost two years now, always trying to keep you in the loop with the latest and coolest gaming news. I also have a huge passion for doing deep dives and detailed analyses of entire game series and franchises. I love getting to the bottom of things and exploring the little details and backstories that make game worlds so fascinating.
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