Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon DLC Review – Exceptional Expansion and Fitting Conclusion

2024/09/24

Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon is undoubtedly the best expansion for Remnant to date. While the previous DLCs were quite good, they pale in comparison to the scale and scope of The Dark Horizon. From the verticality of the new map to the introduction of unique adversaries, every aspect feels like a significant upgrade, not just to the base game but also to the earlier expansions.

Going into The Dark Horizon, I had high expectations due to my admiration for the prior Remnant 2 DLCs. However, this expansion has surpassed all expectations. After investing over 25 hours into exploring the new content, I can honestly say that The Dark Horizon stands as one of the best DLCs I’ve experienced. Period.

This new DLC addresses several criticisms I had regarding The Forgotten Kingdom while introducing numerous quality-of-life enhancements and gameplay improvements. While it might not be completely free of criticism, it offers a great experience and serves as a worthy conclusion to Remnant 2.

Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon – Retaining What Works and Enhancing the Rest

What Does The Dark Horizon Bring?

Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon is an exceptional DLC that not only builds on previous expansions but also innovates on past concepts. The most significant improvement in The Dark Horizon is its expansive map. The new region of N’Erud is not only larger than its base game counterpart but also significantly more vertical.

The overworld map of the new N'Erud (Image via Arc Games) — The overworld map of the new N’Erud (Image via Arc Games)

Verticality is an element that past Remnant 2 expansions hadn’t fully utilized. While The Forgotten Kingdom included some vertical features, they weren’t a focal point. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the intricacies of the new N’Erud map, exceeding my expectations.

Furthermore, the vertical design is enhanced by a new “Glyder”system—a drone that helps traverse different areas of the map. The Glyder is also pivotal for some of the most inventive puzzles I’ve encountered in Remnant 2 since the original Darksiders.

If you enjoyed the environmental puzzles from the base game of Remnant 2 and its previous expansions, you’re in for a treat with The Dark Horizon. In addition to the map, this expansion introduces a new Archetype—the Warden. The core feature of this Archetype is its ability to regenerate a protective shield.

The Warden also controls an autonomous Drone with its own abilities, similar to the Dog from the Handler Archetype. However, unlike just being a distraction, the Drone offers active combat support. Depending on the skills you select, the Drone can heal you, repair your shield, or go on the offensive against enemies.

The Warden Archetype (Image via Arc Games)

Coming into Remnant 2 later than others, I previously favored the Summoner and Handler Archetypes before discovering the Ritualist. The Warden feels custom-designed for players like me, offering both offensive and defensive capabilities seamlessly. Moreover, it’s one of the few Archetypes that excels in both solo and co-op play.

I believe the Warden is the ideal choice for newcomers to Remnant 2, as it is a balanced option that doesn’t require excessive commitment to master. This doesn’t exclude returning players; after 400 hours in Remnant 2, I found myself selecting the Warden as my main Archetype.

Exploring the New N’Erud and Its Mysteries

While the new map is a standout feature of The Dark Horizon, several other elements also showcase improvement over earlier Remnant 2 DLCs. The enemies and bosses present a significant upgrade compared to both The Forgotten Kingdom and The Awakened King, as well as the base game’s N’Erud.

The new map is much more vertical than the base game N'Erud (Image via Arc Games) — The new map is much more vertical than the base game N’Erud (Image via Arc Games)

Rather than relying on ambush tactics, The Dark Horizon emphasizes one-on-one encounters. This shift results in a greater variety of elite enemy types compared to standard mobs, enhancing the combat experience, which is best suited for one-on-one battles.

Moreover, the difficulty in this expansion is noticeably better balanced compared to previous installments. In my experience, both The Awakened King and The Forgotten Kingdom presented abrupt spikes in difficulty with certain bosses. However, this is not an issue encountered in The Dark Horizon.

While The Dark Horizon is challenging—even with an end-game build—the difficulty remains consistent throughout its playtime, avoiding sudden jumps in challenge level when confronting main story bosses. This is the kind of balance I appreciate in video games, particularly in Souls-likes.

Despite the challenge, the bosses in Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon are formidable; I would even argue that some rival those of Annihilation, yet the difficulty doesn’t feel artificially inflated solely for the sake of it.

Boss Rush Mode: A Game-Changing Feature

The Dark Horizon introduces fresh loot, including new armor sets, weapons, and combat gear. However, since this expansion marks the end of Remnant 2’s post-launch roadmap, there is limited motivation to collect these items beyond New Game+ (re-rolling campaign).

Yes, Annihilation also makes a return in Boss Rush, albeit only in The Gauntlet (Image via Arc Games)

While I genuinely enjoy Remnant 2, the act of replaying the same levels can become tedious. The primary highlight of replaying came from boss fights, of which there were limited occurrences. Furthermore, some of the greatest bosses necessitate the completion of lengthy quests.

Having completed two full playthroughs before the DLC, I often found myself battling the One True King when I entered Losomn. As enjoyable as that battle is, I found it somewhat repetitive. It became tedious constantly re-rolling campaigns in hopes of facing my desired boss.

Thankfully, Gunfire Games introduced a Boss Rush mode, which I have long desired since I loved the Crucible modes from Darksiders 2 and 3. In Remnant 2, this new addition allows players to face waves of bosses in a structured format.

The Boss Rush mode comprises three tiers—Triple Threat, Trial by Fire, and The Gauntlet. Players choose a tier, set a difficulty, and then face successive waves of bosses. Initially, players must defeat regular enemies, leading to the summoning of an Aberration.

Even the DLC bosses are part of the Boss Rush roster (Image via Arc Games)

Once the Aberration is defeated, you can take on a boss. True to the procedural generation theme of Remnant 2, the Boss Rush features a random selection. The tiers determine how many bosses players will face in a single run. Additionally, the mode incorporates a “roguelite”feature, granting temporary buffs.

These buffs can be acquired by defeating bosses or via specific checkpoints prior to boss battles. All loot earned in a complete Boss Rush run carries over into your regular game, effectively replacing the need for grinding through campaign runs (New Game+).

Moreover, if you possess the DLCs, bosses and enemies from those expansions are included in the Boss Rush. This addition has rekindled my enthusiasm for Remnant 2. Best of all, the Boss Rush mode is a free update for everyone who owns the base game.

Lastly, the update brings along the Prism system, which supersedes the Relic glyphs. The Prism system introduces an end-game objective, enhancing your Survivor’s powers as you level up. The premise is straightforward: as you gain experience, you can invest into the Prism.

The Boss Rush and the Prism system are an excellent alternative to grinding campaigns for loot and XP (Image via Arc Games)

This system rewards players with a random upgrade glyph. Previously capped at three glyphs, the Prism system permits up to ten active glyphs as you enhance the Prism. These glyphs are randomly generated yet often comprise perks yielding substantial attribute enhancements, a system I greatly appreciate.

The new quality-of-life improvements, like the Prism system, complement the Boss Rush mode. While engaging with the Prism system is optional, dedicating time to it while progressing through the DLC or base game bestows significant buffs on your Survivor, aside from weapon or armor choices.

A Few Shortcomings

While my experience with Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon and the Boss Rush mode was delightful, every piece of creative work has its shortcomings. Despite The Dark Horizon iterating on many concepts from previous Remnant 2 DLCs, it does not resolve every issue presented in the past.

Some of the new enemies you will face in The Dark Horizon (Image via Arc Games)

That said, the storytelling remains one of Remnant 2‘s weaker aspects. While I appreciate the universe’s premise and lore, the core narrative connecting players to the world and its characters has consistently been a weak link in Remnant 2 and its DLCs. Additionally, I encountered performance issues on PC.

Post-installation of the new expansion, both the base game and earlier DLCs experienced performance declines. On a Ryzen 5 5600X and RTX 4070 setup, I struggled to achieve a stable frame rate at 1440p60fps with high settings. Employing DLSS on quality mode was the only fix that stabilized my 60fps. Previously, I enjoyed a smooth 60fps with DLAA under the same settings. Gunfire Games noted that the version I played was still in progress, and I hope performance issues are resolved by launch.

In Conclusion

Remnant 2: The Dark Horizon is undoubtedly the pinnacle of expansions from Gunfire Games. It not only builds upon the finest elements of previous DLCs but adds a unique spin to the N’Erud map with its verticality. Nevertheless, The Dark Horizon continues to exhibit flaws similar to its predecessors, notably regarding storytelling and technical performance.

Despite these minor shortcomings, if you prioritize gameplay, build crafting, and boss fights, the latest expansion is more than enough reason to dive back into Remnant 2. Additionally, the Boss Rush mode is the icing on the cake. The Dark Horizon stands as an exceptional expansion and a fitting conclusion.