Gothic 1 Remake review (PS5) – cult classic returns, warts and all

Alkimia Interactive and THQ Nordic have released Gothic 1 Remake, a PS5 revival of Piranha Bytes' cult 2001 RPG. It's been modernised in meaningful ways, but it stays stubbornly faithful to the original — for better and for worse.

The remake brings a full graphical overhaul, an expanded world map built from cut content, a dozen or so extra hours of late-game content, dynamic environmental effects, and improved combat controls. The story holds up: in a medieval fantasy kingdom losing a war against orcs, the king sentences criminals to hard labour in magical ore mines. A barrier erected by mages traps everyone inside — convicts, guards, and mages alike. The prisoners revolt, kill the guards, and split into three distinct factions. Players step into the boots of an unnamed, ponytailed prisoner tasked with delivering a letter to the magicians in The Old Camp — a simple errand that spirals into something much bigger.

Gothic's open world is genuinely rewarding to explore, but the game pulls no punches. There are no quest markers or compasses — just vague NPC directions and an unmarked map that only shows your current position. Combat is punishingly hard even on easy, enemies kill in one or two hits, healing relies on food or pricey potions, and the economy is as brutal as everything else. Expect a lot of saving, reloading, and running away in the early hours. Combat itself is serviceable at best — functional but rarely exciting by modern standards.

The remake is not without its problems on PS5. Bugs are frequent, often annoying, and occasionally serious enough to disrupt the experience. Gothic 1 Remake is a dense, occasionally brilliant RPG that respects its source material almost to a fault — fans of the original will find a lot to love, but newcomers should know exactly what they're signing up for.