Twenty-five years have passed since the release of the original Gothic. I’m not one of those players who feel a strong sense of nostalgia or sentimental attachment to the game. And yet, somewhat surprisingly, the remake managed to capture my imagination. It’s just a pity that, from a technical standpoint, Gothic Remake remains a mess.

The Kingdom of Myrtana is under attack from the orcs. To fight them, a valuable ore becomes necessary. King Rhobar II forces convicts to mine it, trapping them behind a magical barrier. But this order does not last long. When the barrier spirals out of control, the prisoners rebel, forming camps and fighting for dominance.

An almost poetic view.

Into this chaos arrives a nameless prisoner carrying a letter for the mages. This seemingly insignificant task will ultimately change the fate of the kingdom. In the game, you explore a dark, unforgiving world, meet memorable characters, complete quests, and gradually rise through the colony’s unique hierarchy.

Alkimia Interactive has added a lot of new content, including new characters, extra quests – some connected to characters from the original game – and new areas to explore. But what made players love the original, was its dark atmosphere, immersive world that feels alive and doesn’t revolve around the player, and its story full of humour and sarcasm. Thankfully, all of those qualities remain intact in the remake.

The map of the Old Camp.

Gothic was never a game that held the player’s hand. The new version stays true to that philosophy. Character progression is exceptionally well designed, creating a tangible sense of growth as you evolve from a nobody into a figure of influence. At the same time, many aspects of the game must be figured out independently, often through trial and error. For example, there are no convenient quest markers pointing you directly toward objectives; often you have to find your own way forward, picking up clues from the environment or NPC dialogue.

The same applies to quest design. Gothic Remake tells you what needs to be achieved but rarely explains how to achieve it. This lack of guidance can be deeply frustrating, especially during the opening hours. Few modern games would dare embrace such an approach. That is both the remake’s greatest strength and one of its biggest weaknesses. Some players may bounce off it almost immediately, but those who persevere are rewarded with a level of immersion and connection to the virtual world that few contemporary RPGs can match.

An almost poetic view #2.

Combat has been overhauled, but it still falls short of the responsiveness offered by the best action RPGs on the market today. Put simply, this element of the game remains somewhat clunky and wooden – which, ironically, means longtime Gothic fans will probably feel right at home.

The developers also redesigned the lockpicking system, and unfortunately this is one area where they missed the mark. Players must manipulate lock pins into the correct positions, but the mechanic is so unforgiving that you frequently fail, even if you’re well-developed. Fortunately, the modding community has already stepped in with modifications that improve this frustrating system.

A staff meeting.

In terms of visuals, Gothic Remake is naturally an upgrade over its aging predecessor. Nevertheless, what it delivers falls noticeably short of the standards set by today’s biggest releases. The landscapes are merely serviceable rather than breathtaking; vegetation often appears repetitive and artificial. Animations and character expressions feel outdated, and the lighting system is prone to bizarre behavior. At times, a simple camera adjustment can turn both the protagonist and everything in the foreground into a black silhouette in broad daylight.

The remake’s most significant flaw is undoubtedly its technical condition. Stable 60 FPS performance on PC remains elusive, and texture pop-in is impossible to ignore. Objects flicker and disappear unexpectedly. During conversations, an NPC may be holding an axe one moment and have it vanish the next. I know that the original Gothic was famous for its quirky bugs and glitches, but the charm quickly wears off when they force you to restart the game. Such restarts are sometimes unavoidable, particularly when the character gets stuck in environmental geometry.

Phew!

Playing several days after launch, I barely notice any major improvement in the title’s technical state. Fortunately, the audio design helps compensate for many of these shortcomings. The new soundtrack is atmospheric and beautifully complements the world, while the voice acting is consistently strong. The Polish dub, in particular, is excellent. Several recognizable names appear in the cast, but the standout is undoubtedly Jacek Mikołajczak, the iconic voice of the protagonist from the original game.

Gothic Remake offers an experience fundamentally different from most modern titles, and that is what I appreciate most about it. Few games draw players so completely into their world. My first impressions were mixed, but with every passing hour the title won me over. The deeper I ventured into its world, the more convinced I became that it deserved a strong score.

Drink out of a glass, then.

Technical issues can be annoying, but there is still far more good here than bad. For its extraordinary sense of immersion, its vibrant and believable world, and one of the most satisfying progression systems in the genre, I ultimately give Gothic Remake thumbs up, and wholly recommend it.

Gothic Remake is available now on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Reviewed on PC.

A copy of Gothic Remake was provided by the publisher.