Gothic 1 Remake — A Beginner's Guide
The cult classic RPG returns: what it is, how to play, and where every lock lives.
What is Gothic 1 Remake?
Gothic 1 Remake is a full rebuild of the 2001 cult RPG Gothic, developed by Alkimia Interactive and published by THQ Nordic on Unreal Engine 5. You play a nameless criminal thrown into a mining colony sealed under a magical Barrier — survival means picking a faction, learning from trainers, and fighting your way up from nobody to hero.
The original sold millions and became one of the most beloved Eurojank RPGs ever made — a direct inspiration for The Witcher. The remake keeps the world, story and structure faithful while modernizing combat, controls and visuals. It sold 500,000 copies in its first week.
- Release
- June 5, 2026
- Platforms
- PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
- Developer / Publisher
- Alkimia Interactive / THQ Nordic
- Price
- €49.99 (standard edition)
How to play
Gothic is an open-world RPG with no hand-holding. Here is the shape of the game:
Explore the Valley of Mines
A hand-crafted open world under the magical Barrier. NPC schedules, faction territories, and secrets everywhere. The world is 10–30% larger than the 2001 original, with about 50 hours of content.
Choose one of three factions
Old Camp (order and ore trade), New Camp (the Water Mages plotting to break the Barrier), or the Brotherhood (a Sleeper cult in the swamp). Your choice shapes skills, story and endings — but doesn't lock you out of the other camps' quests.
Train skills with NPC trainers
No automatic leveling: you spend learning points with specific teachers. Weapon styles, acrobatics, sneaking, and lockpicking all come from trainers hidden in the world. Combat is timing-based — readable attacks, reactive parry, no button mashing.
Pick locks, steal, thrive
Chests and doors hide the best loot. Lockpicking is a deterministic sliding puzzle — center every pin to open. It's the game's most discussed system, and exactly what our solver automates.
Where to play
Gothic 1 Remake is available on PC via Steam (€49.99), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, both digitally and in physical editions. There is also a free 'Nyras Prologue' demo on Steam if you want to try before buying.
Stuck on a lock?
The remake's lockpicking is a logic puzzle: plates, pins and hidden links. Our free solver computes the exact opening sequence for any lock in the game — including the infamous 40+ step doors — and shows a demo before you risk a pick.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gothic 1 Remake good for newcomers?
Yes — it's built as a starting point for the series. The combat is far more readable than the 2001 original, and the Old Camp opening eases you in. Expect some jank: reviews were mixed (Metacritic 74), but Steam user reviews are Very Positive.
Do I need to play the original Gothic first?
No. The remake retells the first game's story from scratch. Knowing the original adds nostalgia, not required context.
How long is the game?
Roughly 50 hours for a thorough playthrough — about 20 hours more than the 2001 original, with expanded chapters, faction quests and side content.
How hard is lockpicking in Gothic Remake?
Mechanically it's a solvable logic puzzle, but untrained picks break after 2 mistakes and reset the lock — and some locks need 30–60 step sequences. Train the skill early (Fingers in the Old Camp) and keep a solver handy.
This page is an independent fan-made guide. Gothic and Gothic 1 Remake are trademarks of THQ Nordic. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by THQ Nordic or Alkimia Interactive. Key art © THQ Nordic, used here for identification of the game the tool supports.