Yo, what’s up, gamers? The time jump between Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West? Six months. That’s right, only six months. But, seriously, play Zero Dawn first. It’s not just a prequel; it’s the foundation. Forbidden West is a direct sequel, building on everything you learn about Aloy and the world in the first game. Skipping it is like starting a book in the middle – you’ll be totally lost and miss tons of crucial backstory. Think of it like this: Zero Dawn sets up the mystery, introduces the characters, and lays down the lore. Forbidden West explodes with action, but the emotional impact, the depth of the story, hinges on your understanding of what happened before. Trust me, the payoff for playing the first game is massive. Don’t miss out!
How long does it take to complete Horizon Zero Dawn?
So, you’re wondering how long Horizon Zero Dawn takes to beat? The average playtime, excluding The Frozen Wilds DLC, clocks in around 40 hours according to critics. But that’s just an average – your mileage may vary wildly.
Completionist runs can easily push that number over 60 hours, especially if you’re hunting down every collectible and side quest. I personally know someone who took almost 80 hours to completely exhaust everything the base game offered! On the flip side, a speedrunner might blaze through it in under 10.
Difficulty plays a huge role. If you crank the difficulty up, expect to spend more time mastering combat and strategizing. On the easiest difficulty, you might finish faster.
Think of that 40-hour figure as a baseline. Jeff Bakalar from CNET reportedly finished it in around 25 hours, showcasing a more streamlined playthrough. But don’t be surprised if you spend significantly more time exploring the stunning world and its rich lore.
How long does it take to complete 100% of Horizon Zero Dawn?
So you’re wondering how long to beat Horizon Zero Dawn at 100%? It really depends on your playstyle.
Main Story Focus: Expect around 22.5 hours to blitz through the main storyline. This means skipping side quests and focusing solely on the main narrative. Think “speedrun” vibes, but without the intense optimization.
100% Completionist Run: Now, if you’re a completionist like me, aiming for that glorious 100% – prepare for a much longer journey. We’re talking around 61 hours. This includes:
- Completing every side quest – and trust me, there are a LOT.
- Discovering all the collectibles – Cauldrons, Vantage Points, and more. These offer valuable lore and sometimes powerful upgrades.
- Maxing out Aloy’s skills – Aloy’s skill tree is extensive, and maximizing it offers significant gameplay advantages.
- Hunting every machine – some are tougher than others, and hunting them all requires dedication and strategy.
Pro-Tip: Don’t be afraid to use the game’s map and quest trackers. These are invaluable tools for efficient completion. Knowing where to go significantly reduces wasted time.
Bonus Info: The difficulty you select will *slightly* impact playtime. Harder difficulties will naturally extend your playtime, though not drastically. The real time sink is the sheer volume of optional content.
Is Horizon Zero Dawn a good game?
Horizon Zero Dawn boasts a truly unforgettable protagonist, Aloy, whose journey through a breathtaking post-apocalyptic world is a masterclass in storytelling. The game’s visuals are stunning, perfectly complementing the haunting yet beautiful soundtrack. Gameplay is fluid and engaging, offering a compelling mix of action, stealth, and exploration. The machine designs are iconic, each with its own unique lore and weaknesses – vital knowledge for any aspiring hunter. Mastering the different hunting techniques, from crafting specialized ammo to exploiting elemental weaknesses, is key to survival and uncovering the mysteries of this vibrant world. Speaking of mysteries, the narrative itself is a captivating tapestry woven from ancient tribal lore, advanced technology, and the secrets of the Old Ones. Detailed lore entries, scattered throughout the world, provide deeper insights into the history of this captivating world. These are essential for understanding the rich history of the various tribes and the catastrophic events that shaped this world. While inventory management and quest selection could be streamlined, these minor drawbacks are easily overshadowed by the sheer quality of the overall experience. The compelling story, stunning visuals, and unique gameplay loop make Horizon Zero Dawn a must-play, especially for those interested in unraveling its rich, layered lore. Consider dedicating time to exploring every nook and cranny of the map; hidden collectibles and environmental storytelling often unlock deeper insights into the game’s fascinating narrative. Learning the intricacies of the machines is crucial; understanding their behaviours and weaknesses is the difference between survival and becoming another casualty in this unforgiving landscape.
How many endings does Horizon have?
Horizon Forbidden West boasts a single, impactful ending, a true boss fight conclusion that leaves a lasting impression. Think of it as a single, definitive win condition in a high-stakes esports tournament – the ultimate victory is one, but the path you take to get there matters.
While the final result is fixed, your gameplay significantly shapes the narrative. This isn’t a branching storyline with radically different conclusions, but rather a nuanced approach to victory. Think of it like optimizing your build in a competitive game:
- Relationship choices: Investing time in specific characters unlocks unique dialogue options and scenes throughout the game, culminating in a richer, more personalized final act. It’s like mastering a specific hero’s kit – different characters provide different advantages and lead to different strategic outcomes.
- Side quests: Completing optional missions isn’t about unlocking alternate endings, but about enhancing your experience and influencing the overall tone of the narrative. It’s analogous to securing crucial resources or advantages in a competitive match; it provides a tactical edge in the endgame.
Ultimately, though you’re heading toward the same final cinematic showdown, your playstyle dramatically colors the experience, affecting the emotional resonance and character development, not the ultimate victory itself. This “one-ending, multiple-path” design creates high replayability – each run is a different strategic approach leading to the same overall victory. It’s like running the same map in a competitive shooter – the objective is the same, but the strategies to achieve it differ drastically, making each run unique and engaging.
Is the Horizon Zero Dawn remaster better than Forbidden West?
So, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered vs. Forbidden West? Forbidden West completely blows Zero Dawn out of the water – pun intended! The water effects alone are next-level. Seriously, the visuals are stunning. The Remastered version of Zero Dawn sits somewhere in the middle; it’s a solid upgrade, don’t get me wrong. But it never quite reaches the breathtaking fidelity of its sequel. However, the improved SSR and screen-space reflections are a significant step up for Zero Dawn, adding a noticeable layer of realism, especially in reflective surfaces.
Think of it this way: Forbidden West is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on current-gen consoles, showing off incredible detail and lighting effects. Zero Dawn Remastered benefits from the improved tech, but it’s still built on the foundation of the original game’s engine, limiting its potential. If you’re looking for the absolute best visual experience, Forbidden West wins hands down. But Zero Dawn Remastered is a worthwhile upgrade if you haven’t played it yet, offering a much-improved visual experience over the original.
Should I finish Zero Dawn before playing Forbidden West?
Absolutely, you need to play Zero Dawn (and the Frozen Wilds DLC, highly recommended) before jumping into Forbidden West. It’s not just a prequel; it’s the foundation upon which the entire narrative rests. The story of how the world ended and why you’re battling these incredible “dino-bots” – the machines – is crucial. The writing is phenomenal, and it’s not just a great game historically; it still holds up incredibly well in 2025, especially if you’re playing it on a PS5 – you’ll get amazing performance.
Here’s why it’s essential:
- Character Development: Aloy’s journey in Zero Dawn is beautifully crafted. Understanding her origins and motivations dramatically enhances your experience in Forbidden West. You’ll connect with her struggles and triumphs on a much deeper level.
- World Building: Zero Dawn lays the groundwork for the world of Forbidden West. Understanding the history of the Old Ones, the catastrophic events that led to the downfall of civilization, and the origins of the machines is critical to fully appreciating the sequel’s story and challenges.
- Gameplay Mechanics: While Forbidden West refines the gameplay, Zero Dawn introduces you to the core mechanics. Starting with Forbidden West might feel overwhelming without the foundational knowledge gained in the first game.
- The Frozen Wilds DLC: This DLC expands Aloy’s story and introduces new mechanics and enemies. It adds depth to her character and significantly enriches the narrative of the overall story arc, creating a smoother transition to Forbidden West.
Seriously, don’t skip Zero Dawn. It’s a masterpiece, and playing it first will make Forbidden West even more rewarding.
How long does it take to complete Horizon Forbidden West?
Horizon Forbidden West offers a compelling narrative experience clocking in at approximately 40 hours for a main story completion. However, this figure significantly undersells the game’s overall playtime. The open world, while visually stunning, suffers from a lack of density and engaging side content. Many side quests and activities fall into repetitive patterns, diminishing their overall impact and contributing to a feeling of emptiness in the world despite its graphical fidelity. Players primarily focused on the main storyline can expect a focused, approximately 40-hour campaign. Those seeking a more complete experience, however, should expect significantly more time invested due to the breadth of optional activities. The engaging story keeps players hooked, preventing fatigue despite the repetitive nature of some side content. This leads to an interesting dichotomy: a captivating narrative coupled with a somewhat unfulfilling open-world design. Completionists should budget considerably more than 40 hours, possibly doubling or even tripling this time depending on the depth of exploration and side content engagement. The pacing of the main narrative effectively manages to mitigate the shortcomings of the ancillary content, creating a surprisingly balanced overall experience despite its inherent contradictions.
How many errands are there in Horizon Zero Dawn?
So, you’re wondering about the errands in Horizon Zero Dawn? Errands are basically the smaller side quests, less story-heavy than main quests or even the hunting grounds. Think of them as quick, bite-sized adventures, usually involving fetching something, killing a specific machine, or helping a settler with a minor problem. There are 14 of them in the base game, and each one contributes a tiny 0.5% to your overall completion percentage. That’s not much, but collectively they can add up to a surprisingly decent chunk of experience if you’re aiming for 100% completion. Some of them are pretty easy to miss, tucked away in less explored corners of the map. Don’t feel obligated to do them all, especially if you’re focusing on the main story, but they offer some interesting lore snippets and extra rewards – sometimes even unique outfits or weapons.
Pro tip: Check your map frequently for errand markers; they’re usually denoted by a small, distinct symbol. Also, keep an eye out for side conversations with NPCs; many errands start that way. Finally, tackling them early can help you level up and get better gear before tackling tougher challenges later on.
Is Horizon Forbidden West difficult to beat?
Horizon Forbidden West’s difficulty isn’t linear; it presents a multifaceted challenge. While the main story gradually introduces tougher machines, the real test lies in exploring the vast open world.
Machine Variety and Escalating Threats: The game cleverly integrates challenging encounters throughout. The main story arc steadily ramps up the difficulty, pitting you against increasingly formidable foes. However, the optional content, such as side quests and cauldrons, often throws you unexpected curveballs. You’ll encounter powerful machines like Tremortusks and Slaughterspines well before the story necessitates facing them, testing your combat skills and resourcefulness.
Strategic Depth Beyond Brute Force: Simply upgrading your weapons isn’t enough. Mastering the various weapon types and understanding enemy weaknesses is crucial. Utilizing traps, stealth, and exploiting the environment are key strategies for overcoming superior firepower. Experimenting with different weapon combinations and playstyles is highly encouraged.
Exploration and Unexpected Encounters: The open world is rife with surprises. Random encounters with larger machines while traversing the landscape keep you on your toes. This dynamic encounter design prevents the game from feeling predictable and reinforces the sense of danger inherent in the world.
Challenges Beyond Combat: Don’t overlook the puzzle-solving elements within cauldrons and the strategic considerations required in certain side quests. These sections often require a different kind of skillset, further deepening the overall challenge.
- Cauldron Challenges: These offer significant rewards, but often involve intricate puzzles and formidable machine guardians.
- Side Quest Diversity: Don’t underestimate the challenge presented by some optional quests; they can feature powerful machines and complex objectives.
- Machine Weakness Exploitation: Learning each machine’s weak points and exploiting them is vital for victory.
In short: Forbidden West’s difficulty is not just about the story’s progression, but about the player’s willingness to explore, experiment, and adapt to a dynamic and challenging world.
How many hours does it take to complete Horizon Forbidden West?
Horizon Forbidden West? Solid 40-hour campaign, maybe a bit longer if you’re a completionist. It’s a gorgeous open world, no doubt, but let’s be real, the side quests get repetitive after a while. Think fetch quests with a robot twist. The main story though? That’s gripping. Aloy’s journey keeps you hooked. Don’t expect groundbreaking gameplay mechanics, it’s pretty standard third-person action. But the visuals are stunning, seriously next-gen stuff. The combat’s satisfying enough, good mix of stealth and direct confrontation.
Pro-tip: Don’t neglect upgrading Aloy’s skills and weapons. It makes a HUGE difference in the later stages. And seriously explore the underwater sections. They’re a unique addition and add some much-needed variety.
Worth noting: There’s a LOT of collectible stuff – machine parts, data points, etc. If you’re aiming for 100%, easily adds another 20-30 hours to your playtime.
Overall: A great story in a beautiful but somewhat shallow open world. If you enjoy action-adventure games with a compelling narrative, you’ll likely get your money’s worth. Just manage your expectations on the side content.
Is Horizon Zero Dawn a long game?
Horizon Zero Dawn’s playtime heavily depends on your playstyle. A focused, main-quest-only run clocks in around 22.5 hours. That’s a speedrunner’s dream, really optimizing for efficiency. However, for completionists aiming for 100%, expect a significant time investment – closer to 61 hours. This includes exploring every nook and cranny, uncovering all collectibles, and mastering all side quests and challenges. Consider that the side content is far from filler; it significantly expands the lore and character development, adding depth often missing in streamlined experiences. The optional Hunting Grounds, for instance, are a brutal but rewarding test of combat skills, providing unique gear and a true sense of progression. So while 22.5 hours offers a solid taste, 61 hours unlocks the full potential of the Aloy’s journey, offering a much richer and ultimately more satisfying experience.
What is the maximum level in Horizon Zero Dawn?
So, you’re wondering about the max level in Horizon Zero Dawn? It’s 60, but it’s a bit of a misnomer. The base game caps at 50, then The Frozen Wilds DLC adds another 10 levels, bringing the total to 60.
Getting to max level isn’t just about grinding; it’s about smart grinding. Here’s the breakdown:
- Hunting: Focus on high-level machines. Don’t waste time on low-level stuff unless you need specific resources. Stormbirds and Thunderjaws are your friends (later in the game, of course). Learn their attack patterns and exploit weaknesses – that’s way more efficient than just spamming arrows.
- Bandit Camps: Excellent for XP and loot. Prioritize larger camps for better rewards, but be prepared for tougher fights. Use traps effectively and consider the element of surprise for easier victories.
- Side Quests: These aren’t just filler. Many offer significant XP and often lead to valuable resources or weapons. Don’t just rush the main story!
- Hunting Grounds Trials: These are *specifically designed* for leveling. Each completed trial gives a solid chunk of XP, and they’re more efficient than randomly hunting machines. Practice makes perfect here!
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to upgrade your skills! Investing in skills that increase your damage output or resource gathering will dramatically speed up your leveling process. Consider your playstyle and choose wisely.
Another Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to adjust your difficulty. If you’re struggling, lowering the difficulty will make grinding for XP much easier and faster without sacrificing the reward.
How many endings does Horizon Forbidden West have?
Horizon Forbidden West features a single overarching narrative conclusion. However, the game’s branching narrative design allows for significant variations in the specifics of that ending, impacting several key relationships and the overall state of the world. Player choices, particularly regarding certain significant quests and dialogue options, subtly alter the final scenes and leave a lasting impression on the post-game world.
Key factors influencing narrative variations include:
- Relationships with key NPCs: Cultivating strong bonds with certain characters can unlock unique dialogue and scenes during the final act, changing how their stories conclude and impacting Aloy’s emotional journey.
- Side quests and errands: While not directly altering the main plot’s conclusion, completing various side content provides contextual depth and can affect the final state of specific locations or factions within the game’s world.
- Resource management and environmental choices: Although less overt, successful resource management and mindful environmental interactions contribute to a feeling of a more prosperous or depleted post-game world, thus indirectly influencing the overall tone of the ending.
Despite these variations, the core events leading to the game’s conclusion remain consistent. This “single ending with nuanced variations” approach successfully balances narrative linearity with player agency, creating a satisfying conclusion while still offering a degree of replayability for those seeking to experience the full spectrum of narrative possibilities.
When will Horizon 3 be released?
Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is the standalone expansion, not a full-fledged sequel. It launched April 19th, 2025, after being announced December 8th, 2025 by Sony Interactive Entertainment. This DLC focuses on a new area, the volcanic island of Los Angeles, introducing new machines, story elements, and improved traversal mechanics leveraging the PS5’s capabilities. Think of it less as a “part 3” and more as a significant, PS5-exclusive expansion heavily focused on Aloy’s continued journey after the events of Forbidden West. Expect a much shorter playtime compared to the main game, but with a higher concentration of intense, challenging encounters, especially for veteran players. The difficulty curve is steeper; preparation and strategic combat are key to survival. Mastering new machine weaknesses and utilizing Aloy’s expanded skillset will be crucial for PvP-like encounters with the tougher machines. The improved visuals and performance are also noteworthy, setting a higher standard for the franchise’s graphical fidelity.
When will Horizon 3 be released?
Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores isn’t a full-fledged third installment, but rather a standalone expansion, a significant DLC pack. Think of it as a major chapter expanding the Forbidden West storyline, not a completely new game like Horizon Zero Dawn or Horizon Forbidden West.
Key Differences & What to Expect:
- Focus: Burning Shores narrows the focus to a specific region – the volcanic archipelago of Los Angeles. Expect a more concentrated narrative and gameplay experience.
- New Threats: Encounter entirely new machine types, each with unique designs and combat tactics. Prepare for tougher challenges!
- Story Progression: This DLC assumes you’ve completed Horizon Forbidden West’s main story. It picks up where the main game left off, directly continuing Aloy’s journey.
- Gameplay Enhancements: While not a full sequel, Burning Shores often introduces refined mechanics and gameplay improvements.
- Length: While shorter than a full game, it still offers a substantial amount of gameplay, easily adding dozens of hours to your total playtime.
Important Considerations for New Players:
- Play Horizon Forbidden West First: Burning Shores is designed as an expansion, so playing the main game is mandatory to understand the plot and enjoy the full experience.
- High-End PS5 Required: Burning Shores is a PS5 exclusive, and leverages the console’s capabilities for its stunning visuals. You’ll need a PS5 to play it.
Release Information:
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Part of the Series: Horizon
- Announced: December 8, 2025
- Released: April 19, 2025
How many hours will it take to complete Forbidden West?
Horizon Forbidden West main story completion clocks in around 28.5 hours. That’s a solid playthrough focusing solely on the critical path. However, expect a significantly longer playtime if you’re aiming for 100% completion. We’re talking a potential 60+ hour commitment, easily. This includes tackling all side quests, exploring every nook and cranny of the map, collecting every collectible – the works. Think of it like this: 28.5 hours is your bronze medal time; 100% is gold, and demands a marathon session.
Pro-tip: Prioritize exploring early. Many side quests and collectibles are found organically during exploration, reducing backtracking later. Also, manage your skill tree effectively. Investing in stealth or combat skills based on your preferred playstyle can dramatically influence your completion time.
Another key factor: difficulty setting. Higher difficulties will obviously extend your playthrough, requiring more strategic approaches and potentially more attempts at tougher encounters. A “speedrun” strategy focused solely on the main missions on the easiest difficulty could shave off a significant chunk of time, but that’s not the true Horizon experience.
My personal best for a full completion? Around 72 hours. And that was with prior knowledge of the game’s mechanics and locations. New players should budget considerably more time for their first playthrough.
What game features the girl Aloy?
Aloy, the protagonist of Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, is a compelling character developed by Guerrilla Games. These action RPGs feature a unique post-apocalyptic setting where robotic creatures roam the earth. Aloy’s journey centers around unraveling the mysteries of this world and her own origins, making for a rich narrative experience. The gameplay blends fluid combat utilizing a variety of weapons and traps, with exploration and crafting mechanics that incentivize thorough investigation of the game world. Horizon Zero Dawn laid the foundation for a compelling open world and character arc, successfully building a player base eager for the sequel’s expansion on this foundation. Horizon Forbidden West built upon this success, adding new traversal mechanics, improved combat, and a more expansive map to further explore. The games are celebrated for their detailed environments, strong female lead, and compelling story. Gameplay focuses on strategic combat and exploration, rewarding careful planning and resource management.
