Horizon Forbidden West
A post-apocalyptic action RPG following Aloy into the Forbidden West.
Horizon Forbidden West is an action role-playing game from 2022, created by Guerrilla Games and released by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It continues the story of *Horizon Zero Dawn* (2017), taking place in a post-apocalyptic Western United States that is slowly rebuilding after a rogue robot swarm caused an extinction event. Players control the hunter Aloy as she travels into the Forbidden West to uncover the origin of a deadly plague that destroys everything it touches.
Development began in 2018, with the team eventually growing to over 300 full-time staff and costing roughly US$212 million, placing it among the most expensive games ever made. The developers aimed to keep the core strengths of the first game while expanding exploration and combat to suit different playstyles. More resources were put into the game’s cinematics, and greater effort went into creating character-driven side quests. Ashly Burch and Lance Reddick returned to voice Aloy and Sylens, joined by Angela Bassett and Carrie-Anne Moss. The game runs on Guerrilla’s own Decima engine, the same technology used for *Zero Dawn*. Announced in June 2020, it launched for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 18 February 2022.
Critics gave the game generally positive reviews, praising its visuals, combat, quest design, and the cast’s performances, though they were less impressed by the story and Aloy’s characterization. Most reviewers felt *Forbidden West* was bigger and more polished than its predecessor, but more of an evolution than a revolution. By April 2023, it had sold over 8.4 million copies. It earned several end-of-year award nominations, including Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022 and the 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. An expansion, *Burning Shores*, came out for PlayStation 5 in April 2023. The base game and expansion were bundled as *Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition* for PlayStation 5 in October 2023, and ported to Windows by Nixxes Software in March 2024. A sequel is currently in development.
**Gameplay**
*Horizon Forbidden West* is a third-person action role-playing game set in a world filled with dangerous, animal-like machines. Players control Aloy, a hunter exploring the uncharted Forbidden West to investigate a mysterious plague. Her main weapons are bows and arrows. New additions include the Shredder Gauntlet, which fires serrated discs useful for stripping armo
- developer
- Guerrilla Games
- publisher
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- release_date
- 18 February 2022
- platforms
- PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- genre
- Action role-playing game
- development_cost
- US$212 million
- sales
- Over 8.4 million units by April 2023
Lore & Background
Development of Horizon Forbidden West began in 2018, with a peak team of over 300 full-time employees and a cost of around US$212 million, making it one of the most expensive games ever developed. Guerrilla Games aimed to retain the core qualities of the original game while expanding exploration and combat to support various playstyles. The team invested more resources into cinematics and character-driven side quests. Ashly Burch and Lance Reddick returned as the voices of Aloy and Sylens, joined by Angela Bassett and Carrie-Anne Moss. The game was powered by Guerrilla's in-house Decima engine, announced in June 2020, and released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 18 February 2022.
Reader's Guide
Horizon Forbidden West received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its visuals, combat, quest design, and cast performances, but criticized its story and Aloy's characterization. Most reviewers agreed it was bigger and more refined than Zero Dawn, though more evolutionary than revolutionary. The game sold over 8.4 million units by April 2023 and was nominated for several end-of-year accolades, including Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022 and the 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. An expansion, Burning Shores, was released for PlayStation 5 in April 2023. The game and expansion were collected as Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition for PlayStation 5 in October 2023, and ported to Windows by Nixxes Software in March 2024. A sequel is in development. The game introduced new traversal tools, underwater exploration, and expanded melee combat, and its open world allows free exploration with two modes: Guided and Explorer.
Did You Know?
- Development cost around US$212 million, making it one of the most expensive games ever developed.
- The game introduced new traversal tools, underwater exploration, and expanded melee combat.
- Ashly Burch and Lance Reddick returned as the voices of Aloy and Sylens, joined by Angela Bassett and Carrie-Anne Moss.
- An expansion, Burning Shores, was released for PlayStation 5 in April 2023.
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