Horizon Forbidden West is an open-world action role-playing game developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Released in 2022 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, it continues the story of Horizon Zero Dawn and follows the hunter Aloy as she ventures into a vast, post-apocalyptic landscape reclaimed by nature and inhabited by robotic creatures.
Key facts
- Developer: Guerrilla Games
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Release year: 2022
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows (2024)
- Genre: Action role-playing, open world
Setting and story
Set in a far-future version of North America, Horizon Forbidden West expands the world established in its predecessor. Protagonist Aloy journeys westward to investigate a mysterious blight threatening life on Earth. Along the way, she encounters new tribes, both friendly and hostile, and confronts powerful machine species that dominate the land, sea, and sky. The narrative deepens the game’s science-fiction mythos surrounding humanity’s collapse and rebirth through advanced artificial intelligence.
Gameplay and mechanics
The game builds upon Horizon Zero Dawn’s mix of exploration, crafting, and combat. Players traverse diverse biomes—deserts, forests, and underwater environments—using climbing tools, gliders, and swimming mechanics. Combat blends melee and ranged attacks with strategic dismantling of machine parts. Role-playing progression includes skill trees, weapon upgrades, and customizable armor sets that support stealth or brute-force approaches.
Development and technology
Guerrilla Games designed Forbidden West to showcase next-generation visuals on the PlayStation 5, including detailed character models, expansive draw distances, and real-time weather effects. The Decima Engine powers the game’s graphics and AI systems, enabling dense environmental detail and fluid transitions between gameplay and cutscenes.
Reception and impact
Critics praised the game’s world design, visual fidelity, and emotional storytelling, though some noted performance and pacing issues. It received multiple award nominations for art direction, performance, and technical achievement. The game solidified Aloy as one of PlayStation’s flagship characters and reinforced Guerrilla Games’ reputation for cinematic open-world design.
