Pixel Sundays: The Evolution of the Horizon Series – From Zero Dawn to Forbidden West
This week in our Pixel Sundays article, we’re exploring a franchise where humans and machines collide. We’re talking about the Horizon series, which includes Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West.
Overview
- Horizon Zero Dawn – The Start of an Epic Adventure
- Horizon Forbidden West – A Sequel with Fresh Perspectives
- Technology and Visuals in the Horizon Series
- Franchise Expansion
- Where the Franchise is Headed
- Conclusion – Looking Ahead to Horizon’s Future
The Horizon series was created by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It launched in 2017 with the release of Horizon Zero Dawn, a game that set new benchmarks in the action RPG genre and gained widespread praise from players and reviewers alike.
Horizon Zero Dawn – The Start of an Epic Adventure
After wrapping up Killzone 3 in 2011, Guerilla Games began early development on Horizon Zero Dawn. Initially, just a small team worked on a prototype. But following the release of Killzone: Shadow Fall, the full studio shifted focus to the new project. John R. Gonzales, known for his work on Fallout: New Vegas, was brought in as lead writer. The team also made a deliberate choice to feature a female main character to move away from the standard male hero trope. The game officially launched in 2017.
You play as Aloy, a young hunter and warrior. Her world is filled with massive, animal-like machines. Humans have reverted to tribal societies, and most of the old world’s technology has been lost to time.
Outcast since birth, Aloy is determined to uncover the truth about her origins, her mother’s identity, and what happened to the ancient civilization. She embarks on a quest that leads her to uncover advanced technology in ancient ruins and piece together the mystery of humanity’s downfall. Along the way, she faces a dangerous new threat — corrupted machines she must fight to survive.
The game features a vast open world full of different environments and biomes, each home to different types of machines. You’ll explore deserts, forests, and snowy regions, meeting characters who often need your help.
The combat system blends close-range and long-range fighting. You’ll use your spear in melee combat and your bow for ranged attacks. As the story progresses, you’ll unlock slingshots and more bows. These weapons can be enhanced with elemental ammunition like ice or fire, helping you target enemy weaknesses strategically.
You’ll gain XP by completing quests and defeating enemies, allowing you to level up Aloy. This unlocks new skills and gear — such as a powerful spear strike that stuns enemies, or the ability to set traps. Traps can immobilize enemies and give you an edge in battle, adding an extra tactical layer to the gameplay.
To survive, you’ll need to craft your own traps and ammo. This involves gathering a variety of plants and natural resources from the wild. Plus, you can loot fallen machines for parts and modifications that let you upgrade your weapons even further.
As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock the ability to ride machines and fight alongside them. This makes exploring the massive world much faster and opens up new areas to discover. In combat, tamed machines can become powerful allies.
The game was first released exclusively on PlayStation 4, receiving high praise from fans and critics alike for its open world, story, visuals, and combat mechanics. By February 2022, it had sold over 20 million copies worldwide, ranking it among the best-selling PS4 titles. It later launched on PC on August 7, 2020.
In November 2017, the “The Frozen Wilds” DLC arrived, taking players to a snowy new region filled with fresh machines and story content.
Horizon Forbidden West – A Sequel That Expands the World
Horizon Forbidden West picks up where Zero Dawn left off and was released on February 18, 2022, exclusively for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. The PC version followed later on March 21, 2024 via Steam and Epic Games. On PS5, the game saw major technical enhancements, including 4K resolution, haptic feedback, 3D audio, and near-instant loading thanks to SSD technology.
The story picks up around six months after Horizon Zero Dawn. Aloy journeys into the mysterious Forbidden West — a vast, uncharted land — in search of answers to a deadly plague threatening the planet. Along the way, she encounters new tribes like the advanced Tenakth, but an even more dangerous force emerges: former members of Far Zenith, a group of humans who once fled to space and now return with their own agenda.
Gameplay has been significantly upgraded. Exploration is smoother and more dynamic, with both vertical and horizontal movement greatly improved. While Aloy could previously climb only specific spots, she can now scale almost any rock face. The new diving mask allows underwater exploration, and with the glider, she can descend from great heights effortlessly.
The combat system has also evolved. A major new feature is the “Valor Surge” system — powerful abilities that charge up during battles. New weapons, like the Shieldwing (a boomerang-style disc), and more melee options make combat feel fresh. You can also use additional weapon mods to customize your loadout even further.
Some enemies from the original game return, but Forbidden West adds over 20 entirely new machines, offering fresh challenges and strategic variety.
On April 19, 2023, the story DLC “Burning Shores” launched, continuing the narrative directly. This expansion is only available on PC and PlayStation 5, as the devs used the next-gen hardware to build highly detailed environments — meaning the PS4 couldn’t handle it. You’ll explore a stunning new area based on the ruins of Los Angeles, complete with volcanoes, lava rivers, and a transformed ecosystem.
There, Aloy teams up with Seyka, a new member of the Quen tribe. A new Far Zenith antagonist also appears, hinting at what’s to come in the series. The DLC puts a strong spotlight on Aloy’s emotional growth and her evolving role in the world.
Tech Progress and Visuals in the Horizon Franchise
The Horizon series’ incredible visuals and technology are powered by the Decima Engine, developed by Guerrilla Games. First used in Killzone: Shadow Fall, this engine has evolved over time, now supporting 4K resolution and HDR (High Dynamic Range) to deliver stunning visuals and immersive worlds.
Horizon Zero Dawn gave Guerrilla Games the chance to showcase what the Decima engine could do, creating a rich and immersive world that received praise from critics. With Horizon Forbidden West, they pushed the engine even further, especially by tapping into the power of the PlayStation 5. Environments became more lifelike, characters more expressive, and gameplay smoother than ever.
On October 31, 2024, a Remaster of Horizon Zero Dawn was released for PlayStation 5 and PC. This updated version features enhanced visuals, including redesigned character models, improved lighting, and refined textures to match the graphical fidelity of Horizon Forbidden West. It also includes new features that take full advantage of modern hardware performance.
Franchise Expansion
The Horizon universe didn’t stop at the mainline games — and it’s only growing. On February 22, 2023, Horizon: Call of the Mountain launched as a title for the PlayStation VR2 headset. This spin-off lets players step into the shoes of Ryas in a first-person experience. Ryas, a former Shadow Carja warrior, embarks on a mission to uncover why the machines are becoming increasingly hostile.
Gameplay focuses on climbing, archery, and exploring a dynamic world. The controls are highly intuitive, allowing players to fully enjoy the stunning visual experience.
As of November 14, 2024, there’s also a Horizon game developed with LEGO. That’s right — LEGO Horizon Adventures is now available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. The game retells the story of Zero Dawn with LEGO’s signature humor. You’ll once again join Aloy, accompanied by various partners. The entire game world is made of LEGO bricks. It can be played solo or in two-player co-op, both locally and online.
The Future of the Franchise
In April 2023, Guerrilla Games officially announced that a sequel to Horizon Forbidden West is in development. The studio stated that Aloy’s journey would continue in future adventures. No concrete information about the storyline or a release window has been shared yet, so fans will just have to stay patient.
On top of that, the studio is also working on a multiplayer online project set in the Horizon universe. Players will be able to explore the post-apocalyptic world together with at least one friend and fight against machines as a team.
In January of this year, new media news emerged — Sony is collaborating with PlayStation Productions and Columbia Pictures to develop a Horizon movie. This project came about after a planned Netflix series adaptation was cancelled.
Conclusion – A Glimpse into the Future of Horizon
Since its debut in 2017, the Horizon series has grown into a standout action-RPG franchise. Horizon Zero Dawn kicked things off with a compelling world of machines and a strong protagonist, Aloy. The sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, took everything further with better mechanics, deeper worldbuilding, and impressive tech. And the future promises even more improvements with the upcoming sequel.
Beyond the main games, spin-offs like Call of the Mountain and LEGO Horizon Adventures have helped grow the universe and appeal to wider audiences. The movie adaptation could bring even more fans into the fold, especially those unfamiliar with the games. The upcoming online co-op title adds yet another layer to the experience, while the sequel continues to build on the story.
Ciao, sono Kilian, ma online mi conosci probabilmente come “Tux1243”. Sono parte del team da quasi due anni e cerco sempre di tenerti aggiornato sulle ultime e più interessanti novità del mondo dei videogiochi. Inoltre, ho una grande passione per le analisi approfondite e dettagliate di intere saghe e franchise. Mi piace andare a fondo delle cose e svelare quei dettagli e retroscena che rendono i mondi di gioco così affascinanti.
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