Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn is that rare gem of a game: it’s the one you make an exception for, it’s the one you just have to keep going back to, no matter how much you’ve seen of it before, and now, we have the ultimate version of the game on PC.

87%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

optimization, stability

89% User Score Based on 127,650 reviews

Critic Score 85%Based on 23 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $7.99

Buy NowGet on Steam€49.99

Buy NowGet on Epic Games Store

Buy NowGet on PS Store$19.99

About

In Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, play as Aloy, a skilled hunter in a world overrun by robotic creatures. Uncover your past, shape your destiny, and protect the future in this expansive action RPG. The Complete Edition includes the base game, the frozen wilds expansion, and additional outfits, weapons, and packs. Explore a vibrant, dangerous open world and battle unique machines with tactical attacks.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+12

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 127,673 reviews

story36k positive mentions

optimization3.3k negative mentions

The graphics of Horizon Zero Dawn are stunning, with breathtaking landscapes and intricate details that create an immersive experience.
The story is rich and engaging, featuring a compelling narrative and well-developed protagonist, Aloy, that captivates players emotionally.
The gameplay offers a variety of combat mechanics and approaches to encounters, making each fight feel unique and exhilarating.

Some players find the gameplay repetitive and tedious, particularly due to grinding for resources and crafting.
The optimization on PC has been criticized, with reports of crashes, glitches, and performance issues, especially on lower-end hardware.
Character development for secondary characters is lacking, leading to a less impactful narrative experience outside of Aloy's journey.

story
67,874 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The story of "Horizon Zero Dawn" is widely praised for its depth and engaging narrative, following the journey of Aloy as she uncovers her past in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by robotic creatures. Players appreciate the intricate world-building and character development, with many noting that the main storyline is compelling and filled with unexpected twists, while side quests often enhance the overall lore. However, some critiques highlight that certain side quests can feel repetitive and that the pacing may drag at times, particularly in the early stages of the game. Overall, the story is considered a standout feature, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “The story is part nature documentary, part sci-fi TED talk, and all epic.”
- “The story is rich and thought-provoking, seamlessly blending personal stakes with larger, world-shaking mysteries.”
- “Horizon Zero Dawn captivates with its gripping story and outstanding narration.”
- “Weak story, boring side quests, fighting system is good.”
- “However, as the game progresses, the setting becomes annoying, the factions are blunt and boring, the endgame of the plot is predictable and stupid, and hacking the animals becomes less interesting.”
- “The story is boring, the characters are boring, the enemies are boring, the combat is boring, the quests are boring.”
gameplay
23,892 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
43%
4%
The gameplay of "Horizon Zero Dawn" is widely praised for its engaging combat mechanics, which blend stealth, archery, and tactical planning against a variety of mechanical foes. Players appreciate the freedom to approach encounters in multiple ways, utilizing a range of weapons and strategies, although some find the gameplay can become repetitive over time. The game's stunning visuals and immersive world further enhance the overall experience, making it a standout title in the action RPG genre.
- “The graphics are gorgeous, the gameplay is riveting, and the number of different options and different ways you approach each encounter/mission/errand you choose to do is amazing, from using the environment to your advantage to just going full throttle with explosive arrows; it is up to you.”
- “Facing off against massive, mechanical beasts requires skill, creativity, and a variety of weapons and tools, making every encounter feel unique and exhilarating.”
- “Horizon Zero Dawn is a phenomenal blend of breathtaking visuals, engaging gameplay, and a compelling story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
- “The gameplay felt kind of repetitive.”
- “The gameplay is mostly okay.”
- “The gameplay becomes tedious after a while.”
graphics
23,116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
36%
1%
The graphics of "Horizon Zero Dawn" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and intricate details, even years after its release. Many players highlight the game's breathtaking landscapes, dynamic weather effects, and the impressive design of robotic creatures, which contribute to an immersive experience. While some reviews note that certain graphical elements may feel dated or exhibit minor glitches, the overall aesthetic quality remains a significant draw for both new and returning players.
- “The graphics are stunning, the gameplay is riveting, and the number of different options and different ways you approach each encounter/mission/errand you choose to do is amazing.”
- “Even years after its release, Horizon Zero Dawn remains a benchmark for graphical excellence.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, the sound design is beautiful, and the gameplay is engaging, making it a must-play experience for any fan of action-adventure games.”
- “The graphics are a bit dated but given the controversy with the remaster, I'll manage.”
- “Since this is a port of a PS4 game with some minor graphical touch-ups for the PC, don't expect mind-blowing graphics here.”
- “The graphics are decent for their time and have aged well.”
optimization
11,830 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
54%
28%
The optimization of "Horizon Zero Dawn" has received mixed feedback from players. While many report significant improvements in performance following patches, with smooth gameplay on high-end systems, others continue to experience issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly on lower-end hardware. The initial launch was marred by severe optimization problems, but ongoing updates have addressed many of these concerns, leading to a more stable experience for some players. Overall, while the game is visually stunning and engaging, its optimization remains a point of contention, with recommendations to wait for further patches if performance issues are a concern.
- “The performance is solid, and the customizable controls make it accessible for a wide range of players.”
- “The graphics are great and it's optimized wonderfully.”
- “The game runs smoothly, and overall feels very fluid in gameplay.”
- “Despite being verified and all, performance is absolutely abysmal.”
- “Optimization is still absolutely horrible, massive stuttering even with a 4070 and now going to charge $10 to maybe fix it with a remastered version, on top of their bulls$!”
- “Poor optimization and performance; the game keeps stuttering randomly despite lowering settings to the absolute minimum.”
music
3,760 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The music in "Horizon Zero Dawn" has received a wide range of feedback, with many players praising its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere and emotional depth. The soundtrack, composed by Joris de Man and others, is noted for its haunting melodies during exploration and intense combat themes that elevate the gameplay experience. However, some players found the music to be forgettable or lacking in variety, with occasional issues regarding audio mixing and music not playing during key moments. Overall, while the soundtrack is celebrated for its beauty and emotional resonance, opinions vary on its memorability and impact throughout the game.
- “The game’s soundtrack, composed by Joris de Man, Niels van der Leest, and The Flight, perfectly complements the gameplay and narrative.”
- “The music shifts from hauntingly beautiful melodies during exploration to pulse-pounding beats in combat.”
- “The soundtrack complements the game perfectly, enhancing the emotional weight of key moments and the thrill of exploration.”
- “The overarching story is good and the visuals are pretty, but the characters are pretty bad and... I'm not even sure if this game has music.”
- “The music/soundtrack is terrible.”
- “Actually it does not have a soundtrack, not even at the cutscenes which is unacceptable.”
stability
2,968 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
1%
81%
The stability of "Horizon Zero Dawn" on PC has received mixed feedback from players. While many report a smooth experience with minimal crashes and glitches after several patches, others continue to encounter significant issues, including frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and performance drops, particularly during cutscenes or in densely populated areas. Overall, the game has improved since its rocky launch, but some players still advise caution, suggesting potential buyers wait for further optimizations.
- “The game is very well optimized and runs great on a vast majority of different graphics cards.”
- “Runs very smooth and bug free now in 2022, played through entire game & side quests without a single bug or crash and no slow down on fps even in the busy and crowded areas.”
- “The game runs smoothly, no freezes, no stuttering, nothing - it's all gone.”
- “However it run horrendously on pc, it glitches constantly and the visual look nothing like it does in other platforms.”
- “92 hours, and i can't finish because the game is a buggy crash-fest.”
- “The game is so buggy it's not worth playing it.”
grinding
2,080 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
20%
78%
The grinding aspect of "Horizon Zero Dawn" has received mixed feedback from players. Many find the resource gathering and crafting processes tedious, often requiring excessive farming for materials, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. However, some players appreciate the depth of the crafting system and the satisfaction of upgrading gear, suggesting that while grinding is present, it can be enjoyable if approached with the right mindset. Overall, the game is described as having a significant amount of grinding, with some players feeling it detracts from the experience, while others find it manageable and rewarding.
- “There is not a whole lot of waste in this game, collectibles are not overly strenuous, and there's no grinding for levels, as you venture forth you will naturally acquire everything you need as you work your way through the land running into different types of machines that you will need to overcome in order to get to your objectives and thus progressing your character into a better fighter with better gear and upgrades.”
- “It's not grindy unless you want to get the best weapon or outfit, which is relaxing compared to the other grind games.”
- “No grinding was necessary and every fight seemed pretty fun to me.”
- “Filling your medicine pouch, the main way to heal, is incredibly tedious.”
- “Combat can become tedious as it requires you to grind some items before and after a fight.”
- “The crafting is tedious but easy to maneuver, the skills are just in-depth enough, the weapons tier system is fine, but the story and enemies are what keep me playing.”
emotional
1,454 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The emotional aspect of "Horizon Zero Dawn" is widely praised, with many players expressing deep emotional engagement throughout the narrative. The story, rich with themes of identity, sacrifice, and humanity, often evokes strong feelings, leading to moments of tears and heartfelt connections with the protagonist, Aloy. While some critiques mention a lack of emotional depth in certain characters, the overall experience is described as a powerful emotional journey, enhanced by a compelling soundtrack and well-executed voice acting.
- “The entire story was so well told that at times I got emotional and had tears in my eyes.”
- “I cried so hard during the major revelations of the story; the game really made me care about how the story unfolds, and I like that.”
- “Through Aloy’s journey, players unravel a deeply engaging narrative that is both emotional and thought-provoking.”
- “The game suffers from a bland and boring story, repetitive and tedious gameplay that ruin the enjoyment of the game.”
- “Having to play through such a boring story was something I despised about this; the concept of humans making machines that destroy the world is something I don't think I'll tire of, but this game's approach with that and the consequences of such an action is nothing less than stupidity.”
- “My final thought: typical open-world game bogged down by bland gameplay, predictable boring story with some few twists but ultimately falls flat in the end.”
atmosphere
1,070 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
34%
1%
The atmosphere in "Horizon Zero Dawn" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and rich world-building, creating a captivating blend of post-apocalyptic and tribal elements. Players appreciate the dynamic day-night cycle and weather effects that enhance the overall experience, while the soundtrack complements the game's emotional and atmospheric moments. Despite some critiques regarding repetitive quests, the game's environment and atmosphere are often described as breathtaking, drawing players into its unique and engaging world.
- “The game is big, has a lot of different areas to explore, and the graphics and atmosphere are fantastic; they really did a nice job there.”
- “The real star is the world, with immersive, atmospheric surroundings, whether in the beautiful natural settings or the often sinister metal world.”
- “Horizon: Zero Dawn masterfully crafts an atmospheric experience that is both haunting and beautiful.”
- “Zero Dawn is bad at open world activities, traversal, level design, creating atmosphere, and the actual role-playing.”
- “The setting is pretty fantastic, but it doesn't take long before 'humorous' dialogue and teenager banter take over, spoiling much of the atmosphere and immersion, leaving just another tedious, generic open-world game with pointless quests and mindless 'world activities' and little else to offer.”
- “It fails to maintain and build its own atmosphere, even as you progress the game, just because every part reminds of something else, and then you wanna play it instead.”
character development
674 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
5%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the protagonist Aloy's journey and depth, highlighting her as a strong female lead with relatable growth. However, several players noted a lack of substantial development for secondary characters and expressed a desire for more impactful choices and interactions throughout the narrative. Overall, while the main storyline and Aloy's character arc are compelling, the game falls short in providing a richer character development experience for its supporting cast.
- “The depth of character development and the richness of the narrative keep you invested in Aloy's journey, as she uncovers the mysteries of her past and the secrets of the world around her.”
- “Aloy's character development is masterfully executed, making her a relatable and empowering protagonist whom players root for throughout her epic quest.”
- “Compelling storyline that will make you pay attention from start to finish, a great character development with well written dialogue, a vast world to be explored with different cultures and terrain, a good mix of side quests and more makes Horizon Zero Dawn a must play for every RPG fan out there.”
- “They played a major role in the game, but the lack of character development with them beyond Aloy's interactions with them was kinda bland.”
- “While the story was amazing, it did lack in some other areas such as character development outside of Aloy.”
- “Unfortunately the character development lets the game down terribly, especially in the side and errand quests - most of the secondary characters are completely wooden, poorly written and terribly executed.”
replayability
618 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the inclusion of a New Game+ mode and various difficulty settings that enhance the experience for those seeking additional challenges. However, some reviewers feel that once the story is fully explored, the emotional impact diminishes, leading to limited motivation for subsequent playthroughs. Overall, while there are elements that support replayability, such as combat mechanics and side quests, opinions vary widely on how much value it truly offers after the initial experience.
- “The inclusion of new game+ and an ultra hard difficulty setting ensures replayability for those who want to revisit Aloy’s journey with greater challenges.”
- “I have more than gotten my money's worth out of this game with the replay value, and I know I will continue returning to it again and again.”
- “The replay value is also very high, only just finished the main story and I already can't wait to play the game again from the start, partly as I want all the achievements but also as I have just really loved every minute of playing this game, even at times just stood looking around and just enjoying the graphics, it really is breathtaking.”
- “I feel it doesn't have much replayability though, I've tried a few times, and it's not holding my attention for too long.”
- “Two factors: no replayability whatsoever and Ubisoft's game loop are just too much.”
- “So as a solo game it is pretty serviceable if you are okay with a single ending, and it has 0 replay value since the story has a fixed ending and doesn't really warrant a second playthrough other than for trophies.”
humor
552 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
2%
1%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players noting both intentional and unintentional comedic moments. Aloy, the protagonist, is often highlighted for her witty and sarcastic dialogue, which adds charm to the narrative, while some NPC interactions and glitches provide unexpected laughs. However, there are also criticisms of clunky dialogue and awkward animations that detract from the overall experience, leading to a blend of genuine humor and moments that are amusing for the wrong reasons.
- “The game also has a subtle humor that doesn't feel forced at all and that manages to land pretty well on many occasions.”
- “Aloy as a character is so well-rounded; she's funny, intimidating, stern, and kind all at the same time, and it never feels forced.”
- “The humor in many of the NPC dialogues had me chuckling out loud, which is rare for a game these days.”
- “She's not funny at all.”
- “Not funny.”
- “NPCs are not funny enough, not interesting enough, not well written enough (i.e. Bast died too early).”
monetization
162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
27%
67%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many praising its lack of microtransactions and cash grabs, which is seen as a refreshing change in the current gaming landscape. However, some users criticize the game as a cash grab due to perceived poor optimization and minimal updates, suggesting that the developers prioritized profit over quality. Overall, the absence of in-game purchases is highlighted as a significant positive, making it appealing for players who dislike predatory monetization practices.
- “A big, beautiful single-player cinematic game with absolutely no microtransactions.”
- “This one is a rare treat from the gals and guys at Guerrilla Games, a fantastic and complete single-player game without any tacked-on modes or predatory microtransactions (none at all in fact).”
- “Their decision to not take the early access route and deliver a finished game, their 'no microtransactions' approach and the low price tag are also very commendable and show honesty and respect towards the community.”
- “They have recently engaged in practices that resulted in people who rightfully purchased, downloaded, paid microtransactions on, and played for hundreds of hours completely incapable of accessing the content they owned.”
- “This should have been delayed until it was stable instead of being sold to me for a cash grab.”
- “Would not recommend to anyone, just another shameless cash grab with a crappy port.”

85%Critics’ scoreBased on 23 critic reviews

Buy Horizon Zero Dawn

25h Median play time

46h Average play time

23h Main story

61h Completionist

8-60h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1,752 analyzed playthroughs

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