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Play OverviewPlay Overview

Horizon Forbidden West (2022) is a post-apocalyptic action adventure where you explore an overgrown landscape with now-crumbling remnants of modern life. The story of Aloy continues as she sets out to investigate a plague terminating from an arcane frontier known as the Forbidden West. It stands out for the scale of the explorable world and the scope of the story.

Vicious storms and an unstoppable blight ravage the scattered remnants of humanity, while fearsome new machines prowl their borders. It's up to Aloy to uncover the secrets behind these threats and restore order and balance to the world. Along the way, she must reunite with old friends, forge alliances with warring new factions and unravel the legacy of the ancient past – all the while trying to stay one step ahead of a seemingly undefeatable new enemy.

As you fight, hunt and explore your way through the land, you discover hostile regions ravaged by massive storms that are occupied by new deadly machines. This takes the premise of the first game and plays it out in broader locations: lush valleys, dry deserts, snowy mountains, tropical beaches and ruined cities, both above and below the water.

On PlayStation 5 haptic feedback via the Dual Sense controller adds to the experience. The tension of the bow as well as the feel of the landscape you are walking through are expressed through the controller's tension triggers and rumble feature.

Progress into the mysterious western frontier grants not only a larger map but new secrets about the world. You discover messages and artefacts from the Old Ones, lying beneath the ruins. This takes you to a ruined version of San Francisco and the Yosemite Valley.

Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Horizon Forbidden West 3 years ago. It was re-examined by Andy Robertson and updated 2 weeks ago.
Kids not old enough for this yet? There are lots of games similar to Horizon Forbidden West. Here are some similar younger-rated games:

Play StylePlay Style

This is an Adventure and Role-Play game with Action, Fighting, Narrative, Shooting and Traversal elements. This is a single-player game.

 
You can play this game in the following styles:

DurationDuration

Play Time: This game will take between 29 and a half hours and 35 hours to complete. It can take considerably longer to see everything in the game.

BenefitsBenefits

This game is good if you want to:

 
This game has helped players develop their Disposition as part of the following pathways:

This game has been the inspiration for the following activities:

Age RatingsAge Ratings

Content Rating

Rated PEGI 16 for Violence. Violence is similar in style to that found in 'Zero Dawn', with Aloy and her companions fighting both mechanical dinosaur-like creatures and enemy tribes. Blood is shown but no graphic injuries. Cinematic scenes feature more realistic violence than the violence found in general gameplay, including tribes shooting each other using bows and arrows and scenes of execution at spearpoint. The game also includes some bad language, including 'b*!%$@d', 's*!t', 'dick', 'goddamn' and 'screw'.

Rated for younger players in the US. Rated ESRB TEEN for Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence and Blood. From a third-person perspective, players traverse post-apocalyptic environments/landscapes, complete quests, interact with characters, and engage in combat against enemy tribes and robotic creatures. Players use slingshots, bows, javelins, and spears to kill enemies in frenetic combat. Puffs of blood are depicted as human enemies are hit; blood stains also appear underneath bodies in some environments. Players can also perform stealth attacks (e.g., spear impalement) to eliminate enemies discreetly. Cutscenes depict additional acts of violence: a character impaled by swords or spears; a character crushed to death by a statue. The game depicts drunk characters stumbling around, and in one area stating, “I'm inebriated”; one cutscene depicts Aloy drinking beer from a mug; several background characters are seen drinking alcohol in taverns. The word “sh*t” is heard in the game.

Skill Level

13+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it's important for parents and guardians to consider the maturity required to process the game content. Players need to be able to traverse the huge world, both following a map as well as navigating the best route when climbing. You also need quick reactions for battle where you must switch to the best weapons to deal maximum damage to enemies. It's fast-paced and demanding. There are prolonged story elements of the game that while optional are a key ingredient of why players enjoy this experience.

Our Game Pathways reveal how 19-year-olds play this game:

CostsCosts

Horizon Forbidden West usually costs £49.99.
 

Horizon Forbidden West

Steam Store PC £49.99
PlayStation Store PS5 £49.99
PlayStation Store PS4 £49.99
There are the following additional costs associated with this game:
  • In-Game Purchases: Additional in-game purchases are offered for items that enhance the experience.
 
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
 

DetailsGame Details

Release Date: 18/02/2022, updated in 2024

Out Now: PC, PS4 and PS5

Skill Rating: 13+ year-olds

Players: 1

Genres: Adventure, Role-Play (Action, Fighting, Narrative, Shooting and Traversal)

Accessibility: 35 features

Components: 3D Third-Person, Day and Night, Open World and Weather

Developer: Guerrilla (@Guerrilla)


Taming Gaming Book Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships.

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