Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn is an action role-playing game from 2017, created by Guerrilla Games and released by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It kicks off the Horizon series in a ruined United States where enormous robotic animals have taken over, and people live in basic tribes with different levels of technology. The story centers on Aloy, a young hunter trying to learn about her own history.

The game plays from a third-person perspective. Aloy can dodge, sprint, slide, or roll to avoid enemies, which include both machines and human foes like bandits and cultists. She fights with a spear up close and uses bows, traps, tripwires, harpoons, and slingshot explosives from a distance. Different arrow types let her tear off machine parts, set enemies on fire, or stun them. Weapons can be upgraded with modifications to boost damage or handling. She can hide in bushes to ambush foes, or distract them by throwing rocks or whistling. A small device called a Focus scans machines to show their weaknesses, level, and loot, storing that info in a journal. Machines fall into classes like Acquisition, Combat, Recon, and Transport, each with its own behavior.

The world is open and free to explore. Campfires save progress and allow fast travel. Aloy can hack certain machines with her spear, turning some into mounts. Climbing and hacking giant giraffe-like Tallnecks reveals points of interest on the map. Exploring underground ruins unlocks more hackable machines. The main quest uncovers the big mysteries about Aloy’s past, while side quests explore the culture and answer smaller questions. Players pick from dialogue options that shape Aloy’s personality in conversations. Optional activities include raiding bandit camps, hunting challenges, and combat trials in tougher areas. Collectibles include vantages showing past civilizations, metal flowers with poetry, and old relics like mugs and tribal artifacts.

Players gather natural resources and machine parts to craft ammo, traps, and potions. Hunting animals provides materials for upgrades that let Aloy carry more arrows and items. Merchants buy unwanted scraps and sell weapons and outfits. Experience points come from quests and activities, with bonus XP for skillful moves like stealth takedowns or headshots. Earning enough XP gives Skill Points to improve Aloy’s abilities.