With its stunning visuals and intriguing narrative, Horizon Zero Dawn turned a lot of heads when it was first released for the PS4 back in 2017. Now, just shy of five years later, players can finally get their hands on the game's highly anticipated sequel, Horizon Forbidden West. It may have taken a little longer than some would have liked, but early signs suggest that Guerilla Games' fantastic follow-up was well worth the wait.
Horizon Forbidden West once again places players in the shoes of Aloy; a former outcast who now holds the fate of the entire world in the palm of her hand. They'll need to overcome an endless army of deadly machines in order to succeed, as well as solving some fairly challenging puzzles along the way. This guide will help them on their journey, providing puzzle solutions, collectible locations, and general tips and tricks as required.
Updated March 13, 2022 by Tom Bowen: Despite having been out for more than three weeks now, the number of players who have actually completed Horizon Forbidden West is surprisingly low. According to Trophy data, only around 15% of players have finished the main story at the time of writing, which is significantly lower than the percentage who finished the first game. Of course, there's still plenty of time for Forbidden West to catch up with Zero Dawn, and, with the hype surrounding Elden Ring gradually starting to die down, it's likely that a lot of players will be returning to the game in the coming weeks. When they do, this guide will have everything they need to achieve 100% completion, from the locations of every collectible set to a full Trophy guide.
Quick Links
Getting Started | Main Story |
Side Quests | Collectibles |
Equipment | News & Opinions |
Getting Started in Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden West does an excellent job of building upon the foundations laid by its predecessor. Many of the mechanics found in the original game have been further developed, while a couple of new ones have also been introduced in an attempt to improve map traversal and combat. While this is certainly good for the overall experience though, these changes do mean that even some returning players will need a bit of time to get to grips with things; not to mention new ones.
This section of the guide will focus on the basics, with How-to guides explaining some of the game's core mechanics as well as answers to some of the more frequently asked questions. This is also where new and returning players can find tips and tricks that will hopefully make controlling Aloy and exploring the world of Horizon Forbidden West just that little bit easier.
How-to Guides
- How to Save the Game
- How to Fast Travel
- How to Crouch and Slide
- How to Fly
- How to Destroy Red Crystals (Igniter)
- How to Breathe Underwater (Diving Mask)
- How to Destroy Metal Flowers (Vine Cutter)
- How to Use Face Paints
- How to Claim Pre-Order and Deluxe Edition Items
- How to Farm Metal Shards
- How to Play Machine Strike
Tips & Tricks
- General Tips for Horizon Forbidden West
- Beginner Tips for Horizon Forbidden West
- The Best Early-Game Skills
- Things You Should Do Immediately
- Tips to Avoid Focus Spam
- Tips for Fighting Thunderjaws
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Co-Pilot Mode?
- What Does Each Skill Tree Category Cover?
- What are the Tinnitus Sounds?
- Resolution Mode or Performance Mode - Which to Choose?
- What's the Max Level?
Main Story Walkthrough
Horizon Forbidden West's main story picks up around six months on from the events at The Spire. Despite dealing with Hades, a blight is starting to take hold of the planet: choking out life wherever it's able to take root. Hoping that GAIA may be able to help fix this new threat, Aloy heads out in search of a GAIA backup and runs into plenty of familiar faces as she delves deeper into the untamed Forbidden West in order to find one.
Rather than a step-by-step walkthrough for Aloy's entire journey, this section of the guide will instead focus only on some of the more pivotal moments that lay along the path. This includes information about door codes and choices, as well as solutions to some of the more difficult puzzles that players will need to solve during the game. This is also where players can find Game Rant's Horizon Forbidden West trophy guide, which has all of the information needed to unlock the Platinum.
- Horizon Forbidden West Mission List
- How to Shoot the Shuttle Cable Connectors (Reach for the Stars)
- Should You Choose "I'll Wait" or "I'm Going Now" (The Embassy)
- How to Find the Door Code? (Death's Door)
- How to Find the Door Code? (Cradle of Echoes)
- Should You Kill or Spare Regalla? (The Wings of the Ten)
- Every Room Aloy Can Unlock in The Base
- Horizon Forbidden West Trophy Guide
Side Quests, Jobs & Errands
When it comes to side content, there's quite a bit more on offer in Horizon Forbidden West than there was in Aloy's debut outing. Granted, some of the side quests and errands can feel a little mundane when compared to others, but, for the most part, this additional content does a pretty decent job of padding out the experience and expanding upon the games' already rich lore.
Those having trouble with side quests, jobs, and errands would do well to check out this section of the guide, as this is where solutions to some of the more challenging ones can be found. Even the things that don't enrich the series' lore, like overriding Tallnecks and completing Hunting Ground trials can serve as a great way of earning experience points and so are definitely worth doing.
Side Quests
- A Bigger Boom Walkthrough
- Spine Break Door Code (Breaking Even / The Burning Blooms)
- The Second Verse Walkthrough
- Night of Lights Door Code & Walkthrough
- What Was Lost Walkthrough
- First Forge Walkthrough
- Forbidden Legacy Door Codes & Walkthrough
- Should You Choose Drakka or Yarra? (The Gate of the Vanquished)
Hunting Grounds
- The Daunt Hunting Grounds Guide
- Plainsong Hunting Grounds Guide
- Sheerside Mountains Hunting Grounds Guide
- The Raintrace Hunting Grounds Guide
Tallnecks
- How to Override the Cinnabar Sands Tallneck
- How to Override the Stillsands Tallneck
- How to Override the Shining Sands Tallneck
Collectibles
Much like its predecessor, Horizon Forbidden West has many different types of collectibles. Thankfully, the developers were once again able to restrain themselves, with most collectible sets still limited to around ten items or fewer. As a result, finding them all never really feels like too much of a chore, which bodes well given some of the fantastic rewards that are on offer for tracking everything down.
Anybody having trouble finding Signal Lenses, Relic Ruins, Vista Points, Survey Drones, or War Totems should find the following information useful, as too should those who enjoy playing the Machine Strike mini-game. It's worth noting though that while defeating all of the Machine Strike players is required for 100% completion, collecting every Machine Strike piece is not.
Relic Ruins
- Relic Ruins: The Daunt Puzzle Solution
- Relic Ruins: No Man's Land Puzzle Solution
- Relic Ruins: Restless Weald Puzzle Solution
- Relic Ruins: The Dry Yearn Puzzle Solution
- Relic Ruins: The Stillsands Puzzle Solution
- Relic Ruins: Runner's Wild Puzzle Solution
- Relic Ruins: The Long Coast Puzzle Solution
- Relic Ruins: Isle of Spires Puzzle Solution
Vista Points
- Vista Point: The Daunt Puzzle Solution
- Vista Point: Plainsong Puzzle Solution
- Vista Point: Scalding Spear Puzzle Solution
- Vista Point: Memorial Grove Puzzle Solution
- Vista Point: The Stillsands Puzzle Solution
- Vista Point: Dunehollow Puzzle Solution
- Vista Point: The Long Coast Puzzle Solution
- Vista Point: Shrouded Heights Puzzle Solution
- Vista Point: Isle of Spires Puzzle Solution
Other
- Where to Find Every Black Box
- Where to Find Every Signal Lens
- Where to Find Every God of War Totem
- Where to Find Every Survey Drone
- Every Machine Strike Piece
Equipment
Like most other modern action RPGs, there are plenty of tools, weapons and armor sets available in Horizon Forbidden West. A lot of them are locked away behind main story progression and salvage contracts, though there are still some that can be picked up from regular merchants as well. Aloy is also able to improve her equipment using workbenches, though she'll need the appropriate crafting components in order to do so.
Players looking for the best weapons and armor sets in Horizon Forbidden West will find them listed here, as well as guides on where to locate some of the more elusive crafting materials. They may find themselves a little disappointed, however, as, unsurprisingly, perhaps, most of the game's best equipment can only be obtained towards the end of the main story.
- Every Legendary Weapon (& Where to Find Them)
- How to Get the Shieldwing Glider
- How to Get the Best Hunter Bows
- Every Weapon Type, Ranked
- Every Heavy Weapon, Ranked
- Every Legendary Outfit (& Where to Find Them)
- Every Uncommon Outfit, Ranked
- Every Rare Outfit, Ranked
- Every Melee Combo, Ranked
- Every Skill Tree, Ranked
- Where to Find an Apex Dreadwing
- Where to Find an Apex Slaughterspine
- Where to Find a Frostclaw
- The Rarest Enemies in the Game
- The Most Valuable Machine Parts
News & Opinions
Given the huge success of its predecessor, Horizon Forbidden West was always likely to turn heads. It is, after all, the first big first-party exclusive for the PS5 and had been in development for nearly four years prior to its release. With all this in mind, the game's strong showing with critics was perhaps to be expected, as too were its impressive pre-order and opening weekend sales.
This section of the guide is where players can find out just how well the game has really sold, as well as read up on news regarding any new updates, DLC, or glitches. Opinions about the game can also be found in this section, including reviews, story critiques, and general thoughts on the game's overall strengths and weaknesses.
News
- PS5 Players Can Get Horizon Forbidden West for $10 Cheaper Than the Listed Price
- Horizon Forbidden West Update 1.08 Patch Notes
- Trophy Data Reveals Surprisingly Low Main Story Completion Rate
- Horizon Forbidden West Leak Indicates DLC and Online Store May Be Coming
- Horizon Forbidden West Update 1.06 is Now Live, Addresses Various Issues
- Horizon Forbidden West Update 1.05 Fixes and Details
- Almost Half of Horizon Forbidden West's UK Sales Were Digital
- Horizon Forbidden West Trailer Mission Didn't Make it to Final Game
- Clawstrider Statues Are Being Spotted All Over the World
- Aloy Featured on Latest Vanity Fair Cover
- Horizon Forbidden West Map Shows Bizarre Route Aloy Took to Go West
- Impressive Horizon Forbidden West Subway Ad Spotted in France
- Horizon Forbidden West Gets a Day One Patch
- Horizon Forbidden West Update Will Address Game's Visual Issues
- Horizon Forbidden West is Getting Review Bombed
- Trophy Hunters Should Be Aware of Horizon Forbidden West's Only Missable Trophy
- Aloy Visibly Sweats In Horizon Forbidden West's Hotter Areas
- Horizon Forbidden West Player Spots God of War Easter Egg
- Sony Planting Trees Every Time Players Unlock a Certain Horizon Forbidden West Trophy
- Horizon Forbidden West Image Shows How Much The Visuals Improved Since 2021's State of Play
- Horizon Forbidden West Was Delayed to Avoid Crunch
- Horizon Forbidden West on PS5 Slows Its Load Times Down on Purpose
- Horizon Forbidden West PS5 Upgrade Criticized by Lawyer
- Horizon Forbidden West Player Gives PS5 Controller Custom Paint Job
- Horizon Forbidden West Players Redraws the Box Art to Give Aloy a Cartoonish Look
- Dreams Player Makes Incredible Horizon Forbidden West Fan Art
- Player Finds Strange 'Pocket Cave' While Exploring
- Player Makes Real-Life Focus
- Player Makes Custom LEGO Clawstrider
- Player Shows Off Neat Drill Spear Detail
- Clip Shows Aloy Being Crushed By Tallneck
- Clip Shows Bird Protecting a Machine
Opinions
- Game Rant's Review of Horizon Forbidden West
- The 4 Best & Worst Things About Horizon: Forbidden West
- Lingering Questions We Have After The End Of The Game
- The Most Difficult Machines to Beat in Horizon Forbidden West
- The Best Side Quests in Horizon Forbidden West
- The Most Breathtaking Locations in Horizon Forbidden West
- Every Companion Who Visits The Base
- Every Far Zenith Member Aloy Encounters
- Horizon Forbidden West: The Far Zeniths Explained
- What Happened to Ted Faro Explained
- Horizon Forbidden West: The History of The Tenakth
- Horizon Forbidden West: The Utaru Land-Gods Explained
- Horizon Forbidden West's Quen Could Take Aloy Across The Ocean
- The Third Horizon Game Should Bring in More Nora
- How Horizon Forbidden West Perfects Modern Gaming's Climbing Mechanics
- Horizon Forbidden West DLC Should Make Up for Its Missable Trophy
- Hilarious Horizon Forbidden West Memes
- Explaining Why Horizon Forbidden West Has Been Getting Review Bombed
- Horizon Forbidden West's Cauldrons & Tallnecks Are Great Examples of Unique Repeat Content
- Things That Make No Sense In Horizon Forbidden West
- Why Horizon Forbidden West's Cauldrons Are So Important
- Horizon Zero Dawn's First 5 Years Are Just the Beginning
- Horizon Forbidden West's Metroidvania Elements Clash With Its Open-World Exploration
- Horizon Forbidden West Ending Explained
- The Story Behind Relic Ruins Ornaments
- Horizon Forbidden West's Kotallo Has Interesting Connections to Sekiro
- How Stanley Chen's Impact on Las Vegas Opened the Door to Poseidon
- Horizon Forbidden West Showcases Ashly Burch's Talent Like Never Before
- John Carpenter Praises Horizon Forbidden West Voice Actor Ashly Burch
- Horizon Forbidden West's Expanding Weapon Slots Should Go Further
- Comparing Horizon Forbidden West and Red Dead Redemption 2's Open-World Design
- Horizon Forbidden West's Tropical Setting Marketing Was a Bit Deceptive
- Aloy's Outcast Status Makes Her a Perfect Protagonist
- Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West Have Similar Introductions, and That's Okay
- Horizon Forbidden West Shows How a Sequel Should Be Done
- Aloy and Lara Croft Have Had a Similar Impact in Gaming
- Horizon Forbidden West's Machine Strike Could Easily Be a Real Board Game
- Horizon Forbidden West and Elex 2 Have Surprisingly Similar Endings
- A Horizon Zero Dawn Prequel Just Makes Sense
Horizon Forbidden West is available now on PS4 and PS5.