8.5 /10 27

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered brings Guerrilla Games’ 2017 action role-playing masterpiece to current-generation consoles and PC with substantial visual enhancements and refined character animations. Originally acclaimed for its open-world design and machine-hunting mechanics, the remaster implements Digital Foundry-validated improvements including re-recorded dialogue, upgraded environmental textures, and facial animation overhauls that align visual quality with its 2022 sequel Horizon Forbidden West. The remaster addresses the original’s primary criticism (dated character models) while preserving the tight gameplay loop that made the original special. This review evaluates whether the upgrade justifies a purchase for newcomers and existing players.

How to Play Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Horizon Zero Dawn is an action role-playing game where you play as Aloy, a skilled hunter and archer exploring a post-apocalyptic world reclaimed by nature. The core gameplay revolves around tactical machine hunting: you scout enemies from high vantage points, identify their weaknesses and component locations, and execute coordinated attacks using environmental traps, specialized ammo types, and melee combat. Progression advances through main story missions investigating your origin and side content that reveals world lore and character backstories.

1. Controls – Mouse and keyboard (PC) or controller support across all platforms. Hybrid aiming (aim-assist toggleable) makes ranged combat accessible without feeling trivial. Learning curve is gentle; early hunts teach mechanics progressively through tutorial missions.
2. Progression – Complete the main quest “A Seeker at the Gates” to advance the narrative. Machine hunting provides experience (XP) that increases Aloy’s level, unlocking new skill trees (Warrior, Trapper, Infiltrator paths). Skill points customize your playstyle toward aggressive, tactical, or stealth approaches.
3. Combat/Mechanics – Encounters emphasize preparation and tactical positioning over reflexes. Identify machine components (weapons, armor, vulnerable zones) before engagement. Use appropriate ammunition: fire arrows against ice-resistant machines, corruption arrows to turn enemies against each other. Melee combat serves as secondary tool for finishing downed machines.
4. Tips – Scan every machine to understand weaknesses before fighting; never rush into unknown encounters. Craft ammunition frequently; you carry limited quantities despite inventory expansion. Upgrade armor at settlements; higher tiers provide ability slots for passive bonuses.

Who Should Play Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Horizon appeals to players seeking satisfying combat encounters embedded within strong narrative and world-building. The game rewards curiosity through environmental storytelling and delivers emotional character arcs without overstaying its welcome compared to bloated open-world alternatives.

• Monster Hunter Enthusiasts – If you appreciate deliberate boss encounters rewarding pattern recognition, Horizon’s machine hunts deliver similar satisfaction with environmental variety and puzzle-like component destruction mechanics.
• Narrative-Focused Gamers – Aloy’s journey to discover her identity and the world’s origin unfolds through compelling dialogue and environmental storytelling. Supporting characters like Erend and Vanasha develop meaningful relationships with genuine emotional weight.
• Exploration Lovers – The game respects your time: side content feels substantial rather than padded, and every collectible (data points, machine sites, camps) contributes world-building rather than serving as checkbox objectives.
• Skip if – You require multiplayer modes, expect Skyrim-scale NPC interaction depth, demand turn-based tactical combat, or dislike the melee-light combat system.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Platform Performance

The remaster demonstrates platform scalability effectively. PS5 delivers visually consistent experience across performance and quality modes, while PC scales from minimum specs targeting 720p 30 FPS through ultra presets supporting 4K 60+ FPS. Performance remains stable across all target configurations tested in post-launch patches.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered System Requirements

PC requirements reflect the comprehensive remaster scope. Minimum specs target playable 720p 30 FPS experiences, while recommended tiers scale to 4K 60 FPS. Storage demands increased significantly from the original due to texture resolution upgrades and re-recorded dialogue asset sizes.

Similar Games to Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Several action RPGs offer comparable experiences with varying emphasis on open-world exploration, combat mechanics, and narrative delivery. Each brings distinct strengths; the choice between them depends on your preferences for combat style and world structure.

• Horizon Forbidden West – Direct sequel with expanded machine roster and improved combat fluidity. 50-60 hour campaign with more involved side quests. Larger game overall; some consider it bloated compared to original’s tighter design.
• Far Cry 6 – Open-world action game with similar liberation mechanics and environmental puzzle-solving. Less compelling narrative; more focus on emergent sandbox gameplay. $20 cheaper historically.
• Monster Hunter World – Creature hunting focus with deeper combat systems and multiplayer co-op. Minimal narrative; purely mechanical mastery. 50+ hours of hunt variety and build diversity.
• Tomb Raider (2013) Reboot – Similar solo female protagonist and action-adventure blend. More focused on combat encounters and survival elements; shorter campaign (15-20 hours).

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered vs Competitors

Horizon Remastered positions itself as the definitive current-generation action RPG experience. It undercuts Forbidden West’s price while delivering more polished narrative pacing. The remaster adds value through visual fidelity improvements that justify purchase even for original players.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Story and World

Horizon’s world is a post-apocalyptic Earth where civilization collapsed 1,000 years ago and nature reclaimed the landscape. Mechanical creatures replace traditional wildlife, hunted by human tribes who’ve regressed to tribal social structures. You play as Aloy, a young outcast from the Nora tribe, seeking answers about her mysterious origins while investigating conspiracies involving ancient technology and powerful factions. The narrative tackles themes of identity, parenthood, and humanity’s relationship with technology through genuinely compelling dialogue scenes. Environmental storytelling rewards exploration: datapoints found throughout the world provide detailed lore about the pre-apocalypse civilization, adding layers to the main narrative without forcing exposition. Character writing elevates supporting cast beyond typical open-world NPCs; Erend’s arc involves genuine emotional vulnerability, while mentor figures like Rost demonstrate nuanced mentorship without patronization.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Multiplayer and Online

Horizon Zero Dawn is exclusively single-player. No competitive multiplayer modes, co-op features, or online components exist. This design choice allows Guerrilla Games to focus development on narrative pacing and world design without balancing compromises required for online play.

• Single-Player Campaign – Fully solo experience with 30-50 hours of campaign and side content
• No Multiplayer – Zero online components; fully offline-playable even in online-capable console versions
• No Competitive Features – No leaderboards, PvP, or ranking systems. Pure narrative and exploration focus
• Cloud Saves – PlayStation Plus members receive cloud backup across PS5 devices; PC saves are local

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered DLC and Expansions

The remastered edition includes all content from the original Complete Edition. No new DLC has been released for the remaster; all free post-launch updates from the original are bundled. Development focus has shifted to Horizon Forbidden West and its sequel.

• The Frozen Wilds Expansion – $20 standalone expansion featuring a frozen region with new machine types and 10+ hour storyline. Included in Complete Edition purchase ($49.99).
• Free Updates – Performance patches and bug fixes have been released since launch; Patch 1.4 (December 2024) added transmog feature allowing cosmetic outfit customization without stats.
• No New Expansion – Guerrilla Games development focus shifted to Forbidden West and its sequel; no new content planned for Remastered
• Upgrade Path – Existing owners of original Horizon Zero Dawn can upgrade to remaster for $9.99; offers excellent value for revisiting the game

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Community and Support

The game maintains an active community across Reddit, Discord, and official forums. Nixxes (the studio handling the remaster) provides ongoing support through patch releases addressing reported bugs and introducing quality-of-life features. Community engagement remains strong despite the game’s 2017 origin.

• Official Forums – Guerrilla Games hosts community forums with Nixxes developers participating in technical support threads and feedback discussions
• Reddit/Discord – Subreddit r/horizon has 400,000+ members; active Discord communities coordinate challenge runs and sharing discoveries
• Mod Support – Limited native modding support; community creates texture packs and gameplay tweaks on Nexus Mods. PC version allows community-driven improvements more than console
• Updates – Nixxes issues patches monthly average addressing reported bugs, performance issues, and adding features. Transparent communication through official channels about upcoming changes