Neither game is objectively better. Start with Horizon Zero Dawn if story order and the original premise matter most to you. Choose Horizon Forbidden West if the sequel’s expanded traversal and melee combat are the main draw. Because Forbidden West is a direct sequel, most newcomers should play Zero Dawn first.
Why story order decides the starting point
Forbidden West is not a standalone retelling. Ben McCaw, Narrative Director at Guerrilla, put the relationship plainly: “Horizon Forbidden West continues six months after the events of Horizon Zero Dawn.” The statement comes from PlayStation.Blog’s May 27, 2021 post, “14 minutes of new gameplay for Horizon Forbidden West,” and it is the clearest official description of how the two games connect (PlayStation.Blog, 27 May 2021). The official PlayStation Horizon games site presents the series as a whole, so it is the right place to confirm current series listings.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered PS5 | $30.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Horizon: Zero Dawn Remastered | $29.40 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition - PlayStation 4 (Renewed) | $32.24 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Horizon Zero Dawn - PlayStation 4 (Renewed) | $21.11 | Buy on Amazon |
The practical consequence is that Forbidden West assumes you already know Aloy’s world and the mystery that opens Zero Dawn. If you start with the sequel, you will meet its story after the setup has already been resolved, so the discovery that defines the first game is gone. If you value that discovery, play Zero Dawn first.
What Forbidden West adds to play
The developer’s gameplay presentation for Forbidden West highlights three additions to the core experience:
#1 Best Overall
- EARTH IS OURS NO MORE
- Experience the critically acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn with stunning new visuals and upgraded features
- In a far future where colossal machines roam and rule the Earth, pockets of humanity survive in unique tribes amon the lush, overgrown ruins of our long-lost civilization
- Take up bow and spear as Aloy, a youn machine hunter and outcast of her tribe, as she discovers her origins, the truth of this mysterious world, and her own destiny to save it from impending doom.
- On her journey, Aloy will come across unique tribes, lively settlements, and compelling characters and companions.
- Swimming, which expands how you move through the environment.
- Free climbing, which lets you scale terrain beyond the first game’s routes.
- Expanded melee combat, which adds options to close-range fights.
These are announced features described in the 2021 gameplay presentation, not a measured verdict on how much players enjoy them. Whether the additions make the sequel the better game for you depends on how much you value movement and close combat relative to the original’s story and atmosphere.
How the remaster changes the visual comparison
If you are comparing looks, the version of Zero Dawn matters. Guerrilla announced Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered for PS5 and PC, with visual, audio, and technical improvements, including over ten hours of re-recorded conversation. The company said the remaster would bring the first game closer to Forbidden West’s visual fidelity (Guerrilla Games announcement, “Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Coming to PlayStation and PC on 31 October”).
Rank #2
- Explore hidden depths - Journey through a world filled with strange artefacts and crumbling ruins
- The Machines - The world of Horizon Zero Dawn is inhabited by Machines of all shapes and sizes. Terrifyingly alien yet strikingly familiar, these mysterious automatons combine mechanical strength with organic features and an animalistic ferocity
- Begin your hunt - Fuse primitive gear with advanced technology to craft devices that turn predators to prey
- Prepare for the hunt - Merchants will offer Aloy a wide range of goods, varying from resources to craft items, as well as new gear. Trade in your metal shards and resources for special weapons and outfits to protect you from the dangers you'll encounter
- Cutting edge open-world technology - Explore a vibrant landscape rich with the beauty of nature. Travel through stunningly detailed forests, imposing mountains and the atmospheric ruins of a bygone civilization, all brought together in a world that is alive with changing weather systems and a full day/night cycle
That makes the gap between the two games smaller on a remastered Zero Dawn than on the original release. When you talk about visuals, name the exact release you mean: the original Zero Dawn or Zero Dawn Remastered.
Platform and edition checks before you buy
Platform and edition terms vary, and the sources below describe specific storefront entitlements rather than universal rules. Check the live store page for your region before purchasing.
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Rank #3
- A Lush Post-Apocalyptic World - How have machines dominated this world, and what is their purpose? What happened to the civilization here before?
- Nature and Machines Collide - Horizon Zero Dawn juxtaposes two contrasting elements, taking a vibrant world rich with beautiful nature and filling it with awe-inspiring highly advanced technology.
- Defy Overwhelming Odds - The foundation of combat in Horizon Zero Dawn is built upon the speed and cunning of Aloy versus the raw strength and size of the machines.
- Battery: no battery used
| Item | What the source states | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered | Announced for PS5 and PC with visual, audio, and technical improvements | Guerrilla Games announcement |
| Forbidden West, PS4 digital purchase | Includes the PS5 digital version at no extra cost on the cited US PlayStation Store listing | PlayStation Store, Horizon Forbidden West |
| Forbidden West, PS4 disc owners on a PS5 Digital Edition console | The no-extra-cost PS5 entitlement has a limitation for this combination on the same listing | PlayStation Store, Horizon Forbidden West |
| Forbidden West, PC | Complete Edition released on PC with technical features, including NVIDIA Reflex | Guerrilla Games, “Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition lands on PC today” |
The PS4-to-PS5 entitlement applies to that specific US listing. Pricing, stock, edition contents, and regional policies are not established by these sources and can change, so confirm them on the storefront before you buy.
Which game suits which player
- Story-first players: Start with Zero Dawn. Forbidden West’s narrative builds on it directly.
- Players focused on movement and combat: Forbidden West is the game built around the swimming, free climbing, and expanded melee options described above.
- Players who care about visuals: Compare Zero Dawn Remastered with Forbidden West, not the original Zero Dawn, if you want the closest match in presentation.
- Players planning both: Play Zero Dawn first, then continue into Forbidden West for the full story sequence.
What the evidence does not settle
The official material available for this comparison does not establish a current critic or player consensus, and it does not provide review scores, sales figures, or player preference data. That means the comparison rests on story structure, announced features, and platform terms, not on a ranking of quality. Anyone who presents one game as objectively superior is going beyond what the sources support.
Rank #4
- Nature and Machines Collide – Horizon Zero Dawn juxtaposes two contrasting elements, taking a vibrant world rich with beautiful nature and filling it with awe-inspiring highly advanced technology. This marriage creates a dynamic combination for both exploration and gameplay.
- Cutting Edge Open World Tech – Stunningly detailed forests, imposing mountains, and atmospheric ruins of a bygone civilization meld together in a landscape that is alive with changing weather systems and a full day/night cycle.
- Genre:Strategy & Role-Playing
- A Lush Post-Apocalyptic World – How have machines dominated this world, and what is their purpose? What happened to the civilization here before? Scour every corner of a realm filled with ancient relics and mysterious buildings in order to uncover your past and unearth the many secrets of a forgotten land.
- Defy Overwhelming Odds – The foundation of combat in Horizon Zero Dawn is built upon the speed and cunning of Aloy versus the raw strength and size of the machines. In order to overcome a much larger and technologically superior enemy, Aloy must use every ounce of her knowledge, intelligence, and agility to survive each encounter.
Some of the descriptions above come from 2021 announcements, and the remaster and PC release details come from later Guerrilla posts. Treat the feature list as what was announced, and confirm current edition contents on the official pages linked in this article.
Official sources used in this article: PlayStation Horizon games site, PlayStation.Blog gameplay post, Guerrilla Games remaster announcement, PlayStation Store listing, and Guerrilla Games PC Complete Edition post.
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