Guerrilla Games is a Dutch game company that became known for Killzone, a first-person shooter series of six games. However, by the time Killzone 3 launched in 2011, they were developing a new concept to pitch to Sony Interactive Entertainment. After presenting over 40 concepts and multiple storylines, by 2013, the whole studio was working on their new franchise: Horizon. The debut of Horizon Zero Dawn in 2017 represented the beginning of something new for the video game industry.

This open-world, action role-playing game introduced an innovative take on the post-apocalyptic genre, with a stunning world populated by machines. By tackling relevant themes—such as the relationship between nature and technology—and pairing them with stunning visuals and smooth gameplay, it crafted a winning narrative.

On a quest to uncover a long-lost past

Ostracized by her community, the Nora Tribe, Aloy has lived as an outcast for as long as she can remember. Desperate to know more about her origins, she trains for years under Rost – her guardian and sole companion. Her goal is to partake in the Proving, a coming-of-age trial of her tribe. Winning would allow her to regain the status of a tribe member and question the matriarchs. However, the plan goes astray when a cult attacks on the day of the challenge, seemingly after her. An unprecedented attack that decimates the village, in the light of which the Matriarchs reveal the truth.

Found as a baby in the depths of the sacred mountain, all the answers await behind a sealed door. Now, as a Seeker, Aloy must fight the corruption taking over the world to learn about her origins. A journey that will take her into the wild, where feral machines roam and the lost memories of humanity lie buried. This setup cements the immersion, connecting the protagonist and the player. Due to being shunned since childhood, Aloy has no experience of the world. This reflects, first and foremost, on her curious yet wary character and the gaming experience itself. The player shares her condition as a stranger, and the two learn together as the story progresses.

How to subvert the apocalypse trope

Various media tackle the post-apocalyptic genre, both as a cautionary tale and to explore its narrative possibilities. Like the Korean movie Snow Piercer or the Italian graphic novel Troppo Facile Amarti in Vacanza. Both depict Earth torn apart by the disastrous effects of climate change. Video games, in particular, have embraced this trope, as they offer the perfect ground for survival and action stories, from the zombie epidemic of The Last of Us to the post-nuclear world of Fallout. Titles that have inspired TV series demonstrate the pull that such narratives have. However, Horizon Zero Dawn strays from the norm with a world that is striking for its beauty. One for which the cause of its current status are still shrouded in mystery.

Through Aloy’s eyes, the player experiences a far-future setting with little to no semblance to the modern Earth. Time seems to have returned to a primordial era, where humans live in tribes and wild nature spans as far as the eye can see, from the luscious forests of the Embrace region to the scalding deserts of the Shining Waste to the snowy mountains of the Cut. However, a closer look reveals that this Eden-like landscape is not as untouched as it seems. On the one hand, remnants of cities still peek from the foliage, statues eroded by the elements, and buildings almost engulfed by the greenery. On the other hand, underground facilities named cauldrons still use ancient technology. All of this was left by the Predecessors, who disappeared after an unknown cataclysm – which is up to the player to discover.

A world of wild machines

As mesmerizing as the in-game universe may appear, it is not void of dangers. For this is no longer humanity’s reign but a world inhabited by machines. These advanced inorganic creatures resemble less robots following a protocol and more sentient animals whose appearance and behavior they mimic. Similar to the marine fauna of Subnautica, they strike a delicate balance between alien and familiar. For example, Striders and Grazers eat grass like herbivores due to their ability to synthesize biofuel. And much like their animal counterpart, they are skittish and ready to flee but can also be mounted and used for transport. Meanwhile, Sawtooths and Snapmaws have the same role as those apex predators, tigers and crocodiles. Territorial and ready to attack any unsuspecting prey, their presence calls for stealth and wariness. And since avoiding encountering these creatures is impossible, Aloy must be ready to face them.

Each machine has its own set of features and unique attacks. From freezing blasts of cooling liquid to shield and anti-gravitational fields, all the way to missiles and blades. Not unlike Shadow of the Colossus, fighting these beasts calls for instinct and strategy, which is where the crafting mechanic comes into play. Aloy’s primary weapons are a spear and bow, whose ammo can be crafted to deal specific damage. In addition, devices like tripwires and immobilizing ropes can help slow down a target while aiming for weak spots such as fuel tanks and cores. The player also has the option to override the machines’ program, turning them from foe to ally. Because of all these variables, combat in Horizon Zero Dawn seldom feels repetitive. The variety in enemies and fighting strategies keeps it engaging and innovative, making it one of the more memorable aspects of gameplay.

The gaming experience of Horizon Zero Dawn

Guerrilla Games’ title shines because of its visuals, which breathe life into the game and withstand the test of time. The open world feels massive and uncharted, revealing itself bit by bit, from first exploring the Sacred Lands to accessing the village to venturing beyond the known confines. Only to find forests, deserts, and mountains stretching as far as the eye can see. It is a gradual expansion that fully pays back the expectations while providing a cohesive gaming experience.

Moreover, Horizon Zero Dawn is compelling from a storyline point of view, which develops on multiple narrative levels. The first main one regards Aloy, whose story echoes Hayao Miyazaki’s heroine Nausicää. Both are young women in a world overrun by strange beasts where humanity clings to survival. Both strive to uncover the mystery of those who came before while staying true to their beliefs. The second has to do with the Predecessors themselves. The player can find and access audio data points using the Focus – an augmented reality device. Scattered throughout the game, akin to recordings in Bioshock, they provide insight into the Predecessor’s history and demise.

Because of this Horizon Zero Dawn won several awards, including Best Storytelling at the Golden Joystick Awards. The series featured an expansion – The Frozen Wilds – and a sequel in 2022: Horizon Forbidden West.