Best 12 Games Like Horizon Zero Dawn Across Various Genres

Skill-based fight and post-apocalyptic open-world journey are the points to contemplate. These ought to be on the core of different video games like Horizon Zero Dawn. 

The 2017 hit is presently accessible for PC. However, the February 2022 sequel –Forbidden West– is just accessible for PS4 and PS5. Fans and critics contemplate the franchise a must have for PlayStation gamers.

Yet, maybe you don’t have a PlayStation, or possibly you’re in search of more. In any case, our alternate options will sort out the identical style. 

Selecting Games Like Horizon Zero Dawn

We consider followers of Aloy’s journey would love video games that includes a mixture or a twist of Horizon components:

• Genre: This is a third-person action-adventure open-world sport. It additionally has RPG components, skill-based fight, and a character-driven story.
• Setting: You play in a post-apocalyptic world as a part of a tribe. Machine creatures roam the land because the enemy of all humankind. 
• Quest design: The sport is linear, and there’re no selections. Instead, there’s a predominant quest to finish at a time in every space of the open world.
• World: The map is populated with impartial machines, allied tribes, and hostile people. Also, every space has its markers, collectibles, bandit caps, and so forth.
• Biomes: There’re numerous predominant areas, biomes. These have completely different settings, enemies, and tribes.
• Exploration: On every map space, you may probe for fight, collectibles, and aspect quests. 
• Parkour: You run, climb, leap, crawl, crouch, and mount by means of the areas. Traversal depends on parkour skills total.
• Focus means: You have a high-tech merchandise that reveals the clues you have to full quests. 
• Combat: Action depends on the bow. You intention, shoot, reload, run, dodge, and use your spear. 
• Ammo: Each enemy is inclined to an ammo sort, like fireplace or electrical energy. You’re to alter ammo and weapons throughout fight continuously. 
• Weapons: The arsenal consists of numerous tribal weapons like bows and slingshots. However, they’ve some superior ammo, like electrified ropes. 
• Weaknesses: Similarly, many enemies have weak spots you may exploit with a specific ammo sort. 
• Scraps: Defeating enemies in efficient methods is important, as you have to craft all your ammo with the scrap you collect from enemies. 
• Trading: Speaking of which, there’s no coin for buying and selling. Instead, you commerce the very important scrap for arrow crafting with metallic shards. 
• Character development: You stage as much as unlock abilities factors. Various talent bushes provide passive upgrades for melee or ranged harm, stealth, and so forth.
• Evolving fight: You be taught to decelerate time whereas capturing and capturing numerous arrows concurrently. Action evolves additional with new ammo sorts.
• Secondary upgrades: You also can gather meat from looking animals and herbs to enhance your carrying capacities.
• Potions: Similarly, you may craft therapeutic or resistance potions and damaging potions. 
• Quality: Lastly, followers and critics reward it for its visuals, worldbuilding, fight, story, and voice performing. 

Overall, Horizon’s gameplay loop is easy however very refined. You discover with parkour, struggle in opposition to enemies, loot the enemies, craft more ammo, stage up, and repeat. 

Guerilla Games describes it as an “action RPG.” Still, there’re no selections, no character customization, and you may finally unlock all abilities. So, we’re different video games like Horizon Zero Dawn throughout numerous genres.

Games Like Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Forbidden West

After you end Zero Dawn and attain its single ending, the following step is the 2022 sequel. It continues the components as an action-adventure sport with difficult fight and RPG components.

The setting takes you to a western post-apocalyptic United States. Here, you meet new tribes, however acquainted NPCs will assist your quest. The story follows Aloy as she discovers the origins of a illness destroying the land.

As earlier than, you discover an open world with completely different biomes. Each biome has a predominant quest to finish, however the areas are wider and more diversified than earlier than. Similarly, the enemy AI is smarter, and the enemy selection is difficult.

Then, Aloy has new gadgets for brand spanking new traversal strikes. For instance, she has a grappling hook, a masks for swimming underwater, and high-tech wings for gliding. The map is bigger than earlier than, and there’s more freedom to climb, run, swim, and discover.

Lastly, the sport options an excellent high quality. Visuals, map design, voice performing, and character arcs appear higher than earlier than. On the identical notice, melee fight is much less janky, and motion is total smoother. However, you continue to can’t block, and the talent bushes should really feel underwhelming.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of Wild

Forbidden West including a glider as a brand new mechanic speaks of Breath of the Wild’s far-reaching affect. In reality, the action-adventure / JRPG hybrid gained 2017’s GOTY in opposition to Zero Dawn.

Nintendo’s hit follows a brand new incarnation of Link in a quest to defeat Calamity Ganon. Link is an amnesiac, so a part of your quest takes you to get better his recollections, which may lead you to an extra cinematic minimize after the ending.

The sport is totally open, and there’re no map markers and no indications. You get the primary quest and some pointers. However, you’re free to observe any path, though every path has its problem. Moreover, there’re tons of of puzzles within the sport, plus temples with distinctive mechanics you have to perceive. 

For instance, climbing, swimming, operating, and gliding require stamina, so that you gained’t be capable to climb all mountains at first. You discover collectibles to enhance well being and power, gear, and gadgets that grant particular skills and new fight strikes.

Lastly, the sport has numerous AI techniques figuring out how completely different gadgets and occasions collide with one another. There’s additionally a climate system, an evening and day cycle, cooking recipes, and animals for looking. 

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

The Tomb Raider DNA is current on Horizon. In specific, we’re speaking concerning the action-adventure components of the newest sequence reboot trilogy by Square Enix. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the final and maybe one of the best in your entire franchise.

You play as Lara Croft, a younger enterprise and treasure hunter. She travels to a tropical area of the Americans. Here, you will see that semi-open hubs containing tombs for raiding, scavenging sources, and predominant quests to finish.

More importantly, fight is skill-based, and it depends on aiming and capturing the bow. You will even discover firearms and unlock new bow abilities. Additionally, you’ll stage up on numerous talent bushes, like a crafting talent that improves your crafting effectivity. 

Stealth performs an enormous position within the title. You can strategy most fight in stealth and get rid of enemies silently along with your bow. This is important, as Lara Croft isn’t as robust as most action-adventure heroes. 

Lara can run, leap, climb, rappel down, swim, and swim underwater for traversal. Lastly, the sport contains a central hub, the Hidden City of Paititi. You can commerce the sources you scavenge for weapons, ammo, gear, and different gadgets. 

Dying Light 2: Stay Human

Rather than third-person, you’re in first-person. And reasonably than combating in opposition to machines and people, you’ll battle in opposition to zombies and people. Dying Light 2 is an action-adventure RPG with parkour fight and traversal. 

You play as Aiden, a former Pilgrim. Pilgrims are vacationers who carry messages from one a part of the wasteland to a different. The journey is within the metropolis of Old Villedor, the place you’re looking for clues to search out your long-lost sister, Mia.

The journey is character-driven but in addition forces you to make key choices. There’re two rival factions within the sport, and your actions and selections (even on aspect content material) will give power to at least one aspect. It results in 5 completely different endings and a few variations on numerous predominant quests. 

So, character development depends on discovering these things scattered on the map and in “dungeons” (labs and comparable). Moreover, fight grants fight XP, and traversal grants parkour XP. You can then unlock abilities on these two branches, which make fight and traversal more and more advanced and enjoyable.

The concept of combating for scraps could be very actual. For instance, weapons have a sturdiness meter, and so they all break. Also, you have to loot places and enemies to craft numerous arrow sorts and the completely different instruments you want for fight and therapeutic. Lastly, there’s an evening and day cycle – zombies are more harmful at night time. 

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 is without doubt one of the best action-adventure RPGs of the final technology. Storytelling, gameplay, mechanics, and characters mix seamlessly to create a formidable western expertise.

You play as Arthur Morgan, a member of a declining outlaw gang. The occasions drive you to weigh the worth of your survival in opposition to your loyalty. Key moments in the course of the story ask you to make selections that alter how missions go and result in 4 completely different endings.

The character development is easier. You have three stats: well being, lifeless eye, and stamina. Doing particular actions will enhance these abilities. Simply taking part in the sport will make Morgan more highly effective, and the development will really feel pure.

The open world is huge and immersive. You can hunt, gather bounties, break the legislation, face bandits, face the legislation, assist the legislation, handle a bandit camp, and so forth. Also, many in-game techniques work with in-game interfaces.

Lastly, you may play the sport in first-person or third-person. You would need the latter perspective for traversal, like exploring the world in your horse or looking. However, first-person is usually higher for capturing sequences, that are extremely clean and harmful. 

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3 shares numerous key components with Zero Dawn. It’s an motion RPG with skill-based fight, an open-world design, and a character-driven story. Also, it contains a easy character development that depends on leveling as much as unlock passives after which slotting them on the accessible brackets.

Even although it’s an RPG, you may’t customise the primary character, Geralt of Rivia. Instead, you role-play because the Witcher however make significant selections and actions that alter the story. Your choices result in three main endings, with over 30 variations.

The story is about discovering Geralt’s surrogate daughter, Ciri. She has a hidden energy which will awaken and threaten the world. At the identical time, an historic elven evil, the Wild Hunt, is looking her down for her reality-shifting skills. Meanwhile, you’ll use your Witcher Sense (AKA the Focus) to search out clues.

As Geralt, you journey to numerous areas in a really large world. Each space has a predominant quest-line to finish, plus many aspect quests, bandit camps, treasure hunts, and so forth. In specific, the standard of the positioning content material is usually equal to or higher than the primary content material.

Lastly, as in Zero Dawn, most gameplay requires defeating monsters. Each monster has a specific weak point to take advantage of. You can use magical indicators, brews, grenades, swords, and a crossbow as a Witcher. Combat depends on dodges, parries, blocks, slashes, magic, and ranged assaults. 

Ghost of Tsushima

As one other PlayStation IP, Ghost of Tsushima is one other sport you desire to. It feels, behaves, and even appears just like Zero Dawn. It’s additionally a third-person action-adventure sport with character development and skill-based fight.

Yet, the setting could be very completely different. You play as Jin Sakai, a samurai in the course of the first Mongol Invasion of Japan. The character is fictional, which implies you’re to defeat the invaders and their chief Kublai Khan by your self.

The story focuses on the character closely. The sport builds the character by means of attractive flashbacks and key moments showcasing who Sakai is. He has an inside battle: reaching victory means sacrificing his samurai honor. Treacherous warfare is how the island will survive.

Combat and traversal occur from a third-person perspective. You can slash, parry, counter, block, and dodge. Moreover, you unlock “Sword Stances” as you play, which work because the talent bushes, or “ammo types.” Because enemies carry completely different weapons, every weapon is inclined to a specific sword stance.

Lastly, the world is open-world, and it has no obvious markers. Instead, you observe environmental clues, just like the sway of the wind, sounds, and butterflies. These lead you to the primary quests and aspect quests, the place you collect collectibles and discover higher armor and swords.

God Of War

God of War is an action-adventure sport with hack&slash fight, linear design, and character development. It’s thought-about one of the best sport within the GoW franchise and a must have PlayStation unique. 

You play as Kratos, the God of War. Years handed since his final vengeful journey, and now he’s a father. He intends to go away the violence behind, however a brand new journey takes father and son (Atreus) in battle with the Norsen gods.

The Norse setting options episodic and extensive linear maps. Each one presents new enemies, traversal puzzles, and forex to gather. In specific, you should use a singular useful resource to enhance your gear. You also can stage up, which unlocks fight abilities in your rising arsenal.

The fight is skill-based, however not as a lot. That’s as a result of Kratos is deservingly highly effective and since you may button mash by means of most enemies. Still, you play with numerous magical weapons, which characteristic a mixture of blocks, dodges, parries, counters, magic abilities, and ranged assaults.

Lastly, the sport contains a fantastic character-driven story. In specific, Kratos’s voice-acting and animation alone are well worth the worth of admission. On high of that, the rising bond between the titular characters makes a robust narrative with robust payoffs. 

Far Cry 4

Far Cry 4 is my favourite sport within the franchise. You might play the newest, the same expertise. However, the older title had a terrific stability of foolish explosions, large motion set items, and a compelling plot to observe. 

You play as Ajay Ghale in a fictional Himalayan nation, Kyrat. You have a pivotal position as a brand new member of the insurgent forces, the Golden Path, combating to overthrow the tyrannical dictator, Pagan Min. Taking down the federal government usually means taking down a fort and a army chief in every open world space.

Then, every space has bandit camps, collectibles, secrets and techniques, and markers in every single place. It ought to be fairly acquainted to Zero Dawn gamers. There’s even the opportunity of upgrading your carrying capability with the meat you hunt from animals. Also, stealth could turn out to be your best ally. 

Far Cry is generally an action-adventure FPS, as there’re only a few RPG components. However, there’s a set of separated mystical quests the place you “dream” a legendary hero’s journey. He fought magical monsters with a bow and arrow. On every subsequent mission you discover, the hero has a brand new energy. 

Overall, its over-the-top nature affords nice gaming moments. Memorable moments embody throughout Himalayan mountains, holding out in opposition to invading forces on a seaside, or plating bombs on an airport. 

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

Odyssey is an motion RPG with a wonderful open world to discover. It adopts the entire components of a Ubisoft sport, although, as “cluttering” the maps with markers and actions.

Still, the world is spectacular. It’s attractive, filled with secrets and techniques, nice sights, good characters, and a compelling story. There’s additionally naval exploration and naval fight. The motion is as regular: acrobatic, slashy, stealthy, and quick. 

You’d be using an arsenal of historic Greek weapons for this entry, principally spears, and shields. You additionally struggle in opposition to legendary creatures and discover historic sights throughout numerous Greek islands. 

The setting adopted the story of the Peloponnesian War, a battle between Athens and Sparta between 431 and 422 BC. You play as a Spartan mercenary, combating on either side of the battle. Your job is to search out your loved ones and eradicate the Cult of Kosmos.

Lastly, you play from a third-person perspective. AS you full missions and aspect quests, or as you defeat enemies, you earn XP factors to be taught new abilities. These are a mixture of fight strikes and passives, making fight diversified and enjoyable. 

Days Gone

Days Gone is an action-adventure sport in a post-apocalyptic open world. You play as Deacon St. John, a former outlaw and a drifter. The story focuses on the character, because the plot is about discovering your spouse.

From a third-person perspective, you drive round your bike on a big wasteland and interact or run from zombie hordes (“freakers”). You use firearms, melee weapons, improvised instruments, and stealth to outlive and struggle.

The predominant mechanic is the bike. Is your transportation mode, in addition to your stock. You also can purchase bike upgrades on numerous settlements and customise the car. Most of the playtime occurs alone, on the street, as you scavenge sources like gas and seek for clues.

Then, as an RPG, your character ranges up and makes selections. The selections alter how the missions go and result in 4 distinct endings. Moreover, you may freely discover the world, discover or buy new weapons, and earn a great or unhealthy repute with the settlements.

Lastly, there’s a crafting system as properly. You want parts to craft weapons and provides. Other mechanics embody clearing “Freaker nests” and enemy camps, capturing bounties, and rescuing hostages.

Metro: Exodus

Metro Exodus is a first-person shooter with a semi-open world design and sandbox components. It’s the third a part of the Metro sequence, which follows Dmitry Flukhosky’s novels. 

You play as Artyom, and your job is to steer a bunch of survivors on the floor. A nuclear warfare devastated the world, and your “tribe” has lived within the metro tunnels for years. Now, Artyom should search for a spot the place they’ll reside.

The story is linear and occurs in episodic semi-open hubs. Each space is pretty open and affords loads of alternatives to discover and interact with content material. However, there’re no markers and no-in-game menus to information you.

That’s as a result of the title makes use of immersive components. For instance, you craft gadgets in real-time by getting the issues out of your bag. Or you employ your binoculars to scout forward and uncover the trail you have to observe. 

So, you may strategy every space and every scenario in another way. That consists of stealth, weapons blazing, ignoring, and so forth. Though sources are fairly scarce, you’ll be pressured to struggle or sneak to search out more ammo and provides. 

Lastly, the sport features a climate system, a day and night time cycle, and seasons. Moreover, there’s an AI that dictates random occasions and manages sensible, diversified, and erratic enemy AIs. And as in Zero Dawn, there’s no forex: you as a substitute commerce with ammo.