Games Like Horizon Zero Dawn You Need To Play

Key Takeaways

• Horizon Zero Dawn, a breathtaking game with great visuals, offers dynamic combat and a compelling world-building experience.
• Fans of HZD will love mystical worlds like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, offering stunning visuals and engaging combat scenarios.
• Armored Core 6 provides challenging mech combat, similar to HZD, with fluid mechanics and epic boss battles.

Horizon Zero Dawn was launched on the PlayStation 4 in 2017. It was developed by Guerilla Games, who were only known for creating the first-person shooter series Killzone. The Killzone series is an entertaining but linear shooter series (touted as a Halo killer for Sony) that offered spectacular visuals and set pieces but very little variety.

As a result, this open-world actioner from Guerrilla Games surprised fans and critics alike with its great world-building and dynamic combat scenarios. Horizon Zero Dawn went head to head with the epic The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at the 2017 Game of the Year awards and is regarded as a must-have PlayStation title alongside God of War and Uncharted . Horizon Zero Dawn and its expansion offer players a lot of gameplay for their money, but once one has completed everything, there are plenty of similar games available for them to check out.

Updated November 4, 2024, by Mark Sammut: In celebration of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered coming out, along with the pending arrival of Lego Horizon Adventures, galleries have been introduced for every game highlighted below. Furthermore, specifications relating to each title’s open-critic scores have been added.

24 Kena: Bridge Of Spirits

An AA-Style Game With Gorgeous Visuals And Solid Combat

Ember Lab’s Kena: Bridge of Spirits might not have the same sense of scale as Horizon Zero Dawn, but it is nevertheless an impressive technical achievement. The game can be downright gorgeous, bringing to life a nature-heavy fantasy world filled with unique creatures (both friendly and antagonistic). The eponymous Kena is responsible for guiding spirits to the next life, but she finds herself taking on a far more crucial role when corruption begins to spread.

While thematically not that similar to HZD‘s story, Kena is also driven by a strong sense of mystery, mainly surrounding the world. The combat takes a few lessons from Souls-likes, albeit a bit more accessible than that genre’s typical release. Like Aloy, Kena fights with a bow and staff, although they are not her only options.

23 Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora

A Stunning Adaptation With A Colorful World To Explore

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is like a Far Cry game set in an alien world. However, its world design is one of the most striking and gorgeous examples seen on any platform. The developers of Massive Entertainment put in the work and attention to detail from the Avatar movies, and it bodes well for Star Wars Outlaws that they have a good grasp of making games based on a popular licensed property.

It takes a while for Avatar: Frontiers of Tomorrow to open up after getting the flying creature called Ikran. It’s then left up to the player to discover the world on their own by using the senses of the Na’vi to navigate the world. There are many battles against mechs and plenty of memorable encounters as the story unfolds. It’s a beautiful and colorful game, and taking down the giant mechs with stealth or by force is consistently entertaining. Fans of Far Cry will know what to expect, but the setting and the stunning landscape are enough to keep Horizon Zero Dawn fans intrigued and entertained.

22 Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon

A Challenging Adventure With Incredible Mech Combat

Stylistically, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is very different from Horizon Zero Dawn. However, for players who want to even the playing field and fight giant robots as a powerful mech, Armored Core 6 is among the best options available. The Armored Core series is from the makers of the Dark Souls trilogy and Elden Ring, and it offers an arguably challenging but equally rewarding experience.

Operating the mechs feels fluid, and the combat is smooth. Moreover, fans of the Souls series tend to appreciate the precision, stats, and timing needed to defeat gigantic bosses. That said, it doesn’t feature an open world like Horizon Zero Dawn, but the mission areas are vast and explorable. Armored Core 6‘s take on the post-apocalypse is more depressing and less colorful than what’s on offer in Horizon Zero Dawn, but the combat is terrific. Taking down enormous bosses and fighting against multiple mechs is a tense but thrilling ride from start to finish as players must work out their enemy’s weaknesses.

21 The Hellblade Series

Features A Believable And Endearing Female Lead

• 	Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2	Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
  Platform(s)	Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PC	Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch, PS4, PC
  Released	2024-05-21	2017-08-16
  Developer(s)	Ninja Theory	Ninja Theory

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a story-driven action adventure and one of the best cases for why video games should be taken seriously as an art form. It packs in a lot of psychological horror and offers an insight into the inner turmoil of a character struggling with their mental health. Fans of strong female leads will love Senua, as she’s one of the best-developed characters in gaming. Senua’s Sacrifice is very linear, but the implementation of Celtic and Norse mythology in its narrative is superb. The sound design is some of the best in gaming, and before the opening scenes, it recommends that players wear headphones to appreciate the atmosphere and Senua’s struggle.

As with its predecessor, Hellblade 2 is completely linear and, gameplay-wise, doesn’t have much in common with Horizon Zero Dawn. However, HZD fans will love the cinematic rollercoaster Senua’s adventure takes them on. Like Horizon Zero Dawn, Hellbade 2 is among the best-looking games ever developed, but the lead character will appeal to fans the most. Senua is a believable warrior fighting against all odds, and like Aloy, she’s a character the player can easily get behind. Senua isn’t just an amazing female lead; she’s a terrific video game character full stop. The combat is also easy to pick up. It’s a far cry from the massive scale of battles offered by Horizon Zero Dawn, but the intensity and beautiful visuals make it just as cinematic.

20 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

A Vastly Improved Sequel With Better Worlds And Better Combat

The hotly anticipated sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order once again puts players in the shoes of Cal Kestis. Kestis is a more seasoned and skilled warrior in Jedi: Survivor, and like Aloy, he is a survivor who must battle against all the odds. Survivor is a bigger game than its predecessor, with more interactivity, monsters to fight, and bounty hunters to ward off.

It also happens to be one of the best games in the Star Wars franchise. Offering much-improved combat over its predecessor, there is no shortage of giant creatures like the iconic Rancor, the monster that Luke defeated in Return of the Jedi. Horizon fans will love the explorable worlds, the puzzles, and the feeling of a lone warrior taking on a bigger destiny. There’s a Soulsike element to Jedi Survivor’s gameplay, too, and the fights can be challenging, but they are always entertaining when timing and precision matter the most.

19 Demon’s Souls (2020)

A Visually Stunning Remake With Memorable Boss Battles

Released in 2020 as a launch title for the PS5, Demon’s Souls is Bluepoint Game’s remake of FromSoftware’s 2009 PS3 original. As a Souls title, Demon’s Souls is far more challenging than Horizon Zero Dawn, but fans of HZD’s world-building, secrets, and epic battles will be hard-pressed to find a better game for this new generation.

The visuals are outstanding, but another area that Horizon Zero Dawn deserves credit for is the phenomenal sound design. Hearing the rumblings of giant mechanical beasts in the distance created a sense of immersion and ambiance in the headphones. Demon’s Souls offers a similar sense of immersion, especially with the 3D surround feature switched on. The game will draw the player into its dark world in a way that Horizon Zero Dawn fans will appreciate thanks to its lore and depth. The combat feels restrictive even compared to Dark Souls 3, but the visually stunning and weighty feel of battles are just as epic as HZD.

18 Lost Planet: Extreme Condition

Features Epic Boss Fights Against Giant Monsters And Aliens

Released in 2006, Lost Planet displays Capcom’s talent for creating original worlds and epic boss fights. The icy planet has an apocalyptic feel that will appeal to fans of HZD, and the feeling of being in danger from alien enemies that are far more deadly and powerful than the protagonist is sure to remind players of the more treacherous parts of Aloy’s journey.

Fights with these giant insect-like aliens known as the Akrid are done on foot and in large mechanized suits. The battles always feel dynamic, tense, and exciting. Players must find and exploit the monster’s weaknesses, usually marked by yellow points, and avoid getting overwhelmed by their size and power. Visually, the game holds up very well when played via backward compatibility on the Xbox One and Series X/S.

17 Final Fantasy 15

Offers A Sprawling Adventure In A Stunning World

First released in 2016, Final Fantasy 15 was the first time the series delved into the open-world genre. Compared to the more traditional titles, its world felt empty with the lack of towns, but the battles with the Daemons are almost always epic. There is a Monster Hunter element to the gameplay as the group led by Noctis explores the landscape, fighting creatures and robots of various sizes.

Now that the game has been released in a complete Royal Edition, Final Fantasy 15 is a much better and more coherent title than it was at launch. The battles with giant monsters, robots, and human enemies are entertaining and empowering when time is taken to adjust to the combat system. The epic fight with the Adamantoise, a giant tortoise-type monster that’s bigger than a mountain, is lengthy, epic, and strategic, perfect for those who enjoy fighting Horizon Zero Dawn‘s more imposing foes.

16 Far Cry Primal

A Prehistoric Open World Adventure Game

Even though Horizon Zero Dawn is set in a post-apocalyptic future, the world returned to its primal roots. The remnants of the human race are divided up by tribes called the Nora, the Carja, and the Osram, and the humans have reverted to their past roots as pure hunter-gatherers.

Far Cry Primal is a first-person shooter where the player steps into the shoes of a prehistoric tribesman. The lead character can train and control beasts, similarly to Aloy, and use them to his advantage. Like Horizon Zero Dawn, the world is dynamic and unpredictable, featuring events, ambushes, and battles that can occur at any time. Players get to utilize stealth and force with prehistoric weaponry, using the environment as a tool to gain an advantage or stay hidden.

15 Days Gone

An Open & Dynamic Zombie Horror Game

Days Gone is a near-future post-apocalyptic horror game set in an open world inhabited by zombie hordes. Mechanically, the two games differ in that Horizon Zero Dawn‘s Aloy feels a lot more battle-ready and flexible when encountering hordes of zombies.

However, it is the moments of unpredictability when dealing with hordes of enemies at once where the player is forced to think on their feet that fans of HZD will appreciate. In addition, the open world is beautiful and dynamic but filled with dangerous and unpredictable events. Stealth and setting up traps also play a big part in dealing with human and non-human enemies and are mechanically similar to the HZD.

14 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

A Beautiful & Timeless Open World Zelda Game

Horizon Zero Dawn is visually one of the most beautiful games of a generation. This is not because it has better graphical power than its nearest rivals, but because its art design helps make it timeless. The color, lighting, and shadows will constantly take one’s breath away.

The only other open-world game that matches Horizon Zero Dawn in pure artistry and visual beauty is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The easy-to-pick-up combat system easily rivals Horizon Zero Dawn, and just like Aloy, Link is tasked with defeating gigantic robotic enemies using various methods that require skill and thought.

Tears of the Kingdom
builds upon
BOTW
, retaining the same level of exploration.

13 Monster Hunter: World

Fight Giant Monsters With Or Without Friends

One of the main appeals of Horizon Zero Dawn is the dynamic and unscripted battle with the giant monsters in an open environment that the player needs to use to their advantage. Those looking for a game that has the exact qualities – minus the robots – is Monster Hunter: World.

Like the robot battles in Horizon Zero Dawn, every fight in Monster Hunter: World requires time, patience, and the ability to predict a creature’s movements and attacks to exploit its weakness. In addition, Monster Hunter: World‘s environments are colorful, bright, and a joy to explore. The combat is weighty and satisfying, and the sense of accomplishment of taking down giant monsters after a hard-fought battle is unmatched.

12 Dragon’s Dogma 2

Features Epic Monster Battles And A Stunning World

Dragon’s Dogma 2 doesn’t have the excellent leading character that Horizon Zero Dawn has, but it does feature an explorable and dynamic world full of mythical monsters and creatures. The world is a joy to explore with lore and mysteries to uncover, but there’s always something going on to make the fantasy adventure feel even more alive.

Fans of Horizon Zero Dawn will appreciate the way boss fights feel unique and how they are encouraged to come up with strategies on the fly during epic battles. The stealth aspects are much improved from the first game, as players can switch classes to the Thief vocation and complete stealth missions without bumbling around as a Warrior or a Fighter. As Aloy can switch from being a formidable fighter to a stealthy warrior, Dragon’s Dogma 2 offers a similar freedom with its incredibly satisfying combat.

11 God Of War

A Stunning Reboot With Epic Battles And Set Pieces

God of War is the fourth entry in the franchise, but the game is a reboot and a follow-up to Kratos’ exploits in Greek Mythology. Just like Horizon Zero Dawn, it is one of the best-looking games of the generation on both a technical and artistic level.

Taking on the role of Kratos, players get to explore a semi-open world in a third-person action-adventure and battle with giant creatures steeped in Norse mythology. In addition, those who enjoyed Horizon Zero Dawn‘s story and its use of side quests that reveal more of the lore will love investing their time into God of War‘s many activities and distractions. Kratos is a powerful warrior who can take down his enemies with brutal precision. He can utilize parries to land satisfying counters and implement combos with his son Atreus.

10 Enslaved: Odyssey To The West

A Colorful Post-Apocalyptic Take On A Journey West

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West was a post-apocalyptic adventure game released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was developed by Ninja Theory, who worked on Heavenly Sword, Devil May Cry, and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Unlike most post-apocalyptic games at the time, Enslaved used a colorful setting refreshingly similar to Horizon Zero Dawn‘s vision of the future. The gameplay is more linear in design than Horizon Zero Dawn, but the combat, puzzles, and platforming will be familiar to fans of Aloy’s adventures.

Taking inspiration from Journey to the West, the 16th-century Chinese novel, it features iconic characters like the Monkey King and more. Interestingly, Enslaved‘s script was adapted by the writers of 28 Days Later, Alex Garland and Rhianna Pratchett – the daughter of famed author Terry Pratchett – the writer of Mirror’s Edge, Tomb Raider, and Heavenly Sword.

9 Assassin’s Creed Origins & Odyssey

Two Massive Open World RPGs Set In Ancient Greece And Ancient Egypt

• 	Assassin’s Creed Origins	Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
  Platform(s)	PlayStation 4, PC, Stadia, Xbox One	Switch, PS4, PC, Stadia, Xbox One
  Released	2017-10-27	2018-10-15
  Developer(s)	Ubisoft	Ubisoft Quebec

When Assassin’s Creed Origins was released in 2017, serving as a prequel for the franchise, going even further back in time, it worked as a reboot. Origins was set in Ancient Egypt, and Odyssey was set in Ancient Greece, offering far more expansive and detailed worlds than their predecessors.

From a gameplay perspective, Origins and Odyssey provide stealth and head-on battle tactics that Horizon Zero Dawn fans will appreciate, and the simple RPG leveling system to unlock new abilities is just as accessible as HZD. The worlds in both games are beautiful and offer multiple ways to take down enemies. The way Aloy can defeat her enemies from hiding spots is reminiscent of the Assassin’s Creed games.

8 NieR: Automata

A Post-Apocalypticotic JRPG With Multiple Endings And An Emotional Story

Those who love a great science fiction story set in a post-apocalyptic world fighting robots should look no further than NieR: Automata. NieR has an outstanding narrative with well-written, mind-bending, and thought-provoking twists that will stay with the player.

Furthermore, the player is placed in the shoes of a female protagonist, and the action is second to none. The combat system was designed by PlatinumGames, the developers responsible for Bayonetta and Astral Chain, and it is fast yet tactical and deliberate. Like Horizon Zero Dawn, NieR: Automata features memorable boss battles that feel varied and require various strategies to win.

7 Shadow Of The Tomb Raider

A Dark And Violent Lara Croft Adventure

The rebooted Tomb Raider origin series would certainly appeal to players of Horizon Zero Dawn. The entry, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, has the most polished combat and stealth. However, it is recommended that players tackle the entire series to get a handle on the story and appreciate the improvements and character development with each entry.

The game worlds of the Tomb Raider trilogy aren’t as open as Horizon Zero Dawn. However, Shadow of the Tomb Raider‘s stunning semi-open jungle environment is more explorable and flexible than ever. Lara has multiple ways to take down her enemies using stealth or head-on combat, but like HZD, the bow and arrow mechanics are where the game shines.

6 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A Spectacular Open World Fantasy RPG With Epic Battles

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is hands down one of the most influential titles in gaming. It did for open-world games and RPGs this generation what The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion and Skyrim did for the last-gen systems. Its influence and approach to quests and interactions can be seen in the newer Assassin’s Creed titles, Days Gone, and Horizon Zero Dawn.

The RPG elements are far more prominent in The Witcher 3, and the story is far more layered than Guerilla Games’ effort, but that doesn’t mean players will feel overwhelmed. Despite its depth, The Witcher 3 is far more accessible than its predecessors. Moreover, fans who enjoy combat with oversized beasts and exploring beautiful landscapes will love Geralt’s third adventure.

5 The Last Of Us Part 2

An Epic Cinematic Action Game With Stunning Visuals

Released in 2020, the multi-award-winning mega-hit from Naughty Dog Studios, The Last of Us Part 2, is an epic action horror title. The story can feel a little long as it is played out from the viewpoint of its two protagonists, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the best examples of cinematic storytelling in a video game.

It is worth noting that even though the world lacks the openness of Horizon Zero Dawn, each area is much larger than its predecessor and filled with similar character development and lore found in HZD. Moreover, The Last of Us 2 features two fantastic female leads, making players sympathize with both sides and turning the roles of antagonistic and protagonistic characters on their heads. Ellie utilizes terrific stealth and brutal takedowns, and Abbie can use stealth, too, but in a way that is unique to her.