The Horizon franchise, developed by Guerrilla Games, has established itself as a cornerstone of modern action RPGs. Set in a 31st-century post-apocalyptic United States, the series offers a unique blend of primitive tribal culture and high-tech robotic threats. Navigating this world requires understanding not just the gameplay mechanics, but the dense, multi-layered history of the "Old Ones" and the machines that replaced them. To fully grasp the emotional stakes of Aloy's journey, playing the games in a specific sequence is essential.

Quick Reference List of Horizon Games in Order

For those looking for a direct path, the recommended order follows the release timeline, which aligns almost perfectly with the chronological narrative of the protagonist, Aloy.

  1. Horizon Zero Dawn (2017) – The Foundation.
  2. Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds (2017) – Story expansion set within the first game's timeline.
  3. Horizon Forbidden West (2022) – The Direct Sequel.
  4. Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores (2023) – Post-game expansion continuing the main plot.
  5. Horizon Call of the Mountain (2023) – VR spin-off set parallel to Zero Dawn's events.
  6. LEGO Horizon Adventures (2024) – A non-canon, family-friendly retelling.

Why Starting with Horizon Zero Dawn is Non-Negotiable

The narrative of Horizon is built on a massive central mystery: Why did the world end, and why are there robotic dinosaurs roaming the ruins? Starting with the sequel, Forbidden West, would immediately spoil the profound revelations of the first game.

The Origins of Aloy and Project Zero Dawn

In Horizon Zero Dawn, players are introduced to Aloy, an outcast of the Nora tribe. The initial hours of the game focus on personal stakes—Aloy seeking her mother’s identity. However, this quickly evolves into a global existential threat. The game masterfully drips information about "Project Zero Dawn" and the "Faro Plague."

From a gameplay perspective, Zero Dawn established the "component-based" combat system. Unlike traditional RPGs where you simply deplete a health bar, here you must use a Focus (an augmented reality device) to identify weak points, tear off armor plates, and harvest elemental canisters.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: Is It the New Starting Point?

Released in 2024, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered brings the 2017 title up to the visual standards of the sequel. For players on PlayStation 5 or high-end PCs, this is now the definitive way to begin. In our testing, the character models in the Remastered version utilize the same high-fidelity assets as Forbidden West, eliminating the visual "jump" that previously occurred when moving between the two games. The lighting systems and environmental foliage density have been completely overhauled, making the lush forests and arid deserts feel significantly more immersive.

The Role of The Frozen Wilds Expansion

The Frozen Wilds is not a sequel, but a substantial addition to the original map. It takes place in "The Cut," a snowy region inhabited by the Banuk tribe.

When Should You Play The Frozen Wilds?

Narratively, the events occur before the final mission of Zero Dawn. However, the difficulty curve is significantly steeper. The machines in The Cut, such as the Scorcher and the Frostclaw, are faster and more aggressive than those in the base game. Ideally, players should head to The Cut once they reach level 30. Doing so provides critical context about "HEPHAESTUS," one of the rogue subfunctions of the GAIA AI, which becomes a central antagonist in the sequel.

Expanding the Frontier in Horizon Forbidden West

Six months after the conclusion of the first game, Horizon Forbidden West shifts the action to the western United States—Utah, Nevada, and California. The world is dying from a mysterious red blight, and Aloy is the only one who can reboot the terraforming system.

Gameplay Evolutions and New Mechanics

The sequel introduces several "Quality of Life" and traversal improvements that make the first game feel somewhat restrictive in hindsight. These include:

  • The Pullcaster: A grappling hook for verticality.
  • The Shieldwing: A holographic glider that allows for safe descent from high peaks.
  • Diving Mask: Unlocking full underwater exploration without oxygen limits.

The combat also received a significant overhaul. We found the "Valors Surges"—special moves triggered after building up a meter—to be game-changers in high-level encounters. The weapon variety expanded from simple bows to "Shredder Gauntlets" and "Boltblasters," offering more tactical depth for taking down massive machines like the Tremortusk or the Slitherfang.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores

The Burning Shores DLC is a direct continuation of the Forbidden West ending. Unlike The Frozen Wilds, you cannot play this during the main campaign; you must finish the final mission "Singularity" first. Set in the volcanic ruins of Los Angeles, this expansion is exclusive to PlayStation 5 and PC, as it utilizes hardware power to render a massive, fully interactive final boss encounter that was technically impossible on the PS4.

Where Do the Spin-offs Fit in the Order?

While the main series follows Aloy’s primary mission, the franchise has expanded into different genres and perspectives.

Horizon Call of the Mountain (PlayStation VR2)

This title is a technical showcase for the PS VR2. You play as Ryas, a former Shadow Carja rebel. Chronologically, it takes place during the events of Zero Dawn. You actually encounter Aloy during the story, but the focus is on first-person climbing and archery. While it’s a standalone experience, playing it after Zero Dawn provides a deeper appreciation for the scale of the machines. Seeing a Tallneck from a VR perspective is a visceral experience that the flat-screen games cannot replicate.

LEGO Horizon Adventures

Released in late 2024, this is a non-canon reimagining. It takes the heavy, often tragic story of Zero Dawn and turns it into a comedic, family-friendly adventure. It’s best played as a "palette cleanser" after the intense emotional beats of the main series or as an entry point for younger players.

What is the Chronological Storyline Order?

If you want to experience the history of the Horizon world as it happened in-universe, the order is slightly different, though we still recommend the release order for the best dramatic tension.

  1. Old Ones Flashbacks (Audio Logs/Datapoints): These are found throughout all games and depict the years 2064–2066.
  2. Horizon Zero Dawn (Prologue): Aloy as a child.
  3. Horizon Zero Dawn (Main Game) / Horizon Call of the Mountain: These occur concurrently.
  4. Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds: Occurs during the latter half of the first game.
  5. Horizon Forbidden West: Six months after the first game.
  6. Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores: Immediately following the sequel.

Is There a Difference Between the Complete Edition and the Base Games?

For new players, the "Complete Edition" is the most cost-effective way to play.

  • Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition: Includes the base game and The Frozen Wilds.
  • Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition: Includes the base game and Burning Shores.

On PC, these are the only versions available, ensuring that the entire story is bundled together. On PlayStation, if you own the base disc, you may need to purchase the DLC separately through the PlayStation Store.

What Are the Future Horizon Games?

Guerrilla Games has confirmed that the Horizon universe is expanding with at least two major projects currently in development.

Horizon Steel Frontiers (The MMORPG)

A collaboration between Sony and NCSoft (known for Lineage and Guild Wars 2), this title is expected to be a massive multiplayer online role-playing game. It is rumored to be set in "The Deadlands" (Arizona and New Mexico) and will likely allow players to create their own hunters from various tribes like the Oseram or the Carja.

Horizon Hunters Gathering (Co-op Project)

A separate project developed internally by Guerrilla Games, this will focus on cooperative machine hunting. It aims to bring a "Monster Hunter" style experience to the Horizon world, allowing friends to team up to take down legendary-tier machines.

Can You Play Horizon Forbidden West Without Playing Zero Dawn?

Technically, yes, as the sequel includes a "recap" video at the start. However, we strongly advise against this. The emotional weight of the character relationships—especially Aloy’s bond with Varl, Erend, and the AI GAIA—is rooted in the first game. Furthermore, the revelation of the "Zeniths" in the second game lacks impact if you don't understand the desperate measures taken by the "Old Ones" during the first game's backstory.

Summary of the Optimal Playing Experience

For the best experience, start with Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (including The Frozen Wilds). Once the credits roll, move directly to Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition. If you have access to a VR2 headset, play Call of the Mountain whenever you want a change of pace during your Zero Dawn playthrough. Finally, use LEGO Horizon Adventures as a fun way to revisit the world once you've completed the main saga.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About the Horizon Order

Which Horizon game is the longest?

Horizon Forbidden West is significantly larger than its predecessor. A standard playthrough focused on the main story and major side quests will take approximately 50-60 hours, whereas Zero Dawn takes about 30-40 hours.

Do I need a PS5 to play all Horizon games?

To experience the entire series, a PS5 (or a high-end PC) is required. Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores and Horizon Call of the Mountain are not available on PS4.

Are the Horizon comic books canon?

Yes, the comic book series (such as The Sunhawk) is considered canon and bridges some of the narrative gaps between the two main games, focusing on characters like Talanah.

Is Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered a free upgrade?

No, while it is not a full-price game for existing owners, there is typically a $10 upgrade fee for those who own the original PS4 version or the Complete Edition on PS4/PS5.

What is the most powerful machine in the games?

While subjective, the Slaughterspine in Forbidden West and the Fireclaw in The Frozen Wilds are generally considered the most difficult non-boss machines to defeat due to their high health pools and devastating elemental attacks.

Will there be a Horizon 3?

Guerrilla Games has officially confirmed that they are working on the next chapter of Aloy's story. Given the ending of Burning Shores, the third game is expected to deal with the arrival of "Nemesis," an existential threat even greater than those faced previously.