Horizon Zero Dawn was released exclusively for the PlayStation 4 in 2017. It was developed past Guerilla Games who were only known for developing the first-person shooter serial Killzone. The Killzone series is an entertaining merely linear shooter serial (touted every bit Sony's "Halo killer") that offered spectacular visuals and set pieces but very little multifariousness.

As a upshot, Guerilla Games' open-world actioner surprised fans and critics alike for its world-building and dynamic combat scenarios. Horizon Zero Dawn went caput to head with the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at the 2020 Game of the Yr awards and is regarded as a must-have PlayStation championship alongside God of War and Uncharted . Horizon Zero Dawn and its expansion offer the actor a lot of gameplay for their money, but once one has completed everything, there are other games that should exist side by side on the list.

Updated January 10, 2022 by Michael Llewellyn : The hotly anticipated sequel Horizon Forbidden West is looking to go one of the biggest games of the twelvemonth. Fix to release on Feb 22nd, 2022, there is however enough time to either tie up any loose ends on the original or play another spectacular activeness game that offers similar mechanics. Whether it'due south exploring a beautiful world filled with secrets and earth-building lore or hunting downwardly and fighting giant creatures, there are lots of cracking alternatives for players to endeavour either while they are waiting for Horizon Forbidden Westward or afterward they have finished information technology.

xviii Demon's Souls (2020)

Avoiding the dragon's fiery breath in Demon's Souls
  • Released: 2020
  • Developer: Bluepoint Games
  • Platform: PS5

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

The visuals are outstanding but some other area that Horizon Zero Dawn deserves credit for is the astounding sound pattern. Hearing the rumblings of giant mechanical beasts in the distance created an amazing sense of immersion and ambiance on the headphones. Demon's Souls offers a similar sense of immersion, especially with the 3D surroundings characteristic switched on. The game is capable of drawing the role player into its nighttime globe in a way that NZD fans will appreciate.

17 Lost Planet

Fighting a giant alien on foot in Lost Planet
  • Released: 2007
  • Developer: Capcom
  • Platform: PC, PS3, and Xbox 360

Released in 2007, Capcom's Lost Planet showed off the studio'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 under constant threat from enemies is far more dangerous and powerful than the protagonist is ever-present.

Fights with these giant insect-like aliens known as the Akrid are washed on pes and in behemothic mechanized suits. The fights always feel dynamic and tense and visually the game holds up very well when played via backward compatibility on the Xbox Ane and Series 10/S.

16 Dragon'south Dogma

Dragons Dogma Dark-Arisen Cyclops Fight
  • Released: 2012
  • Developer: Capcom
  • Platform: PC, PS3, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One

Originally released in 2012, Dragon's Dogma is an action RPG with elements of Dark Souls and the Monster Hunter series. The game features some of the most dynamic and epic boss fights of any generation.

Simply like Horizon Cypher Dawn, the fights are unpredictable, require strategy, and more importantly, are a lot of fun to be a function of. Visually, it doesn't match upward to HZD, but the creature design and scale of the fights remain timeless.

15 Final Fantasy fifteen

MA-X Angelus-0 from Final Fantasy XV
  • Released: 2016
  • Programmer: Square Enix
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One

Start released in 2016, Concluding Fantasy xv was the first time the series delved into the truly open up-world genre. It'southward true that past comparison to the more traditional titles that its world felt empty when information technology comes to the towns but the battles with the Daemons are nigh always epic.

Now that the game has been released in a complete Royal Edition, Final Fantasy 15 is a much better and more coherent title with peachy characters than it was at launch. The battles with giant monsters, robots, and human enemies alike are nigh always entertaining when fourth dimension is taken to adjust to the combat system.

14 Far Cry: Fundamental

  • Released: 2016
  • Programmer: Ubisoft
  • Platform: PC, PS4 and Xbox One

Even though Horizon Zip Dawn is set in a post-apocalyptic future the globe itself has been taken back to its primal roots. The remnants of the man race are divided up by tribes chosen the Nora, the Carja, the Osram, and the humans take gone dorsum to their past roots as pure hunter-gatherers.

Far Weep: Central is a game where the actor is literally taken back to the past. The pb grapheme Takkar can railroad train and similarly control beasts to Aloy and utilize them to his advantage. In addition, the world is unpredictable with events, ambushes, and battles happening dynamically as it does with HZD.

xiii Days Gone

deacon's bike with syphon filter skin
  • Released: 2019
  • Developer: Bend Studio
  • Platform: PC and PS4

Days Gone is a nigh-future post-apocalyptic horror game set in an open-globe inhabited by zombie hordes. Mechanically the two games differ in that Horizon Zip Dawn's Aloy feels a lot more boxing-ready and flexible when it comes to encounters.

Nevertheless, it's the moments of unpredictability when dealing with huge hordes of enemies at once where the player is forced to recollect on their feet that fans of HZD volition appreciate. In addition, the open globe is beautiful and dynamic simply filled with dangerous and unpredictable events. Stealth likewise plays a big part in dealing with man and not-homo enemies is mechanically like to the HZD as is the use of traps to gain an advantage.

12 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Legend of Zelda Breath Of The Wild Link and Zelda
  • Released: 2017
  • Developer: Nintendo
  • Platform: Wii U and Switch

Horizon Nothing Dawn is visually one of the most beautiful games of a generation. This isn't because it has ameliorate graphical power than its nearest rivals but the art way, the use of color, lighting, and shadows will constantly accept the actor's breath away.

The only other open-world game that matches Horizon Zippo Dawn in pure artistry and visual dazzler is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The game'southward easy-to-selection-up gainsay system hands rivals HZD and just like Aloy, Link is tasked with defeating huge robotic enemies using a variety of methods that require skill and idea.

11 Monster Hunter: World

monster hunter world
  • Released: 2018
  • Developer: Capcom
  • Platform: PC, PS4 and Xbox One

One of the master appeals of Horizon Aught Dawn is the dynamic and unscripted boxing with the behemothic monsters in an open environment that the actor needs to use to their advantage. Those looking for a game that has the exact qualities – minus the robots – is Monster Hunter World.

But similar the robot battles in HZD, every battle in Monster Hunter Globe requires time, patience, and a little bit of research to work out the creature's weaknesses. In addition, Monster Hunter: World's environments are colorful, bright and a joy to explore.

10 God Of State of war

  • Released: 2018
  • Programmer: Santa Monica Studio
  • Platform: PC and PS4

God of War is the fourth entry in the franchise simply the game is a reboot as much as it'south a sequel. Merely like Horizon Zippo Dawn, information technology is 1 of the best-looking games of the generation on both a technical and creative level.

Taking on the role of Kratos, players get to explore a semi-open earth and battle with giant creatures steeped in Norse mythology. In addition, those that enjoyed HZD's story and its use of side quests to reveal more of the game'southward lore will definitely honey investing the time into God of War'southward many activities and distractions.

nine Enslaved: Odyssey To The Due west

  • Released: 2010
  • Developer: Ninja Theory
  • Platform: PC, PS3, and Xbox 360

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West was a post-apocalyptic gamble game released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Information technology was developed by Ninja Theory who also worked on Heavenly Sword, DmC: Devil May Weep, and more recently Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice.

Different most post-apocalyptic games at the time, Enslaved used a colorful setting and feels similar a precursor to Horizon Zero Dawn's vision of the future. The game's story was inspired by the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West featuring iconic characters from the volume like the Monkey King. Interestingly, Enslaved's script was adapted by 28 Days Later'due south Alex Garland and Rhianna Pratchett - the daughter of famed writer Terry Pratchett - the author of Mirror'due south Edge, Tomb Raider, and Heavenly Sword.

8 Assassinator'south Creed: Origins & Odyssey

Popular Games on Steam - Assassin's Creed Origins - Player watches the Sun rise
  • Released: 2017
  • Developer: Ubisoft
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One

When Assassin's Creed: Origins was released in 2017 serving as a prequel for the franchise past going fifty-fifty further back in time it worked as a reboot. Origins were fix in Ancient Egypt and Odyssey was gear up in Ancient Greece and by taking inspiration from the Witcher three both offered far more expansive and detailed worlds than their predecessors.

From a gameplay perspective Origins and Odyssey provide stealth and head-on battle tactics which HZD fans will appreciate and the simple RPG leveling system to unlock new abilities is merely accessible as HZD.

vii Nier: Automata

Lead characters of Nier Automata
  • Released: 2017
  • Developer: PlatinumGames
  • Platform: PC, PS4, and Xbox One

Those that love a neat science fiction story ready in a post-apocalyptic world fighting robots need to wait no further than Nier: Automata. Nier doesn't only have a great story information technology has one of the nearly well-written and mind-bending plots in gaming.

Furthermore, the thespian is placed in the shoes of a female protagonist and the action is second to none. The gainsay organisation was designed by PlatinumGames the developers responsible for Bayonetta and Astral Chain and information technology'south incredibly fast but tactical in a way that HZD players volition bask.

vi Shadow Of The Tomb Raider

  • Released: 2018
  • Programmer: Eidos-Montreal
  • Platform: Linux, macOS, PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox 1

One could make the argument that all of the rebooted Tomb Raider origin series would appeal to players of Horizon Nada Dawn but the series was at its most polished with Shadow of the Tomb Raider. However, information technology is recommended that players should tackle the serial in order to get a handle on the story and appreciate the improvements and character development with each entry.

The game worlds in the Tomb Raider trilogy aren't as open up every bit Horizon Nada Dawn but Shadow of the Tomb Raider'due south stunning semi-open jungle surround is more explorable and flexible than ever before. Lara has multiple ways to have down her enemies using stealth or head-on combat but like HZD it's the bow and arrow mechanics where the game actually shines.

5 The Witcher 3: The Wild Chase

Witcher 3 geralt and roach
  • Released: 2015
  • Developer: CD Projekt Reddish
  • Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One

The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is hands down one of the nigh influential games of all time. It did for open-earth games and RPGs this generation The Elderberry Scrolls: Oblivion and Skyrim did for the terminal-gen systems. Its influence and approach to quests and interactions can be seen in the newer Assassin'south Creed titles, Days Gone and of course Horizon Zero Dawn.

The RPG elements are far more prominent in The Witcher 3 and the story is far more layered than Guerilla Games endeavour but that doesn't mean that players volition feel overwhelmed. Despite its depth, The Witcher 3 is far more accessible than its predecessors and its contemporaries similar Dragon Historic period: Inquisition and Dark Souls three.

4 The Last Of Us ii

the last of us 2 ellie woods
  • Released: 2020
  • Developer: Naughty Domestic dog Studios
  • Platform: PS4

Released in 2020, the multi-award-winning mega-striking from Naughty Domestic dog Studios The Concluding of Us Part two is an epic title that should be experienced by all. The story can feel a petty long equally information technology's played out from the viewpoint of its two protagonists but that doesn't terminate it from being ane of the best examples of cinematic storytelling in a videogame always.

It's worth noting that even though the world isn't open-globe similar Horizon Zero Dawn each area is much larger than its predecessor and filled with the same kind of fantastic world-building found in HZD. In addition, The Last of Us 2 features two fantastic female leads that do a great task of pulling their players into their world to come across events from their perspective.

three Immortals Fenyx Rising

immortals fenyx rising cover art logoless
  • Released: 2020
  • Developer: Ubisoft
  • Platform: Amazon Luna, PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One, Xbox Series Ten/S.

Released late into 2020, Immortals Fenyx Rising is an open-world activeness-take a chance set in a Greek mythological world from the developers of Assassin'due south Creed: Odyssey. Immortals is a much less serious game than Odyssey simply many gameplay elements will be familiar to fans of the Creed serial.

It probably has more in common with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in terms of visuals and mechanics. However, Immortals still does a beautiful job creating a world of its own, the humor is on point, it'southward filled with side quests, and the taking downward behemothic mythological beasts similar the Cyclops never gets old.

2 Ghost Of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima Jin touches a leaf in Ghost of Tsushima
  • Released: 2020
  • Developer: Sucker Dial Productions
  • Platform: PS4 and PS5

As one of the biggest hits in 2020, Ghost of Tsushima is one the best PlayStation 4 exclusives always released. Side by side to Horizon Zero Dawn it is as well one of the near spectacular looking games in a generation. Even without the cut border graphics, Ghost of Tsushima is i of the almost artistically beautiful games of any generation.

In addition to the excellent graphics and visuals, Ghost of Tsushima shares many of the gameplay elements when it comes to stealth, exploration, and taking down enemy encampments. More importantly, the earth is beautifully adult with tons of depth.

1 Assassin'south Creed Valhalla

Valhalla Fly Agaric Challenge
  • Released: 2020
  • Programmer: Ubisoft
  • Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox Ane, and Xbox Serial Ten/South

Released at the end of 2020 as a launch title for the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X/S, Assassin's Creed Valhalla is the direct follow upwardly to Assassin's Creed: Origins and Odyssey. The game is set during the Viking raids of Europe and allows players to explore Medieval United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland and Norway.

The varied landscapes from the snowy peaks of Kingdom of norway to the sun-saturated lands of Britain will feel instantly familiar to fans of Horizon Zip Dawn and its expansion The Frozen Wilds. In add-on, the gameplay from combat to exploration is very similar to that of HZD and definitely feels as if both games borrow heavily from each other.

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