Summary
Horizon Zero Dawnwas launched on the PlayStation 4 in 2017. It was developed by Guerilla Games, who were only known for creating the first-person shooter seriesKillzone.TheKillzoneseries is an entertaining but linear shooter series (touted as aHalokiller 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 itsgreat world-buildingand dynamic combat scenarios.Horizon Zero Dawnwent head to head with the epicThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildat the 2017 Game of the Year awards and is regarded as a must-have PlayStation title alongsideGod of WarandUncharted. Horizon Zero Dawnand 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 Jun 12, 2025, by Mark Sammut:In celebration of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered coming out, along with the pending arrival ofLego Horizon Adventures, galleries have been introduced for every game highlighted below. Furthermore, specifications relating to each title’s open-critic scores have been added.
Ember Lab’sKena: Bridge of Spiritsmight not have the same sense of scale asHorizon 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 toHZD’s story,Kenais 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.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandorais like aFar Crygame 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 theAvatarmovies, and it bodes well forStar Wars Outlawsthat they have a good grasp of making games based on a popular licensed property.
It takes a while forAvatar: Frontiers of Tomorrowto open up after getting the flying creature called Ikran. It’s then left up to the player todiscover the world on their ownby 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 ofFar Crywill know what to expect, but the setting and the stunning landscape are enough to keepHorizon Zero Dawnfans intrigued and entertained.
Stylistically,Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconis very different fromHorizon Zero Dawn.However, for players who want to even the playing field and fight giant robots as a powerful mech,Armored Core 6is among the best options available. TheArmored Coreseries is from the makers of theDark Soulstrilogy andElden Ring,and it offers an arguably challenging but equally rewarding experience.
Operating the mechs feels fluid, and the combat is smooth. Moreover, fans of theSoulsseries tend to appreciate the precision, stats, and timing needed todefeat gigantic bosses. That said, it doesn’t feature an open world likeHorizon 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 inHorizon 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.
21The Hellblade Series
Features A Believable And Endearing Female Lead
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrificeis 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 characterstruggling 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 Sacrificeis 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 2is completely linear and, gameplay-wise, doesn’t have much in common withHorizon Zero Dawn.However,HZDfans will love the cinematic rollercoaster Senua’s adventure takes them on. LikeHorizon Zero Dawn,Hellbade 2is 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 byHorizon Zero Dawn,but the intensity and beautiful visuals make it just as cinematic.
The hotly anticipated sequel toStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderonce again puts players inthe shoes of Cal Kestis. Kestis is a more seasoned and skilled warrior inJedi: Survivor,and like Aloy, he is a survivor who must battle against all the odds.Survivoris 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 theStar Warsfranchise. Offering much-improved combat over its predecessor, there is no shortage of giant creatures like the iconic Rancor, the monster that Luke defeated inReturn of the Jedi. Horizonfans will love the explorable worlds, the puzzles, and the feeling of a lone warrior taking on a bigger destiny. There’s a Soulsike element toJediSurvivor’sgameplay, too, and the fights can be challenging, but they are always entertaining when timing and precision matter the most.
Released in 2020 as a launch title for the PS5,Demon’s Soulsis Bluepoint Game’s remake of FromSoftware’s 2009 PS3 original. As a Souls title,Demon’s Soulsis far more challenging thanHorizon Zero Dawn,but fans ofHZD’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 thatHorizon Zero Dawndeserves credit for is the phenomenal sound design. Hearing the rumblings ofgiant mechanical beastsin the distance created a sense of immersion and ambiance in the headphones.Demon’s Soulsoffers 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 thatHorizon Zero Dawnfans will appreciate thanks to its lore and depth. The combat feels restrictive even compared toDark Souls 3,but the visually stunning and weighty feel of battles are just as epic asHZD.
Released in 2006,Lost Planetdisplays Capcom’s talent for creating original worlds and epic boss fights. The icy planet has an apocalyptic feel that will appeal to fans ofHZD, 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.
First released in 2016,Final Fantasy 15was 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 aMonster Hunterelement 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 15is 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’sbigger than a mountain, is lengthy, epic, and strategic, perfect for those who enjoy fightingHorizon Zero Dawn’s more imposing foes.
Even thoughHorizon Zero Dawnis 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 Primalis 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. LikeHorizon 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.
Days Goneis a near-future post-apocalyptic horror game set in an open world inhabited by zombie hordes. Mechanically, the two games differ in thatHorizon Zero Dawn’s Aloy feels a lot more battle-ready and flexible when encountering hordes of zombies.
However, it is the moments of unpredictability whendealing with hordes of enemiesat once where the player is forced to think on their feet that fans ofHZDwill 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 theHZD.
