Horizon Zero Dawn is an amazing game. Its graphics are stunning, its score adds a layer of ambiance, the controls are responsive, and the story is intriguing. It features the journey of a young outcast named Aloy as she travels across a vast, varied landscape searching for answers and trying to save her people.
The game has stealth elements, exciting combat, and skill trees to level up. In addition, there are a variety of enemies that require planning and strategy to take down effectively. These elements come together to make the game an exhilarating adventure. If you’ve beaten Horizon Zero Dawn and its DLC and are hungry for more, here are ten games that you might like.
Updated on August 19, 2021, by Ritwik Mitra: Horizon Zero Dawn is easily one of the most popular post-apocalyptic role-playing titles around. With the release of Horizon Forbidden West right around the corner, there's no better time to try out the first title and witness firsthand just how great it really is. Of course, there's a large number of people who've already finished the first game and want to try out more titles in the same vein to pass the time until its sequel finally launches. For these people, the following games like Horizon Zero Dawn should be right up their alley.
25 Days Gone
The initial reception to Days Gone was fairly lukewarm. People had mixed opinions about the story, didn't really bond with the protagonist, and were absolutely exhausted by the wealth of technical issues that plagued the game on release.
However, over time, players have started looking at this title in a new light - especially with the majority of the technical issues being ironed out. Now, Days Gone is considered by many to be one of the most underrated titles around and a worthy title for anyone seeking out games similar to Horizon Zero Dawn.
24 Monster Hunter Rise
Hunting down huge mechanical monsters is certainly one of the biggest draws of Horizon Zero Dawn. Players who want to experience the same feeling in other titles need only check out the Monster Hunter series, with the latest title in this series being quite notable in this regard.
Monster Hunter Rise is an excellent continuation of the franchise and a must-play for any fan of the series. Hunting down organic behemoths certainly makes it feel like a game similar to Horizon Zero Dawn in the best way possible.
23 Fallout: New Vegas
The shift of the Fallout series to 3D was generally appreciated by many gamers. However, there were some people who lamented the loss of the deep role-playing mechanics that were lost in this move to 3D.
For these people, Fallout: New Vegas is the perfect title. The roleplaying mechanics are absolutely sublime and make each and every playthrough of this massive title all the more engaging. It's easy to see why so many people who want to try out games like Horizon Zero Dawn with rich storytelling and RPG mechanics opt for this title.
22 Grand Theft Auto 5
It would be impossible to take about stellar open-world games without mentioning the behemoth that is Grand Theft Auto 5. Rockstar Games truly went above and beyond in ensuring that this game served as a near-perfect evolution of the Grand Theft Auto formula.
Any player seeking out quality games similar to Horizon Zero Dawn should definitely give Grand Theft Auto a shot. Sure, it might not have any of the post-apocalyptic vibes or mechanical monsters featured in Horizon, but it's still a quality title that will be just as engrossing, if not more.
21 Ghost Of Tsushima
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After a long hiatus, Sucker Punch Productions finally came back into the realm of relevance once again with Ghost of Tsushima. The amazing open-world coupled with brilliant combat made for one of the best gaming experiences in quite some time.
Any fan of Horizon Zero Dawn should definitely check this title out, and not just because of their Sony roots. The game itself is a wildly entertaining action-adventure title that will keep players hooked for hours on end.
20 Unreal 2: The Awakening
This classic shooter is the sequel to the first Unreal, a game that went head-to-head with Quake and managed to carve out a name for itself, whilst creating one of the most popular graphics engines at the same time.
Unreal 2 is a major step up from the original in terms of visuals and gameplay. It may lack the open-world immersion of Horizon, but its sci-fi elements and creatures feel quite similar, as do the environments the player can visit.
19 Fallout 4
Skyrim might feel closer in spirit to Horizon, but Fallout 4 deserves just as much attention. It's equally as deep an open-world game with a lot to see and do.
Fallout 4 continues to rank as the most popular in the series, and it's easy to see why. A good story, excellent world map, and a host of DLC and user-created mod content continue to elongate the game's lifespan well past its prime, with no signs of stopping anytime soon.
18 No Man's Sky
This game started out with a bad rap, promising a lot and delivering much less than players expected. Nevertheless, developer Hello Games stuck with it, ran the gauntlet, and emerged beaten, bloodied, but determined to reverse public opinion.
Players are now enjoying what No Man's Sky has to offer through its constant updates, and Hello Games has even embraced user modding, which means the game may become a platform for user-created content as seen in games like Skyrim and Fallout 4. Time will tell.
17 Marvel's Spider-Man
Open-world gameplay doesn't get much better than the PS4 release of Marvel's Spider-Man. There's so much to see and do, and the level of depth and interactivity with the world is nothing short of amazing.
It's also closer in spirit to Horizon than many games on this list, having been made in roughly the same era. The upcoming sequel should do a lot to excite players who loved the high-flying web-slinging action.
16 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid 5 represents a huge paradigm shift in the franchise by introducing a vast open-world for the player to explore in a non-linear fashion. Third-person action and stealth mechanics played a major role in staying alive, just as they do in Horizon.
While it lacks the grandiose mechanical creatures of Horizon, Metal Gear Solid 5 makes up for it with a deep level of tactical gameplay and adrenaline-pumping action sequences. It's a shame it might be the last Metal Gear Solid game, but at least it went out with a bang.
15 Far Cry Primal
Far Cry Primal is a little different from Horizon Zero Dawn in that it is a first-person shooter. However, that might be something you enjoy after the third-world combat style, it's nice to change things up a little bit from time to time. It is an open-world game set in pre-modern times, a first for the Far Cry series.
If you've played Far Cry before then you'll likely know what to expect but it's still a fun game to get into even if you're unfamiliar with the franchise. You get to track down various animals and even learn how to tame them while exploring the world, avoiding natural predators, and trying not to get killed by other tribes while leading your own.
14 The Uncharted Series
The Uncharted games are great to play if you like Horizon Zero Dawn and if you're a fan of games like Tomb Raider. It follows an accomplished treasure hunter named Nathan Drake who travels the world in search of legendary artifacts. There are five games total in the main series. They are extremely popular and combine a lot of elements you've used in Horizon, particularly in the exploration.
You'll be climbing, crawling, hiking, and more to get to all the hidden crevices and caves around the world. If you enjoy action-adventure games and platformers, then Uncharted will be right up your alley. Even though they aren't RPGs, the games have great stories.
13 Assassin's Creed Origins
If you've ever played Assassin's Creed before, then you know what to expect from the games but Origins takes things to a whole new level with its open-world and RPG components. You don't even need to have played other Assassin's Creed games to dive into this one.
You get side quests and plenty of fun tasks to complete if you liked the multitude of activities keeping you busy in Horizon Zero Dawn. Origins is set in ancient Egyptian times which is fun as well
- there is even a DLC all about a Pharoah curse and you can practice your stealth combat moves.
12 NieR Automata
NieR Automata is very different from Horizon in terms of gameplay but it does have a similar story. The game follows a war between human-made androids and alien-crafted machines - already sounds familiar, right?
One cool thing about NieR is that it is a very immersive story that you'll need to play through several times to unlock all the different story elements. It's not a traditional type of game in any sense as it involves a combination of roleplaying elements with action-packed combat and some shooting.
11 Assassin's Creed Odyssey
If you tried Origins or Horizon Zero Dawn then Odyssey is an absolute must. It's a very long game in an open world with tons to do and you get to choose which gender to play as - a first for the franchise.
Plus, Odyssey does give you a little variation in combat since you can hunt down mythological creatures like Medusa and Cyclops. It's a fantastic game with hundreds of hours of gameplay in store for you if you're a completionist. It is set in Ancient Greece and tells the fictional story of the Peloponnesian War.
10 Jak And Daxter Bundle
The Jak and Daxter Bundle is a PS4 port of the original trilogy that was released on the PS2. These games follow the exploits of Jak and his best friend and sidekick Daxter. The games are open world for the most part and there are tons of secret areas and collectibles to discover.
The trilogy has a gradual curve in difficulty and maturity as these games grew up alongside their audience. There is dynamic combat that evolves from simple hand-to-hand to a variety of guns and weapons to choose from. It also has a compelling story that spans the entire trilogy that's sure to keep you playing.
9 Batman Arkham Series
If the stealth segments of Horizon Zero Dawn were some of your favorite parts, then the Batman Arkham series will be a solid choice. There are three games in the continuity: Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, and Arkham Knight. These games put you under the cowl of the Dark Knight himself. The combat has two modes for the most part: knock-down-drag-out fights with mobs of henchmen, and stealth combat.
The stealth combat has you swinging off of gargoyles, hiding in passageways, and skulking through the darkness to pick off enemies one by one. There are few things more satisfying than watching the foes' growing fear as their numbers slowly dwindle. It doesn’t get boring either, as the remaining enemies learn to check places where you might be hiding.
8 God of War
The latest God of War that was released for the PS4 is a great jump for those that liked the combat, open world, and story elements of Horizon Zero Dawn. The story of Kratos and his young son’s journey is touching and relatable and you find yourself determined to get the pair to their goals.
The open world of Norse realms is beautiful to look at and it doesn’t feel like a chore to explore them in order to find collectibles and secrets. Of course, it wouldn’t be a God of War game without some great combat. You face the gods of the Norse pantheon and it feels great to swing your weapon, as the blows land with weight and impact. Kratos’ son will aid you along the way in battle and exploring. He enriches the experience rather than hinders it.
7 The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
Horizon Zero Dawn had a very basic leveling and skill system, a sort of entry course of what one might expect from a complex RPG. If all of the aspects of the game appealed to you and you’re looking to dive into something a little more challenging, then The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is a great next step. You play as Geralt, a witcher, who travels the massive open world of medieval Poland to hunt down monsters.
The skill and leveling system is quite detailed and in-depth, allowing you to customize everything to suit your playstyle. The story has dozens of choices scattered throughout so you can play it over and over again to see the myriad outcomes. Combat is challenging, as every monster and enemy has a weakness and will require certain weapons or spells to defeat.
6 Red Dead Redemption 2
When playing Horizon Zero Dawn, did you ever think that this game needs more cowboys? If so, then Red Dead Redemption 2 on the PlayStation 4 should be the next game on your list. The developer Rockstar is famous for the quality and scope of their open-world games and this Western-themed romp is no exception.
You get to swing into the saddle of Arthur Morgan, an outlaw in a rapidly changing and evolving world of the Wild West. The story is lengthy but involving and therein true Rockstar fashion, there is so much to do. There are side missions, secrets, collectibles, and just fun activities that allow you to slide into the persona of a Wild West cowboy.