Horizon Zero Dawn

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12419 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10,195 out of 12419
  2. Mixed: 1,140 out of 12419
  3. Negative: 1,084 out of 12419
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  1. Tirah
    Mar 13, 2017
    10
    Warning: if you're seriously considering buying this game and you're looking for legit reviews, be sure to disregard all the extremely low scores. Notice how many of them were given by users who have only reviewed 2 games in total: Breath of the Wild (spoiler alert - they gave it 10/10) and Zero Dawn (which gets 0/10, what a surprise). These children are a perfect example of why nobodyWarning: if you're seriously considering buying this game and you're looking for legit reviews, be sure to disregard all the extremely low scores. Notice how many of them were given by users who have only reviewed 2 games in total: Breath of the Wild (spoiler alert - they gave it 10/10) and Zero Dawn (which gets 0/10, what a surprise). These children are a perfect example of why nobody takes Nintendo fans seriously anymore and they're only here to throw a temper tantrum. Their actions further prove that not even these fanboys themselves believe in the product they claim to love. In their mind, BotW can only be the best if they cheat and downvote any other game out there, not because it's genuinely good. Let that sink in: Nintendo fanboys don't think a Legend of Zelda game is good enough to make it on its own. It's absolutely laughable.

    I finished the game with a platinum trophy last night and it's absolutely fantastic! It borrows elements from many great games and mixes them together. The open world is like a mix of Skyrim/Fallout/Far Cry Primal while the gameplay is a Tomb Raider/Uncharted/Assassin's Creed hybrid. It's not revolutionary, but what it does is well executed and polished. It's all the more impressive seeing how it's a brand new IP from a developer who's mostly known for the not-so-good Killzone franchise.

    I was quite impressed with how fleshed out the characters were. Both the main protagonist Aloy and her father figure Rost are likeable from the very beginning even if you don't know much about them at first. This is the kind of character development the new Tomb Raider games wish they had yet they failed miserably at.

    The story itself is not very original. It's the classic old trope of evil robots going rogue and destroying humanity. It's been done many, many times before but the game's universe still feels quite unique thanks to the mix of science fiction and fantasy elements. The result is a beautifully crafted, vibrant world that's fun to explore. Great sound design, subtle music and excellent voice acting are just a cherry on top. The game is pretty long too, so you definitely won't finish it in a few hours.

    If I have any complaints, it's the AI. It's dumb. Like really, really dumb, even on higher difficulties. Sure, the enemies can kill you in one or two hits, but it's very easy to lose them once they start chasing you. There's also no evasion system like World of Warcraft has, meaning that you can just stand on top of a cliff or a building and shoot enemies who are helplessly running below you unable to hit you. Sure, they avoid traps (which is a great source of irritation) and they always seem to magically know where the tripwires are, but they are absolutely stupid in every other way.

    Oh, and while the game is very polished, I have encountered one strange bug; during the final battle I somehow got stuck in the ground and being unable to move, I got promptly killed by the boss (who was at 50% health at that point). I had no other issues during my entire playthrough, though, no framerate drops or crashes.

    Despite minor complaints, Zero Dawn is still an absolute must buy and one of the best games of this console generation. It also gets bonus points for being singleplayer only and not shoehorning a half-baked multiplayer mode in. Normally I'd give it a 9/10, but seeing how so many envious losers are trying to metabomb it, I'll give it a full 10.    … Expand
  2. jroberts
    Feb 28, 2017
    10
    This game is amazing! It reminds me of a mix between witcher 3 and farcry, but comparing it to another game just doesn't seem fair. It is easily the best game I've played since Witcher 3.
  3. Mykola
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Didn't experience such kind of satisfaction from a video game for a long time. This game gathered best game development ideas together and made them closer to ideal. Good job, Guerrilla!
  4. mikehettfield
    Mar 4, 2017
    10
    Masterpiece! this game suprised me with an emotional level of inmersion I was not expecting at all, the music, the sidequests make sense and they're a lot more that iI can handle, the detail on the figtung animations, the optimazed engine runs perfectlly for me, no bugs yet, and I'm feeling attached to Aloy since i saw her speak, with this i can say tht actually dreams come true.
  5. Raveren
    Mar 4, 2017
    10
    One of the best RPG's I have ever played. Straight out of left field, this game is amazing. The story is fresh, relatable and exciting. It was impossible to stop playing.
  6. Eltunana
    Mar 2, 2017
    10
    un juegasoooooo increibleeeee , graficos, rendimiento, historia y jugabilidad, un juego original unico, son otro pedo los de guerrilla games al nivel de naughty dog
  7. Eloyjf
    Mar 6, 2017
    9
    This is a really nice game for the PS4!
    Horizon Zero Dawn did well in demonstrating an immense expansive world replete with lives and machines.
    Although there are NPCs that do not express themselves well in times of dialogue and secondary missions are a little discouraging, this does not end with all the incredible experience that the game brings. Graphics-10 History-9.0    This is a really nice game for the PS4!
    Horizon Zero Dawn did well in demonstrating an immense expansive world replete with lives and machines.
    Although there are NPCs that do not express themselves well in times of dialogue and secondary missions are a little discouraging, this does not end with all the incredible experience that the game brings.

    Graphics-10
    History-9.0
    Gameplay-8.9
    Soundtracks-9.0

    -Note-9.0    … Expand
  8. narwhalmancer
    Mar 5, 2017
    10
    This is easily one of the best RPG experiences I've had in a long time. It has every aspect. Polish, great characters, great story, fun combat. It made me want to not put down the controller and I never wanted it to end. Alas, it did end, but only after feeling I'd completely got my moneys worth. As someone whose favorite genre of game is RPGs, there was just nothing here to complain about.
  9. Dimbirdy
    Mar 7, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Among all the open world survival AAA game, this one has the one of the, if not the, best gameplay I have ever experienced.
    You can shoot component out of machines and can even use against them. For example you can grab the disk launcher from a Thunderjaw's back to fire at it.
    Machines all have cells that can produce different effects when shot by the certain element of arrows, which will significantly weakens them. Shooting a fire arrow at the Blaze Canister of a Broadhead's will cause an area of effect explosion and damage it.
    You can also tie down machines by firing at them with a rope caster, which will cause them staggered and expose their weak spots.
    By overriding machines they become your ally for a set of amount of time or infinitely if you learned the skill. It will help you defeat your enemy.

    When fighting against human enemies, you can either play stealth or loud. Ultilising the skill you learn will make you invulnerable even when fighting multiple enemies at same time.

    This game so far is a combination of farcry primal and Tomb Raider.    … Expand
  10. sfernando1008
    Feb 28, 2017
    9
    Great game worth the pre-order. i like the mechanics. especially when it comes to hunting and combat in general. I also love the fact that it looks great even if I'm not playing it on the Ps4 pro.
  11. jmaxhulst
    Mar 9, 2017
    10
    Personally, I loved this game. I just finished the main storyline and I am only at 30% completion. That shows just how much there is to do in this game. Great storytelling, awesome combat and a giant map to hunt in. AI is also absolutely amazing, they jump over wires and know how to attack. This game is on the same level as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and The Legend of Zelda. Definitely GamePersonally, I loved this game. I just finished the main storyline and I am only at 30% completion. That shows just how much there is to do in this game. Great storytelling, awesome combat and a giant map to hunt in. AI is also absolutely amazing, they jump over wires and know how to attack. This game is on the same level as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and The Legend of Zelda. Definitely Game of The Year material.
    Must buy for any PS4 owner    … Expand
  12. dwindley
    Feb 28, 2017
    10
    A true masterpiece! Absolutely beautifully designed world. Fluid combat system and a great story. The time spent to develop this game shows in the end result. Overall the graphics are absolutely astounding. A strong foundation for a promising new series. Thanks Guerrilla!
  13. Davidov
    Apr 24, 2017
    10
    This game is Amazing and certainly lives up to all the hype. With Amazing graphics Amazing gameplay, and an Amazing story! Full on 10/10 a must have for any playstation 4 owner!
  14. sonistaouterspa
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    Woaaa Nice Graphics, his fisic, his history, is good sony is very good !! 60% better new zeldinha game.
    This game is vertical and horizontal action fun gaming serie best place to play i love my ps4 console
    I and my friends from forum outerspace loving too his game fascinating.
  15. ghj666
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    this game is the best game of all time it is really amazing crafted and it looks masterfully on the ps4 pro also the gameplay is fantastic really amazing go buy it
  16. Kayno1
    Mar 4, 2017
    9
    A very nice game indeed. The gameplay is very fun, and the world is gorgeous. It's very interesting when you come across a new enemy with different strengths and weaknesses that you have to try and change your way of playing to defeat. The story is also great, but the facial animations and lip syncing can be a bit stiff in certain cutscenes. Overall it is a very enjoyable experience,A very nice game indeed. The gameplay is very fun, and the world is gorgeous. It's very interesting when you come across a new enemy with different strengths and weaknesses that you have to try and change your way of playing to defeat. The story is also great, but the facial animations and lip syncing can be a bit stiff in certain cutscenes. Overall it is a very enjoyable experience, especially when you're battling against a bunch of machines and humans that provide a bit of a challenge.… Expand
  17. tiyo
    Mar 5, 2017
    10
    even the old delerict sky scrapers of the past are beautiful to look at. This game is so fun to play and is the perfect game to explore because you are trying to find out why the earth has become this way
  18. de3aass
    Mar 5, 2017
    10
    Horizon Zero Dawn - this is one of the most magnificent masterpieces, which I played
    in my life. I am very pleased that Guerrilla Games working in the Sony, and make
    such great game
  19. slavalist
    Mar 6, 2017
    10
    Game Horizon: Zero Dawn has an interesting storyline and intriguing places, although perhaps some moments you seem normal for these games, but I was curious to see to how the world came to this reality, which is shown in the game. So from me, 9/10
  20. LZephaniah
    Mar 6, 2017
    9
    One of the best games I've played in years. I'm having a great time: the world is beautiful to explore, the combat is satisfying yet challenging, the story/central mystery is interesting and makes me want to keep digging. Even the side-missions are generally in-character (ie more than just "fetch me 10 pelts for no good reason" nonsense).
    Its flaws are minor at best: occasional bugs,    One of the best games I've played in years. I'm having a great time: the world is beautiful to explore, the combat is satisfying yet challenging, the story/central mystery is interesting and makes me want to keep digging. Even the side-missions are generally in-character (ie more than just "fetch me 10 pelts for no good reason" nonsense).
    Its flaws are minor at best: occasional bugs, suspect facial animations... voice acting occasionally dodgy (but, for comparison, it's consistently better than Dishonored 2) and fighting humans is less fun than fighting the robots (but it's as good as Far Cry, if you liked using the bow and stealth in that).
    Overall I'm enjoying the game enough that I happily forgive all the flaws. And, to me, that is a sign that a game has nailed it.    … Expand
  21. Squdward
    Mar 6, 2017
    10
    1) Open smooth open world game
    2) Best graphics seen on a console
    3) 17 hours in great story
    4) Amazing AI
    5) Gameplay is very engaging.

    MUST BUY!
  22. Giodude323
    Mar 9, 2017
    10
    I've been playing PC gaming for about two years and I have recently jumped back on my PS4 in the past month due to their continuing number of exclusives being released.

    I recently purchased Nioh and by God what a stunning fun game that was and just last week I purchased Horizon Zero Dawn and I can't put it down. I have an incredibly busy work schedule. Usually working 10-12 hour days    I've been playing PC gaming for about two years and I have recently jumped back on my PS4 in the past month due to their continuing number of exclusives being released.

    I recently purchased Nioh and by God what a stunning fun game that was and just last week I purchased Horizon Zero Dawn and I can't put it down.

    I have an incredibly busy work schedule. Usually working 10-12 hour days but every free moment ive had I have been playing this game. I have not felt such anticipation to get home and play since Mario 64 in my school days. This is a true gem by Sony and deserves all the praise it gets. And, it doesn't hurt that the game looks incredible.    … Expand
  23. mrxamazing
    Mar 11, 2017
    9
    This game is great. Potential for Game of the Year. If not for ALL consoles/PC, then at least for PS4. It takes many elements from various other games and combines it with interesting combat sequences and wonderful graphics for a console exclusive. The side missions tend to leave something to be desired, but that isn't quite the bread and butter of the game. The main story line is whereThis game is great. Potential for Game of the Year. If not for ALL consoles/PC, then at least for PS4. It takes many elements from various other games and combines it with interesting combat sequences and wonderful graphics for a console exclusive. The side missions tend to leave something to be desired, but that isn't quite the bread and butter of the game. The main story line is where the tastiness is. Aloy is a character that you almost immediately grow attached to from the beginning (unless you're a sociopath). You want to see her succeed and learn everything she can about herself and the world you are in. I'll sum it up.

    Pros:
    - Strong lead character and rather interesting main story.
    - Combat and general game mechanics are pretty fluid and simple, yet require skill to master.
    - Very cool "monsters" to strategically to go battle against. Bigger monsters feel VERY satisfying to figure out how to defeat.
    - Very good graphics and an interesting, beautiful apocalyptic Colorado to explore.
    - Lots of collectibles and side missions await in the vast world (should you choose to explore more).
    - Surprisingly useful AI allies (when they are called upon).
    - Satisfying conclusion to the main story.

    CONS:
    - Lip syncing is far from great and can be distracting at times.
    - Aloy can climb all over the place... but I found out quickly that she cannot climb nearly as much as you'd think she could. Many locations that should be accessible by climbing are left to having to take the long way or jumping around all stupid.
    - Side missions are pretty bland for the most part. But they're there for those who wanna dive deeper.
    - The story ended and I wanted a bit more.    … Expand
  24. MRayhoon
    Mar 2, 2021
    10
    One of my favorite games of all time. Also, probably the only game I've ever considered playing it for the second time.
  25. neoFuesli
    Feb 28, 2017
    10
    An early contender for game of the year. Luscious environments, thrilling combat and a huge world to explore. Only a short time with it so far but what I have played has been very good.
  26. CiphirSol
    Feb 28, 2017
    10
    Get ready to spend some time with this one, it's got a lot to offer and it impresses at nearly every junction. What exactly made the world this way? You'll just have to find out.
  27. TheDahaka
    Mar 1, 2017
    10
    One of the best games I have played in a log time. Very polished, unique and engaging. Exceeded my expectations by alot. If you like open world games, this is a must.
  28. tibzoid
    Mar 11, 2017
    8
    I wrote an earlier review that dismissed the game as a boring hodge-podge of other titles such as Witcher 3, Far Cry 3, Crysis and Assassin's Creed. I've since played through the game and I think it's a lot better than I first thought.

    Though the dialogue is dull and the game takes itself waaaay too seriously, it has a truly interesting story and a lot of emotional heart to it. If    I wrote an earlier review that dismissed the game as a boring hodge-podge of other titles such as Witcher 3, Far Cry 3, Crysis and Assassin's Creed. I've since played through the game and I think it's a lot better than I first thought.

    Though the dialogue is dull and the game takes itself waaaay too seriously, it has a truly interesting story and a lot of emotional heart to it.

    If you are just starting to play it and find yourself getting bored or overwhelmed, focus on upgrading your gear and carrying capacity. Some of the battles you have with the creatures can be fantastic and challenging.

    Also, the graphics (with some minor quibbles) are stunning. I wish the field of view was wider -- it would give the game even more majesty.

    Stick with it, the game is great fun.    … Expand
  29. mrpig
    Mar 7, 2017
    10
    Graphics: 10 Fantastic
    Story: 9 Interesting
    Gameplay: 9 fun
    Cutscene 6 not very good
    Fun: 10 very fun
    Comment: A game for dreamer
  30. Devivre
    Mar 3, 2017
    7
    A fun action-adventure that takes a lot inspiration from Ubisoft and Witcher - but sadly the Quest design usually feels more like Ubisoft. Combat keeps it entertaining though and the visuals are pretty amazing. Storywise it's decent but not that much more.

    Overall I think "Horizon Zero Dawn" overrated but still an entertaining experience, so who cares,
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best PS4 Game of 2017
1
#1 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
1
#1 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 115 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 110 out of 115
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 115
  3. Negative: 0 out of 115
  1. Quarter to Three
    May 22, 2017
    60
    The unfortunate fact of Horizon is that most of what it does well, other games have done better, and they did it with a compelling who and where. This is the game you play after you’ve finished The Witcher 3, Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, and Far Cry: Primal. It is the greatest hits compilation of open-world games. Yeah, sure, you might want to own it, but the real connoisseur has the original albums.
    Read full review
  2. App Trigger
    Apr 21, 2017
    95
    Horizon Zero Dawn has an unforgettable protagonist, world, story, visuals, soundtrack and gameplay. Due to minor issues with inventory management and quest selection, I cannot call it perfect but I can say it is absolutely worth your time.
    Read full review
  3. Riot Pixels
    Apr 10, 2017
    75
    There is enough spectacular action to keep you occupied for a couple of weeks, but Horizon is not the hot new killer app for PS4.
    Read full review
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