Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is an apex of joy on any day you decide to play through it that not only solidifies Burning Shores' effectiveness but also secures the future of the franchise strongly.

Where Horizon Forbidden West leant heavily into alienating futurism, Burning Shores successfully grounds its stranger elements within a story that remains defiantly human throughout. By its closing curtain, Burning Shores proves definitively that even despotic future warlords are no match for the strength of human bonds.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores delivers a fantastic post-game content expansion for those wanting more adventures with Aloy.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is a fantastic follow-up to the base game, offering a great new storyline, a beautiful area to explore, and the best boss fight in the series. It's a must-play for Horizon fans.

The Burning Shores is a must-have expansion for fans of the franchise. With the addition of Seyka, Guerilla gives Aloy an ally with whom she can interact on an equal level. The gameplay elements are enriched with small additions and new skills, while the new area is visually stunning, demonstrating what PlayStation 5 is capable of.

Burning Shores shows what the PlayStation 5 is capable of, tells a logical sequel story and adds improved gameplay elements. That was all it took: Horizon Forbidden West was already a fantastic game, so why not want more of (almost) the same?

With a smaller area and a greater focus on the story, Burning Shores manages to avoid the fatigue of a huge open-world game and brings an unexpectedly fresh experience to the Horizon franchise in a true next-gen fashion.

Burning Shores builds upon Forbidden West's strong gameplay in smart ways, while also telling a story that series fans can't afford to miss.

A great return of Aloy. Going back to the world of Horizon Forbidden West is wonderful. Surprisingly, the story told by Burning Shores is quite important and a prequel for a potential Horizon 3. Graphics are stunning. One of the most impressive games nowadays.

Despite a few fumbles, Burning Shores is an essential pickup for anyone who’s invested in the Horizon storyline. The gameplay doesn’t do too much to differentiate itself from Forbidden West, but that’s hardly to its detriment. With plenty of side content, pristine locations to explore and intriguing characters to meet, Burning Shores is everything you could want from a Horizon expansion. Now all that’s left to do is wait for Guerilla to close out the trilogy it’s spent the last six years setting up - and we can't wait to see the results.

The Burning Shores expansion is a satisfying culmination of Horizon Forbidden West's story and a good reason to return to its beautiful world. Nearly twelve hours of additional gameplay on islands built out of remnants of the former City of Angels is a lot of fun for anyone who enjoyed the main game.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is a full blown expansion. It feels somewhat short for what the series usually is, but it has quality content. We have new areas, weapons, enemies and of course ways to kill them. After checking its graphics, it is understood why PS4 was not part of the equation.

Burning Shores really is a must-buy, must-play experience for Horizon fans. While this review is unscored, take this as my strongest of recommendations to pick up and play Burning Shores. I promise you’ll be able to finish it before the release of Tears of the Kingdom, and I promise that if you love Horizon, you'll find Burning Shores to be well worth your time.

Burning Shores excels with stunning visuals, engaging story, and Aloy & Seykas' growth—raising the bar for DLC and delighting Horizon series fans.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is an excellent example of how to do DLC the right way. If this is just a taste of what is next for Aloy, I can’t wait for the whole meal.

Burning Shores is yet another step up for the series, telling what is undeniably the most cohesive and personal story to date. Add in a stellar new sidekick, refreshed gameplay, and an expansive new world to explore, and Burning Shores is an unmissable highlight - both for the franchise and the PlayStation 5.

It would be easy to write off Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores as more of the same, but thanks to some stand-out gameplay moments and Aloy’s new relationship with Seyka, it should be considered essential for fans of the series. Make no mistake, a third game in the series is coming, and this is its prelude. But more importantly, if the new features and other additions here are a taste of what’s to come, sign us up right now.

Burning Shores is every bit the continuation of Horizon Forbidden West. It builds on the great gameplay of the base game with a few new wrinkles, introduces a watery world and the ability to dive into it, and moves the story downfield a few yards as Aloy and her allies, old and new, prepare for what comes next. You won't be lost having missed out on this DLC when the next full game does arrive, but you would have missed an opportunity for hours of fun in an excellent world that is worth the time of any Horizon fan.

On its own, it is a nice little adventure in a new area that begs to be explored. It improves Forbidden West’s already outstanding visuals and introduces a great new character who is more than a match for Aloy, something the series has arguably been missing. However, the overall plot and primary antagonist feel like a retread of the main game, there are only a few noteworthy gameplay additions, and there’s less to do than you might expect. Despite these issues, I still had a good time exploring the ruins of Los Angeles, and the hints dropped at the end of the DLC definitely lead to some interesting speculation about the direction of the next game. So ultimately, I would say the pros outweigh the cons. Burning Shores might not tide over everyone, but I think most fans will enjoy it.

Horizon: Call of the Mountains showcases the possibilities of Sony's new VRheadset, but also stands on its own as an actual games. the game is stunning, climbing feels natural and controls are very well implemented. The major disappointment is that fights with machines are isolated and cannot be re-done outside the missions. The game would benefit greatly from a Proving Ground. This is a must-own for any PS VR2 owner.

Burning Shores may not feel essential in the grand scheme of things, but a solid self-contained story and dedication to character depth make this the perfect excuse to return to this brilliant action-adventure RPG.

The DLC is must-play content for any Horizon fan.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is a great DLC thanks to an excellent longevity and a good amount of additions, although I would have expected more from the exploration of the new map.

With Burning Shores you get a great expansion for the already convincing main game. Only the story could have been a little more exciting.

Burning Shores is more Horizon Forbidden West, which is enough to tell you to grab it. Although the narrative isn’t as gripping and the new characters aren’t as compelling, being able to explore more of the West and fight new giant robot dinosaurs makes this a fun jaunt in Los Angeles as we await Horizon 3.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is a great addition to the franchise. Its personal story develops Aloy’s character and gives a glimpse into a different side of her. The new characters drive the narrative further to deliver a memorable tale. It’s easy to comment on the similarities with previous releases, however, the DLC offers more than this. While there are some uneven boss encounters, the jaw-dropping final segment and beautiful setting make this an unforgettable trip to LA.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is a fun if not brief, epilogue to Horizon Forbidden West. Those looking for massive reveals may be a bit disappointed, but there’s enough fleshed out in Burning Shores to make it a worthwhile play. Seyka jumps straight to the top of Aloy’s best companions, and the Bilegut & Waterwing are awesome machine additions. All in all, Burning Shores is a must-play for Horizon fans; especially those curious as to what the future may hold for Aloy.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is a great expansion, adding even more content to one of the best games of 2022. The graphics are amazing and there's a relatively large area to explore with tons of optional content. The main story, however, is short.

Burning Shores is just more of the original game, yet prettier, with more breathtaking views. While it’s an essential addition to the franchise, it will hardly attract any new fans.

Horizon Burning Shores is exactly what Forbidden West fans expect, but offers little that is new.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is a very worthwhile expansion that provides a host of tasty endgame content in the company of Aloy. It doesn't revolutionise the base game as intended, but Guerrilla Games' stunning Los Angeles is worth the price of admission alone.

Burning Shores is a must have for people who enjoyed Horizon Forbidden West. It’s visually incredible, brings a lot of cool features and delivers some incredible “Horizon moments”. The only downside is that it’s a great ride, but a really short one.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is visually the best game I have ever played, and in terms of gameplay, it is enjoyable for me, although it may not be for everyone. But the story is the biggest weakness of the game, and I don’t think the story will be great in Someone’s opinion and it may just be the difference between those who say it’s mid and those who say it’s bad. But in different ways, this game completely shows off the power of the 9th generation console.

Burning Shores is definitely worth a visit. The story builds nicely, the side quests have nice depth, and Aloy and Seyka may end up forming something more than just a friendship. The question is whether a little more content could have been added. After all, it's all stuff we've seen before. [Issue#327]

Horizon Forbidden West Burning Shores don't feel like the ultimate expansion to the game from Guerrilla Games. However, it does provide just the right amount of fun and expands the story to the point that we feel is good. Burning Shores is not surprising, but it fulfills the mission of bringing us a couple of extra hours to the game and showing us that there is more to come.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores may be more Horizon, but if that’s what you’re looking for, then you’ll be very happy with this new content. With an excellent story, interesting new characters, awesome new weapons, and enemies, as well as some of the most exciting sequences in the entire game, Burning Shores makes Forbidden West an even stronger experience than it already was.

Burning Shores introduces an amazing new region that takes advantage of the flying mount and lets the Decima engine shine to the fullest. Although the DLC doesn’t expand Horizon’s lore, it’s an elegant bridge between Forbidden West and the upcoming next game in the series. It’s a shame, though, that such a large map offers so little side activities.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores stands out with key events that enhance the main story and graphics that make it more visually impressive. A “must play” DLC pack for anyone who loves the series.

Burning Shores does a fine job in setting up the climax of Aloy’s adventure and the very destiny of humanity, but the DLC itself could use more content and more reasons to explore the ruined Los Angeles. The wait for a true sequel will be interminable.

For those looking for more of Aloy’s story, this is the DLC for you. Not only is there tons of character development for Aloy, we also find out more about the Zeniths, as well as Nemesis, both important plot points for the potential next game in the series. For fans of the series, Burning Shores is an investment in the story of the game, as well as the world Aloy is fighting to save.

I wish there were more to say, but Horizon: Forbidden West – Burning Shores is a short piece of DLC. It's like a quick episode of a TV show rather than a full-length movie. There's still quite a bit of content here, but the intent of the DLC is largely to set up plot threads for Horizon 3 and give Aloy a chance for some romance. If you're hankering for more Horizon, it fills that niche well, but it doesn't feel as essential as The Frozen Wilds did to Horizon: Zero Dawn.

Burning Shores has a beautiful map and some fun new features. However, the DLC suffers from a goofy villain.

Burning Shores is an entertaining epilogue for Aloy’s sophomore outing. It’s more Forbidden West with a few cool wrinkles, meaning it’s a good reminder of the things that the game did right while retaining a few old headaches (like the hand-holding during puzzles). More than anything, Aloy’s trip to Hollywood justifies its existence by meaningfully building upon the base game’s story, paving a solid runway for the next title to take off.

Aloy's new journey after a year from the release is as enjoyable as the main one. While the newly added weapon provides more fresh, powerful gameplay, It is somewhat disappointing that the new area doesn't offer much difference from the mainland in visual wise.

Horizon Forbidden West is another dose of goodness for those who can't get enough of it, but unfortunately it's too short.

Guerrilla Games already proved once they could deliver a compelling expansion and they have done so again. Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is a solid influx of new story, explorable locations and new gameplay elements to keep things fresh. The story builds on Aloy as a character and adds an intriguing new character to the mix in Seyka, all while introducing a great mystery and the series’ first great human antagonist. The gameplay is mostly the same, but the few new additions and the new machines add enough to keep engagements fresh. Unfortunately, the expansion ends with a lackluster boss fight, nor does it address any complaints with the base game, though as an expansion that wasn’t expected. For $19.99, Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores packs a solid amount of good content that’ll kill some time as we wait for Horizon 3.

In line with Forbidden West, Burning Shores is an expansion that takes advantage of all the power of the PS5. Faithful to the original formula, this DLC is adorned with some interesting novelties (enemies, characters, weapons), but brings only few new script elements. The gameplay, on the other hand, remains as dynamic as ever and the game as a whole is a visual and technical demonstration of force. Post-apocalyptic Los Angeles offers breathtaking vistas and some epic moments. A good little DLC accessible while waiting for the third episode.

Ultimately, Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores feels like a good tease. It flirts with the concept of some biggest things yet in this story, but doesn’t quite commit to most of them in full. It’s always great getting to spend more time with Aloy, and while I wish a couple of things were explored further, it’s still a fun ride that hints at some of what is to come.

An exceptionally pretty slice of DLC that does nothing to address the faults of the main game but does manage to emphasise its many successes, especially the graphics.

Burning Shores is a solid expansion to Horizon Forbidden West that fans of the series will want to play before the inevitable sequel. It’s teeming with more sci-fi story goodness, and Los Angeles is a stunning new environment to explore, complete with all of the Horizon side activity trimmings we’ve come to know and love ticking off our map. While the offering of new monsters, and some of the combat scenarios felt a little underwhelming, as a package, it’s well worth the ticket to entry.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores offers more of the same with some new ideas, yet it's still well worth playing, and looks gorgeous.

Burning Shores is a worthy expansion and follow-up to the incredible Horizon Forbidden West. It's packing a fantastic new location to explore, compelling new characters and fearsome new machines to fight while offering an exciting glimpse into the future of the franchise. It's a bit more rough around the edges than I'd like but it's essential playing for Horizon fans.

Burning Shores first seemed lackluster in comparison to previous expansions in the series. Frozen Wilds was a refreshing addition to Zero Dawn, and Forbidden West was an even bigger step up, so the slow start in treading familiar territory made me feel like Horizon had potentially lost its flame. I’m so glad to be proven wrong, as it still burns as bright as ever, and with a dauntless new character taking part in one of the most momentous fights we’ve ever seen Aloy face. After this, I’m even more excited to see where the story goes next.

Burning Shores' price of admission is practically worth it for the culminating boss fight alone. Although the expansion's pace doesn't allow for a steady crescendo to the climactic battle, it is hands down the most impressive and exhilarating set piece Horizon has accomplished thus far. Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores may be unfortunately short, but it's nonetheless sweet, and its technical accomplishments tantalizingly set high expectations for Guerrilla Games' third entry in the series.

Burning Shores is a great expansion that you will love if you liked Horizon Forbidden West and that serves as a preview of what Guerrila Games is capable of when they work exclusively for PS5. After this, we are even more excited to know what the future holds for Aloy.

More vast than dense, Burning Shores is the Horizon Forbidden West DLC that it was reasonable to expect. Using Los Angeles as a stage, Guerrilla follows the rules of Hollywood spectacularization and pushes on the pedal of visual exaltation. There is a moment (totally optional) in which you will get lost in a stormy cloud, a prelude to another battle, and where you will breathe an air of profound epicness. And it is thanks to these junctures of considerable scenic and playful commitment that the team's intentions are understood: to push the heights of the Decima Engine even higher and pack an expansion that was satisfying at the right point, before the third act of the epic of Aloy. The one in which the fate of the world will be decided, perhaps once and for all.

Like Frozen Wilds did with Horizon Zero Dawn, Burning Shores takes what was already great about Forbidden West and gives you a sizeable new playground and a bunch of extra toys to play with. The archipelago is great fun to explore by land, sea, or air, with plenty of interesting things to see and do. Certain areas feel a little underutilised, but overall this is a great expansion that continues Aloy's story and sets up for things to come in Horizon 3.

Horizon Forbidden West’s Burning Shores DLC is a worthwhile addition to this acclaimed action-heavy sci-fi series. Fun new challenges and enemies are introduced and cool new ways to dispatch them are presented with regularity. The story is more concerned with developing character than it is working towards dealing with the imminent world-ending threat, and it’s Aloy at her most personal and believable yet. A couple of poor boss battles aside, it’s a great new chapter with enough creative new bells and whistles to keep fans more than happy.

Burning Shores is exactly what you would expect, with even more of that solid Horizon gameplay wrapped around a story that initially seems quite frivolous but soon becomes very dark and uncomfortable. If you loved Horizon Forbidden West, you will love this too.

While Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is more Horizon mechanically, narratively it's the strongest story told in the series with excellent new characters and vital plot developments that set the stage for Horizon 3.

Although Burning Shores is just a DLC with a gameplay length of only five or six hours, but its achievement in refreshing the graphical performance on consoles is commendable. For players who are more interested in the mechanics of the game, while its performance in areas such as boss battles may be a little lacking, the overall experience is still considered fresh and exhilarating. Not to mention that it further explores the core concept of 'cooperation' and adds to the lore of the game world itself.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores extends the tropical scenery of the main game and introduces the land of Hollywood to the story complete with a solid amount of content and upgrades which makes it a fine choice to lengthen your adventure with Aloy.

Quotation forthcoming.

Fundamentally, Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores repeats a lot of the same beats as the main game, and doesn’t explore much new territory in terms of world-building or gameplay. However, the minor gameplay additions are certainly fun and welcome, and if you enjoyed the base game, this expansion is certainly still an enjoyable time, prolonged final boss fight aside. As an epilogue with some fun diversions, which also expands upon Aloy’s character arc from the base game and introduces a great new supporting character, Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is definitely worth checking out for anyone wanting a good excuse to return to the game.

For better or worse, Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is simply more Horizon Forbidden West and for fans of the game and also its detractors, that will be to their joy and chagrin respectively. As it is, Burning Shores is an impressively spectacle stuffed, though routinely unambitious expansion that does little to address the weaknesses of the core franchise but still manages to provide an effective bridge to the third game in the Horizon trilogy.

Seyka is a welcome addition to Aloy’s allies. However the DLC shows no intention of escaping the science fantasy nonsense the base game mired itself in. [Issue#28, p.88]

Burning Shores once again explores the theme of loneliness of a protagonist who must bear the fate of the entire world on her shoulders. However, the short gameplay of the DLC offers limited space for addressing the character's relationship issues. For fans of the series, Burning Shores offers a good excuse to return to the world filled with robotic monsters with a few new challenges. Nevertheless, the DLC fails to deliver a meaningful story and deeper character development that would make Burning Shores a must-play expansion for the players.

A good expansion exists out of the best features of the main game with a slight twist. The Horizon Forbidden West-expansion is made with that exact recipe. Whilst Burning Shores is resting heavily on the strong features of it's predecessor, it adds new locations, missions, enemies and weapons. Burning Shores has everything it needs to entertain people for 10+ hours.

Horizon: Burning Shores lays even more groundwork for the future of the franchise than Forbidden West, which had already signaled a clear direction for the next entry. It does this in a tight, engaging little package that reignited my love for the world and its characters without feeling burdened by it. While much of Burning Shores feels familiar, it's a sweet, condensed experience that captures what makes Horizon games great. After feeling more exhausted than excited at the end of Forbidden West, I'm glad for the reminder.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores is a light, but crowd-pleasing DLC chapter that sets the stage for Aloy's next adventure.

Burning Shores doesn’t add a great deal to the story and character development is seemingly optional, but if you want more beasts to bash, more ways to bash them, and gorgeous scenery to ogle at, you won’t be disappointed.