Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West Didn’t Jump to Conclusions, and Neither Should Horizon 3

Guerrilla Games’ Horizon series has always thrived on mystery, and few series know how to keep players guessing with each new reveal. Every time it feels like the truth is within reach, a new layer is introduced to the story that adds even more questions, even if it does answer some others. But with narrative being one of the series’ strongest characteristics, that sense of discovery its pacing and slow-burn approach help maintain are arguably necessary, as it keeps players wanting more from the story. This was the case in both Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, and the third entry shouldn’t depart from that format.

It’s easy to assume that Horizon 3 will be the end of Aloy’s story and potentially the end of the series, simply because the trilogy format is something the industry is used to seeing and a trilogy really could be an effective way to tie everything up in a neat bow. However, if there’s one thing that the Horizon series has proven, it’s that it’s not in a rush to explain everything. Both Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West not only introduced new lore, mysteries, and storylines, but they have also taken their time reaching any sort of conclusion. Heading into Horizon 3, that is still very much the case, and it would be remiss not to take the same approach — even if it means prolonging the series’ legacy beyond a third game.

Horizon 3’s Story Needs to Resist Premature Closure

Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West Kept Their Mysteries Intact

When Horizon Zero Dawn was released, there was no reason to believe that it was the beginning of a trilogy or the first act of a larger story. Instead, it delivered a complete experience built on discovery, while leaving questions about GAIA’s subfunctions, the machines, and the world itself unresolved by the time its story ended. Aloy had finally learned who she was, but she didn’t learn everything about the planet’s future. That sense of openness left space for the story to continue naturally without needing to justify its existence.

Horizon Forbidden West then followed the same pattern. Rather than building toward a finite conclusion, it made the whole picture even larger with the Tenakth, the Zeniths, and ultimately Nemesis, Horizon‘s overarching antagonist. Some in the community have criticized that reveal as sudden sequel bait, but it’s nonetheless consistent with the series’ history of adding layers to the overarching narrative rather than stripping them away. By ending with more questions than answers, Horizon Forbidden West reinforced the idea that Horizon has never been a story rushing toward closure but about unfolding at its own pace.

Why Horizon 3 Should Follow the Same Approach

Given how the first two Horizon games were structured, it could feel a bit uncharacteristic for Horizon 3 to suddenly present itself as the grand finale of it all. The trilogy format might make sense, and it would be a safe bet, but it also risks forcing Guerilla to either rush or condense arcs that deserve more time and room. GAIA’s restoration, Hephaestus’ independence, the Zenith threat, and Nemesis are all threads that could take multiple entries to explore without feeling rushed, and forcing them into one game could weaken the impact of the narrative.

More importantly, Aloy’s world has barely been touched outside the lands of the Nora, Carja, Oseram, and Tenakth. Entire civilizations have collapsed and left ruins that Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West never explored. There’s still plenty of room for new regions, cultures, and many more machines that expand the series beyond a single arc. By keeping Horizon open-ended in Horizon 3, Guerilla can continue to build on its strongest feature, which is a world that feels far bigger than any one game’s story.

Horizon Forbidden West

Systems

9/10

Released

February 18, 2022

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Engine

Decima