Due to its success, Sony saw it fit to give Guerrilla Games a shot at making a sequel for the first-party PlayStation title. However, Horizon Forbidden West has yet to receive a proper release date. Worse still is that we’ve heard very little about Guerrilla Games’ upcoming title since Sony showcased it last year. So, where does it leave those who’re dying to play a game like Horizon Forbidden West right now? Are there worthy alternatives out there? Scroll down below to find 7 games you can play while waiting for Horizon Forbidden West.
Far Cry Primal
Far Cry Primal is easily one of the more underrated Far Cry games out there. It’s arguably the best spin-off of the franchise as well. In Far Cry Primal, players explore a similarly vast and primitive open world as that in Zero Dawn and will in Forbidden West. The main difference here is that you’re not fighting against machines. Rather, Far Cry Primal takes place literally in a fictional 10,000 B.C. Even better, you’re armed with nothing but rudimentary tools ranging from spears and arrows. What we particularly like about Far Cry Primal is that it tones down the stakes of the story. It’s much more grounded. The drama naturally unfolds and seems pretty much like how you’d expect conflicts during the early days of human civilization. Plus, Ubisoft’s decision not to add in useless mechanics like multiplayer, or make Primal too modern, really made the game stand out. Now, rudimentary doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s no variety. There’s plenty of tools for you to choose from, ranging from clubs, spears, and bows. You can also upgrade all of them and there are Stone Age equivalent of modern equipment. All of them are cleverly crafted as well. We’re talking about bags of rotten meat carcasses or bees and an old-school grapple that lets you traverse the treacherous areas found all throughout Primal’s setting.
Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy
To be honest, we would’ve gotten away with putting any of the newest iterations of Tomb Raider here. However, because Square Enix already released a compilation containing the entire trilogy and their respective DLCs, there’s really no reason not to include the entire thing. Similar to the Horizon games, the Tomb Raider titles puts you in control of strong and deadly female protagonists who will stop at nothing to get what they want. Both games feature a lot of hunting too. Although the Tomb Raider games have a more linear structure, the tense atmosphere, tight controls, and strong narrative, as well as challenging platforming and puzzles are all present in both of these third-person action-adventure titles.
Final Fantasy XV
We know. We’re well aware that we’re going out on a limb here. After all, Final Fantasy XV follows a more fantasy setting (duh?) filled with literal gods for creatures that have decided to meddle with the lives of mere mortals. Also, Final Fantasy XV isn’t exactly the strongest entry in the Final Fantasy franchise. But, if you look past its convoluted storyline that obviously shows signs of a game that has since its fair share of revisions over the course of its development, you’ll find a massive open-world title that, like the Horizon games, throws modern technology into a realistic world albeit this one has a bit more magic in it. One thing that we love about Final Fantasy XV is that it’s a game that anyone can get into. You don’t necessarily have to have played nor loved previous Final Fantasy titles. The combat is easy to learn, forgiving, and has just enough depth to it as well, which is perfect for those who prefer to take advantage of the game’s nuances and mechanics.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
If slaying monsters in a sprawling fantasy world is what you’re after, then The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is your best bet. Although the story of the Horizon titles and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt aren’t really that similar, both have story-filled worlds with plenty of stories to tell. The games also share hunters for protagonists who carefully strategize each hunt otherwise they risk falling victim to the very prey that they set out to hunt. If you haven’t given Wild Hunt a try before, we suggest you do it now. You’ll find that it has enough similarities with Zero Dawn to help stave off your serious cravings for Aloy’s next adventure until Forbidden West releases.
Monster Hunter: World
Again, going back to slaying things, nothing says slaying gargantuan creatures more than a game that literally has the words “Monster Hunter” and “World” in its name. The first time that a mainline Monster Hunter title found its way on multiple platforms was a huge success. There are a lot of reasons for this. However, much of it lies in the variety of monsters to kill in monster Hunter: World. Here, you’ll hunt anything that resembles dinosaurs and demons and anything in between. In fact, if you miss battling Thunderjaws and Stormbirds in Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter: World comes closest of all games in this list to replicating that thrilling feeling of fighting something so big.
Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
For the most part, the Assassin’s Creed franchise has had a tendency to alienate newcomers. The war between the Templar and the Assassins, while interesting, isn’t exactly that digestible. This was further proven by how the 2016 movie bombed at the box office. Luckily, starting from Origins, Ubisoft has slowly deviated from it. However, it wasn’t until Odyssey released in 2018 that casual players had finally found an Assassin’s Creed game that they could jump into without knowing anything about previous plot lines. True, Odyssey still does connect to older titles. However, the story of the Assassins and Templars take a much-needed backseat this time around. Instead, we’re treated to a dynamic story with tons of romance options. This is all set in a time period that arguably elevates Odyssey right up there alongside the Ezio trilogy in terms of story. Plus, just like Zero Dawn, Odyssey just does enough with its combat, skill tree, and weapons upgrades to give you a chance to make yourself more powerful without overly complicating things. This allows you to focus more on the actual combat and gameplay.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
With a remaster of the original Mass Effect trilogy (including all but one DLC) coming out soon, now is as good a time as any to play the games. It doesn’t matter if you weren’t able to play the game the first time around, or, if you just want to experience the immersive story that’s spread across multiple titles and expansions all over again. Either way, there’s plenty of excuses to play as Commander Shepherd once again. Besides, speaking of excuses, what better reason is there than to say that it’s to kill time while waiting for Forbidden West? The games aren’t exactly all that similar to begin with. The Mass Effect franchise are third-person shooters with a literal universe for you to explore. However, the feeling of taking part in much larger than yourself is something that these two franchises share. That and the fact that you get to play these badass female protagonists who wouldn’t hesitate to give punch you straight in the face should you ever cross them.
