The 23 Best Games Like ‘Horizon Zero Dawn’

Many games on this list are on here because they share Horizon: Zero Dawn’s incredible story, characters, and open world, but ARK: Survival Evolved is perfect for fans of HZD’s resource scarcity, hunting, and the style of animals there. No, Ark isn’t home to any machines technically, but the game features a vastly diverse set of creatures from multiple different time periods. In fact, there are close to 200 creatures in the game, all of which you can use to either get food or tame. Building up from being on a desert island with next to nothing to having a bunch of land and a functioning community is quite the journey.

The Assassin’s Creed series was hit or miss for a few years, even amongst fans who loved it. Most agree that when Assassin’s Creed Origins came out a few years ago, it was a return to form from Ubisoft. Odyssey, being the follow-up, was a crucial moment then, but it followed suit. Set in Ancient Greece, the game feels more like an RPG than any in the series before it. There are dialogue options and depending on how you play and some decisions you make, you’ll get a different ending. Both Odyssey and Horizon Zero Dawn have similar ways they approach their combat.

Making a sequel to Arkham Asylum was always going to be quite the task, but Rocksteady Studios did the series justice in 2011 with Batman Arkham City. As much as the Colorado that Horizon Zero Dawn is set in has its own atmosphere, Arkham City has just as impactful an atmosphere, only a much, much darker one. This one will be a particularly good choice for you if what you loved about Horizon Zero Dawn was its stealthier encounters and battles. The Marvel’s Spider-Man game from a few years ago (which appears later on this list) certainly borrowed heavily from this series with its gameplay style. We’ve picked out City as a favorite in the series, but the whole franchise is worth a try.

The robotic animals that wander the world of Horizon Zero Dawn are obviously inspired by the animals that once dominated the Earth during the prehistoric age. Far Cry Primal transports players to that ancient period in time for an adventure that entails a whole lot of hunting and gathering. With an armory full of spears, clubs, and bows & arrows, you’ll set out as Takkar and look to rise up the ranks of a tribe and rule as its fearless leader. And in order to achieve that goal, you’ll need to tame certain animals, plus stay privy to the attacks that come your way from rival tribesmen and natural predators.

A PlayStation 4/PlayStation 5 exclusive, Ghost Of Tsushima was one of the most talked-about games of last year and it had great reason to be. Its art style and graphics make it stand out and in terms of how it compares with Horizon Zero Dawn, they share so many of the same elite gameplay elements. Its exploration, battles, and stealth aren’t identical to HZD’s, but they’ll give you some of the same feelings during your playthrough. Seek out the Director’s Cut to enjoy the best version of this samurai epic – the uptick in graphics and inclusion of co-op multiplayer and a DLC expansion makes it one of the most rewarding open-world picks on this list.

Sony Interactive Entertainment has given so many of its first-party development studios the freedom to craft some of the greatest games of all time. And most of them are full of memorable adventures that pit players against overwhelming odds that they still manage to overcome through sheer will. If you enjoyed taking down all those “Stalkers” and “Ravagers” in Horizon Zero Dawn, you’ll definitely enjoy every minute of using Kratos’ “Leviathan Axe” to take down massive trolls and relentless “Dark Elves.” And if you’re looking for another quality action/adventure game with a deeply effective storyline, God of War (2018) should be at the top of your list.

Many consider this Wii U/Switch Legend of Zelda release to be one the greatest games ever made. And that’s due to the gorgeous and activity-filled world of Hyrule, which sees Link gathering the power needed to put down Calamity Ganon once and for all. Before you’re ready to take him on, you’ll be able to navigate mini-dungeons to solve challenging brainteasers and unlock a wealth of useful items that increase Link’s viability in battle. The weapon-breaking system may get on your nerves a bit, but it definitely forces players to experiment with all the varied weapons that come into your possession. Breath of the Wild is another bewildering open-world game that should appeal to gamers on the lookout for the best games like Horizon Zero Dawn.

I can still remember the oohs and aahs that this game got when it was previewed at E3 in 2017. Back then it was clear that it would be hard for it to live up to expectations, but most would agree that it did even more than that. The open world is perfect for web-slinging through and the style of gameplay, as crazy as it sounds, really makes you feel like Spider-Man. Being stealthy is just as fun as letting all hell break loose and different enemies require different tactics to defeat. Though they may not seem so similar on the outside, Horizon Zero Dawn and Marvel’s Spider-Man are in the same vein and the latter is certainly worth a try if you liked the former.

Monster Hunter: World and its Iceborne expansion offer a tremendous lineup of creatures that want to crush you every chance they get. But with the aid of “Palico” cats and other well-equipped hunters, you’ll have a much easier time taking them all down and using their body parts to develop more powerful weaponry and armor sets. This definition edition of the game features the lengthy main campaign and its much “colder” DLC campaign, which are both fun as hell thanks to some great co-op hunting. Pour enough time into this one and you’ll be able to pronounce “Nergigante” in one fell swoop and tell grand stories of how you and your crew defeated it after an epic encounter.

One of the bigger games on this list, NieR Automata’s biggest similarity to Horizon Zero Dawn is that it pits humans and machines against each other, which will be familiar and comforting if you’ve ever played an hour of HZD. It’s an RPG that borrows elements from other games well. Seek out this edition of the game to bask in all the extra DLC that wides out its collection of weapons, battle colosseums, boss fights, and so much more.

No matter how much the stunning open world of Horizon Zero Dawn impressed you, no matter how much the characters captured your emotions, and no matter how enthralled you were by the narrative, Red Dead Redemption 2 will still be a game that blows you away. Admittedly, the pace of the game was off-putting for me at first, but when I came back around to it to appreciate what it was, there was no letting go. People have said the same about the initially slow pacing of HZD. This game is about as close to a game can get as living out a real life virtually. Tasks that would be mundane in other games become their own games here. You can genuinely spend hours hunting animals or fishing. Red Dead Redemption’s sequel is a must-play for gamers anywhere and everywhere.

The first and most obvious similarity between Horizon Zero Dawn and any of the Tomb Raider games over the years is the strong female protagonist that we need so much more of. Lara Croft is one of the greatest video game characters of all time and Shadow Of The Tomb Raider is one of her best showings. As always with these games, the combat is dynamic (with a bow and arrow too) and everything between the action sequences is just as captivating. This one is an adventure that is well worth setting out on. Check out 2013’s Tomb Raider reboot and 2015’s Rise of the Tomb Raider before you div into this fulfilling finale.

Although the open world of Horizon Zero Dawn is beautiful, in terms of its detail and vastness, there are games that sought to really raise the bar and Skyrim is one of those. If you’ve been within three feet of a pc in the past decade, you’ve heard of this game or at least some vague reference to it. You don’t ever even have to entertain the storyline to have fun in the game, but if you want to, that’s great too.

What we’re presenting to you right now is a grand RPG that features an exceptional plot and a clever combat system that usually pits you against some hulking beasts. The main character Shulk, his high-powered Monado blade, and the rest of his motley crew embark on a grand adventure atop the spacious realms that exist on the frozen bodies of two warring titans. This Wii original is currently playable on the Switch and has been blessed with proper graphical & mechanical enhancements. This lengthy and super rewarding JRPG features a beautiful world to traverse that lets you duke it out with a huge array of varied foes, big and small.

Geralt of Rivia is the slick-talking protagonist most recognized from The Witcher books, which happen to be contained within marvelous open-world action RPGs. The strongest entry in that series of games is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which gives players the chance to navigate a boundless realm filled with war, strife, and several colossal beasts to do battle with. The storyline at the heart of this game, which revolves around Geralt going out of his way to protect a young warrior from a wicked battalion, has so many mindblowing reveals that’ll enrapture first-timers. This edition of the game that comes with all the previously released story expansions is the one that’ll give you the most bang for your buck.

The Uncharted series by Naughty Dog is arguably the best series of games ever made. If you know anything about those games, you know that the exploration aspect of Horizon Zero Dawn is what is reflected here the most. Nathan Drake goes on some insane journeys in each of the games and we only picked the fourth one because it’s the most recent in the main series. If you enjoy Shadow Of The Tomb Raider which appears earlier on this list, you’ll definitely want to give this one a try too. Fans have drawn comparisons between the two for a long time. Before you hop into this one, check out The Nathan Drake Collection so you can follow Drake’s first three journeys on the lead-up to this final adventure and its accompanying DLC.

If you watched the Mad Max movies, then you’re already fully invested in all the post-apocalyptic vehicular mayhem it’s famous for. This underrated game adaption of the classic action movie series follows Max Rockatansky during his stay in a massive wasteland full of raiders that either throw hands with him or trail him across desert landscapes in souped-up cars. There aren’t any lush green biomes to explore here – there’s a whole bunch of deserts, canyons, and caves to stay busy with as you look to construct the fabled “Magnum Opus.” As another one of the best games like Horizon Zero Dawn on this list, Mad Max offers tons of appeal to gamers searching for another open-world gem.

Capcom’s other series that’s all about staying in the fight whilst dealing with some unrelenting beasts is Lost Planet. We’re confident in recommending the first two games in the now-defunct franchise because they’re the very best. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition places players on the frigid planet of “E.D.N. III” and gives you tons of guns so you have a fighting chance against the aggressive insectoid alien species called the “Akrid.” You’ll have the time of your life when you finally command a massive “Vital Suit” mech and rampage all over those nasty creatures. Lost Planet 2 is also worth a play – this sequel takes place in a much warmer section of E.D.N. III, but retains all the major boss fights and chunky feel of the shooting & character movement its predecessor features.

After you try Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, you’ll join us in being enthusiastic about its impending sequel. This re-release of the original game is feature-rich as it contains all of its launch content, DLC content, a whole bunch of new items & gear, an additional questline, and a whole new region to traverse. Diving into this one means you’ll get to create your very own “Arisen” warrior, choose a combat class for them, and look to get revenge on the dragon that stole your heart (literally!). While this game doesn’t feature online co-op, you can link up with AI-controlled “Pawns” that fight well enough to make you think they’re actually being led by human hands. Grabbing and clinging onto big monsters and cutting them down a notch should appeal to gamers searching for first-rate games like Horizon Zero Dawn.

Greek mythology is the main theme here in this action RPG that deserves way more eyes on it. Immortals Fenyx Rising follows the main protagonist Fenyx, who must find a way to defeat the newly escaped demonic hazard known as “Typhon.” And on the way to eliminating his negative presence from the world, you’ll come to blows with all types of massive enemy types that include Cyclops, Medusa, Cerberus, and more. On top of solid third-person combat, this game also features an assemblage of clever puzzles that’ll truly test your brain power and some humorous exchanges between a narrator following your journey and the almighty Zeus.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West has so many things going for it that can easily garner the interest of Horizon Zero Dawn fans. Its main locale is a post-apocalyptic version of America, its plot is wrapped around an uneasy partnership between two travelers, and its combat pits players against tons of mechanical foes. This is another one of those slept-on action-adventure games that didn’t receive the attention it deserved during its PS3 and Xbox 360 launch period.

The Team Ico PS2 version of this classic journey has been lovingly spruced up for its PS4 return as a remake. If you’re playing this for the very first time, don’t look up its plot – everything is gonna hit that much harder when you find out the true outcome of Wander’s actions. Shadow of the Colossus is an amazing remake of a game where you must find clever ways to ascend the bodies of 16 gigantic “colossi” and eliminate them in order to bring back the main character’s deceased lover.