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What to Do After Finishing Horizon Forbidden West

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So, you’ve rolled credits on Horizon Forbidden West. You’ve witnessed Aloy’s incredible journey, faced down the Far Zeniths, and (hopefully) saved the world. But the Forbidden West is vast, beautiful, and packed with content beyond the main storyline. What’s next? Plenty! The game doesn’t end when the story does; it’s just the beginning of truly exploring everything this rich world has to offer. This article will guide you through the essential post-game activities to maximize your enjoyment of the game, along with a detailed FAQ section to address any questions you may have.

Embracing the Post-Game: A Roadmap

Here’s a breakdown of the essential activities to sink your teeth into after the main story concludes:

Aim for the Platinum Trophy/100% Completion: If you’re a completionist, this is the ultimate goal. This involves tackling every side quest, errand, challenge, and collectible. It’s a serious undertaking, but incredibly rewarding for dedicated players.
Fight in the Arena: The Arena provides some of the toughest machine encounters in the game. Test your skills, earn valuable rewards, and prove yourself as the ultimate machine hunter. This is a great way to refine your combat skills and experiment with different weapon and armor combinations.
Explore All Undiscovered Locations: Even after completing the main story, chances are you’ve missed some hidden corners of the Forbidden West. Seek out those undiscovered locations marked with question marks, and you might be surprised by what you find – hidden settlements, challenging encounters, or valuable resources.
Set Yourself Challenges: The game allows for immense customization of difficulty settings and playstyles. Challenge yourself by playing on Ultra Hard, limiting your weapon usage, or focusing on stealth. This breathes new life into familiar content and forces you to adapt your strategies.
Find All Collectibles: From Survey Drones to Black Boxes, Horizon Forbidden West is brimming with collectibles. Tracking them all down not only adds to your completion percentage but also unlocks lore and background details that enrich the game’s world.
Override Every Type of Machine: A truly satisfying goal for any player. Each machine requires a unique strategy for overriding. Mastering this ability is crucial for both combat and traversing the landscape.
Get the Best Times in the Hunting Grounds: The Hunting Grounds offer timed challenges that test your speed and precision. Perfect your tactics, optimize your gear, and aim for those coveted Blazing Suns.
Unlock The Burning Shores Skills and Abilities: If you own the Burning Shores DLC, diving into its content is a must. This expansion provides new skills, weapons, and gear that will significantly enhance Aloy’s capabilities. The DLC adds another layer to the Horizon experience.
Complete All Side Quests and Errands: Many side quests provide valuable insights into the lives of the characters and the struggles they face. These quests are well written and add depth and context to the rich world of Horizon Forbidden West.
Max Out Your Gear: Upgrading your weapons and armor to their maximum potential is crucial for tackling the toughest challenges the game throws your way. Look for rare resources and engage in challenging encounters to acquire the necessary components.
Experiment with Different Builds: Horizon Forbidden West offers incredible flexibility in terms of playstyles. Experiment with different skill tree configurations, weapon types, and armor sets to find a build that suits your preferred approach.
Master Machine Weaknesses and Resistances: Understanding each machine’s unique vulnerabilities is essential for effective combat. Study their behavior, experiment with different elemental attacks, and exploit their weaknesses to defeat them efficiently.
Dive into the Lore: The Horizon universe is filled with fascinating lore and history. Take the time to read datapoints, listen to conversations, and explore the world to uncover the secrets of the Old Ones and the mysteries of the Zero Dawn project.
Take Stunning Photo Mode Shots: The Horizon Forbidden West is a visually breathtaking game, and Photo Mode allows you to capture its beauty in all its glory. Experiment with different angles, filters, and poses to create stunning images that showcase your adventures.
Replay on a Higher Difficulty: Beating the game on Normal or Hard is great, but upping the difficulty to Very Hard or Ultra Hard offers a completely new experience. The game becomes far more tactical, requiring you to carefully plan your attacks and make the most of your resources.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about what to do after finishing Horizon Forbidden West:

1. Can I continue playing after beating Horizon Forbidden West?

Yes! Horizon Forbidden West allows you to continue playing after completing the main storyline. You can explore the open world, complete side quests, and tackle any content you may have missed. The game does not end when you finish the main quest.

2. What happens after I reach level 50 (or 60 with the Burning Shores DLC)?

Once you reach the level cap (50 in the base game, 60 with Burning Shores), you’ll start earning “Ghost Levels” for every 100,000 XP. These levels don’t provide any tangible rewards, but you’ll still earn Skill Points from completing quests, allowing you to fully max out your Skill Tree.

3. Is Horizon Forbidden West the end of Aloy’s story?

No, Horizon Forbidden West sets the stage for future installments in the series. The ending implies that Aloy’s journey is far from over, and a third game is almost certainly in development.

4. How many endings does Horizon Forbidden West have?

Horizon Forbidden West, like its predecessor, Horizon Zero Dawn, has only one main ending. Your choices throughout the game may influence certain outcomes, but the overall conclusion remains the same.

5. Is Seyka a romance option for Aloy?

Yes, the Burning Shores DLC introduces Seyka as a potential romantic interest for Aloy. The relationship is optional, and players can choose whether or not to pursue it through dialogue choices.

6. Will there be a Horizon 3?

Yes, Guerrilla Games has confirmed that a third mainline game in the Horizon series is in development. You can expect to see Aloy’s story continue in the future.

7. What was the Far Zenith’s motivation for returning to Earth?

The Far Zeniths returned to Earth seeking to reclaim it as their own. After their colony was destroyed by the rogue AI Nemesis, they saw Earth as their only remaining hope for survival.

8. What happens if I choose not to spare Regalla?

If you choose to kill Regalla, you’ll receive her weapon. However, if you spare her, she will aid you in the final battle against the Zeniths, providing a valuable ally during a crucial moment.

9. What is included in the Burning Shores DLC?

The Burning Shores DLC expands the world of Horizon Forbidden West with new characters, a new storyline, and a new region to explore – the ruins of Los Angeles. It also adds new skills, weapons, and machines to the game.

10. Where is Alva after completing the main story?

After completing the “Singularity” Main Quest and completing the game, you can find Alva at her usual spot in Legacy’s Landfall, on a seat on the main tent’s balcony.

11. Is there a point of no return in Horizon Forbidden West?

No, there is no point of no return in Horizon Forbidden West. You can freely explore the world and complete any remaining content after finishing the main story.

12. Where can I find my companions after beating the game?

After completing the main story, your companions can be found in various locations throughout the world. The new ones are in their respective tribe villages, Erend is in Las Vegas, and Alva is at Legacy’s Landing.

13. Where is Kotallo after completing the main story?

After completing “Singularity”, you can find Kotallo at the Memorial Grove, in the Throne Room where you first met Chief Hekarro in The Broken Sky.

14. Is Sylens a good or bad character?

Sylens is a complex character whose motivations are often ambiguous. He can best be described as chaotic neutral, someone who prioritizes his own interests above all else. His actions often blur the lines between good and evil.

15. Has Guerrilla Games explored the educational aspect of the game?

Absolutely! Guerrilla Games is committed to exploring the educational aspects of its games, including the Horizon series. Games like Horizon Forbidden West offer opportunities for players to learn about science, history, and culture in an engaging and interactive way. For more information on games and learning, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

The Adventure Continues

Finishing the main story in Horizon Forbidden West doesn’t signal the end of your adventure. It’s an invitation to delve deeper into the world, explore its secrets, and challenge yourself in new ways. Whether you’re aiming for the Platinum trophy, mastering the Arena, or simply soaking in the breathtaking scenery, there’s always something to discover in the Forbidden West. So, grab your gear, hone your skills, and embark on your post-game journey!