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Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered key art
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered cover art

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

October 31, 2024ShooterESRB TMetacritic 86

A remastered single-player open-world action RPG about hunting robotic creatures, on PS5 and PC.

Available on
PlayStation 5PC

The Verdict

Yes, if you want a single-player open world that rewards moving through it slowly. Guerrilla's machine-hunting combat and the remastered visuals hold up well against anything current on PS5 or PC. It's a long game, main story runs about 22.5 hours, and there's no multiplayer or co-op here. If you've already played Forbidden West, this is where the story actually begins, and starting here first is still the cleaner path.

Portrait of Henk-Jan Uijterlinde
By
Henk-Jan Uijterlinde
·

Software architect and father of two based in the Netherlands. Been gaming since MS-DOS Mario. Writes honest recommendations for people with limited evenings and too many games left to play.

What It's Like to Play

I picked this up through the PS Plus catalog, after already playing and loving Forbidden West, which came bundled with my PlayStation. Going in backwards worried me a little: would starting with the sequel and circling back to the original break the story? It didn't. I got the same feeling I had with Forbidden West: beautiful worlds, vibrant colors, a huge open world that's a pleasure to just move through, and fighting mechanics against the machines that stay interesting once you've learned the basics. The loop is what you'd expect from Guerrilla: scan, track, fight, loot, repeat, but the machine variety keeps it from going flat the way some open worlds do at hour twenty. Main story runs about 22.5 hours, and going after the extra content stretches that toward 61. That's a real chunk of evening time, and I felt it. I finished it anyway, and for a game this long, that says something.

Is it worth it for you?

Already own Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition on PS4, PS5, or PC

The $9.99 digital upgrade is a low-risk yes if you want the visual bump. You're not paying full price twice for a game you already own.

Deciding whether to play this before or after Forbidden West

Start here if you can. Playing backwards, like I did, doesn't hurt the story, but starting in order is still the cleaner path for a new player.

The bigger picture

This isn't just a solid PS Plus pick. It holds up as a full-price open-world game on its own terms. The remaster puts it visually in line with modern first-party work, and the machine-hunting combat still has more depth than it gets credit for years after launch. Where it falls short of Forbidden West is scope, but that's the sequel's job, not a knock on the original.

Best For

  • Single-player open-world fans who want a world worth exploring slowly
  • Players who loved Forbidden West and want the origin story
  • PS5 owners who want DualSense haptics used well

Not For

  • Anyone looking for co-op or multiplayer
  • Players who can't commit to a 20-plus hour campaign
Overview

About Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Experience the critically acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn with stunning new visuals and upgraded features. In a far future where colossal machines roam the Earth, pockets of humanity survive in unique tribes among the lush, overgrown ruins of our long-lost civilization.
Reference

At a glance

Released
October 31, 2024
Platforms
PlayStation 5, PC
Genres
Shooter, RPG, Adventure, Action
Play modes
Single Player
Age rating
ESRB T
Time to beat
~38 hours
Metacritic
86
Player rating
4.5
Media

Screenshots

Click any screenshot to view it full size.

Playtime

How long to beat

Player-reported completion times for Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.

Rushed
25hoursMain story only
Typical
38hoursStory plus some extras
Completionist
72hoursEvery side objective too

Estimated from 7 player reports — a small sample, so treat these as approximate.

Playing together

Multiplayer & game modes

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered does not support crossplay.

Features

Crossplay(No Crossplay)

Play Modes

Single Player

Additional Details

Single-player only. Official store listings describe offline 1-player play and Steam lists Single-player.

Content

Age ratings

How rating boards around the world have classified Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. Open a board for its content descriptors.

ACBM

Science fiction themes and violence

CEROD
  • Violence
ESRBT
  • Blood
  • Drug Reference
  • Language
  • Violence
  • Mild Sexual Themes
PEGI16
  • Violence
USK12
Buying it

Edition and platform notes

Which version to buy, and what differs between platforms.

Which Edition to Buy

New buyers can purchase the remaster directly. Owners of Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition on PS4, PS5, or PC can upgrade digitally to Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered for $9.99.

Platform Recommendations

PS5 adds DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. PC version is available via Steam and supports optional PlayStation account linking.

Accessibility Features

Includes many accessibility features first introduced in Horizon Forbidden West, including remappable controls, haptic cues, and various assist toggles. Official support says accessibility options are available in the game settings.

Also in our guides

Often listed alongside Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Titles that appear in the same guides on this site. Grouped by where they show up, not by recommendation.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about this game, answered by our team.

Do I need to play Horizon Zero Dawn before Forbidden West?

No. I played them in reverse order and the story still landed. Forbidden West fills in enough context that starting with either works, though playing this one first is still the cleaner path for new players.

Is there multiplayer or co-op in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered?

No. It's single-player only, listed as offline one-player on official store pages, with no co-op campaign and no cross-play.

Do I have to buy the full game again if I already own the original?

No. Owners of Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition on PS4, PS5, or PC can upgrade digitally to the Remastered version for $9.99.

Is it better to play this on PS5 or PC?

PS5 adds DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, which suit the bow and trap combat well. The PC version runs via Steam and supports optional PlayStation account linking, so pick whichever platform you already play on.

Game data and imagery provided by IGDB.com