Post
Guerrilla Games' 2017 open-world debut that reinvented the studio and gave Sony a new tentpole IP.
Guerrilla Games spent a decade making Killzone shooters before pivoting to Horizon, a post-apocalyptic open world of robot dinosaurs and a red-haired huntress named Aloy. The world's lore — mechanical beasts roaming a ruined post-human Earth — is one of gaming's best original sci-fi settings. The Decima engine's foliage tech made the world look stunning, and Aloy became one of Sony's most recognizable new protagonists.
Example
The Frozen Wilds DLC expanded the world northward. Horizon Forbidden West in 2022 added ocean exploration and flying mounts. Horizon Call of the Mountain became a PSVR2 launch title. Aloy has cross-over appearances in Genshin Impact and Fortnite.
Why it matters
Horizon validated Guerrilla's reinvention and proved Sony could still launch new AAA IP in a sequel-dominated era. Its Decima engine tech also ended up powering Death Stranding, giving the game an outsized technical legacy.
Related concepts