Summary
Guerrilla Games’Horizonseries is one of the newest franchises to find itself on par with some of Sony PlayStation’s other high profile games. With two titles under its belt, it has quickly risen through the ranks to be counted alongsideUncharted,God of War, andMarvel’s Spider-Manas premier must-plays on the platform. Last year’sHorizon Forbidden Westdelivered another highly regarded top-tier experience, and a followup is now eagerly awaited.
The next upcoming release in Sony’s pantheon will be a remaster ofThe Last of Us 2. Naughty Dog’s penchant for putting outTLOUremasters has been met with some skepticism in the past, as the sentiment was that these releases sometimes didn’t add or change enough to justify themselves. However, theNo Return mode forThe Last of Us Part 2 Remasteredseems to be quite extensive, offering an in-depth roguelike experience. In light of this, and other titles recently receiving the same treatment,Horizonseems a very likely candidate to be the next in line for introducing a roguelike mode of its own.
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s Roguelike Mode Seems More Likely Than Ever for Horizon
Roguelike Modes Are in Vogue
The inclusion of a roguelike mode has been an increasing trend recently, most notably for Sony’s stable of first-party exclusive titles. While single-player games traditionally see new content in the form of story expansion, cosmetics, or items, roguelikes are quickly becoming the new norm. In addition toThe Last Of Us 2’s No Return,God of War Ragnarok’s Valhalla DLCwas revealed during The Game Awards 2023, and is a bit of both. Valhallais a free roguelike update that also serves as an epilogue toGod of War Ragnarok’s main campaign. At this time, it looks like roguelikes are here to stay, at least for Sony games.
What a Horizon Roguelike Mode Could Look Like
As fans await any news or updates on the series, such asa possibleHorizonhalf-sequelor a more firm time frame forHorizon 3,Horizon Zero DawnandForbidden West already contain elements that would be well-suited to being redesigned or tweaked into full roguelike versions:
All of these would be excellent avenues to expand on and/or combine to create fun and interesting roguelikes.Horizon Forbidden West’s endingeven provides a rational reason for Guerrilla to shape these into fully fleshed roguelikes that wouldn’t be out of place or at odds with the current narrative. As Aloy and her allies prepare for the looming threat, a roguelike experience could be framed as a sort of extended training montage, with the group honing their skills to the sharpest level to best deal with the incoming danger.
AHorizonmultiplayer gameis in development, and could also incorporate roguelike aspects.
Although nothing regarding it is officially confirmed at this time, similar toGod of War Ragnarok’s Valhalla roguelike modebeing surprise announced and released, it’s plausible thatHorizonwill still see one. It would be a good way to extend its life, and buy time before the next entry. AHorizonroguelike could renew interest by enticing players to return via putting a fresh spin on familiar features, while maintaining consistency that wouldn’t risk feeling disconnected from the established story. Though it could be the case that fans will have to wait for the third entry to see the inclusion of a roguelike mode, given their rise showing no signs of slowing, one could also just as easily be coming sooner than later.
Horizon Forbidden West
WHERE TO PLAY
Join Aloy as she braves a majestic but dangerous new frontier that holds mysterious new threats. This Complete Edition allows you to enjoy the critically acclaimed Horizon Forbidden West on PC in its entirety with bonus content, including the Burning Shores story expansion that picks up after the main game.Explore distant lands, fight bigger and more awe-inspiring machines, and encounter astonishing new tribes as you return to the far-future, post-apocalyptic world of Horizon.The land is dying. Vicious storms and an unstoppable blight ravage the scattered remnants of humanity while fearsome new machines prowl their borders, and life on Earth is hurtling toward another extinction.It’s up to Aloy to uncover the secrets behind these threats and restore order and balance to the world. Along the way, she must reunite with old friends, forge alliances with warring new factions and unravel the legacy of the ancient past.
