Since its debut in 2017, the Horizon series has taken players across the vast post-apocalyptic landscapes of America, from the chilly Rocky Mountains to the submerged ruins of Los Angeles. The 2022 release of Horizon Forbidden West and its DLC “Burning Shores” further extended the map along the Pacific coast. However, as the story’s scope grows, confining the adventure solely to America may no longer satisfy the series’ ambitions.
GameRant recently proposed a bold vision for Horizon 3: following the example of Death Stranding 2, the game could expand beyond American borders to explore other parts of the world. Death Stranding 2, developed by Kojima Productions using Guerrilla Games’ Decima engine, starts its journey in Mexico and moves on to Australia, introducing players to new civilizations and the collapse of different cultures.
If Horizon 3 were to set its stage outside the U.S., such as in Mexico, Central and South America, or Australia, it could incorporate fresh cultural backgrounds, survival philosophies, and technological frameworks. This would offer protagonist Aloy new ways to understand the world and its machines, while presenting players with unfamiliar challenges.
A hallmark of the Horizon series is its unique “machine ecology” system, where each machine is inspired by animals and blends tribal aesthetics with futuristic technology. Venturing into the Southern Hemisphere or other continents could inspire developers to create regionally distinctive mechanical enemies, such as:
- “Boxing mechanical beasts” inspired by kangaroos
- Mobile enemies mimicking large lizards or giant snakes
- Survival combat in deserts, tropical rainforests, or coastal biomes
These new environments and foes would compel players to relearn and adapt their combat strategies, making Horizon 3 not just an upgrade but a comprehensive evolution in gameplay and aesthetics.
Moreover, introducing intercontinental travel could enrich the narrative depth and offer diverse terrain challenges and open exploration opportunities. Similar to Death Stranding 2’s gradual descent from mountains, Horizon could feature survival gameplay involving cliff climbing, forest traversal, and sea crossings.
A larger map, richer cultural collisions, and more complex survival tactics would transform Horizon 3 into a truly global adventure.
