Guerrilla Games has successfully crafted one of PlayStation's most visually stunning and narrative-rich modern franchises. Since its inception, the post-apocalyptic universe overrun by mechanized creatures has expanded into multiple mainline entries, expansions, and unique spin-offs. Players looking to explore the journey of Aloy and the remnants of humanity often wonder exactly how many experiences are currently available to play.
The Core Mainline Adventures
The journey began in 2017 with the global release of Horizon Zero Dawn, which introduced gamers to a vibrant tribal future. This debut title established the core gameplay pillars of tactical machine hunting, open-world exploration, and deep science fiction lore. A massive story expansion titled The Frozen Wilds arrived later that year, adding a challenging snowy region and deeper lore regarding artificial intelligence.
Building upon the massive success of the original, the highly anticipated sequel Horizon Forbidden West arrived in 2022. This title expanded the geographic scope of the series by sending players to the dangerous Pacific Coast ruins. The sequel received its own dedicated expansion called Burning Shores in 2023, which pushed the graphical boundaries of the PlayStation 5 hardware.
Immersive Spin-Offs and VR Experiences
Beyond the traditional third-person role-playing titles, the franchise has ventured into alternate gaming formats to engage different audiences. In 2023, Horizon Call of the Mountain launched alongside the PlayStation VR2 hardware as a flagship virtual reality showcase. This unique perspective allowed players to scale massive cliffs and stand face-to-face with lifelike machines from a first-person viewpoint.
The universe expanded further with Lego Horizon Adventures, a playful adaptation that reimagined the intense narrative into a family-friendly cooperative experience. This collaboration brought the distinct tribal aesthetics and robotic wildlife into the creative world of digital bricks. Counting the mainline games, major story expansions, VR projects, and adaptations, the franchise boasts a substantial catalog of distinct releases.
Navigating the Complete Release Timeline
Tracking the development history reveals a steady progression of storytelling and hardware innovation over nearly a decade. The release order begins with Zero Dawn in early 2017, immediately followed by The Frozen Wilds expansion in late 2017. A brief hiatus followed as the development team worked extensively on engineering next-generation mechanics.
The modern era of the series launched with Forbidden West in early 2022, introducing unmatched visual fidelity. The year 2023 proved to be the busiest period for the franchise, witnessing the arrivals of Call of the Mountain and the Burning Shores expansion back-to-back. The subsequent arrival of Lego Horizon Adventures rounds out the current timeline, offering a diverse array of options for both hardcore lore enthusiasts and casual players alike.
