The first big PlayStation 4 exclusive of 2017 is nearly here. Horizon Zero Dawn is the fancy new action game from the creators of the Killzone series, and there’s lots of positive buzz for the PS4 adventure. But what if you’re dying to play games like Horizon Zero Dawn right now? Or, if you don’t have a PlayStation 4, what can you play in its place?
What other games like Horizon Zero Dawn have similar elements of a lovely, natural open world, giant monsters to battle, and/or free-roaming action? Fandom has pulled together a list of the top four great starting points for gamers out there. Let’s start with one of the most similar games from the last generation.
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Playable on Steam, Xbox 360 and PS3, Enslaved was a criminally overlooked game from 2010. Though not necessarily open, you explored a post-apocalyptic world where nature has overgrown society and robots have taken over. You play as Monkey, a brutish man battling killer robots throughout a perilous-yet-beautiful landscape. And the game features acting that was years ahead of its time, featuring performance capture animation from the master of that acting field, Andy Serkis. If you’re looking to smash robots around gorgeous backdrops, Enslaved is a cheap way to get into it right now.
Monster Hunter Generations
I know what you’re thinking: “The Monster Hunter games just aren’t for me.” Well, Horizon Zero Dawn looks to take many of the monster hunting tropes and gameplay that were inspired by Capcom’s series, so it’s time to start training up. In just a matter of hours, you’ll get used to the addicting hunting action of Monster Hunter Generations, a great entry point for the series. You’ll get a great mix of combat types and dense boss battles to embrace. If your main system is a Nintendo 3DS, this is one of the closest games like Horizon Zero Dawn you’ll find.
Final Fantasy XV
As I said in Fandom’s Final Fantasy XV review, this is a total reinvention of the series and one that’ll be welcome for people in search of games like Horizon Zero Dawn. Gone are turn-based battles or linearity — at least in the massive first half. Instead, Final Fantasy XV includes a healthy sampling of monster hunting, multiple weapon types, and a realistic world that mixes modern technology with fantasy elements. Out on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, this is beautiful game whether you love the previous Final Fantasy titles or never touched them before.
Shadow of Mordor
OK, OK, yes, this one lacks all the wires and futurism of Horizon Zero Dawn, but that’s alright because it’s got some of the most fun open world exploration you’ll find. Shadow of Mordor is a decidedly hardcore interpretation of Tolkien’s world, with plenty of Orc decapitation to go with the Elvish conversations. Shadow of Mordor has a similar level of customizability as Horizon, and is playable on just about every console and PC out there. Definitely seekn out this one like it’s the One Ring.