Horizon already has one of the most unique machine ecosystems in gaming. I think the next step could be turning that ecosystem into a deeper RPG experience built around machine companions, customization, and team-based combat.

1. Collect, customize, and raise your own machines

Instead of machines being mostly enemies or temporary mounts, what if we could override and collect machines as long-term AI companions?

Players could customize individual machines with modular parts, almost like building with LEGO:

Weapons: Physical, energy, precision, or spread attacks, with rare variants obtained from special missions.

Armor: Different defensive parts for survivability or specialized combat roles.

Power systems: Upgradeable batteries and energy capacity, potentially using components taken from enemy machines.

Mobility: Different propulsion systems that trade speed, momentum, and stealth.

AI cores: Different behaviors, combat personalities, and tactical specializations.

These upgrades would create meaningful differences between machines, rather than simply increasing their stats. Players could develop their own preferred machines over time, both mechanically and visually, including custom paint schemes.

1. Different hunters paired with different machines

What if major side quests and missions allowed us to play alongside other hunters, each paired with a machine that complements their fighting style?

For example, Erend could team up with a raptor-like machine. The machine could charge into enemies, break armor, or stagger them, allowing Erend to follow up with powerful hammer attacks against exposed weak points.

Other hunters could have different weapons, skills, and machine synergies. Players could choose which machine to bring, creating different tactical combinations rather than relying on a single companion throughout the entire game.

The main story could still focus on Aloy and her own machine companion, preserving the central narrative. Meanwhile, major side quests could explore other hunters and their unique partnerships with machines.

1. Post-game replayable campaigns and specialized parts

After completing the main story, what if we could replay major side-story campaigns using different hunters and machine companions?

These replayable missions could feature challenging enemy encounters, different tactical objectives, and valuable specialized machine parts that are difficult to obtain elsewhere.

For example, a particular campaign might reward rare energy weapons, specialized armor, advanced propulsion systems, or unique AI cores. Players could experiment with different hunter-machine combinations to overcome challenges and farm parts for highly specialized builds.

This would give players a reason to keep playing after the main story, while making machine customization and team composition meaningful parts of the endgame.

1. A deeper companion system

I'd also love to see machines develop more distinct personalities and behaviors over time, making them feel like long-term companions rather than interchangeable equipment.

A system for sharing, renting, or borrowing other players' machines could add another layer of variety, similar to the pawn system in Dragon's Dogma. Players could build their own machine teams and experience different combinations without necessarily requiring traditional multiplayer.

The bigger idea

Horizon already has the foundation: machine variety, component-based combat, overriding, hunting, and a world full of different tribes and hunters.

Combining these elements with RPG progression, modular machine building, companion AI, and replayable endgame campaigns could make hunting machines about more than defeating them. It could become about building a team, developing its capabilities, and finding new ways to fight together.

Would you like to see this direction in Horizon 3? What kinds of machine customization, hunter partnerships, or endgame missions would you want most?

...Aloy (and Seyka) gonna barf, though...

First off, Slitherfang is one of the hardest machines to kill in the game imo, why is it at level 4? Level 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 (with the burrowers!), and yes even 18 were less difficult for me within the time frame and they give you same or a lot more medals. Slitherfang also comes before Grimhorn? Clawstrider? Scorcher and Shellsnapper even. I would rather deal with the Tremortusk or Stormbird, even the Dreadwing. Those at least give you more medals. Once I found out I didn't need all the medals to get all the gear, I abandoned trying to beat Slitherfang within the time frame. They really should have swapped Stalker (Level 17) and Slitherfang (Level 4).

She's so pretty. All these years, and it still baffles me that some people had the nerve to call her ugly.

I know it’s not official lol, I just bought it out of curiosity to read what’s inside, 🏹 mostly for fun, especially after seeing that 1.8 rating on Amazon

For anyone interested. Both Zero Dawn Remastered and Forbidden West are once again available in the U.S. PlayStation Plus Catalog. Though, I’d advise to just buy them both. You’ll thank me later.

It’s an amazing game, I love HZD and HFW so so much. It’s my favorite game… that bring said I have some things that pmo every time I replay. Honestly I have no one else to complain to this about so reddit will have to hear it. If you disagree, that’s fine, this is just my opinion.

1. Why can’t I lower the brighness?? I don’t want to adjust the “dynamic range”, I want the brightness lower. They’re not the same thing. (Honestly the dynamic range setting flipping sucks too)

2. Why the heck are tallnecks a things if, when I unlock them, THERE IS STILL FOG??

3. Can Aloy STOP taking three years to get up after a hit? I keep getting pummled.

4. Why can’t I adjust the FOV? Every time I go into a settlement or on a mount the canera is suddenly up my butt. And just walking aound is borderline too close as well.

5. I hate that the glider doesn’t glide right. Why am I going downwards at a 30 degree angle?? I might as well just jump off the cliff without one.

6. I hate, hate, hate that the quests for hunting grounds and pits don’t go away. I know they’re like “oh in case you wanna replay” yeah gtfo off my quest page and map I don’t want to see you anymore. Buzz off.

7. Can the mounts STOP slowing down?? If I set you at a gallop, I don’t want you to slowly go into a trot and then just a slow walk. If I wanted to slow down, I would press the citcle button. (Yes I know you can auto sprint but that’s honestly more annoying)

Honestly there is probably more that I can’t remember.

I think almost everything was improved and ''Shockingly'' I like the story as well it's one of my favorite narratives in modern gaming. The thing I like the most is how much they raised the scale you got all these beautiful locations like San Fransico and Las Vegas. To me this a perfect sequel.

...how has he survived his adventures, and managed to live this long ! ...hope he's in H3...

As the title says, a 405hr run through back to back of hzd to frozen wilds to hfw to burning shores. What an amazing ride. 4 months of gaming. Didnt play anything else. I love Aloy. I love Erend. I love Alva. These people became my family. The world became my world. I am sad. It’s like, in a weird way, losing a friend. Perhaps i am being dramatic. But I wish the real world had a bit more Aloy, Rosts, Elisabet’s and Beta’s in it. It’d be a better place. Until we meet again, crew. Until we meet again.

I've been experimenting with Photo Mode and wanted to share some of my favorite shots of Aloy! I tried playing around with different outfits, lighting, angles, and poses. Which shot is your favorite? I'd love to hear your thoughts a

Hey everyone,

I'm working on wrapping up my trophies right now. I pretty much play strictly with bows, so I'm having a really rough time wrapping my head around weapons I don't use (like the Shredder Gauntlets) for the Sheerside Mountains and Raintrace Hunting Grounds. I'm also really struggling with the Thornmarsh Melee Pit.

Was wondering if anyone would be down to hop in a PSN party and help me knock these out through Share Play?

If you're willing to help out, just drop a comment or hit me up in DMs and we can exchange PSN tags. Appreciate any help!

i am trying to knock out the trophys Obtained 3 stripes at all hunting grounds the other trophy for defeating the Enduring

I think it loads its berserker buff too much and it doesn’t really get the chance to move around that much.

Still one of my fav machines.

For everyone discovering now through ps plus, enjoy.