Horizon Zero Dawn was the victim of poor timing. A great open-world game with lush environments and a memorable narrative that stuck to what felt like an old formula in contrast to The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, which was released a mere month later. With Forbidden West sharing a launch window with the critically revered Eldin Ring, is it destined for the same fate?

It’s not quite that simple, but underneath some old worn-out open-world design and a lackluster intro, Horizon’s latest installment offers a lot for the patient player.