Horizon Forbidden West ideas can transform a great game into an unforgettable experience. Players who have already completed the main story often search for fresh ways to engage with this stunning open world. Whether someone wants to challenge themselves with new combat tactics or discover hidden locations, there are countless methods to extend the adventure. This guide covers exploration strategies, combat tips, base building concepts, and creative self-imposed challenges that keep the Forbidden West feeling exciting and new.
Key Takeaways
- Disable the HUD and explore one region at a time to discover hidden environmental storytelling and feel more immersed in the Forbidden West.
- Master combat by focusing on one weapon class, studying machine weaknesses with the Focus, and using environmental hazards to your advantage.
- Try creative Horizon Forbidden West ideas like self-imposed challenges, pacifist runs, or no fast travel playthroughs to extend your gameplay.
- Fully upgrade your Base and collect all display items to create a personal museum that tracks your journey through the game.
- Override machines strategically to turn enemies into powerful allies during difficult encounters.
- Return to the Base between major quests to unlock unique companion conversations and deeper character development.
Exploration Strategies for the Forbidden West
The Forbidden West offers one of the most diverse open worlds in modern gaming. Players can adopt specific exploration strategies to make their journey more rewarding.
Disable the HUD for Immersive Discovery
Turning off the heads-up display changes everything. Without waypoints and markers, players must read the environment, follow landmarks, and pay attention to NPC directions. This approach makes discovering a hidden ruin or underwater cave feel like an actual achievement. The game’s visual design supports this playstyle, mountain ranges, distinctive rock formations, and smoke plumes all serve as natural guides.
Focus on One Region at a Time
Rather than bouncing between locations, players can commit to fully exploring a single area before moving on. This method reveals environmental storytelling details that fast travel often skips. The coastal sections, for example, contain shipwrecks and Old World structures that piece together a larger narrative when explored thoroughly.
Hunt Collectibles Without Guides
Horizon Forbidden West ideas for exploration often involve finding every Black Box, Vista Point, and Relic Ruin without external help. The game provides enough clues through environmental design and Focus scans to locate these items organically. Players report higher satisfaction when they solve these puzzles independently.
Photograph Unique Moments
The photo mode offers a creative outlet during exploration. Capturing sunrise over the desert, a Thunderjaw patrolling a valley, or Aloy silhouetted against fog creates a personal gallery of memorable scenes. Some players build entire social media accounts around their Forbidden West photography.
Combat and Machine Hunting Tips
Combat in Horizon Forbidden West rewards creativity and preparation. These Horizon Forbidden West ideas push players to experiment with different approaches.
Master One Weapon Class at a Time
The game offers numerous weapon types, from sharpshot bows to spike throwers. Players can deepen their skills by focusing on a single weapon class until they understand its strengths and weaknesses completely. This discipline creates more versatile hunters in the long run.
Use the Environment as a Weapon
Explosive canisters, falling rocks, and water sources all affect combat outcomes. Luring a Clawstrider near fuel tanks before detonating them saves ammunition and creates spectacular moments. Frozen machines near water take extra damage, positioning matters as much as firepower.
Create Machine Hunting Challenges
Self-imposed rules add fresh difficulty. Some players hunt Tremortusks using only melee attacks. Others restrict themselves to primitive weapons against high-level machines. These personal challenges extend gameplay hours and build genuine skill.
Study Machine Weaknesses Before Engaging
Scanning machines with the Focus reveals weak points and elemental vulnerabilities. Players who spend thirty seconds studying a target before attacking often finish fights faster than those who rush in. This preparation makes Horizon Forbidden West ideas for combat more strategic and satisfying.
Override and Recruit Allies
Overriding machines creates temporary allies that fight alongside Aloy. Strategic players override one machine before engaging a group, turning enemy numbers into an advantage. A Ravager fighting on Aloy’s side changes the battle completely.
Base Building and Settlement Ideas
The Base serves as Aloy’s home throughout the game. Players can personalize this space and engage with settlement features in creative ways.
Complete All Base Upgrades
Gathering resources for every Base improvement provides a long-term goal beyond the main story. Each upgrade changes the environment visually and unlocks new interactions with companion characters. The fully upgraded Base feels like a living community.
Collect All Display Items
Throughout the Forbidden West, players find items specifically designed for Base displays. Machine parts, cultural artifacts, and Old World technology all have designated spots. Hunting these items gives exploration a concrete purpose and creates a personal museum of accomplishments.
Return Between Major Quests
Visiting the Base after significant story events triggers unique conversations with companions. These dialogue sequences reveal character backstory and react to recent plot developments. Players who skip these visits miss substantial character development.
Experiment with Photo Mode at the Base
The Base interior offers controlled lighting and interesting backgrounds for photo mode. Players create portraits of Aloy and companions, documenting their journey through captured images. These Horizon Forbidden West ideas turn the Base into a personal creative studio.
Creative Challenges and Self-Imposed Goals
After completing the main content, self-imposed challenges keep the game fresh. These Horizon Forbidden West ideas come from the player community and encourage creative problem-solving.
Pacifist Runs (Where Possible)
Some sections allow players to avoid combat entirely through stealth and environmental manipulation. Attempting to minimize kills creates a different gameplay rhythm and reveals alternative paths through encounters.
No Fast Travel Playthroughs
Walking or riding mounts across the entire map changes the game’s pacing. Players discover random encounters, machine migrations, and environmental details that fast travel bypasses. This approach suits players who want to absorb every detail.
Outfit-Restricted Challenges
Players can limit themselves to a single outfit throughout the game, forcing adaptation to its specific bonuses. A stealth-focused outfit requires different tactics than one designed for melee combat. These restrictions encourage mastery of particular playstyles.
Legendary Machine Hunting Lists
Creating personal hunting goals, defeating every Apex variant, or collecting components from each machine type, extends gameplay significantly. Tracking these achievements manually adds investment to each successful hunt.
Speed Running Sections
Competing against personal best times on specific quests or areas adds replay value. The community shares strategies for optimizing routes and combat sequences. Speed running transforms familiar content into competitive challenges.
