Overall,Horizon Forbidden Westis mostly about the arrival of Far Zenith and the Tenakth civil war. These elements present the most pressing threats to post-apocalyptic Earth, so it makes sense that Aloy has her hands full with that. However,Horizon Forbidden Westis just as much about history; just like how Far Zenith’s arrival has a lot to do with the fall of the Old Ones and the hubris of past humans, the Tenakth war is all about the fallout of the Red Raids.Forbidden Westis full of places and characters that show the Red Raids' lingering effects, which means Guerrilla Games has plenty of material for a spin-off game.
Horizonis a young series, so it’s not surprising that it’s so short on spin-offs, but side games seem well worth investing in, given how popularHorizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden Westare.Horizon Call of the Mountainwas a good start, introducing a new perspective character, but VR isn’t for everyone, and Ryas wasn’t rigorously established in the core games beforehand. A newHorizonspinoff about the Red Raids can use establishedZero DawnandForbidden Westcharacters as playable protagonists, sending through all kinds of iconic locations.
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Potential Stars of a Horizon Red Raids Game
A lot of the new characters introduced inHorizon Forbidden Westhave strong ties tothe Red Raidsthat make them perfect player characters. Kotallo made his name among the Tenakth during the Red Raids, helping bring about their decisive victory at Barren Light, and his intense melee fighting style would be refreshing in aHorizongame. Meanwhile, Zo could represent the Utaru perspective on the conflict; her skills as a healer and strengths in guerrilla tactics could inspire some stealth-driven sections where players coordinate Utaru warriors to take down Carja soldiers.
AHorizonspinoff about the Red Raids could also break from the franchise’s usual focus on combat with some more political segments. WhileSun-King Avaddoesn’t do much inForbidden West, the Carja’s history inHorizon Zero Dawngets plenty of airtime, and Avad’s attempts to atone for his father’s Red Raids set up the first act ofForbidden West. A Red Raids spinoff could therefore use Avad to show off the more political side of the conflict. Players could navigate Carja society, negotiating with diplomats and clergy, trying to mitigate the harm done by the Mad Sun-King.Horizondoesn’t have many social mechanics, other than Aloy’s Flashpoints, so exploring Avad’s dissident years would also be something new for the IP to experiment with.
Why a Horizon Red Raids Game Would Make Sense
Horizonhas tons of elements that could inspire spinoffs, but a Red Raids game might be one of the most logical choices because of how far-reaching the conflict remains. BothHorizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden Westmake a huge deal out of the Mad Sun-King Jiran’s legacy, between the Eclipse cultists seeking to avenge their king andRegalla’s Tenakth rebelswho hunger for retribution. Given how much strife theHorizonworld still experiences because of the Red Raids, it would make sense to show players what all actually happened.
Horizon Call of the Mountainis still relatively hot off the presses, and the anticipatedHorizonmultiplayer gamehas yet to rear its head, so a Red Raids game likely isn’t around the corner. Still, hopefully Guerrilla Games considers making one. If the next mainlineHorizongame brings Aloy’s story to a close, a spinoff like this would be a great way to make more use of the characters that supported her on her journey, even if Aloy herself wouldn’t appear. For now, players will just have to replay theHorizonbase games to get a taste of the Red Raids' consequences.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available now for PS4 and PS5.
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