Forbidden West DLC: The Full Scope of Aloy’s Extended Adventure

Released in 2022, Horizon Forbidden West is the follow-up to the award-winning 2017 open-world adventure game Horizon Zero Dawn. The sequel continues the adventures of Aloy, a human hunter fighting to survive in a post-apocalyptic world populated by dangerous robots. In April 2023, a PS5-exclusive Forbidden West DLC was released, giving players a new adventure to enjoy in the world of Horizon. If you’re curious about the Forbidden West: Burning Shores DLC and wonder if it’s worth a purchase, read on to see our take.

Horizon Forbidden West Summary

• Release date: February 18, 2022
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC port coming in 2024

Horizon Forbidden West is the 2022 sequel to the highly regarded Horizon Zero Dawn. Like its predecessor, Forbidden West is an open-world action-adventure title set in a post-apocalyptic United States. The series combines sci-fi elements with primitive technology to create a unique aesthetic that sets the Horizon games apart from other titles in the post-apocalyptic genre.

Forbidden West continues the adventures of Aloy, a human huntress and member of the Nora tribe. The game follows Aloy as she leads a band of humans to the Forbidden West, a dangerous frontier comprised of the former American states of California, Utah, and Nevada. Aloy and her companions are seeking a cure for a mysterious and deadly plague. Along the way, they must fight for survival as they face murderous machines and other threats, including enemy human tribes. The game’s open world features a variety of ecosystems, from deserts and snowy mountains to burnt-out cities and underwater environments.

Although it wasn’t as highly rated as its predecessor, Horizon Forbidden West received favorable reviews overall. Fans and critics cited the sequel’s more expansive open world and impressive graphics that take advantage of next-gen hardware.

Horizon Forbidden West DLC

• Release date: April 19, 2023
• Platform: PlayStation 5
• Normal price: $19.99

Horizon Forbidden West launched on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, and a Windows PC port is currently in development for 2024. However, the 2023 Burning Shores DLC is a PS5 exclusive (although it may come to Windows and could even be bundled with the PC release).

After the events of Forbidden West and the defeat of the Far Zenith organization, Aloy must venture beyond the Forbidden West to the ruins of Los Angeles. The former city, now known as the Burning Shores, has been turned into a treacherous archipelago due to volcanic activity. There, Aloy faces a new threat to the planet. She’ll also meet new tribes (both friendly and hostile), new machines, and new environments.

Note that the Burning Shores DLC requires the base game and is not a standalone add-on. Players must also complete the main story of Forbidden West in order to trigger the quest that begins the DLC story.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores Checklist

Forbidden West is a massive game, and the Burning Shores DLC adds even more content. To help you plan your journey, here’s a checklist of the new gear and sidequests in Burning Shores:

New Weapons

• Last Argument: Received from Gildun after completing the “A Friend in the Dark” side quest
• Specter Gauntlet: Received after a battle during the main story quest “The Stars in Their Eyes”
• Skyhammer: Found in a supply crate near the Quen camp during the main quest “Heaven and Earth”
• Distant Thunder: Available for purchase in Fleet’s End
• Eternal Vengeance: Available for purchase in Fleet’s End
• Eye of the Storm: Available for purchase in Fleet’s End
• Gravesinger’s Lament: Available for purchase in Fleet’s End
• The Emperor’s Reign: Available for purchase in Fleet’s End
• The Tie That Binds: Available for purchase in Fleet’s End
• Toy Bow: Found inside a chest in a tower east of the Thunderjaw site
• Blacktide Sharpshot Bow: Available as a pre-order bonus

New Armors

• Quen Deadeye: Available after completing the Splinter Within side quest
• Quen Marine: Available for purchase in Fleet’s End
• Quen Commander: Available for purchase in Fleet’s End
• Nora Lookout: Available for purchase in Fleet’s End
• Blacktide Quen Commander: Available as a pre-order bonus

Side Quests & Errands

• The Splinter Within: Given by Theoa in the Burning Shores
• A Friend in the Dark: Given by Gildun in Relic Ruins: Murmuring Hollow
• In His Wake: Given by Otosu in the Burning Shores
• The Delvers’ Trove: Triggered when Aloy finds all seven Delvers’ Trinkets

Activities & Collectibles

• Aerial Captures
• Delvers’ Trinkets
• Devotee Outposts
• Pangea Figurine
• Relic Ruins: Murmuring Hollow

Is Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores Worth the Money?

The Forbidden West: Burning Shores DLC normally costs $19.99 and goes on sale fairly regularly. For the asking price, we think it’s a worthy buy. Burning Shores adds a whole new region and storyline for Aloy to explore, as well as plenty of new weapons and outfits for her to play around with. Like the base game, it received overall positive reviews from fans and critics, as well.

However, bear in mind that a Windows PC release is coming in 2024. There’s a very high chance this could be a “complete edition” that bundles Forbidden West with the Burning Shores DLC. This will likely coincide with a complete edition re-release for the PlayStation 5 as well. If you don’t have the base game yet and aren’t champing at the bit to play it right now, it might be a good idea to wait for a complete edition (assuming that comes).

Horizon Forbidden West DLC Tips and Tricks

Before setting off on your journey to the Burning Shores, here’s some advice to help you prepare:

• Level up to 50: Before you begin, level up Aloy to 50 if you haven’t already. You face tougher enemies in the Burning Shores. There’s no reason to handicap yourself by being under-leveled.
• Don’t worry about your gear: Although you should level up to 50, you don’t need to worry about maxing out your existing gear. Burning Shores introduces new legendary weapons and armor unique to the region. You get access to most of them right away in Fleet’s End, although you’ll need to purchase them first. These are just as good as, if not better than, your gear from the main game. Use them.
• Reset your skill trees: Don’t rely on the same build you used before. Reset your skill trees and plan to rebuild them, as you’ll likely want to plan your build differently to unlock the new abilities.
• Keep a ropecaster handy: Fans of the game frequently cite a ropecaster as one of the most useful weapons. It’s handy for tying up enemies and preventing yourself from getting overwhelmed, which can happen easily in the Burning Shores. It’s a major game-changer at the higher difficulty levels.
• Don’t neglect your machine skills: The new machines in the Burning Shores are a lot tougher than what you’ve faced so far. If you’ve neglected your machine skills thus far, now’s the time to flesh them out. A Machine Master build is very popular among players for the edge it gives you against these new enemies.

Forbidden West DLC: The Final Word

Horizon Forbidden West offers a massive open world to explore, along with plenty of quests to complete, items to collect, and enemies to fight. The Burning Shores DLC takes the journey even further, offering a new area to venture through and a serious challenge for players (especially at the higher difficulty settings). In our opinion, the DLC is worth it, and we’ll hopefully be treated by a complete edition sometime in 2024. Whether you’re planning to brave the Burning Shores now or later, you should have everything you need to guide Aloy to victory on her next adventure.