Synopsis: Travel beyond the Forbidden West as Aloy’s story continues. Encounter new machines and a compelling new story. South of the Tenakth Clan Lands, millennia of volcanic eruptions and violent seismic activity have carved the ruins of Los Angeles into a treacherous archipelago. Experience the next chapter of Horizon Forbidden West as Aloy pursues a sinister new threat hidden among these dangerous, untamed wilds.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
Also available for: N/A
Cast: Ashly Burch, Kylie Liya Page, Lance Reddick, Sam Witwer
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Game Director: Mathijs de Jonge
Narrative Director: Ben McCaw
Art Director: Misja Baas
NOTE: This review assumes you’ve beaten Horizon Forbidden West and contains spoilers for the base game.
With a world-eater named “Nemesis” headed toward Earth at the end of Horizon Forbidden West, I worried Burning Shores might feel like stalling. Thankfully, it doesn’t. Aloy heads to Los Angeles to track down the last surviving Far Zenith member, Walter Londra, and the pursuit feels immediately essential.
LA is split across small islands and a larger landmass, with lava spilling beneath the Hollywood sign and wide stretches of water to skim and dive through. Because this expansion begins after the main campaign, it’s designed around Aloy’s end-game mobility—there’s a lot of flying, with secrets tucked away for mounted exploration. A new Waterwing mount that can both fly and dive into the sea had me feeling like I’d stepped into an Avatar: The Way of Water game.
Without getting too specific, Walter Londra stands out from the other Far Zeniths thanks to his tactics and swagger. And if you’re wondering why this DLC is PS5-only—beyond Guerrilla’s much-touted “cloud tech”—look no further than the final boss: it’s the biggest, wildest set-piece Aloy’s faced so far.
Don’t expect deep dives on Nemesis lore or Far Zenith history. There’s enough here to tide you over before the inevitable third game, but the spotlight is elsewhere: Aloy’s relationship with Seyka, a Quen warrior who partners with her throughout the main story. Aloy sees a lot of herself in Seyka—capable, sharp, and an outsider in her own tribe—and the fact Seyka already has a Focus means there’s less remedial exposition. It’s clear Guerrilla hopes she’ll be pivotal in the future. I like her a lot, though this relatively short expansion doesn’t quite give their bond the space to fully land.
The story took me about four to five hours, with a bit of detouring for side quests and upgrading a new story-unlocked gear piece. A 100% run will likely land around eight to ten hours. Some side content is standard collect-athon fare, but a favorite mission brings back a fun character from Frozen Wilds.
If you enjoyed Horizon Forbidden West, you’ll want to play Burning Shores. It’s a confident, scenic stepping stone toward the next game—and a great excuse to fly, dive, and glide across this world again.
(Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores code provided for review)
