A red-haired hunter, a bow, and giant machines roaming a world gone wild again.

When the community picks on gut feeling, no thinking, Horizon Zero Dawn lands right in the middle, on few votes. But the detail draws a sharp profile. On one side, the desert island: ahead of 83% of games, a sign you would gladly take it along. On the other, fun collapses, rock bottom, ahead of barely 3% of titles, and it is the most solid criterion here, twenty-two votes, so no fluke. Attachment, rediscovery and sound also trail fairly low. There lies the tension. You would keep it within reach, you admire it, but that pure fun, the thing that glues you in at 3am, is missing. A world you respect more than you devour.

Against action-RPG open worlds, Horizon impresses with its setting and concept, but suffers from that objective grind many hold against it: gorgeous to look at, less thrilling to play over time.

So who is it for? For you if you love a rich universe, a heroine, memorable fights against mechanical beasts. Far less if you want the game that grabs you and never lets go.