Horizon Forbidden West has set up the franchise's hero, Aloy, and her allies to take on their biggest threat yet: Nemesis. After emerging victorious against the Far Zeniths, Aloy will need to focus on the AI that is quickly moving toward Earth to destroy all human life. However, following the next game, the Horizon franchise may be left without a concrete storyline for Aloy to follow, so Guerilla Games should consider stepping away and introducing other playable characters that could further the lore of the world.
There are many avenues that the Horizon franchise could take following the end of Aloy’s story, whether it means traveling back to before Aloy’s time, or simply picking up where she left off with another character. With so many characters, tribes, and factions in the Horizon franchise to pick from, fans will hope for some familiar storylines to follow. From the infamous Red Raids and the Tenakth unification to the unseen story of Rost, or even a custom character that players can put into the world, many fans hope that the Horizon story does not end with Aloy.
The Story of Rost
Rost is one of the most important characters in the Horizon franchise, training Aloy and acting as her father figure. Very little of his early life is ever revealed, though players are told that he was a Death Seeker and a very talented warrior. Taking this into consideration, Rost would be a great playable character for fans to experience, as it would give them a glimpse at the state of the world before Aloy.
Rost’s story may begin with the life he had before he became a Death Seeker, living with his mate and daughter. Their deaths ultimately put him on the path that ended with his exile from the Nora, which would make a perfect story for fans of the Horizon franchise. With Rost’s skills being the baseline for Aloy, it stands to reason that gameplay would not change a lot if he was made a playable character, which would be perfect for those who enjoy how the franchise plays.
Unification of the Tenakth
One of the most intriguing storylines in the Horizon franchise is that of the Tenakth and their initial triumph over the Carja during the Red Raids. Thanks to the efforts of Chief Hekarro, the various tribes of the Tenakth unified and were able to stop the Carja from invading their lands, effectively ending the Red Raids. The Tenakth are known for their tenacity and ability to survive, as well as their versatility in combat, which means following this storyline could bring new combat mechanics into the game.
Setting a game during the Red Raids would also be a great way for the franchise to inform fans more about the atrocities committed by the previous Sun-King while highlighting the skills the Tenakth possess. Players could be given Hekarro as a playable character as they build his reputation and attempt to unify the tribes. Setting the game in this storyline may see it end with the Embassy seen in HorizonForbidden West, which was Aloy’s introduction to the Tenakth.
Creating a New Character
While there are many characters from the franchise that fans would love to control in a standalone game, having a created character would open the possibilities for Guerrilla to design a completely new storyline. This also means that the game could be set before or after the events of Aloy’s life, even showcasing the first humans to emerge from the cradle following the end of the Old Ones. A created character would make perfect sense for the RPG elements of the series, and the Horizon world has already showcased different combat styles from Aloy’s ranged prowess to Erend’s heavy-hitting melee.
The game could also be set after the defeat of Nemesis, where Aloy will likely be revered as a true hero. If this were the case, exploring the many regions and seeing her impact would be a great way to pay homage to one of the most beloved video game characters in recent memory. Preserving her legacy could be a major theme of a Horizon game, or Aloy could even end up ruling the Sundom alongside Sun-King Avad, training the player and then tasking them with an important mission.
While the Horizon franchise may seem empty without Aloy at its helm, the series has the potential to expand out and explore various events that have been talked about. This strategy would greatly help improve the lore of the game and give players the chance to experience the game from a completely different perspective. While Aloy could still be the main character after the battle against Nemesis, future Horizon games should allow fans to experience different characters or even create their own to explore the many regions of the New World.
Horizon Forbidden West is available now for PS4 and PS5.
