Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Impressive expansion adds romance, is still pretty violent.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST: BURNING SHORES, a paid expansion for Horizon Forbidden West, takes players back to Guerrilla Games' far-flung future, which sees humanity struggling to survive in a world teeming with giant, animal-like machines. Having eliminated the immediate threat posed by the Zeniths -- a group of long-lived individuals who attempted to eradicate all life on the planet -- beloved Horizon hero Aloy learns that one final member of the faction may still be on Earth and is almost certainly up to no good. She travels to the Burning Shores (what's left of Los Angeles in the future) to confront him, meeting up with members of a tribe called the Quen, who have sailed across the ocean and are on the brink of collapse. Realizing that their goals align, Aloy works in cooperation with several Quen as she explores this dangerous new land. The expansion delivers not only an expansive new region for players to explore, but also additional machine foes, new weapons, armor, and abilities, plus new character developments, including a potential love interest for Aloy.
Is It Any Good?
Consider this the cherry on top of one of the best games around. Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores delivers an engaging 15-hour epilogue to the original game that presents players with not only compelling new characters -- including the instantly likable Seyka, as well as the egomaniacal Londra -- but also a stunning new environment to explore. The remains of a Los Angeles that's been ravaged first by war, then by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions over the course of a millennium, are hardly recognizable. But the sprawling jungles and sandy beaches gently lapped by crystal-clear waves are absolutely beautiful, as are the awesomely powerful, jaw-dropping machines that casually roam between trees, over crumbling highways, and among decrepit buildings. You won't find a prettier game on PlayStation 5.
And it's mighty fun, too. New machines like the toad-inspired Bilegut test players' combat skills with challenging attacks and movement patterns, while the amphibious Waterwings provide Aloy with a new mount that makes it a lot easier to get around the map. And the new gear -- including some snazzy new outfits and face paints, as well as several new legendary weapons (such as the Emperor's Reign medium-range bow) -- delivers a satisfying upgrade to Aloy's aesthetic and combat prowess. Plus, Aloy's new abilities, like being able to grapple machines and pull herself closer in a split-second, give players new tactics to master. Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores doesn't reinvent the game that so many players have already come to love -- it provides more of what made the original so entertaining.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in the media. Is the violence in Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores contextually appropriate? Are there times when combat is sensationalized -- made more brutal or "cool" -- simply to entertain players?
Talk about the portrayal of women in games. Aloy is an intelligent, capable, non-sexualized woman. What other games have you played that feature strong female heroes?
Game Details
- Platform : PlayStation 5
- Pricing structure : Paid ($19.99)
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Release date : April 19, 2023
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Robots
- Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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