Horizon Forbidden West is out now, giving players a whole new region to explore as Aloy, a huntress with ties to the Old World. For those who want to know the story without actually playing the game, including which characters die and who the final boss is, as well as the ending explained, this article is for you. For everyone else looking to avoid spoilers, do not scroll down.
Horizon Forbidden West ending explained
At the end of Horizon Forbidden West, Aloy and her companions successfully defeat the Zenith threat. The Zenith are beaten by a combination of Sylens’ shield-disrupting weapon and Beta infecting the Zenith machine printer with Hephaestus. Unfortunately, this sets Hephaestus free, meaning it will likely return to a Cauldron and produce more hostile machines (in a Horizon sequel, no doubt).
After defeating Erik and making her way to the top of the Zenith base, Aloy sets Beta free. Beta then hacks into the Zenith network and discovers files that describe a world-ending threat named “Nemesis.” It turns out that the Zenith were merely visiting Earth to grab GAIA, before making their escape to a random star with the hope of finally escaping Nemesis.
Nemesis is an AI built to immortalize the minds of the Far Zenith travelers. However, after becoming sentient, Nemesis used Far Zenith’s knowledge against them. After being trapped for many years, it grew angry and became determined to wipe out humanity. It’s discovered that Nemesis is what sent out the signal that originally triggered Hades during the events of the first game.
While Aloy learns the truth, the final Zenith threat, Gerard, is dispatched by Tilda. Realizing that Aloy knows about Nemesis, Tilda tries to convince her to board the Zenith shuttle to escape with GAIA. However, Aloy refuses and Tilda turns hostile.
Tilda loved Elizabet more than Aloy “could ever know” and is determined to get Aloy, who is described as “the best version” of Elizabet, on the shuttle by any means necessary. This leads to them fighting.
Aloy kills Tilda, but the threat of Nemesis still remains. Sylens appears and proposes that he and Aloy escape Earth to run from the incoming Nemesis threat, but Aloy refuses. Instead of leaving Earth on his own, Sylens remains “for the time being,” after seeing Aloy celebrating the victory with her companions.
The game ends with Aloy sending her companions to spread the word of the Nemesis threat.
Who dies in Horizon Forbidden West?
The biggest character death in Horizon Forbidden West is Varl. Erik kills him while Beta and Aloy are working to capture Hephaestus. He is buried outside of The Base.
The other big character deaths are enemy Zenith. Tilda, Gerard, and Erik are the main three that die.
Regalla also dies, either in the battle against Aloy or at the end of the game in the final fight.
Sylens, Erend, Zo, and Alva do not die in Horizon Forbidden West.
Who is the final boss in Horizon Forbidden West?
The final boss in Horizon Forbidden West is Tilda, played by Carrie-Anne Moss.
Though she loved Elizabet, her affection makes her desperate to bring Aloy aboard the Zenith escape ship. This causes them to fight.
Though her shield is disabled, Tilda makes use of the Sentinel Prime, a hulking behemoth that proves very deadly in battle.
Wondering what GameRevolution thought of Horizon Forbidden West. Then read the review to learn how it’s “an early contender for Game of the Year.”
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