Dying Light 2 Stay Human vs Horizon Forbidden West

• Perspective: First-Person
• Multiplayer: Cooperative (4 players online for entire campaign)
• Setting: Villedor ('The City'), Post-Apocalyptic Europe, 20+ years after Harran Virus outbreak
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch (Cloud Version)
• Unique Feature: Advanced Parkour System, Day/Night Cycle Impacting Gameplay, Branching Narrative with Faction Choices, Melee-Focused Combat, Infection Management.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: None (Single-Player Only)
• Setting: The Forbidden West (Fictionalized Western USA - California, Nevada, Utah), Post-Post-Apocalyptic Future
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC (Windows)
• Unique Feature: Intricate Machine Combat, Vast & Diverse Open World, Advanced Traversal (Flying Mount, Shieldwing, Free Climbing), Deep Lore & Worldbuilding, Visually Stunning Graphics.

• Co-op Players (Online): Up to 3 other players can join the host's game in online co-op. They control their own Aiden characters with their respective progression. Teammates can revive each other, combine combat efforts, and assist in completing quests and exploring The City. Loot is generally instanced or shared fairly.
  Human (Other Players' Aidens)
• Story-Specific AI Companions (Temporary): During certain main story missions or side quests, key NPC characters will temporarily accompany Aiden, providing combat support and unique dialogue. They are AI-controlled and their presence is scripted for those specific mission segments. They are not persistent, commandable companions.
  Human (Key NPCs like Lawan, Hakon)

• Varl (Temporary): Accompanies Aloy on several early to mid-game missions. Provides combat support with his bow and spear, and engages in dialogue that explores their friendship and the unfolding events.
  Human (Nora Brave)
• Zo (Temporary): Joins Aloy for specific quests related to the Utaru tribe and healing the land-gods. Fights with a unique staff and has abilities related to plants and machines.
  Human (Utaru Gravesinger)
• Kotallo (Temporary): Assists Aloy in missions involving the Tenakth tribe and fighting Regalla's rebels. A skilled warrior, even with his injury, using Tenakth weaponry.
  Human (Tenakth Marshal)
• Alva (Temporary): Helps Aloy decipher Old World data and navigate Quen politics during relevant quests. More focused on knowledge and tech than direct combat.
  Human (Quen Diviner)
• Erend (Temporary): Provides heavy combat support with his Oseram hammer and gadgets during missions where he joins Aloy.
  Human (Oseram Vanguard)
• Beta (Contextual): While not a combat companion, Beta's technical expertise is crucial for progressing the story, often working with Aloy remotely or providing vital information.
  Human (Elisabet Sobeck Clone)
• Seyka (Burning Shores DLC - Temporary): Aloy's primary companion throughout the Burning Shores DLC. A skilled warrior and mariner, she fights alongside Aloy with Quen weaponry and assists in navigating the volcanic archipelago.
  Human (Quen Marine)

• Inhibitors (GRE Crates): Found in GRE Quarantine Buildings, Military Convoys, Airdrops, and other high-risk locations. Essential for upgrading Aiden's maximum Health and Stamina, which in turn unlocks access to higher-tier Combat and Parkour skills.
• Mementos (Notes, Recordings, Dog Tags, Newspapers, etc.): Lore items scattered throughout Villedor that provide backstory about the world, The Fall, key characters, and the daily struggles of survivors. Found in buildings, safe zones, and quest locations.
• Graffiti Tags (Street Art): Collectible pieces of street art created by various artists in The City. Often found in hard-to-reach parkour locations, requiring skilled traversal to find and collect.
• Tapes (Music & Story): Audio tapes that can be played on Aiden's cassette player. Some are music tracks, while others contain story segments, interviews, or personal logs providing more lore.
• Blueprints: Recipes for crafting weapon mods, consumables (medkits, boosters), throwables, and arrows/bolts. Found in the world, as quest rewards, or purchased from Craftmasters.

• Survey Drones (Tallneck Data): 10 flying drones that continuously circle a specific area. Aloy must find a way to jump onto and retrieve their data modules. Each drone collected reveals information about Old World landmarks or ecosystems and provides XP/Skill Points.
• Black Boxes (Flight Recorders): 12 recoverable flight recorders from crashed Old World airplanes. Each black box contains an audio log telling a short, often poignant story of the plane's final moments. Collecting them all is part of a side quest for a unique weapon.
• Vista Points: 9 towers emitting a partial image of a pre-war landscape. Aloy must find the exact spot to stand and activate her Focus to align the image with the current environment, revealing a complete glimpse of the Old World location. Provides lore and XP.
• Relic Ruins: 9 Old World ruins containing environmental puzzles that Aloy must solve using her Focus, Pullcaster, and other tools to reach a hidden Ornament (collectible for a side quest) or other valuable loot.
• Signal Lenses (Signals of the Sun - Carja): Lenses from Old World signal towers that need to be collected for a Carja NPC in the Daunt. Often require climbing or light puzzle solving.
• War Totems (Banuk Figures - Easter Egg): Small, hidden Banuk-style figurines representing characters from other PlayStation Studios games (e.g., Kratos, Jin Sakai). A fun Easter egg collectible.
• Machine Strike Pieces & Players: Machine Strike is an in-universe tactical board game. Aloy can collect various machine-themed game pieces (by purchasing or defeating specific machines) and challenge NPC players throughout the Forbidden West to matches.
• Greenshine Fragments/Slivers/Clusters: Valuable crystalline resource found in underwater locations, caves, or as rewards. Used for upgrading high-tier weapons and outfits.
• Ornament Collectibles (From Relic Ruins): Found at the end of each Relic Ruin puzzle. Can be given to an NPC in Las Vegas (Hidden Ember) to create light shows.

• Post-Apocalypse
• Zombie Outbreak
• Survival
• Moral Choices & Consequences
• Faction Warfare
• Parkour & Freedom of Movement
• Hope vs. Despair
• Humanity's Struggle
• Infection & Transformation
• Scavenging & Crafting

• Post-Apocalypse
• Nature Reclaiming Earth
• Tribal Societies
• Ancient Technology & AI
• Environmental Catastrophe (The Blight)
• Discovery & Exploration
• Hope & Sacrifice
• The Burden of Knowledge
• Legacy
• Inter-Tribal Conflict & Cooperation

• Melee Weapons (One-Handed & Two-Handed): Various (Axes, Maces, Swords, Machetes, Hammers, Knives, Pipes, Bats, Knuckledusters)
  The primary combat tools. Weapons have rarity tiers (Common to Artifact), durability, and can be enhanced with craftable mods (e.g., adding elemental damage like fire/shock, increasing impact, critical chance, or durability). Different weapon types have varying attack speeds, damage, and special properties (e.g., blunt weapons good against armor, slashing against unarmored).
• Bows & Crossbows: Ranged (Silent, Precision)
  Silent ranged weapons ideal for stealth and taking out enemies from a distance. Various arrow/bolt types can be crafted (standard, fire, shock, explosive, poison, UV). The PK Crossbow is a powerful late-game reward.
• Throwables: Tactical/Explosive/Utility
  Craftable items like Molotov Cocktails, DIY Grenades, UV Bars (temporary UV light source), Decoys (to distract infected), Mines, C4, Throwing Knives.
• Gear & Consumables (Boosters): Utility/Buffs
  Boosters provide temporary enhancements to combat, parkour, health regeneration, or resistances. Medkits are essential for healing. Craftable using herbs and other resources.
• UV Flashlight: Defensive Tool
  An essential tool, especially at night. Its UV light weakens and repels Volatiles and other light-sensitive infected, creating temporary safe opportunities. Can be upgraded for intensity and duration.
• Firearms (Limited): Ranged (Ballistic - Rare)
  While the game is primarily melee-focused due to ammo scarcity in The City, some limited firearms like makeshift pistols or shotguns (e.g., 'Boomstick') can be found or crafted, but ammo is extremely rare and they are generally less sustainable than melee or bows.

• Hunter Bows: Ranged (Versatile, Elemental Arrows)
  Balanced bows for mid-range combat, capable of firing standard, fire, frost, acid, shock, and advanced hunter arrows. Good for precision and applying elemental effects.
• Sharpshot Bows: Ranged (High Precision, Tear Damage)
  Long-range bows with high damage per shot, excellent for targeting specific machine components to tear them off or hit weak spots. Can use precision arrows and tearblast arrows.
• Warrior Bows: Ranged (Short Range, Rapid Fire)
  Fast-firing bows for close-quarters combat, often with elemental effects. Lower precision but higher rate of fire.
• Blastsling: Ranged (Explosive/Elemental Bombs)
  Launches bombs that explode on impact or with a delay, dealing area damage or applying status effects (explosive, adhesive, frost, acid, shock). Requires aiming trajectory.
• Tripcaster: Trap (Tripwires)
  Deploys tripwires between two points that trigger when enemies pass through, dealing damage or applying elemental effects (shock, explosive, plasma, stun).
• Ropecaster: Utility (Tethering)
  Fires ropes that can tie down machines, temporarily immobilizing them or making them vulnerable to critical strikes. Can also be used to pull down environmental objects.
• Spike Thrower: Ranged (Heavy Projectile, High Damage/Explosive)
  Launches heavy spikes that deal massive impact damage or explode. Excellent against large, armored machines. Can have drill or explosive variants.
• Shredder Gauntlet: Ranged (Ricocheting Disc)
  Launches a serrated disc that shreds components off machines and returns to Aloy. Catching the returning disc charges it for increased damage on the next throw. Can have elemental variants.
• BoltBlaster: Ranged (Rapid Fire Bolts, Elemental)
  A heavy weapon that fires a volley of bolts in rapid succession, similar to a crossbow or minigun. Can be equipped with various elemental bolt types.
• Spear (Melee & Override): Melee / Utility
  Aloy's primary melee weapon for light and heavy attacks, combos, and critical strikes on downed enemies. Also used to silently override machines.
• Traps (Blast, Shock, Stun, etc.): Deployable Utility
  Craftable traps that can be placed on the ground to damage or incapacitate machines and human enemies.
• Valor Surges: Special Abilities (Temporary Buffs/Attacks)
  Powerful, temporary abilities unlocked in the skill tree that consume Valor. Effects range from increased damage, stealth cloaking, powerful AoE attacks, to defensive shields.

• Gear Pieces (Head, Chest, Gloves, Bracers, Pants, Shoes): Players equip six pieces of gear, each belonging to a specific class (Tank, Brawler, Medic, Ranger) that provides bonuses tailored to that playstyle (e.g., Tank gear offers more damage resistance, Brawler gear more melee damage). Gear has rarity tiers (Common to Artifact) and provides stats like armor, damage resistance, and specific perks (e.g., +% damage at night, reduced stamina cost for parkour). Gear can be found, bought, or earned as quest rewards.
• Cosmetic Outfits (Transmog): A transmogrification system allows players to change the appearance of their equipped gear to look like any other gear piece they have collected, without altering its stats. Many full cosmetic outfits are also available through events, DLC, or store purchases.

• Outfits (Nora, Carja, Oseram, Utaru, Tenakth, Quen - various tiers): Aloy can equip various outfits, each consisting of a single piece that covers head and body (though headpieces can often be toggled off visually). Outfits provide base defensive stats (Melee, Ranged, Elemental Resistances) and come with inherent perks or skills (e.g., +Stealth, +Concentration, +Heavy Weapon Damage). Outfits are color-coded by rarity (Uncommon to Legendary) and can be upgraded at workbenches to improve stats and unlock/upgrade weave slots for further customization with Coils (mods).
• Weaves (Coils): Mods that can be inserted into the weave slots of outfits and weapons. They provide specific stat boosts (e.g., +% Fire Damage, +Melee Defense, +Critical Hit Chance) or unique perks. Weaves also have rarity tiers.
• Face Paints: Cosmetic items that Aloy can apply, representing different tribal affiliations or styles. Unlocked through quests or progression. Do not provide stat bonuses.
• Dyes: Players can collect special plants to unlock dyes, which can be used at Dyer merchants to change the color scheme of most outfits, allowing for visual customization.

• Gear Sets (Tank, Brawler, Medic, Ranger): Players equip six pieces of gear (Head, Torso, Gloves, Wrists, Legs, Feet). Each piece belongs to a class (Tank, Brawler, Medic, Ranger) providing specific gameplay bonuses (e.g., damage reduction, melee damage, healing effectiveness, ranged damage). Gear has visual variety based on its class, rarity, and faction origin (PK, Survivor, Renegade aesthetic). A transmog system allows players to change equipped gear's appearance to any owned style.
• Cosmetic Outfits & Skins: Full cosmetic outfits that change Aiden's entire appearance without affecting stats are available through game progression, events, DLC, or store purchases (e.g., Nightrunner outfit, Peacekeeper outfit, various themed bundles).
• Weapon Charms: Small cosmetic charms that can be attached to melee weapons for personalization.

• Tribal Outfits (Nora, Carja, Oseram, Banuk, Utaru, Tenakth, Quen): Aloy can acquire and wear numerous outfits inspired by the game's various tribes. Each outfit provides defensive stats and unique perks suited to different playstyles (e.g., stealth, ranged combat, melee, machine overriding, elemental resistance). Outfits are color-coded by rarity and can be upgraded. A transmog system allows players to apply the appearance of any owned outfit while retaining the stats of another.
• Special Outfits (Pre-order, Deluxe, Legendary): Unique outfits obtained through pre-orders, special game editions, or by crafting/purchasing legendary tier gear. These often have powerful perks and distinct visual designs.
• Face Paints: Cosmetic face paints representing different tribes or personal markings can be applied to Aloy. Unlocked through quests, merchants, or exploration.
• Outfit Dyes: Players can collect specific dye plants from the environment and use them at Dyer merchants to change the color schemes of most outfits, offering a layer of visual personalization.
• Headpiece Toggle: Most outfits come with a headpiece, but players have the option to visually toggle it off while still retaining its stats and perks, allowing them to see Aloy's face.

Aiden has two main skill trees: Combat (unlocking new melee moves, weapon proficiency, and toughness) and Parkour (unlocking advanced traversal abilities like wall runs, slides, and improved jumps). Skill points are earned by performing combat actions and parkour maneuvers respectively. Inhibitors, found in GRE containers, are used to upgrade Health and Stamina, which also gate access to higher-tier skills. Crafting allows Aiden to create weapon mods, consumables (medkits, boosters), and throwable items using scavenged resources. Blueprints for crafting are found or earned.

The City of Villedor is significantly larger than Harran from the first game, divided into two main districts: Old Villedor (a more classic European-style area with smaller buildings, easier for early parkour) and the Central Loop (a modern downtown area with skyscrapers, requiring advanced parkour tools like the grappling hook and paraglider). There are also surrounding areas, GRE Quarantines, and Dark Hollows. The map is dense with verticality, encouraging rooftop traversal.

The Forbidden West is a vast and diverse open world, significantly larger than the map of Zero Dawn. Key regions include: The Daunt (a Carja borderland), No Man's Land (arid plains), Plainsong (Utaru farmlands), The Shining Wastes (deserts), Scalding Spear (Tenakth Sky Clan capital), The Stand of the Sentinels (Tenakth Lowland Clan territory), The Long Coast (beaches and ruins, leading to San Francisco), Isle of Spires (ruined San Francisco, Quen landing site), and underwater environments. The map is rich in verticality, dense jungles, arid deserts, snowy mountains, and submerged ruins. The 'Burning Shores' DLC adds a new volcanic archipelago region (former Los Angeles).

• Paraglider: Personal Traversal Gear (Aerial)
  An essential tool unlocked progression, allowing Aiden to glide from high places, cover large distances quickly, and navigate the verticality of the Central Loop. Can be upgraded for better maneuverability and features like a UV light attachment.
• Grappling Hook: Personal Traversal Gear (Utility)
  A versatile tool used to swing across gaps, pull Aiden towards anchor points, and aid in climbing. It functions more like a physics-based swing rather than a point-and-zip line in some games. Upgradable for range and functionality.
• Traversal on Foot (Parkour): Player Locomotion
  The primary mode of movement. Dying Light 2 features an advanced and fluid parkour system, allowing Aiden to run, jump, climb, slide, wall-run, and use various environmental elements to navigate The City's rooftops and streets with agility.

• Mountable Machines (Charger, Bristleback, Clawstrider, Sunwing): Overridden Machine Mounts (Land & Air)
  Aloy can override various machines to use as mounts. Chargers are fast ground mounts. Bristlebacks are slower but can dig for resources. Clawstriders are combat-capable ground mounts. Sunwings are flying mounts essential for aerial traversal and accessing high areas.
• Shieldwing: Personal Glider
  An energy glider deployed by Aloy to safely descend from great heights, glide across gaps, and perform aerial maneuvers. An essential traversal tool.
• Pullcaster: Grappling Tool / Utility
  A versatile tool that functions as a grappling hook to pull Aloy towards specific anchor points, pull down destructible walls or objects, and retrieve out-of-reach loot. Also used in combat to pull enemies or expose weak points.
• Boats / Rafts (Contextual): Simple Watercraft
  In some underwater or flooded areas, Aloy might find or use simple rafts or interact with small boats for short-distance water traversal, though these are not primary controllable vehicles like in other games.

• Infected Humans (Various Stages & Types - Virals, Biters, Goons, Demolishers, Volatiles, etc.): Homo sapiens infectus (Harran Virus)
  Primary Antagonistic Force, Ranging from common fodder to elite/boss-level threats.
• Dogs (Feral/Infected - Howlers): Canis familiaris (Infected)
  Hostile, Howlers alert other infected to Aiden's presence.
• Rats & Crows: Rodentia / Corvidae
  Ambient wildlife, can sometimes indicate nearby loot or danger, generally non-hostile but can be startled.
• Deer (Mentioned/Implied in hunting for resources, but not live interactive animals typically): Cervidae
  Primarily a source for crafting resources (leather, bones) through looting or specific contexts rather than live hunting encounters in the city.

• Aiden Caldwell: Protagonist (Pilgrim)
  An infected survivor with exceptional parkour and combat abilities. He travels to The City searching for his sister, Mia, from whom he was separated during GRE experiments as a child. Aiden is resourceful, determined, and his choices shape the fate of Villedor.
• Lawan: Ally / Potential Romantic Interest
  A strong, independent, and cynical survivor in The City, driven by a desire for revenge against Colonel Waltz. She becomes a crucial ally to Aiden and is skilled in combat and parkour. Voiced and motion-captured by Rosario Dawson.
• Hakon: Ally / Nightrunner
  An experienced Nightrunner who helps Aiden navigate The City early in his journey. He is knowledgeable about survival and the city's factions but has his own hidden agenda and complex allegiances.
• Colonel Lucas Waltz: Main Antagonist (Former GRE Scientist / Renegade Leader)
  A brilliant but ruthless scientist formerly with the GRE, now the leader of the Renegades. He is obsessed with finding a cure for his own condition and is connected to Aiden and Mia's past experiments. He possesses superhuman abilities due to self-experimentation.
• Frank Marwey: Supporting Character / Former Nightrunner Leader
  The former leader of the Nightrunners, now a disillusioned and alcoholic owner of the Fish Eye Canteen. He possesses valuable information and contacts within The City.
• Major Jack Matt: Faction Leader (Peacekeepers)
  The stern and militaristic commander of the Peacekeepers in the Central Loop. He seeks to impose order and security through strict control and military might.
• Sophie: Faction Figure (Survivors - Old Villedor)
  A key figure among the Survivors in the Bazaar in Old Villedor, trying to protect her community. Her brother, Barney, often causes trouble.
• Carl: Faction Figure (Survivors - Central Loop)
  One of the leaders of the Survivors faction operating from the PK Floating Fortress in the Central Loop, advocating for a more communal and less authoritarian approach.
• Various other supporting characters: Quest Givers, Faction Members, Survivors
  Numerous other characters populate The City, offering quests, information, and representing the diverse struggles of those living in the post-apocalypse.

• Aloy: Protagonist / Nora Machine Hunter / Seeker
  The main playable character. A skilled hunter, archer, and machine overrider. Haunted by her origins as a clone of Dr. Elisabet Sobeck, she ventures into the Forbidden West to find a cure for the Blight and save life on Earth. Known for her intelligence, compassion, and determination.
• Varl: Ally / Nora Brave / Aloy's Companion
  A loyal friend and companion to Aloy from the Nora tribe. He follows her into the Forbidden West, providing support and a connection to her past. He undergoes his own journey of growth and finding his place.
• Erend: Ally / Oseram Vanguard Captain
  A boisterous and strong Oseram warrior, captain of the Carja Vanguard. He reunites with Aloy in the Forbidden West and assists her, often providing comic relief and brute force.
• Zo: Ally / Utaru Gravesinger
  A calm and spiritual member of the agrarian Utaru tribe. She is a 'Gravesinger,' tending to the tribe's land-gods (machines that sustain their crops). She joins Aloy to help heal the land and her people.
• Kotallo: Ally / Tenakth Sky Clan Marshal
  A stoic and honorable Tenakth warrior from the Sky Clan who lost an arm in battle. Initially distrustful, he becomes a steadfast ally to Aloy, grappling with his injury and his duty to his people.
• Alva: Ally / Quen Diviner
  A curious and intelligent Diviner from the overseas Quen tribe. She possesses knowledge of Old World technology through her tribe's limited Focus-like devices. She aids Aloy in understanding ancient data.
• Sylens: Ambiguous Figure / Researcher & Schemer
  The enigmatic and highly intelligent researcher obsessed with Old World knowledge and technology. His motives are often unclear, and he manipulates events for his own purposes, sometimes aligning with Aloy, sometimes opposing her.
• Beta: Supporting Character / Elisabet Sobeck Clone
  Another clone of Dr. Elisabet Sobeck, created and raised in isolation by Far Zenith. She is highly intelligent but socially anxious and initially fearful. Her relationship with Aloy is central to the plot.
• Regalla: Antagonist / Tenakth Rebel Leader
  A fierce Tenakth warrior leading a rebellion against Chief Hekarro. She is fueled by a desire for revenge against the Carja and allies herself with Sylens to acquire machine overriding technology.
• Tilda van der Meer: Antagonist / Far Zenith Member
  A prominent member of Far Zenith, an organization of immortal Old World humans who fled Earth. She has a complex past connection with Elisabet Sobeck and plays a key role in Far Zenith's plans.
• Gerard Bieri: Antagonist / Far Zenith Leader
  The apparent leader of the Far Zenith expedition to Earth. Arrogant and dismissive of current human life on Earth.
• Hekarro: Supporting Character / Tenakth Chief
  The wise and respected chief of the Tenakth tribe, seeking to unite its three clans and resist Regalla's rebellion.
• GAIA: AI / Earth's Terraforming System
  The benevolent AI created by Elisabet Sobeck to restore life to Earth. Aloy seeks to recover GAIA's subordinate functions to repair the biosphere and stop the Blight.
• Walter Londra (Burning Shores DLC): Antagonist (DLC) / Far Zenith Member
  A Far Zenith member who established a cult-like following in the Burning Shores region, posing a new threat that Aloy and Seyka must confront.
• Seyka (Burning Shores DLC): Ally / Quen Marine (DLC)
  A resourceful and determined Quen marine encountered in the Burning Shores DLC. She teams up with Aloy to find her missing sister and confront Londra. A potential romantic interest for Aloy.

• Main Story Quests (Aiden's Search for Mia)
  A series of narrative-driven missions that follow Aiden Caldwell's journey to find his sister Mia, unravel his past with the GRE experiments, and navigate the faction conflicts within Villedor. These missions involve critical choices that shape the city and its inhabitants.
• Side Quests (Citizen Requests & Stories)
  Numerous optional quests given by various NPCs throughout The City. These offer diverse scenarios, from helping survivors with personal problems and investigating mysteries to undertaking dangerous tasks for factions or individuals. They provide XP, rewards, and further insight into the world.
• Facility Assignment Missions (Water Towers & Electrical Stations)
  Key missions where Aiden must secure and assign control of vital city infrastructure (Water Towers, Electrical Stations) to either the Peacekeepers or the Survivors. This choice permanently alters the zone, adding faction-specific parkour aids (e.g., PK traps, Survivor ziplines/airbags) and changing NPC presence.
• GRE Anomaly Fights (Revenants)
  Night-time boss encounters against powerful, unique infected called Revenants found at specific GRE Anomaly sites. Defeating them rewards Combat XP, valuable loot, and often Inhibitors.
• GRE Quarantine Buildings & Dark Hollows
  Daytime-infested or night-time high-risk indoor locations that contain valuable loot, crafting materials, and Inhibitors. GRE Quarantines are multi-level challenges, while Dark Hollows are smaller but often guarded by Volatiles at night.
• Windmills & Metro Stations (Safe Zone Activation)
  Activate windmills by completing parkour challenges to power them up, creating new Survivor safe zones. Clear out infected and restore power to Metro Stations to unlock them as fast travel points and larger safe zones.
• Airdrops & Military Convoys
  Locate and loot valuable supplies from GRE airdrops (often on rooftops or in dangerous areas) and abandoned military convoys. These contain high-tier gear, crafting parts, and Inhibitors.
• Parkour Challenges & Combat Challenges
  Timed challenges that test Aiden's parkour skills (reaching checkpoints within a time limit) or combat abilities (defeating waves of enemies). Award medals and XP based on performance.
• Story DLC Missions (e.g., 'Bloody Ties')
  Self-contained narrative expansions with new storylines, characters, locations, and rewards. 'Bloody Ties' focuses on a brutal arena tournament.

• Main Quests (Aloy's Journey to the West)
  A series of narrative-driven quests following Aloy's quest to find a working backup of GAIA, stop the Red Blight, investigate the origins of new, dangerous machines, and confront the threat of Far Zenith and Regalla's rebels. These missions span the entire Forbidden West and involve major story revelations, character interactions, and boss battles.
• Side Quests (Favors & Errands)
  Numerous optional quests given by various NPCs across all tribes and settlements. These offer unique storylines, explore the cultures and conflicts of the Forbidden West, introduce memorable characters, and reward XP, skill points, gear, or valuable resources.
• Cauldrons
  Large, underground machine factories. Aloy must infiltrate these dangerous, puzzle-filled facilities, fight through machine defenses, and override the cauldron's core to unlock new machine override codes, allowing her to convert more machine types to her side.
• Tallnecks
  Colossal, giraffe-like machines that act as mobile radar towers. Aloy must find a way to climb to the top of each Tallneck and override its sensor array to unfog a large portion of the world map, revealing points of interest, settlements, and machine sites.
• Rebel Camps & Outposts
  Fortified camps and smaller outposts controlled by Regalla's rebels. Aloy must defeat the rebel leader in each camp (often involving a mini-boss fight) and clear out all enemies to liberate the area, earning rewards and sometimes unlocking new allies or quests.
• Hunting Grounds
  Specific arenas where Aloy can undertake timed trials focused on different hunting techniques and weapon usage against various machines. Earning higher marks (Quarter, Half, Full Stripes) rewards medals, XP, and unique resources.
• Melee Pits
  Arenas where Aloy can challenge Tenakth warriors in melee combat duels, testing her spear skills and unlocking new melee combos upon victory.
• Salvage Contracts
  Quests given by Oseram salvagers, tasking Aloy with hunting specific machines for rare parts or retrieving valuable scrap from dangerous locations. Rewards often include powerful Oseram weapons or outfits.
• Gauntlet Runs (Machine Races)
  Mounted races against other machine riders, involving navigating a treacherous course while using weapons and abilities to sabotage opponents.
• Burning Shores DLC Main Quests
  A new main storyline set in the volcanic Burning Shores region, where Aloy teams up with Quen marine Seyka to investigate a new Far Zenith threat led by Walter Londra.

Features a 4-player online cooperative mode, allowing players to experience the entire main story campaign and most side activities together. Players can join a host's game, and progression is largely tied to the host, though players retain their character progression and inventory. Co-op enhances combat and exploration with team tactics.

Available in Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate Editions. Deluxe Edition included digital artbook, soundtrack, exclusive weapon charms, wallpapers, comic, and the first story DLC ('Bloody Ties'). Ultimate Edition included all Deluxe content, plus the second story DLC (yet to be released as of mid-2024), 2h Night XP Boost, crafting items, and two more outfit/weapon skin packs. A Collector's Edition with physical items was also available.

Available in Standard Edition, Special Edition (SteelBook, digital soundtrack, artbook), Digital Deluxe Edition (cosmetic outfits/weapons, digital artbook/soundtrack/comic), Collector's Edition (Tremortusk & Aloy statues, SteelBook, artbook, all Digital Deluxe content), and Regalla Edition (Regalla Tremortusk statue, canvas map, art prints, replica Focus, all Collector's content). The PC version is often the 'Complete Edition' including the Burning Shores DLC.

Techland has committed to 5+ years of post-launch support. The first story DLC, 'Bloody Ties' (arena combat themed), has been released. A second major story DLC is planned. Numerous free updates have added new content, features (like transmog, new parkour challenges, graphics options), seasonal events, and cosmetic packs (Chapter Agents, skin bundles).

One major story expansion, 'Burning Shores,' has been released (exclusive to PS5 and PC). It takes Aloy to a new volcanic archipelago region (former Los Angeles) to pursue a new threat. Numerous free updates have added features like New Game+, Ultra Hard difficulty, transmog, and quality-of-life improvements.

• Q: Is Dying Light 2 a direct sequel to the first Dying Light?
  A: Yes, Dying Light 2 Stay Human is set approximately 20 years after the events of the original Dying Light and its 'The Following' expansion. While it features a new protagonist (Aiden) and setting (The City of Villedor), it exists in the same universe and references past events and characters like Spike.
• Q: How important are choices in Dying Light 2?
  A: Choices are a significant gameplay mechanic. Aiden's decisions during main quests and some side quests can have major consequences, affecting faction control over city districts (which changes the environment with faction-specific parkour tools or traps), the fate of characters, and the overall narrative outcome. The game features multiple ending variations.
• Q: What is the Day/Night cycle like?
  A: The Day/Night cycle is a core feature. Daytime is generally safer for exploration and completing objectives, with fewer aggressive infected. Night-time is extremely dangerous, with more powerful infected like Volatiles roaming the streets. However, night offers increased XP gain and access to specific locations (like Dark Hollows and Forsaken Stores) that contain valuable loot but are heavily infested during the day.
• Q: How does the infection mechanic work for Aiden?
  A: Aiden is infected with the Harran Virus. He wears a biomarker that tracks his immunity levels. When in darkness or away from UV light sources for too long, his immunity drops, and if it reaches zero, he will turn into a Viral. Players must manage this by using UV lamps, UV shrooms, inhibitors, or returning to safe zones before turning.
• Q: Are there firearms in Dying Light 2?
  A: The base game is heavily focused on melee combat and bows due to a story premise that firearms and ammunition became extremely scarce after The Fall. While some makeshift firearms like the 'Boomstick' (a craftable shotgun) exist, and more traditional firearms were added in later updates (like the 'Firearms Update' in early 2024), melee remains the primary combat style.

• Q: Is Horizon Forbidden West a direct sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn?
  A: Yes, Horizon Forbidden West directly continues the story of Aloy, picking up approximately six months after the events of Horizon Zero Dawn.
• Q: Do I need to play Horizon Zero Dawn before Forbidden West?
  A: It is highly recommended. Forbidden West heavily builds upon the lore, characters, and plot threads established in Zero Dawn. While there's a brief recap, playing the first game provides essential context and enhances the emotional impact of the sequel.
• Q: Can Aloy swim underwater in Horizon Forbidden West?
  A: Yes, underwater exploration is a major new feature. Aloy can dive and swim in various bodies of water, discovering submerged ruins, resources, and new machines. She uses a rebreather for extended underwater exploration.
• Q: What is the Shieldwing?
  A: The Shieldwing is a new piece of gear that functions as an energy glider. Aloy can deploy it mid-air after jumping from heights to safely glide across large distances or descend slowly, opening up new traversal possibilities.
• Q: Are there flying mounts in Horizon Forbidden West?
  A: Yes, later in the game, Aloy gains the ability to override and ride Sunwings, which are Pterodactyl-like flying machines, allowing for aerial traversal across the Forbidden West.
• Q: What is Machine Strike?
  A: Machine Strike is an in-universe turn-based tactical board game that Aloy can play against various NPCs. Players collect machine-themed game pieces, each with unique stats and abilities, and battle on a holographic board.

Powered by Techland's C-Engine, the game showcases a detailed and dilapidated urban environment. It features advanced lighting, dense geometry, volumetric fog, and detailed character/infected models. Ray tracing options (Global Illumination, Shadows, Reflections, Ambient Occlusion) are available on PC and current-gen consoles, significantly enhancing visual fidelity but also being very demanding.

Powered by an updated version of the Decima Engine, the game is renowned for its stunning visual fidelity. It showcases incredibly detailed machine designs, lifelike character animations, lush and diverse environments (from dense jungles to arid deserts and underwater biomes), advanced lighting, volumetric clouds, and realistic weather systems. The level of detail in flora, fauna, and tribal settlements is exceptional. Offers multiple graphics modes on PS5.

Original score composed by Olivier Deriviere, featuring a dynamic system that adapts the music to gameplay intensity and player actions (e.g., during parkour sequences or intense combat). Sound design emphasizes visceral melee impacts, distinct infected vocalizations, and the atmospheric tension of night-time exploration. The Biomarker's ticking sound adds to the infection mechanic's urgency.

Original score composed by Joris de Man, The Flight, Niels van der Leest, and Oleksa Lozowchuk, featuring epic orchestral themes, tribal chants, and ethereal melodies that capture the beauty and danger of the Forbidden West. Sound design is intricate, with unique vocalizations for each machine, realistic environmental sounds, and impactful weapon effects.

First-person HUD displaying health, stamina, infection timer (biomarker), equipped weapon/tool, and objective markers. A compass aids navigation. Crafting and inventory menus are accessible. Skill trees are visually represented. The day-night cycle and infection status are prominent UI elements.

Features an immersive HUD with health, Focus meter, weapon/ammo selection, and contextual prompts. The Focus (AR device) highlights machine weak points, tracks, and hackable objects. Menus for inventory, crafting, skills, map, and collectibles are detailed. The world map is extensive with various filters. Dynamic HUD options allow for customization.

Offers a range of accessibility options: customizable controls (key remapping on PC), subtitle customization (size, background, speaker names), colorblind modes, options to change QTEs from taps to holds, aim assist, adjustable FOV (PC), motion blur toggle, head bob toggle, and various audio/visual cues.

Offers a comprehensive suite of accessibility options, including fully remappable controls, extensive subtitle and caption customization, difficulty settings (including Custom mode), aim assist options, options to simplify QTEs, options for motion blur/camera shake, co-pilot mode, dead zone adjustments, auto-sprint, auto-heal, auto-concentration, and various visual/audio cues for gameplay elements.

• Official system requirements from Techland. Performance can vary significantly depending on specific hardware, settings, areas in-game (especially dense city areas), and background applications. An SSD is strongly recommended.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop models of listed desktop GPUs may work if their performance is comparable, but TGP (Total Graphics Power) and cooling are extremely critical. **Dying Light 2 is a demanding title, especially with ray tracing enabled. High-end laptop hardware is necessary for higher settings and resolutions.**
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP is crucial for performance.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Excellent cooling is essential to prevent severe thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Laptops with sustained high CPU power limits will perform better.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM benefits performance.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended for optimal framerates.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Supports NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR (1.0 and 2.0), and Intel XeSS.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Ray Tracing Quality (Global Illumination, Shadows, Reflections, Ambient Occlusion), Shadow Quality, Contact Shadows, Fog Quality, Particle Quality, and Texture Quality heavily impact performance. Using upscaling is highly recommended for higher settings/resolutions, especially with ray tracing.
• Game Name: Dying Light 2 Stay Human

• Official PC system requirements from Guerrilla Games/Nixxes. Performance can vary significantly depending on specific hardware, settings, areas in-game (especially dense jungles or machine-heavy encounters), and background applications. An SSD is MANDATORY. The game is visually stunning and very demanding at higher settings.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop models of listed desktop GPUs will require comparable performance, high TGP (Total Graphics Power), and excellent cooling. **Horizon Forbidden West is a demanding title on PC; high-end laptop hardware is necessary for higher resolutions and settings to maintain smooth framerates. Upscaling is highly recommended.**
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP is crucial for performance.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Robust cooling is essential to prevent severe thermal throttling, especially with detailed environments.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Laptops with sustained high CPU power limits will perform better due to complex world simulation and machine AI.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM (DDR5 preferred for newer systems) is highly beneficial.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended for optimal framerates.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Supports NVIDIA DLSS 3 (Super Resolution & Frame Generation), AMD FSR 2.2, and Intel XeSS. DirectStorage API support for faster loading on compatible NVMe SSDs.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Texture Quality, Model Quality, Shadow Quality, Reflections Quality, Volumetric Clouds, Level of Detail, Hair Quality, and Anisotropic Filtering heavily impact performance. Using upscaling is highly recommended for higher resolutions/settings.
• Game Name: Horizon Forbidden West

• Upscaling Tech: Supports NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR (1.0 and 2.0), and Intel XeSS.
• Key Settings Impact: Ray Tracing Quality (Global Illumination, Shadows, Reflections, Ambient Occlusion), Shadow Quality, Contact Shadows, Fog Quality, Particle Quality, and Texture Quality heavily impact performance. Using upscaling is highly recommended for higher settings/resolutions, especially with ray tracing.

• Upscaling Tech: Supports NVIDIA DLSS 3 (Super Resolution & Frame Generation), AMD FSR 2.2, and Intel XeSS. DirectStorage API support for faster loading on compatible NVMe SSDs.
• Key Settings Impact: Texture Quality, Model Quality, Shadow Quality, Reflections Quality, Volumetric Clouds, Level of Detail, Hair Quality, and Anisotropic Filtering heavily impact performance. Using upscaling is highly recommended for higher resolutions/settings.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP is crucial for performance.
• Cooling Thermals: Excellent cooling is essential to prevent severe thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: Laptops with sustained high CPU power limits will perform better.
• R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM benefits performance.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended for optimal framerates.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP is crucial for performance.
• Cooling Thermals: Robust cooling is essential to prevent severe thermal throttling, especially with detailed environments.
• C P U Power Limits: Laptops with sustained high CPU power limits will perform better due to complex world simulation and machine AI.
• R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM (DDR5 preferred for newer systems) is highly beneficial.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended for optimal framerates.