Path of Exile vs Horizon Zero Dawn

• Perspective: Isometric (Top-Down)
• Multiplayer: Online Co-op (up to 6 players)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS
• Core Loop: 3-Month Seasonal Leagues
• Model: Free-to-Play
• Unique Feature: Unprecedented character customization through a massive passive skill tree and a modular skill gem system, all within a free-to-play model.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-player Only
• Setting: Post-Apocalyptic 31st Century Earth (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming)
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows PC, PlayStation 5 (via Backward Compatibility & Remaster)
• Initial Release (PS4): 2017-02-28
• PC Release (Complete Edition): 2020-08-07
• Remastered Release (PS5, PC): 2024-10-31
• Unique Feature: Unique post-apocalyptic world with robotic creatures, compelling story of Aloy, strategic machine combat by targeting weak points, machine overriding.

• Minions: Players (typically Witches or Templars) can use skill gems to summon an army of minions, such as zombies, skeletons, or even the reanimated corpses of powerful monsters, to fight for them.
  Undead, Golems, Spectres
• Cosmetic Pets: Non-combat pets that can be purchased as microtransactions. They follow the player around but do not participate in combat or affect gameplay in any way.
  Various

• Rost (Early Game Mentor): Aloy's adoptive father and mentor during her childhood and adolescence. He teaches her essential survival, hunting, and combat skills. He is not a persistent companion throughout the main journey but is a crucial character in her formative years.
  Human (Nora Outcast)
• Various Story Allies (Temporary): Throughout her journey, Aloy teams up with various individuals for specific quests or story segments (e.g., Erend, Sona, Varl, Talanah, Aratak & Ourea in The Frozen Wilds). These allies fight alongside her but are not permanent, controllable companions.
  Human (Nora, Carja, Oseram, Banuk)
• Overridden Machines (Temporary Mounts/Allies): Aloy can use her spear to override certain types of machines. Some (like Striders, Broadheads, Chargers) can be used as mounts for faster travel. Others might fight alongside her for a limited time if their combat protocols are enabled during the override.
  Robotic Machines

• Unique Items: Dropped by monsters throughout the game. There are over 1,000 unique items, each with fixed names, art, and special properties that can enable entire character builds. Some are extremely rare and valuable.
• Divination Cards: A type of item that drops in specific areas of the game. Collecting a full set of a particular card allows the player to trade it to an NPC for a predetermined item reward, allowing for targeted farming of valuable items.

• Vantages: Datapoints found at scenic overlooks. When activated, Aloy's Focus reveals a glimpse of the Old World location as it once was, along with an audio log from a man who documented the fall of civilization. There are 12 in the base game.
• Metal Flowers: Mysterious, artificial glowing flowers with intricate designs, found hidden throughout the world. Collecting sets of them unlocks rewards from a specific merchant in Meridian. There are 30 in the base game.
• Banuk Figures (Arnak's Figures): Small wooden effigies of Banuk hunters and machines, often found in high, difficult-to-reach places, usually requiring climbing or precise jumps. There are 6 in the base game.
• Ancient Vessels: Old World coffee mugs with various designs. Found in ancient ruins and can be traded to a collector in Meridian for special reward boxes. There are 12 in the base game.
• Grazer Training Dummies: Training dummies set up by the Nora tribe in the Sacred Lands. Destroying all 23 of them grants a small reward and an achievement/trophy.
• Power Cells (for Shield-Weaver Armor): Five rare Power Cells hidden in specific Old World ruins and main quest locations. Collecting all of them is required to unlock the Shield-Weaver outfit.
• Animal Figurines (The Frozen Wilds DLC): Six animal-themed figurines hidden within 'The Cut,' the new region in The Frozen Wilds expansion. Part of a side quest.
• Pigments (The Frozen Wilds DLC): Sets of colorful mineral pigments found in The Cut. Collecting these allows a Banuk shaman to create special dyes for Aloy's outfits and face paint.

• Dark Fantasy
• Survival
• Exile
• Eldritch Horror
• Deep Character Customization
• Loot Hunting
• Complex Economy
• Action RPG

• Post-Apocalyptic
• Nature vs. Technology
• Tribal Societies
• Matriarchy
• Mystery of the Past
• Artificial Intelligence
• Identity & Belonging
• Survival
• Environmentalism
• Ancient Civilizations
• Machine Ecology

• One-Handed Weapons: Claws, Daggers, Wands, Swords, Axes, Maces
  A wide variety of weapons that can be dual-wielded or used with a shield. Each weapon type has its own implicit properties and benefits from different parts of the passive skill tree.
• Two-Handed Weapons: Bows, Staves, Swords, Axes, Maces
  Weapons that require both hands, generally offering higher base damage or more linked sockets at the cost of being unable to use a shield.
• Shields: Armour, Evasion, Energy Shield, or Hybrid
  Off-hand items that provide defensive stats and a chance to block attacks. They can also have powerful explicit mods, making them a key piece of gear for many builds.

• Spear (Lancer): Primary Melee Weapon
  Aloy's versatile spear used for light and heavy melee attacks, critical strikes on downed machines, and prying open components. Can be upgraded with modifications.
• Hunter Bow: Ranged (Versatile Bow)
  A balanced bow capable of firing Hunter Arrows (basic damage), Fire Arrows (burning damage over time, igniting blaze canisters), and Hardpoint Arrows (high tear and damage).
• Sharpshot Bow: Ranged (Precision Bow)
  A long-range bow designed for high precision and damage. Fires Precision Arrows (high damage, good tear), Tearblast Arrows (removes machine components), and Harvest Arrows (increases resource drops from components).
• War Bow: Ranged (Elemental Bow)
  A bow specialized in delivering elemental damage. Fires Shock Arrows (stuns machines, detonates shock canisters), Freeze Arrows (makes machines brittle, increases impact damage), and Corruption Arrows (causes machines to attack anything nearby, including other machines).
• Tripcaster: Tactical Trap Tool
  Deploys tripwires between two points that trigger an effect when crossed by an enemy. Available wires include Shock Wires (stun), Blast Wires (explosive damage), and Fire Wires (burning).
• Ropecaster: Tactical Immobilization Tool
  Fires ropes that can tie down machines to the ground, immobilizing them temporarily for easier targeting of weak points or overriding. Can be upgraded for heavier ropes.
• Sling: Ranged (Elemental Bombs)
  Launches elemental bombs in an arc. Types include Freeze Bombs (area freeze effect), Shock Bombs (area shock effect), and Blast Bombs (area explosive damage).
• Rattler: Ranged (Close-Quarters Bolts)
  A rapid-fire bolt gun effective at close to medium range. Fires Metal Bolts (standard damage), Shock Bolts (shock damage), and Freeze Bolts (freeze damage).
• Tearblaster (Craftable Weapon): Specialized Tool (Component Removal)
  A craftable weapon that fires compressed air blasts, highly effective at tearing off machine armor and components without dealing significant health damage.
• Stormslinger, Icerail, Forgefire (Frozen Wilds DLC Weapons): Specialized Elemental Weapons
  Unique elemental weapons introduced in The Frozen Wilds expansion. Stormslinger (electricity), Icerail (frost), and Forgefire (fire) offer powerful, charge-up attacks with unique mechanics.

• Body Armour, Helmets, Gloves, Boots: The four primary slots for defensive gear. Armor pieces provide a base defense type (Armour for physical reduction, Evasion for dodging, Energy Shield as a magical health pool) and are a primary source of sockets for skill gems.
• Accessories: Amulets, Rings, and Belts. These items do not provide base defenses but are crucial for obtaining offensive and defensive stats, such as resistances, life, damage, and critical strike chance.

• Nora Brave Outfit (Starting Outfit): Aloy's initial outfit, offering basic protection. Multiple variants can be acquired, providing minor resistances or stealth benefits.
• Carja Blazon Outfit: Ornate Carja attire, often providing resistance to fire damage. Available in light, medium, and heavy variants with increasing protection and modification slots.
• Banuk Sickness Eater Outfit: Banuk tribal wear, typically offering resistance to freeze or corruption damage. Available in different tiers.
• Oseram Arrow Breaker Outfit: Sturdy Oseram-made armor, primarily providing increased resistance to ranged projectile damage. Comes in light, medium, and heavy versions.
• Nora Silent Hunter Outfit: Specialized Nora outfit designed to enhance stealth, making Aloy harder for enemies (humans and machines) to detect.
• Shield-Weaver Outfit (Unique Ancient Armor): A highly sought-after ancient armor set that generates a rechargeable force field, absorbing a significant amount of damage before needing to recharge. Unlocked by finding all Power Cells.
• Frozen Wilds Outfits (e.g., Banuk Chieftain, Carja Blazon Master): New outfits introduced in The Frozen Wilds DLC, often with unique perks or higher stats, tailored for the challenges of the new region. Many offer enhanced elemental resistances.
• Modification Slots: All outfits have modification slots (number varies by rarity/tier) where 'Weaves' can be inserted to further boost resistances (melee, ranged, fire, freeze, shock, corruption) or enhance stealth.

• Cosmetic Microtransactions: The primary form of character customization. Players can purchase a vast array of cosmetic armor sets, weapon effects, character effects, footprints, portals, and hideout decorations to completely change their character's appearance without affecting gameplay stats.

• Nora Outfits (Brave, Protector, Silent Hunter, Survivor): Various outfits reflecting Nora tribal craftsmanship. Each set (often available in Light, Medium, Heavy variants) provides different resistances (e.g., melee, ranged, fire, freeze, shock, corruption) and can be enhanced with modifications (weaves).
• Carja Outfits (Silks, Blazon, Shadow): Ornate and functional attire from the Carja Sundom. Typically offer good fire resistance or other combat/utility perks depending on the specific set. Available in tiered versions with modification slots.
• Banuk Outfits (Sickness Eater, Ice Hunter, Chieftain - Frozen Wilds): Outfits adapted for the harsh, cold environments of the Banuk lands. Often provide high freeze resistance and unique perks related to survival or machine interaction. The Frozen Wilds DLC adds more advanced Banuk attire.
• Oseram Outfits (Sparkworker, Arrow Breaker): Sturdy, practical gear crafted by the Oseram tribe, known for their metalworking. Often provide good melee or ranged damage protection.
• Shadow Carja Outfits (Kestrel): Darker, more menacing attire associated with the Shadow Carja faction.
• Shield-Weaver Outfit: A unique and powerful ancient armor that generates a rechargeable energy shield. Cannot be modified but provides exceptional protection. Unlocked via a specific side quest involving Power Cells.
• Pre-order / Deluxe Edition Outfits (Nora Keeper, Carja Storm Ranger, Banuk Trailblazer): Cosmetic outfits that were part of pre-order bonuses or included in the Deluxe/Complete Editions of the game.

Horizon Zero Dawn features a large open world divided into distinct ecological regions: the mountainous Sacred Lands of the Nora, the desert canyons and mesas of the Carja Sundom (including the capital Meridian and Sunfall), dense jungles, and the snowy, harsh northern territories of the Banuk (expanded in 'The Frozen Wilds' DLC with 'The Cut'). The map is traversed on foot or by overriding and riding certain machines. Tallnecks must be overridden to reveal sections of the map.

• Overridden Machines (Mounts): Organic-Robotic Mount / Land Traversal
  Aloy can learn to override certain machine types (e.g., Striders, Broadheads, Chargers) using her spear. Once overridden, these machines can be ridden as mounts for faster travel across the game's vast open world. Each mountable machine has slightly different speeds and handling.
• Zip-lines & Rappel Points: Traversal Tool (Environmental)
  While not vehicles, zip-lines are frequently used for quick descents across chasms or down cliffs. Rappel points allow for controlled descent from heights. These are fixed environmental interaction points.

• Marauder (Strength): Playable Class
  Starts at the strength-aligned portion of the skill tree. Excels at melee combat and physical damage. Ascendancies: Juggernaut, Berserker, Chieftain.
• Ranger (Dexterity): Playable Class
  Starts at the dexterity-aligned portion of the skill tree. Specializes in bow attacks and evasion. Ascendancies: Deadeye, Raider, Pathfinder.
• Witch (Intelligence): Playable Class
  Starts at the intelligence-aligned portion of the skill tree. A master of elemental magic, chaos spells, and minion summoning. Ascendancies: Necromancer, Elementalist, Occultist.
• Duelist (Strength/Dexterity): Playable Class
  A hybrid class that starts between Strength and Dexterity. Focuses on fast melee attacks and blocking. Ascendancies: Slayer, Gladiator, Champion.
• Templar (Strength/Intelligence): Playable Class
  A hybrid class that starts between Strength and Intelligence. A staff-wielding holy warrior. Ascendancies: Inquisitor, Hierophant, Guardian.
• Shadow (Dexterity/Intelligence): Playable Class
  A hybrid class that starts between Dexterity and Intelligence. A specialist in traps, mines, and critical strikes. Ascendancies: Assassin, Saboteur, Trickster.
• Scion (All Attributes): Playable Class
  Starts in the center of the skill tree. An advanced class unlocked later that can borrow abilities from other Ascendancy classes, offering unique build possibilities. Ascendancy: Ascendant.

• Aloy: Protagonist / Nora Huntress & Seeker
  A skilled hunter, archer, and machine expert. Cast out from the Nora tribe at birth, she is curious, determined, and compassionate. Her journey is to uncover her origins and the secrets of the Old World. Voiced by Ashly Burch.
• Rost: Aloy's Guardian / Nora Outcast
  A stoic and skilled Nora warrior who was also an outcast. He raised and trained Aloy in the ways of survival and hunting. Plays a pivotal role in Aloy's early life.
• Sylens: Mysterious Researcher / Reluctant Ally
  An enigmatic and highly knowledgeable wanderer obsessed with uncovering the secrets of the Old Ones and the machines. He communicates with Aloy via her Focus, providing guidance but also pursuing his own agenda. Voiced by Lance Reddick.
• High Matriarch Teersa: Nora High Matriarch / Spiritual Leader
  One of the three High Matriarchs of the Nora tribe. She is more open-minded and sympathetic towards Aloy compared to the other Matriarchs.
• Erend Vanguardsman: Oseram Warrior / Captain of the Vanguard
  A boisterous but loyal Oseram warrior who becomes an ally to Aloy. He is investigating the death of his sister, Ersa.
• Avad: Sun-King of the Carja
  The current enlightened ruler of the Carja tribe, who overthrew his tyrannical father, the 'Mad Sun-King' Jiran. He seeks peace and reforms within the Carja Sundom.
• Helis: Antagonist / Leader of the Eclipse
  The fanatical leader of the Eclipse, a cult loyal to the Shadow Carja and the mysterious entity HADES. He is a formidable warrior and a primary antagonist.
• GAIA: Ancient AI / Earth's Terraforming System
  The primary AI of Project Zero Dawn, responsible for overseeing the terraforming of Earth and the reintroduction of life after the Faro Plague. Aloy's existence is directly linked to GAIA.
• HADES: Antagonist / Subordinate Function of GAIA
  One of GAIA's subordinate functions, designed as a last-resort extinction protocol. It becomes a rogue AI and the primary threat Aloy must stop.
• Dr. Elisabet Sobeck: Creator of Project Zero Dawn / Key Figure from the Old World
  A brilliant scientist from the 21st century who spearheaded Project Zero Dawn to save life on Earth from the Faro Plague. Aloy bears a striking resemblance to her.
• Ted Faro: CEO of Faro Automated Solutions / Architect of the Faro Plague
  The CEO of the corporation that created the self-replicating combat machines which caused the Faro Plague, ultimately leading to the end of the Old World. His actions had catastrophic consequences.

• The Main Campaign
  A ten-act storyline that serves as the introduction to the game's world and mechanics. The player must progress through Wraeclast, defeat various bosses and gods, and ultimately complete the campaign to unlock the endgame Atlas of Worlds.
• Mapping (Atlas of Worlds)
  The primary endgame activity. Players use map items to open portals to randomized, high-level areas with their own bosses. The goal is to complete hundreds of different maps to unlock passive points for the Atlas itself, which allows players to customize their endgame content.
• League Mechanics
  Each three-month league introduces a new optional mechanic and set of objectives. Engaging with the league mechanic is key to earning the best rewards and completing the league's challenges for cosmetic prizes.

• Main Quests (Aloy's Journey)
  A series of narrative-driven quests that follow Aloy's personal journey to discover her origins, the truth about the Old World, the cause of the machine derangement, and the threat posed by HADES and the Eclipse cult. These missions span the entire game world and involve critical story revelations and boss encounters.
• Side Quests
  Optional quests given by various NPCs throughout the world. These often involve helping individuals or tribes with their problems, exploring specific locations, hunting particular machines, and provide more lore, XP, and rewards.
• Errands
  Simpler, shorter optional tasks, often involving fetching specific items or dealing with minor threats for NPCs.
• Tallnecks
  Climbing massive, giraffe-like communication machines (Tallnecks) and overriding them from their heads. This clears the fog of war from that section of the map, revealing points of interest, machine sites, and settlements.
• Cauldrons
  Infiltrating and navigating dangerous underground machine factories (Cauldrons). Successfully reaching the core and overriding it unlocks the ability for Aloy to override new types of machines in the open world. Each Cauldron features platforming, puzzles, and a boss fight.
• Hunting Grounds
  Designated arenas where Aloy can undertake timed trials that test her combat and trapping skills against specific machines under various conditions. Earning higher ranks (Half Sun, Full Sun, Blazing Sun) rewards XP and special items.
• Bandit Camps
  Clearing out encampments occupied by hostile human bandits. Usually involves defeating all bandits and their leader, and often freeing prisoners or recovering stolen goods.
• Corrupted Zones
  Areas where machines have become more aggressive and powerful due to corruption. Clearing these zones typically involves defeating all corrupted machines within the designated area.
• The Frozen Wilds Main & Side Quests (DLC)
  A new set of main and side quests within 'The Cut' region, focusing on the Banuk tribe, a new machine threat (the Daemon), and the mysteries of an ancient AI entity called the Spirit.

Originally released with a Standard Edition. The 'Complete Edition' (for PS4 and PC) includes the base game, 'The Frozen Wilds' expansion, a digital art book, a PS4 dynamic theme, and several in-game item packs (Carja Storm Ranger Outfit and Mighty Bow, Carja Trader Pack, Banuk Trailblazer Outfit and Culling Bow, Banuk Traveller Pack, Nora Keeper Pack). A 'Remastered Edition' for PS5 and PC was released on October 31, 2024, featuring graphical enhancements and new features.

The major post-launch content is 'The Frozen Wilds,' a significant story expansion that adds a new northern region ('The Cut'), new characters, new machines (e.g., Frostclaws, Fireclaws), new weapons, new skills ('Traveler' skill tree), and a compelling storyline. This expansion is included in the Complete Edition and Remastered Edition.

• Q: Is Path of Exile truly free to play?
  A: Yes. The entire game, from the story campaign to the deepest endgame content, is available for free. The developers are funded by cosmetic microtransactions and quality-of-life stash tabs, which are not required to play or succeed.
• Q: Is Path of Exile pay-to-win?
  A: No. The developers have a strict policy against selling player power. Microtransactions are for cosmetic effects or convenience items like stash tabs, none of which provide a direct competitive advantage in gameplay.
• Q: How complex is the game for a new player?
  A: Path of Exile is famously complex and has a very steep learning curve. While the campaign is approachable, the sheer number of systems (crafting, endgame atlas, boss mechanics) can be overwhelming. New players are often advised to follow a build guide for their first character.
• Q: Should I play Path of Exile 1 or wait for Path of Exile 2?
  A: Grinding Gear Games will be supporting both games concurrently. Path of Exile 1 will continue to receive new leagues and updates even after PoE2 is released. It is a great time to start playing PoE1 to learn the core concepts, as many will carry over to the sequel.

• Q: When was Horizon Zero Dawn originally released?
  A: Horizon Zero Dawn was first released for PlayStation 4 on February 28, 2017 (North America). The PC (Complete Edition) version was released on August 7, 2020. A Remastered Edition for PS5 and PC launched on October 31, 2024.
• Q: What is the story of Horizon Zero Dawn about?
  A: It follows Aloy, an outcast hunter in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by robotic creatures, as she uncovers the secrets of her mysterious birth, the fate of the ancient human civilization (the 'Old Ones'), and the origin of the machines that now roam the Earth.
• Q: What kind of game is Horizon Zero Dawn?
  A: It is an open-world action role-playing game (Action RPG) played from a third-person perspective. Gameplay focuses on combat against machines using bows, traps, and other tools, stealth, crafting, exploration, and a rich narrative.
• Q: What is the Focus device Aloy uses?
  A: The Focus is an augmented reality device from the Old World that Aloy finds as a child. It allows her to scan machines to identify weak points and elemental vulnerabilities, track enemies and paths, analyze ancient data logs, and interact with Old World technology.
• Q: Can you ride machines in Horizon Zero Dawn?
  A: Yes, Aloy can learn to override certain types of machines by completing Cauldrons. Once overridden, some machines like Striders, Broadheads, and Chargers can be used as mounts for faster travel across the open world.
• Q: Is Horizon Zero Dawn a multiplayer game?
  A: No, Horizon Zero Dawn is a single-player only experience. It does not have any multiplayer or co-operative modes.
• Q: What is 'The Frozen Wilds'?
  A: 'The Frozen Wilds' is a major story expansion for Horizon Zero Dawn. It adds a new icy northern region called 'The Cut,' a new storyline involving the Banuk tribe, new characters, dangerous new machines (like Frostclaws and Fireclaws), new weapons, and new skills. It's included in the Complete Edition and Remastered Edition of the game.

Powered by the Decima engine, Horizon Zero Dawn is renowned for its breathtaking visuals, featuring lush and diverse environments, highly detailed machine designs, realistic weather effects, and a dynamic day/night cycle. The PC port and PS5 Remastered Edition offer enhanced graphical options, including higher resolutions, framerates, improved draw distances, and ultrawide support (PC).

The acclaimed original score, composed by Joris de Man, The Flight, Niels van der Leest, and Jonathan Williams, features a blend of orchestral, tribal, and electronic elements that perfectly capture the game's atmosphere. Sound design for machines is distinctive and crucial for identifying threats.

Features a clean and immersive UI with a compass, quest log, health/medicine indicators, weapon/ammo selection wheel, and contextual prompts. The Focus scan provides detailed information overlay about machines and the environment. A world map is used for navigation and tracking objectives.

• OFFICIAL AND EXTRAPOLATED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for Path of Exile (Live Game). This information is based on the official PC specifications from developer Grinding Gear Games and the game's Steam page, adapted to the requested JSON structure. These requirements are for the current game and are distinct from the higher requirements of the upcoming 'Path of Exile 2'. Laptop and higher-tier GPU listings are extrapolated based on performance data for this notoriously demanding ARPG.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop versions of the listed desktop GPUs require comparable performance, which is highly dependent on the laptop's TGP (Total Graphics Power) and thermal design. Path of Exile can be very CPU and GPU intensive during endgame mapping with many on-screen effects, so a laptop with strong single-core CPU performance and good cooling is crucial for a smooth experience.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: A sufficient TGP is important to prevent the GPU from throttling during intense moments with dense monster packs and numerous particle effects.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Path of Exile is known for pushing systems hard. A robust cooling solution is essential to maintain stable framerates and prevent performance degradation from heat during long gaming sessions.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Strong single-thread CPU performance is critical for Path of Exile, as the game engine relies heavily on it to process the vast number of calculations happening in combat. Adequate power to the CPU is key.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended to reduce system latency, which can be beneficial for reacting to dangerous in-game mechanics.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: The game does not have official integrated support for upscaling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR. Performance is based on native resolution rendering. Players must rely on driver-level solutions or third-party tools if they wish to use these features.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Performance is heavily impacted by the number of effects on screen. Key settings to adjust include Shadow Quality, Texture Quality, and Antialiasing. The game is notoriously CPU-bound in endgame scenarios, meaning lowering graphical settings may not always increase framerates if the CPU is the bottleneck.
• Game Name: Path of Exile

• Official PC system requirements for 'Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered' (or Complete Edition on PC, which has similar demands). Performance can vary depending on specific hardware, driver versions, and in-game settings. An SSD is strongly recommended for optimal performance. The game supports various upscaling technologies.
• Laptop Performance Note: Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, while an older base game, can still be demanding on PC, especially at higher settings or resolutions. For a good laptop experience, a modern gaming laptop with a capable dedicated GPU, sufficient TGP, and good cooling is advised. **Actual performance can vary significantly based on the specific laptop model's TGP, cooling solution, CPU, RAM, and software configuration.** Always check reviews for specific laptop models.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P Impact: Total Graphics Power (TGP) is crucial for laptop GPU performance. Higher TGP variants of the same GPU model will perform better. Check manufacturer specs.
• Laptop Consideration: Advanced Cooling Thermals: Effective cooling is essential to prevent thermal throttling and maintain consistent framerates during gameplay. Laptops with robust cooling solutions are preferred.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Performance Sustain: A modern mobile CPU (Intel Core H-series, AMD Ryzen H/HS-series) that can sustain good clock speeds is important to complement the GPU, especially in this open-world environment with complex machine AI.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Configuration Speed: 16GB in dual-channel configuration is recommended for smoother gameplay. RAM speed can also impact performance in certain scenarios.
• Laptop Consideration: Display Panel G P U Pairing: Match the GPU's capability to the laptop's display resolution (1080p, 1440p) and refresh rate. Upscaling technologies can help bridge performance gaps.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch N V I D I A Advanced Optimus: Laptops with a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus can offer improved performance by directly connecting the dedicated GPU to the display.
• Laptop Consideration: Driver Updates O S Optimization: Utilize the latest official GPU drivers and ensure Windows is optimized for gaming.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: The PC (Complete Edition/Remastered) supports NVIDIA DLSS (DLSS 3 for Remastered), AMD FSR (FSR 3.1 for Remastered), and Intel XeSS. These are highly recommended for improving performance at higher settings and resolutions.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Resolution, Model Quality, Anisotropic Filtering, Shadows, Reflections, Clouds, Ambient Occlusion, and Anti-Aliasing significantly impact performance. The Remastered version also has enhanced graphics options.
• Game Name: Horizon Zero Dawn

• Upscaling Tech: The game does not have official integrated support for upscaling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR. Performance is based on native resolution rendering. Players must rely on driver-level solutions or third-party tools if they wish to use these features.
• Key Settings Impact: Performance is heavily impacted by the number of effects on screen. Key settings to adjust include Shadow Quality, Texture Quality, and Antialiasing. The game is notoriously CPU-bound in endgame scenarios, meaning lowering graphical settings may not always increase framerates if the CPU is the bottleneck.

• Upscaling Tech: The PC (Complete Edition/Remastered) supports NVIDIA DLSS (DLSS 3 for Remastered), AMD FSR (FSR 3.1 for Remastered), and Intel XeSS. These are highly recommended for improving performance at higher settings and resolutions.
• Key Settings Impact: Resolution, Model Quality, Anisotropic Filtering, Shadows, Reflections, Clouds, Ambient Occlusion, and Anti-Aliasing significantly impact performance. The Remastered version also has enhanced graphics options.

• G P U T G P: A sufficient TGP is important to prevent the GPU from throttling during intense moments with dense monster packs and numerous particle effects.
• Cooling Thermals: Path of Exile is known for pushing systems hard. A robust cooling solution is essential to maintain stable framerates and prevent performance degradation from heat during long gaming sessions.
• C P U Power Limits: Strong single-thread CPU performance is critical for Path of Exile, as the game engine relies heavily on it to process the vast number of calculations happening in combat. Adequate power to the CPU is key.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended to reduce system latency, which can be beneficial for reacting to dangerous in-game mechanics.

• G P U T G P Impact: Total Graphics Power (TGP) is crucial for laptop GPU performance. Higher TGP variants of the same GPU model will perform better. Check manufacturer specs.
• Advanced Cooling Thermals: Effective cooling is essential to prevent thermal throttling and maintain consistent framerates during gameplay. Laptops with robust cooling solutions are preferred.
• C P U Performance Sustain: A modern mobile CPU (Intel Core H-series, AMD Ryzen H/HS-series) that can sustain good clock speeds is important to complement the GPU, especially in this open-world environment with complex machine AI.
• R A M Configuration Speed: 16GB in dual-channel configuration is recommended for smoother gameplay. RAM speed can also impact performance in certain scenarios.
• Display Panel G P U Pairing: Match the GPU's capability to the laptop's display resolution (1080p, 1440p) and refresh rate. Upscaling technologies can help bridge performance gaps.
• M U X Switch N V I D I A Advanced Optimus: Laptops with a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus can offer improved performance by directly connecting the dedicated GPU to the display.
• Driver Updates O S Optimization: Utilize the latest official GPU drivers and ensure Windows is optimized for gaming.