Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds

Frozen Wilds is just more of Horizon Zero Dawn, but luckily some signs of improvements are noticeable.

Visual fidelity is likely the best aspect of the DLC; the snowy environment with geysers is great to look at and gives the new area some distinct identity. Snow deformation is now added, but funny enough, only in the new area while the main game area still lacks it. What I found hilarious is how much more active and well-improved the NPC dialogue animations and cutscenes are. Everyone moves around and mimics double the amount than in the main game, which, playing the DLC after finishing the main game, makes it look comical at times.

Gameplay-wise, some quality-of-life skills got introduced that luckily do carry over to the main game, but otherwise nothing of note to talk about; new areas and side activities are repetitive and just some different play on what is already present in the game. The new frostclaw enemy machine is rather exciting to fight, but everything else is just the same but with different gimmicks. Mission design didn't change much that I would notice.

Story-wise, I felt like it was just bland, but it did explore a tribe we didn't have much time exploring in the main game; otherwise, it's the same stuff again with some interesting lore tidbits, but nothing you actually need to experience.

To sum up, Frozen Wilds is an attempt to improve upon the shortcomings of the base game, which is successful in a way, but if you didn't enjoy the main game, it will not change your mind, but if you loved the base game, then it's just more of what you already love.

All I can say is that I am glad I got the DLC. I was mesmerised by the snowy landscape and the tracks I left in the high snow more times than I'd thought. it was wonderful. I also really liked getting to know the Banuk more and that, if you play this before the finale in Zero Dawn, it is slightly tied-in. The story could have been a bit longer for my liking but it is still fine for a DLC. I liked it a lot.

A great expansion for the base game & it gives a great experience for the players.

I just wrapped up the DLC, and let me tell you, it was a enjoyable ride! The graphics were stunning, the locations were gorgeous, and the new enemies? Absolutely bonkers!❤️🔥

Unfortunately I found myself losing interest in the missions and storyline of the DLC, which made me eager to wrap it up. I experienced a similar feeling with the main story of the game as well. Not bad at all it just wasn't my taste😅😅

I came back to do the 100%, and didn't regret it. What an incredible game!.

Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds review

The Frozen Wilds is the first and only DLC expansion released for Guerilla's flagship PS4 single player adventure, and even in 2024 remains a worthy addition to Horizon franchises huge world.

Written by Tom Evans

It seems that Guerilla were under the impression that Aloy's first adventure was on the easy side, deciding to crank the difficulty up for their first DLC expansion. And it shows, considering the recommended level for the final quest in The Frozen Wilds is more than 15 higher than the main games counterpart. However this is clevery balanced out with a variety of new weapons and armour to be acquired accross the Frozen lands, and a brand new section of skill tree for the player to fill out.

All enemies are bigger and tougher, not just the brand new machines that Aloy encounters most notably the Fire/Frostclaw, one of the players biggest challenges yet. The thicker layers of snow, ice caves, and frost based parkour challenges are the largest changes we see in the physical environment, which left me somewhat underwhelmed as this isn't too disimilar from some aspects of the coldest areas of the main map.

Considering it's a DLC The Frozen Wilds does dish out a good chunk of new story content, which if you enjoyed the main story you're bound to enjoy this as well. I won't get into spoilers, but in some aspects it hits just as hard emotionally, if not more than the main storyline of Zero Dawn. Overall, The Frozen Wilds is definitely a good addition to the Horizon series, and certainly justified it's £16 price tag.