Horizon Forbidden West, the sequel to 2017's Horizon Zero Dawn, has recently been released to a warm critical reception, exemplified by its 89 Metascore, which included a 4.5 out of 5 score from Game Rant's Dalton Cooper. Unfortunately for some, Horizon Forbidden West is exclusive to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Exclusivity has always been a pain for gamers, and it doesn't seem to be easing anytime soon. Big money purchases like Microsoft's near-$70 billion acquisition of Activision are only expected to make even more IPs exclusive to one or two systems. For Xbox owners looking for a similar experience to Horizon Forbidden West, the following games should be able to scratch that itch.
7 Mad Max
Mad Max is an open-world action-adventure game developed by Avalanche Studios, a Swedish studio best known for the Just Cause series. Despite releasing just a few months after Mad Max: Fury Road, the game is not a direct tie-in.
As one would expect from the creators of Just Cause, the post-apocalyptic game emphasizes over-the-top action, with vehicular combat being central to the gameplay. Its action-heavy, open-world nature is perfect for fans of Horizon Forbidden West.
6 Middle-Earth: Shadow of War
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is the sequel to the critically-acclaimed Lord of the Rings game Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. The game sees many of the original's key features return, such as the open-world, Assassin's Creed-like stealth, and signature Nemesis system.
Shadow of War's underwhelming Metascores range from 75 to 81, which may put some players off. However, it's worth noting that many critics lowered their scores due to the influx of microtransactions in the game on launch. Thankfully, these microtransactions were removed in July 2018, making the game a great option today for those who were put off by this aspect on release.
5 Batman: Arkham City
Batman: Arkham City had the tough job of following Batman: Arkham Asylum, which was a huge hit with fans and critics. This predecessor significantly raised the bar for superhero video games, and implemented an innovative combat system that has been replicated by numerous other games since.
Batman: Arkham City expanded on Arkham Asylum with its open-world, which was brilliantly designed and packed with henchman to takedown, quests to complete, and Riddler trophies to find.
4 Assassin's Creed Odyssey
The Assassin's Creed series has carved itself a comfy spot in the open-world genre. The franchise's many releases have almost always performed well commercially, largely thanks to the series' consistent and reliable quality.
Almost any of the modern Assassin's Creed games could have made this list, though Assassin's Creed Odyssey gets the nod this time. The game's interpretation of Classical Age Greece provides a similar sense of wonder as Horizon Forbidden West.
3 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was released in May 2015 by CD Projekt. It offered a fantastic action-RPG experience with a memorable storyline, breathtaking visuals, and numerous epic battles against mythical and supernatural enemies.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was a huge hit with fans and critics, exemplified by its matching 93 critic score and 9.3 user score on Metacritic, along with its Game of the Year win from The Game Awards 2015. It's a beautiful, immersive game well worth players' time.
2 Just Cause 4
Just Cause 4 is the second game on this list from Avalanche Studios. The game was released in December 2018 on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One and impressively found new ways to ramp up the series' quintessentially over-the-top action with even more ridiculous weapons and scenarios.
Just Cause 4 takes players to a fictional South American country called Solís. In typical Just Cause fashion, this country is no ordinary place. It is often the victim of mother nature, with tornados, thunderstorms, and other extreme weather conditions. It's not all bad, though, as players can harness the power of these hazardous weather conditions with the Lightning Gun and Wind Gun, which are just as wonderfully ridiculous as they sound. Sure, Just Cause 4 doesn't compare to the other games on this list in terms of its critical reception, but for those who play video games for simple, over-the-top, good old-fashioned fun, then Just Cause 4 is a must-buy.
1 Red Dead Redemption 2
Nearly ten years after the first game was released, a sequel to Red Dead Redemption hit stores in October 2019 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One before releasing on PC the following year. Red Dead Redemption 2 was the first full release from Rockstar Games since Grand Theft Auto V and is still their latest release, not including the disastrous Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.
Red Dead Redemption 2's missions were somewhat divisive. However, the game still won over most of its players with the game's incredible open-world that is one of, if not the most realistic in gaming history. Red Dead Redemption 2 earned a whopping 97 Metascore, making it the review aggregator's joint-5th highest game alongside iconic titles like Super Mario Galaxy, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Halo: Combat Evolved.
Horizon Forbidden West is out now for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5