Horizon Zero Dawn sent its protagonist, Aloy, on a long and grand adventure through the post-apocalyptic United States to uncover the truth about humanity's near-extinction and ultimately save the world. Horizon was one of the most successful new IPs from the PlayStation 4 generation, and with good reason; the breathtaking scenery, fascinating narrative, and strong female protagonist are all fantastic. But, that doesn't mean that the game didn't leave players wanting a little more in some areas.
With the sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, set to launch sometime later this year, fans are hoping it will include some of the things that felt like missed opportunities in the first game. Improvements to Aloy's climbing skills and the ability to override and mount flying machines are some of the most requested features. The other thing players want to see in Horizon Forbidden West, however, is romance options for Aloy.
Blocked Affection in Horizon Zero Dawn
Everyone was in love with Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn; from Teb, a Stitcher for the Nora tribe, to the handsome and powerful Sun-King Avad. Characters flirted with and gushed over Aloy constantly, but Aloy never enjoyed or encouraged the attention. If Aloy happened to realize she was being flirted with (which didn't happen very often), she shut them down, making it clear she wasn't interested. Frankly, that she had better things to do with her time than go out for a drink or become entangled in a relationship. That doesn't mean Aloy will never find love, but it does mean that players shouldn't be counting on it going into Horizon Forbidden West.
Because Aloy was so disinterested in romance in the first game, it's unrealistic to think that she will suddenly be torn between a variety of suitors. She may decide to settle down someday, but mysteries need solving, the world needs saving, and she's the only one who can take on the challenge. With that kind of responsibility, devoting time to a romantic relationship just isn't a priority.
Apart from her adoptive father Rost, Aloy is used to being isolated and doesn't feel the need to have a partner. Even if she did, her standards would be extremely high. It's unlikely that multiple characters would be a good fit for Aloy. Not to mention including a lot of suitors for her to choose from in Horizon Forbidden West would feel like fan service rather than a feature that drives the story. While it would be fun to see Aloy fall in love, having several options wouldn't make sense. Aloy also isn't the type for casual hookups, so the Assassin's Creed Odyssey style of romance wouldn't work well for Horizon either.
How Romance Could Work in Horizon Forbidden West
However, players who want to see romance in Horizon Forbidden West shouldn't lose all hope. It's unclear how much time has passed between Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, and without the weight of the world on her shoulders, a lot may have changed. Fans can assume Aloy spent a lot of time in Meridian after the conclusion of the first game, thanks to the Horizon Zero Dawn comic book series. The comics feature Aloy working with Talanah, the Sun Hawk of the Hunters' Lodge in Meridian. Seeing how Meridian was a central location in the first game, and Aloy doesn't exactly fit in with the Nora tribe, it would make sense for her to stay involved with the Lodge.
The two potential love interests also located in Meridian are Sun King Avad and Erend, the Oseram tribesman who became the captain of Avad's Vanguard after his sister Ersa passed away. Aloy firmly rejected Avad's advances when he tried to use her as a rebound, which leaves Erend. The two became close during the events of the game, and Erend was instrumental in helping Aloy. He is also one of the only NPCs that consistently appears throughout the story. If Aloy stayed in Meridian, she and Erend would have stayed friends and possibly turned their relationship into something more.
If it's not Erend, there's always a possibility that Aloy could meet someone who catches her eye during the events of Forbidden West. The key here is that it likely wouldn't fall to the player to decide and would instead be a pre-determined part of the narrative. Horizon Zero Dawn didn't emphasize player choices and their consequences, so while it would be nice to have a little bit more of that in Horizon Forbidden West, it probably still won't be a focus.
At the end of the day, Aloy doesn't need to find a partner in Forbidden West. She's more than capable of carrying the story on her own and is known for being one of the strongest female protagonists in the video game industry. While having a partner definitely wouldn't cancel all of that, it's just not necessary, and could end up feeling forced because of how romance was approached in the first game. It's not impossible, but players shouldn't expect to see much of, if any, romance elements for Aloy in Horizon Forbidden West.
Horizon Forbidden West will launch for PS4 and PS5 in late 2021.