Killzone was a great first-person shooter that was definitely enjoyable in its own right, but it was fairly evident that the series has run its course, and any later games in the franchise wouldn't really be received with the fresh mindset that had been the case in previous times. So, it was a given that Guerrilla Games needed to figure out a new course of action to stay fresh in the industry and remain relevant for the years to come.
With the development of Horizon Zero Dawn, one can argue that the studio managed to achieve this lofty goal in spectacular fashion. The world and story of this post-apocalyptic title were excellent and well-thought-out, with players spending hours upon hours just traveling the beautiful locales of this title.
After endless exploration of an impressive open world, most players would argue that the following ten locations are the best and most beautiful of the bunch.
11 Maker's End
There are many ancient ruins scattered across the world of Horizon Zero Dawn, but most of them pale in comparison to the awe-inspiring nature of Maker's End.
These ruins serve as whatever is left of the once-huge Faro Automated Solutions or FAS, which inadvertently caused the plague that brought ruin upon humanity. The history present in these ruins is quite eye-opening as a result... along with the brilliant views one can access from various points in this ruin.
10 Nora-Carja Border
The Nora-Carja border is one of the more notable areas in Horizon Zero Dawn, and people can run along this border to capture the best of what the game has to offer in terms of this beautiful open world.
The northern part of this border is particularly beautiful, with the wind turbines and the sparse tree cover providing a rather accurate look into the current state of this world.
9 East Of The Nora Lands
The Nora Lands are full to the brim with some truly stunning locales, but one has to give due credit to a particularly underrated section of this map that most people would probably not even discover unless they go out of their way to explore the world of Horizon Zero Dawn.
After passing by Aloy's old house, there's an extremely scenic location that is bound to get excited players comfortable with the game's photo mode for quite some time.
8 The Jewel
It's only obvious that players would want to explore around in a jungle in Horizon Zero Dawn, regardless of the mechanical nature of the dinosaurs. The Jewel managed to fulfill this goal for many people.
The plateaus surrounding this jungle, coupled with the lush greenery within, make for one of the more memorable and unique areas in Horizon Zero Dawn and a place that most people would frequent whenever they head southwards in Carja territory.
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6 Song's Edge
The Frozen Wilds is a beautiful expansion that ends up being a great addition to the rich and diverse world of Horizon Zero Dawn. Out of all the locations in this area, one has to admit that Song's Edge is quite special indeed.
This one area is packed to the brim with some truly stunning visuals. From the towering volcanoes to the shimmering Northern Lights — there's something or the other going on in this packed area.
5 The Grave Hoard
The Grave Hoard is the name given to a ruin that serves as the remains of the U.S. Robot Command headquarters. It's actually one of the five Metal Devils strewn throughout the world of Horizon Zero Dawn, serving as a rather important piece of human history.
The Grave Hoard itself is hauntingly beautiful, and the player would be both in awe of and scared by the massively intimidating nature of this particular ruin.
4 Royal Maizelands
The idea of roaming through farmlands might not seem like all that entertaining a prospect — especially in a game full to the brim with robot dinosaurs — but there's no denying the fact that the scenic beauty of the Royal Maizelands manages to sell itself as a rather entertaining location to explore.
Given how incredibly the visual fidelity of Horizon Zero Dawn already is, it goes without saying that trekking through the Royal Maizelands will prove to be quite a blast indeed.
3 Devil's Grief
Players who venture over to the northernmost site of the Sacred Lands will see the Devil's Grief — one of the larger and more imposing structures in the game... that also looks hauntingly beautiful to boot.
Climbing up to the highest point of this ruin is bound to bring out the very best that Horizon Zero Dawn's broad vistas have to offer.
2 Mother's Watch
There might be many human settlements scattered across the world of Horizon Zero Dawn, but there's no denying the fact that Mother's Watch has a charm of its own that's hard to explain... and even harder to resist.
Going to this settlement is always a treat on the eyes, serving as a break from the post-apocalyptic nature of the other parts of the world. It's a welcome respite... and it definitely helps that this entire area is masterfully made and a joy to roam around in.
1 Pitchcliff
From the entrance of this settlement to the area itself — Pitchcliff is easily one of the more visually striking areas in the game and makes for some truly engaging exploration as well!
The settlements seem roughly-made yet rustic in their own way, and while the areas around the settlement might seem rather drab in comparison to the rest of the world, there's no denying the fact that it's still uniquely captivating in its own right.