Elden Ring vs Horizon Zero Dawn
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Elden Ring is a challenging open-world action RPG that brings FromSoftware’s punishing combat into a vast, explorable land conceived with George R. R. Martin. It rewards curiosity and mastery with deep build variety and cryptic, atmospheric storytelling.
In a world where humans live in tribes and must fight against robotic creatures, Horizon Zero Dawn follows the story of Aloy, a hunter, as she uncovers the secrets of her past and the truth about the world she lives in. With a strong narrative and engaging gameplay, Horizon Zero Dawn is an action role-playing game that offers a unique blend of post-apocalyptic and sci-fi elements.
Around $59.99; Shadow of the Erdtree expansion sold separately.
- Massive, rewarding open world
- Incredible boss design
- Huge build freedom
- High replay value
- Engaging narrative and characters
- Strong gameplay mechanics and combat
- Beautiful and detailed open world environment
- High replay value with multiple side quests and errands
- Very difficult, steep learning curve
- Little hand-holding
- Performance issues at launch on some platforms
- Some players may find the combat mechanics repetitive
- Limited character customization options
- Some minor glitches and bugs in the game
What reviewers say
Elden Ring Reviews
4.0 (2)Love it
Sunk way too many hours into Elden Ring. Massive, rewarding open world. No real complaints. Would recommend.
Fun with caveats
Picked up Elden Ring recently. Upside: high replay value. Downside: very difficult, steep learning curve.
Horizon Zero Dawn Reviews
No reviews yet.
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Elden Ring
View all →A vast open-world action RPG with a acclaimed story and monster hunting.
A moddable open-world fantasy RPG where you can go anywhere and be anyone.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an open-world action role-playing game developed by CD Projekt Red.
Alternatives to Horizon Zero Dawn
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Set three years after the events of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception.
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataHorizon Zero Dawn offers a narrative‑driven, single‑player adventure with moderate difficulty, while Elden Ring delivers a challenging, open‑world soulslike with broader platform support.
Key differences
- •Combat difficulty: Horizon is moderate; Elden Ring is very hard.
- •Platform reach: Horizon is PlayStation‑only; Elden Ring spans PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
- •Story delivery: Horizon has a linear narrative; Elden Ring relies on cryptic environmental storytelling.
- •Multiplayer: Horizon is single‑player only; Elden Ring includes optional co‑op.
- •World design: Horizon mixes open world with scripted quests; Elden Ring features a seamless open world with hidden dungeons.
Gameplay & fun factor
Elden Ring’s deep build variety and demanding combat are praised for rewarding skillful play.
Platform availability
Elden Ring releases on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox; Horizon Zero Dawn is limited to PlayStation.
Price & value
Both games retail around $59.99, offering comparable cost‑to‑content ratios.
Multiplayer / co‑op
Elden Ring includes optional co‑op; Horizon Zero Dawn is single‑player only.
Content & replayability
Elden Ring’s massive world, hidden dungeons, and boss variety give higher replay incentive.
Difficulty & accessibility
Horizon Zero Dawn’s moderate difficulty is more accessible than Elden Ring’s steep learning curve.
Graphics & performance
Horizon is noted for a beautiful, detailed world; Elden Ring had launch performance issues on some platforms.
Choose Elden Ring if…
Players seeking a tough, open‑world challenge with co‑op options and multi‑platform play.
Choose Horizon Zero Dawn if…
Players who want a story‑rich, single‑player experience with moderate challenge.
Common questions
Which game is cheaper?
Both retail at roughly $59.99, so price is essentially the same.
Do either of them support multiplayer?
Only Elden Ring offers optional co‑op; Horizon Zero Dawn is single‑player only.
Is Elden Ring available on my console?
Elden Ring is released for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox; Horizon Zero Dawn is PlayStation‑only.