Horizon Zero Dawn Ending Explained

This guide explains the ending to Horizon Zero Dawn. Read on to learn about how the ending directly sets up the sequel, Horizon Forbidden West. Obvious spoilers ahead.

Ending Explained

Post-Credits Scene

Horizon Zero Dawn's ending shows Aloy defeating HADES and shutting down the signal that would've restarted the Faro machines. Seemingly victorious, she travels to Dr. Elisabet Sobeck's home to remember her past self.

However, after the game's credits, a cutscene begins that shows a red energy emerge from HADES' core. It flies to a lamp in Sylens' possession. He says that it still has many questions it needs to answer, before the scene reveals a giant, downed machine.

Sylens' Motivations

This ending makes it apparent that Sylens has motives of his own, seeking knowledge at any cost, though to what end remains ambiguous. It's known that he helped HADES by manipulating the Shadow Carja tribe and giving it info about the world in exchange for lost knowledge, and that he only worked against the AI because it tried to kill him.

He used Aloy for personal gain, even instructing her to use his lance to purge HADES. While the method of how HADES transferred to Sylens' lamp remains unknown, we theorize that it was triggered by the lance he gave to Aloy.

We speculate that he's trying to gain information from HADES once again, especially since the identity of who corrupted the AI was never revealed. His thirst for knowledge may have begun to outweigh his concerns for the world's survival, and these actions could lead to dire consequences.

Set-Up for Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West takes place half a year after Zero Dawn, in an area that was mentioned as being inhabited by even more dangerous machines and tribes.

In the Announcement Trailer, Sylens can be seen accompanied by a new tribe that's able to override and control machines. He will have found his answers from HADES, and we believe that what he plans to do with that knowledge will be vital to to the story of Forbidden West.

Aloy and her former ally are set to have their paths cross again, but whether they will be on the same side or facing off as enemies can only be answered when the sequel releases.

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