Horizon Forbidden West is the follow-up title from the largely successful Horizon Zero Dawn. The predecessor of the second edition of this infamous sequence left players shocked with how well made and detailed the map was for a game that was brand new.

Now that Horizon Forbidden West is here, the same question stands, how big is the map in Horizon Forbidden West and how will it compare to the map that we saw in Horizon Zero Dawn?

But, before we go over the size of the map in Horizon Forbidden West, and show you exactly what you can expect without spoiling anything of significance, let’s first take a look at what the map was like in Horizon Zero Dawn.

What Was the Map Like in Horizon Zero Dawn?

The story of Horizon Zero Dawn is set in the post-apocalyptic United States and covers parts of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Arizona. The map itself is set across a number of different biomes ranging from valleys with green fields and deserts to the west and snowy mountains and hills to the east and the north.

As much as we would have liked to know the exact size of the map, the developers released no official data on that part. But, members from the community took upon the challenge and worked out that the map of Horizon Zero Dawn is anywhere between 4.8 and 5.2 miles. That’s pretty impressive considering how well designed the map is.

But, how does the map in Horizon Forbidden West compare to the map in Horizon Zero Dawn? Let’s find out.

Horizon Forbidden West Map Size

Horizon Forbidden West takes place across the states of Utah, Nevada, and California, meaning we won’t see parts of Colorado, Wyoming, or Arizona this time around.

Despite that, players will still get to experience the even more vast diversity in biomes, which now include sea, beaches, lakes, deserts, valleys, and snowy mountains.

In regards to the map size, we estimate that it is approximately the same size as the map that we got to experience in the first edition of the game. So approximately 5 miles.

It’s worth noting though that it is of a completely different shape and that we are set for an entirely new experience.

How Is the Map Different?

Despite the fact that we can’t accurately estimate the size of the map of Horizon Forbidden West, we do know that there are a whole lot more water locations that can be explored. In other words, you won’t have to run on land all the time as you’ll be able to swim and explore the underwater world of Horizon Forbidden West.

This is most likely because Aloy is now able to swim and explore locations both in-water and on-land.

There are also a whole lot more steel hills and valleys to explore, particularly around the desert biome. We believe the developers really wanted players to get to experience the new and more advanced climbing mechanics that Horizon Forbidden west now has to offer.