[Update: Just a quick reminder that the deadline to grab Horizon Zero Dawn for free is almost here.]
Sony's next free game for Play At Home 2021 is Horizon Zero Dawn, the trap-laying, robot-beast-hunting adventure from Guerrilla Games. If you need it — specifically the Complete Edition — it's time to add it to your library. You can claim HZD from the PlayStation Store until May 14 at 8:00 p.m. Pacific.
Of course! That's what we're here for.
Also worth remembering: you don't need PlayStation Plus. This is actually "free."
Apart from the substantial base game, Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition also comes with The Frozen Wilds (an expansion quite a few of us missed), some miscellaneous outfit and gear packs, a digital art book, and a PS4 theme. Normally, Sony charges $20 for this version, so it's a pretty nice giveaway.
As a sort of refresher, here's a clip of someone going to town on a Thunderjaw:
A Seasoned Hunter VS A Mighty Thunderjaw from r/horizon
I'm not sure what else needs to be said about this game — you all know it well enough by now. You've either played through it already, you've chipped away at it but never finished Aloy's journey because the open world distracted you (same here), or you've needed a nudge like this giveaway. Or you don't care.
By all means, claim away. It's no accident that HZD has a strong fan following and people are generally feeling good about the sequel's potential. You might end up loving it. And with Horizon Forbidden West staying essentially silent lately, there should be plenty of time to get situated. No rush at all.
I'd consider giving Horizon Zero Dawn another spin from scratch if there was 60FPS support on PS5, but as is, I'm leaning toward trying out Days Gone the next time I have wiggle room in my backlog. Maybe. I'm very much in a pick-up-and-play mood right now and neither of them resonate with me that way.
