Horizon Zero Dawn is an action role-playing game in which players take control of Aloy, a hunter and archer, as she progresses through a post-apocalyptic land ruled by mechanized creatures, such as robotic dinosaurs.
The game is set 1,000 years in a future in which humanity has long abandoned Earth due to the world being dominated by robotic creatures. The creatures' component, such as electricity and the metal they are composed of, are vital to Aloy's survival, and she can loot creatures' corpses to find useful resources. The game's role-playing elements are said to be between that of Assassin's Creed and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Players can use a variety of ways to kill enemies, such as setting traps like tripwires, shooting enemies with arrows, using explosives, and melee combat. Silent takedowns are also available.
Players can also craft items by collecting materials and machines parts. The game features an open world that can be explored when players are not completing missions. A dynamic day-night cycle and weather system will be featured. Guerrilla Games have stated that the game will not have loading screens.