Even as Square Enix releases a variety of other noteworthy games,Forspokenfeels special. Its creative use of magic as the dominant means of fighting is a major selling point, setting it apart from other big-budget action RPGs in a major way. Its story is a significant selling point too. InForspoken,players follow the story of Frey Holland, a young woman from New York City who was magically spirited away to a world called Athia, where she discovered her magical talent. Not many action RPGs opt for this kind of isekai angle, so it’ll be interesting to see how Luminous Productions incorporates the two worlds ofForspoken.
Althoughthe isekai aspects ofForspokenare largely unique, other parts of the game actually feel fairly familiar. That’s because the game seems to have a lot in common withHorizon Zero Dawn.Guerrilla Games' acclaimed RPG may occupy an entirely different setting and genre fromForspoken, but the talented young women that lead their stories share a lot of notable experiences. By the end ofForspoken,Frey will probably have led a very different life from Aloy overall, but it’s still interesting to see how Guerrilla Games and Luminous Productions have executed different takes on similar narratives.
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Comparing Forspoken and Horizon Zero Dawn
BothForspokenandHorizon Zero Dawnstar young women with extraordinary talents who are outcasts in a strange place.Aloy was once banished from the Nora tribe, and even as she cooperates with them, she explores places that she had never before imagined. Frey is also something of an outcast on the streets of New York City, and still struggles to find her place once she’s in Athia. Regardless of their outsider nature, they’re also both incredibly talented, with Frey easily wielding potent magic, while Aloy possesses a natural skill for hunting and studying machines. Frey seems poised to grapple with her power and her place in society, much like Aloy does throughoutHorizon Zero Dawn.
Beyond their personal lives, Frey and Aloy find themselves in many similar situations. Both Frey and Aloy battle corrupted creatures, with Frey facing magically twisted beings while Aloy hunts mechanically maddened machines. Each character also takes advice from a disembodied voice.The mysterious amoral researcher Sylensmay make physical appearances, but he still spends most of the game speaking to Aloy through her focus, while Frey’s companion Cuff appears to be a speaking accessory. Some dialogue inForspokenalso apparently suggests that Cuff knows something about Frey’s mother, meaning she may end up searching for a maternal figure just like how Aloy searches for Elisabet Sobeck.
Forspoken’s Story Will Still Stand Out
ForspokenandHorizon Zero Dawnclearly have a lot of ideas in common, but that’s not a bad thing. If anything, it’s fascinating to see how two similar stories have evolved in entirely different story genres with highly disparate gameplay.Forspoken’s story is bound to end invery different places fromHorizon Zero Dawn,even if it starts somewhere familiar.Forspokenalso won’t play anything likeHorizon Zero Dawnthanks to its magic, meaning it’ll still be totally distinct from Guerrilla Games' title. In the end, odds are good that these games will be cousins, rather than twins.
Luminous Productions could still reveal a lot of new story details between now andForspoken’s October release date, either making it more or less similar toHorizon Zero Dawn.Either way, it’ll be good to learn more about where Frey’s journey takes her and what kind of impact she might have on the land of Athia. Aloy becomes an icon for savingHorizon Zero Dawn’s many peoples from certain destruction, but Frey could end up leading an entirely different life from her PlayStation peer. It all depends on what theForspokenfranchise’s future holds.
Forspokenreleases June 18, 2025 for PC and PS5.
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