Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition - PS5™
✅ PROS
- Includes the full Burning Shores DLC — a 10-15 hour expansion that's otherwise $20 standalone
- Near-instant loading via PS5 SSD — fast travel is genuinely seamless, not a loading screen
- DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers are used brilliantly for bow draw weight and machine footsteps
❌ CONS
- Physical disc requires download for the DLC — it's a code in the box, not on the disc
- Burning Shores is PS5-exclusive content — if you ever downgrade platforms, it won't carry over
- Combat difficulty spikes in the late game require serious gear grinding if you skip side content
The Verdict
Let’s be direct about what the Complete Edition actually buys you: the full Horizon Forbidden West base game, plus the Burning Shores expansion, all on one PS5 package. If you haven’t played Guerrilla’s 2022 sequel to Zero Dawn, this is the definitive way to experience it — and it fixes most of the complaints from the original launch.
What’s Actually in the Box
The physical PS5 disc includes the base game (roughly 30-40 hours for the main story, closer to 70-80 if you’re a completionist). The Burning Shores DLC — which takes Aloy to a ruined Los Angeles — comes as a digital download code. That’s a real gotcha for collectors: the disc itself doesn’t contain the expansion data. You’ll need a stable internet connection and roughly 15GB of free space to install it.
The package also includes the digital soundtrack and a digital artbook, both accessed via code. Nothing physical beyond the disc and case — no map, no steelbook, no figurine. At the current asking price, that’s acceptable, but don’t expect premium collector’s edition treatment.
How It Plays on PS5
Here’s where the Complete Edition shines. The version on this disc is fully patched with all the improvements Guerrilla shipped post-launch. Performance mode runs at a rock-solid 60fps with dynamic resolution scaling — it dips slightly in the most particle-heavy combat arenas but recovers quickly. The fidelity mode’s 30fps is smooth, but honestly, once you’ve played this game at 60fps, going back feels sluggish.
The DualSense implementation is genuinely standout. Drawing a bow triggers the adaptive triggers to add resistance that simulates the tension of a real draw — it’s a small thing, but it makes combat feel tactile in a way most open-world games don’t bother with. The haptics rumble in sync with machine footsteps approaching from different directions. It’s immersive without being gimmicky.
Loading times are the real star. Fast travel between distant settlements takes under three seconds. Dying and reloading from a checkpoint is nearly instant. This was a launch-day complaint for PS4 players, but the PS5 version eliminates the problem entirely.
What Buyers Keep Praising
The 4.8-star rating across 240 reviews isn’t accidental. A recurring theme in buyer feedback is the sheer value proposition. One verified purchaser summed it up: “I waited for this version specifically. Getting the base game plus Burning Shores for less than the base game cost at launch is a no-brainer if you haven’t played it yet.” Another reviewer noted, “The DLC alone is worth the price of admission — the new machines and the aerial combat sections are the best content in the entire game.”
The story and performance also get consistent props. “Aloy’s character arc in Burning Shores is better written than the base game’s,” one reviewer observed. “And the 60fps mode is buttery smooth.”
Where It Falls Short
The DLC-as-download-code issue is the biggest practical drawback. If you’re buying this for a kid or gifting it, be aware the expansion isn’t on the disc — you’re dependent on Sony’s servers staying up and the code being valid. That’s a legitimate concern for a physical media purchase.
The difficulty curve also deserves a warning. The late-game machines — particularly the Apex variants and the final Burning Shores boss — demand you’ve upgraded your gear and skills properly. If you rush through only the main story, you’ll hit a wall. Side content isn’t optional if you want a smooth experience; it’s mandatory grinding.
Finally, if you already own the base game, this isn’t worth a double-dip unless you really want Burning Shores. The DLC is excellent, but it’s also available separately.
Who Should Buy This
- PS5 owners who skipped the game at launch: This is your moment. You get everything, fully patched, at a better price.
- Horizon fans who played Zero Dawn but not Forbidden West: The sequel improves on nearly everything — better combat, more varied machines, a more personal story.
- Open-world completionists: The sheer volume of content here — main story, side quests, cauldrons, collectibles, plus the entire Burning Shores map — will keep you busy for 80+ hours.
Skip it if you’re a PC player (wait for the Steam version), or if you already finished the base game and didn’t love it enough to want more.
FAQ
Q: Does the disc include all DLC or just a code? A: Just the base game. Burning Shores, the soundtrack, and the artbook are all digital codes inside the case. The disc itself contains only the base game data.
Q: Is this playable on PS4? A: No. This is a PS5-only release. The Burning Shores DLC is exclusive to PS5 hardware anyway, so there’s no PS4 version of the Complete Edition.
Q: How long is the Burning Shores DLC? A: Main story is about 6-8 hours. With side content and collectibles, expect 12-15 hours. It’s a proper expansion, not a glorified mission pack.
The Verdict
Buy it if: You own a PS5 and haven’t played Forbidden West yet. This is the complete, polished, definitive version of one of the best open-world games on the platform.
Skip it if: You’ve already finished the base game and Burning Shores isn’t enough to justify a repurchase.
Rating: 4.6/5 — Knocked half a star for the DLC-code inconvenience and the late-game difficulty spikes. Everything else is top-tier.
As shown in the product image, the cover art captures Aloy mid-combat against a Tremortusk — it’s a fair representation of what you’re getting: a vast, beautiful, mechanically deep action RPG that respects your time and your console’s hardware.
Where to Buy
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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.