Horizon Hunters Gathering is shamelessly Monster Hunter-like — and it works
Even though I’ve put hundreds of hours into the Horizon series’ post-apocalyptic open worlds, and many times that across my favourite online games, the prospect of turning Horizon into something I play alongside friends always made me sceptical. With Horizon Hunters Gathering, I am so in — whether I like it or not.
It’s very clearly a shameless take on Monster Hunter Wilds and the rest of that monster‑battling RPG, but set in the Horizon universe. That fit feels natural: Horizon’s hulking machine creatures have always been the best part of the series, and the co‑op game leans into those detailed fights.
Hunters pick classes that echo Aloy’s weapons and introduce new tools; you can’t swap on the fly, so the loop encourages mastering particular weapon types and learning how they work together. Hunts are split across regions and mission types, from above‑ground Machine Incursions to Cauldron Descent into the machines’ bowels.