• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Gameranx

Gameranx

Video Game News, Lists & Guides

  • News
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • Xbox Series X
    • PS5
    • Nintendo
  • Videos
  • Upcoming Games
  • Guides
  • News
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • Xbox Series X
    • PS5
    • Nintendo
  • Videos
  • Upcoming Games
  • Guides

Horizon Forbidden West: Explorer and Guided Mode Explained

February 18, 2022 by Peter Hunt Szpytek

What kind of experience do you want?

Sony first-party games have taken many steps forward in terms of accessibility offering a plethora of options for those looking to experience PlayStation titles. Horizon Forbidden West is no exception and gives the player many different options from the get-go via the title screen.

When starting a new game, the player is asked what difficulty option they’d like Horizon Forbidden West to be set to. After choosing, the menu asks if they’d prefer “Explorer” or “Guided” mode, options not previously available in the first Horizon game.

This has caused a little bit of confusion for players looking for the “intended” experience for the game as there’s no indication as to what the “default” option is. Luckily, there’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to in-game assistance as the differences are small, but can tailor the experience to the player’s liking.

Horizon Forbidden West Explorer vs. Guided Mode

Essentially, what the assistance setting boils down to is how the player wants to experience exploration in Horizon Forbidden West. No matter what the player chooses, difficulty won’t be impacted and the mode can be switched at any time once the game starts through the “General” or “Accessibility” tabs in the settings (the option appears in both.)

Explorer Mode Explained

With Explorer mode active, the player will have disabled some HUD indicators such as waypoints that directly tell the player where to go next to advance their current quest. In Explorer mode, players will need to pay more attention to things like dialogue and environmental cues to know where they’re headed. Explorer mode is good for anyone looking to be completely immersed in Horizon Forbidden West‘s vast world with minimal HUD distractions reminding them that they’re playing a video game

Guided Mode Explained

Guided mode isn’t that different from Explorer mode, it just includes waypoints that direct the player to where they’re headed to next. Horizon Zero Dawn featured waypoints and other HUD directions in the same way as Guided mode in Forbidden West so anyone looking for an open-world experience similar to the first game should choose Guided.

Share this post:

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPinterest

Recent Videos

10 Games That Turned Into MICROTRANSACTION HELLS

10 Games That Turned Into MICROTRANSACTION HELLS

10 GENIUS moments in Flop Games

10 GENIUS moments in Flop Games

10 Games That RUINED Single Player Games For Us

10 Games That RUINED Single Player Games For Us

20 LEGENDARY Games Worth Revisiting in 2025

20 LEGENDARY Games Worth Revisiting in 2025

CHEATER FINED $175000, RED DEAD ONLINE RETURNS? & MORE

CHEATER FINED $175000, RED DEAD ONLINE RETURNS? & MORE

What The HELL is GOING on With Xbox?

What The HELL is GOING on With Xbox?

10 LOCKED Areas Developers Didn't Think WE'D UNLOCK

10 LOCKED Areas Developers Didn't Think WE'D UNLOCK

Top 25 NEW Games of 2025 [Second Half]

Top 25 NEW Games of 2025 [Second Half]

10 WEIRD Gaming Stories of June 2025

10 WEIRD Gaming Stories of June 2025

Category: FeaturesTag: Guides, Horizon Forbidden West, PS4, PS5

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • The Last of Us Part II Remastered Update Adds A New Chronological Mode
  • Police Officer States Roblox Is Dangerous For Children
  • Roblox Grow A Garden Pet Quirk Stacking Guide
  • Shuhei Yoshida States That AAA Game Development Cost Is Growing With “Little Improvement” On The Tech Side
  • Are Nintendo Switch 2 Games Going To Get More Expensive?

Copyright © 2025 · Gameranx · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme