A huge part of what makes Horizon Zero Dawn’s world so immersive is its post-apocalyptic narrative and the people that caused it or have had to live with the disastrous results. The best characters’ stories say a lot about Aloy’s world’s past and its potential future.
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The best characters in Zero Dawn are also the most memorable ones. Their fascinating narratives stay with players long after they’re done playing the game. Some of them will hopefully make an appearance in the upcoming sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, but until then, it’s the perfect time to look back at the best characters and their stories in Zero Dawn.
Teersa
As one of the High Matriarchs of the Nora tribe, it’s Teersa’s job to guide their people and protect their traditions. She has a soft spot for Aloy, as despite being deemed as an outcast, Teersa would help appoint her as a Seeker and trust her advice about the All-Mother.
That said, Teersa is still a Matriarch and is often confined by her tribe’s beliefs. While she does sometimes go against members like Lansra, she’s still powerless when it comes to stopping them from turning Aloy into an outcast. What’s more, her backstory isn’t as interesting as other great characters in the game, as Teersa’s narrative about being a Matriarch can be a bit one-note.
HADES
HADES used to be one of GAIA’s subordinate functions, responsible for restarting the terraforming process in case it doesn’t work. A mysterious signal freed it along with GAIA’s other functions, which turned HADES into its own AI.
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It tricked Sylens into helping it build a cult that would attempt to bring it to the Spire where it could broadcast a signal to end all life on earth. It’s intelligent enough to spot Aloy in a crowd and recognize that she’s a threat. There aren’t a ton of interactions with HADES in the game and the protagonist only meets him twice. HADES also seems more like a tool with a singular goal that drives the plot, with its smart but predictable actions turning people against each other.
GAIA
GAIA is responsible for ensuring that Zero Dawn’s world doesn’t become a bleak dystopia after the Faro Plague. It’s the most powerful AI ever created and its subordinates are able to reintroduce plants and human life to the earth. It would have finished its job if it wasn’t for the mysterious signal that released its subordinate functions.
GAIA is capable of emotions and empathy, which contribute to its strong desire to preserve human life, even at the cost of its own. GAIA is able to brilliantly prevent HADES from overtaking the system by self-destructing and even produces a clone of Elisabet, Aloy. Because GAIA destroyed itself long before the events of the game, players essentially only see recordings from the past – it would be interesting to see it rebuilt in the sequel.
Erend
Erend is one of Aloy’s most reliable friends in Zero Dawn, which is why it isn’t even a question that he’ll return for Forbidden West. When he’s first introduced in the game, the Oseram tribesman has already been through a lot in his life. He and his sister, Ersa, had a rough childhood filled with abuse from their father.
Like most Oseram do, Erend turns to alcohol to drown out his sorrow. It’s the same thing that happens when he learns of Ersa’s alleged death. If it weren’t for Aloy, he likely wouldn’t have found out about his sister’s true fate and Dervahl’s role in it. While he can be fearless at times, he’s more of a follower than a doer and is often a victim who needs help.
Rost
Although Rost only appears for a short time during the early stages, he’s instrumental for both Aloy and players because he teaches the protagonist how to hunt machines and survive as an outcast. He has a tragic backstory that involves the death of his mate and child, which leads to him volunteering to become a Death-Seeker. The Nora Braves helped turn him into an outcast instead, as no one could deny how courageous and admirable he is.
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He’s bound by tradition more than a lot of characters in the game, but his intentions are always good and even lead to him sacrificing himself to save Aloy. The only downside is how quick his character is killed off – players only learn more about his story from other NPCs later on.
Sylens
Players are able to learn a lot about the post-apocalyptic Horizon Zero Dawn's storylines through Sylens, as like Aloy, his curiosity has led him to uncover details about the Old Ones. He’s a mysterious character with unclear origins, but his defining trait has always seemed to be his thirst for knowledge.
Because of his need to know more, Sylens is inadvertently tricked by HADES into creating a dangerous cult for him. When Sylens realizes his mistake, he immediately switches alliances and sides with Aloy. He only works for his own benefit and his last conversation with HADES is worrying. While the mystery around his intentions and actions is certainly part of his character’s appeal, it would be nice to know a bit more about his past.
Sun-King Avad
Sun-King Avad is at the center of a riveting political storyline in Zero Dawn. He’s a just and strategic leader who inherited the throne from his father in a chaotic way. He wanted to put an end to the atrocities committed through the Red Raids and eliminate slavery, but the only way to do so was to kill his own father.
Unlike the other men in his family, Avad focused on learning about history and the arts but is also a formidable warrior as players see in the Battle of Meridian. His rise to power, unique intelligence, and genuine empathy for his people make him an admirable character. It would have been interesting to see a more personal side to him, though.
Ted Faro
If there’s a universally hated character in the game, it’s undoubtedly Ted Faro. The egoistic CEO of Faro Automated Solutions (FAS) is responsible for unleashing the deadly Faro Plague that doomed humanity. His greed and need for fame led him to act without thinking of the possible consequences.
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Even his last act is driven by selfishness in the guise of goodwill, as he destroyed APOLLO, the subordinate function responsible for educating future humans. He claims it’s so that they don’t make the same mistakes they did, but the game implies it’s to cover up the fact that he’s the man who caused the end of the world. He represents the worst traits of humanity, which makes him one of the best and most intriguing characters in Zero Dawn.
Dr. Elisabet Sobeck
Some of the best quotes in Horizon Zero Dawn come from a character who’s revealed to have died long ago, Dr. Sobeck. She was a renowned scientist who was responsible for FAS’s success in the fight for environmental restoration, but never wanted any credit for it. She left when she realized Ted’s company had moved away from its initial goals.
Elisabet didn’t hesitate to come back after finding out about the Faro Plague. She devised a brilliant plan to preserve the future. Without her, life would have been completely eradicated and Aloy would have never existed. The fact that the best character and protagonist in the game is a clone of her says a lot about how important she is to the story.
Aloy
Most of the shocking twists and turns in the game revolve around Aloy’s storyline. As players learn more about the world and the Old Ones, they also uncover new details about the protagonist’s narrative.
The fact that she’s a clone who’s destined to save the world is the biggest reveal in the game and really puts everything into perspective. From her hardship as an outcast to her gripping adventures outside of the Nora tribe, Aloy’s determination, curiosity, and strength have gotten her through challenging circumstances. She’s an unforgettable character with an inspiring story and is a big part of what makes the game so good.
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