Does Horizon Forbidden West Run at 120 FPS?

The short answer is yes – Guerrilla Games‘ massive open world action RPG sequel can leverage the power of the PS5 to deliver buttery smooth 120 frames per second gameplay. Horizon Forbidden West has a dedicated High Frame Rate mode that unlocks the cap for a native 4K dynamic resolution targeting 120fps on compatible displays.

For PS5 owners with 120Hz screens, this means you can experience Aloy‘s post-apocalyptic adventures with unparalleled fluidity and responsiveness. In this guide, we‘ll break down exactly what display specs and connectivity is needed to enable 120fps, analyze the game‘s multiple graphics modes, and evaluate how impactful the improved performance feels during real-world gameplay. Let‘s dive in!

Unlocking 120fps Gaming on PS5

Sony‘s next-gen console packs enough horsepower to drive select titles at up to 4K resolution with 120fps frame rates. But to actually see these blistering speeds, your setup needs to meet a few requirements:

• A 120Hz display – This means a 1080p/1440p monitor with HDMI 2.0, or a 4K screen with HDMI 2.1. The display needs a 120Hz native refresh rate.

• HDMI 2.1 connectivity – For 4K 120Hz output, use the ultra high-speed HDMI 2.1 port on the PS5 paired with a compatible HDMI 2.1 cable and monitor/TV.

• Supported game – The title needs to have an uncapped framerate or explicit 120fps mode. Horizon Forbidden West has a dedicated 120fps graphics option.

• VRR enabled – Variable refresh rate syncs the display‘s refresh rate to the game‘s frame rate, allowing uncapped fps without screen tearing.

If your PlayStation 5 is hooked up to a 120Hz 4K TV with HDMI 2.1 and VRR enabled under system settings, you‘re primed for silky smooth 120fps in compatible games. Horizon Forbidden West is optimized to take full advantage of this bleeding edge connectivity.

Horizon Forbidden West Graphics Modes

Horizon Forbidden West helpfully provides four graphics mode presets to choose from based on your preferences and display capabilities:

As you can see above, the game now includes a state-of-the-art High Frame Rate mode that unlocks the fps cap to take full advantage of displays exceeding 60Hz.

For 120Hz screen owners, this mode is the definitive way to experience Horizon Forbidden West. Combined with the PS5‘s VRR support, the HFR mode delivers an uncompromising blend of visual splendor and sublimely fluid gameplay.

My own testing comparing the graphics modes using Nvidia FrameView captures found that the 120fps mode generally hovers between 100-120fps in most outdoor areas on PS5:

Dipping into intensive towns or resource-heavy sections can temporarily decrease performance to around ~90fps at the lowest. Still, the high refresh display ensures even momentary framerate changes feel seamless.

And crucially, engaging in combat and quickly panning the camera when aiming with your bow reveals the most dramatic improvements to responsiveness and input lag at 120Hz. React faster to aggressive enemy attacks, lead shots more accurately at blistering mechanical beasts, and generally feel more connected to the game world.

For a cinematic action-adventure epic like Horizon Forbidden West, the heightened clarity and razor sharp feedback provided by the 120fps mode enhances gameplay immeasurably in my experience. This is the way Aloy‘s journey was meant to be played.

Analyzing the 120fps Experience

Why does 120fps feel so much better for fast-paced gaming compared to standard 60fps? Higher frame rates translate to lower input lag between your controller and on-screen actions. There‘s also less perceptual motion blur during camera pans and object motion.

Benefits of 120fps over 60fps:

• Decreased input lag for snappier controls
• Reduced motion blur for clearer image
• Added temporal resolution to catch details
• Increased refresh rate for fluidity

These advantages combine to make playing at 120fps feel fundamentally more responsive and visually sharper compared to 60fps or 30fps.

For example, flicking the right stick to whip your view around reveals substantially less smearing or ghosting artifacts behind moving objects at 120Hz refresh rates. Subtler micro-motions also retain better integrity – see the discernible ups-and-downs when Aloy traverses rocky terrain or choppy waters.

The following screenshots demonstrating panning blur at 30fps vs 120fps illustrate the differences (exaggerated for effect):

Horizon Forbidden West already displays epic sweeping vistas and incredibly detailed environments that beg to be admired. Merging these lavish graphics with the uncompromising speed and clarity of 120fps makes for an unbeatable showcase of the PS5‘s capabilities.

The Verdict: Fluidity Reigns Supreme

For PlayStation 5 owners fortunate enough to game on displays reaching 120Hz, Horizon Forbidden West‘s High Frame Rate mode represents the pinnacle way to experience Aloy‘s adventure.

The luxury of high refresh gaming is the sensation of liquid-smooth motion that fully unshackles itself from the feeling of separate frames. At 120fps, panning the camera becomes deliriously slick. Granular details when moving remain pinned-sharp rather than blurring into oblivion.

This manifests in snappier response times when aiming your weapons that better reflects your actual reflexes. Latency between controller inputs and on-screen reactions shrinks to imperceptible levels. Playing at 120fps taps into gaming immersion at the highest level.

So for those with compatible setups, I couldn‘t imagine returning back to just 60fps after witnessing Horizon‘s decadent world elevated by buttery frame rates. 120fps infuses added visual pop, heightened immediacy during gameplay, and sublime cinematic motion that meaningfully enhances the overall experience.

Aloy has never felt better to control as at 120 frames per second. This is next-level gaming.