How big is the Zero Dawn map?
The Horizon Zero Dawn map is approximately 8 square miles (20 square kilometers) in size. This makes it decently sized, but smaller than some other major open world RPGs.
Detailed breakdown of the Horizon Zero Dawn map size
According to Guerrilla Games, the developers, the Zero Dawn map spans about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) across at its widest points. However, this is scaled down compared to real-life proportions:
| Measurement | In-game | Real-life equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Map width | 4 miles | 430 miles |
| Scaling ratio | 1:107.5 | – |
So while crossing the map in-game takes minutes, that same distance would take 9 hours driving! This scaling allows Guerrilla to create a world that feels hugely explorable in-game, while modeling a reasonably sized map they can pack with details and content.
How the Forbidden West map size compares
Forbidden West features a slightly larger map than Zero Dawn at about 5 miles (8 kilometers) across. While only 25% bigger, Forbidden West crams much more diversity across biomes like forests, beaches, and mountains.
Horizon map size vs other major open world games
At 8 square miles, Horizon‘s map is smaller than some other open world hits:
| Game | Map size |
|---|---|
| The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | 15 square miles |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (with DLC) | 136 square miles |
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 8 square miles |
However, Horizon‘s smaller map contains an incredible level of detail and content across forests, settlements, cities and ruins. So while not the largest, it provides a dense and rich open world.
Wrapping up on Horizon‘s map sizes
In summary:
- Horizon Zero Dawn: 8 square miles
- Horizon Forbidden West: 10+ square miles
- Smaller than some rivals, but extremely detailed
Horizon may not have the biggest open world maps in sheer size. But the incredible level of detail crammed into every inch creates an unbelievably rich and exciting realm for Aloy to explore.
