Exploring the vast frontier of Horizon Forbidden West offers players a remarkably dense world filled with dangerous machines and rich tribal cultures. Beyond the primary campaign, Aloy can engage with the inhabitants of the post-apocalyptic frontier through numerous structured side activities that flesh out the world's lore. Understanding the exact scope of these optional narrative missions can help completionists optimize their journey across the dangerous ruins.
The Total Number of Side Quests
In the base game of Horizon Forbidden West, players can discover and complete exactly 28 standalone Side Quests. These missions are distinct from Errands, as they feature multi-stage objectives, deeper narrative consequences, and significantly larger experience rewards. Tracking down every single one of these stories will take Aloy to the absolute edges of the map boundaries.
It is important to note that these 28 missions do not include the shorter task structures categorized as Errands, which focus on simple resource gathering. If you count both Side Quests and Errands together, the total number of optional tribal favors rises to 48 activities. Focusing strictly on the core Side Quests ensures you experience the most impactful character writing and unique cinematic cutscenes available.
Major Settlement Hubs and Quest Starters
The vast majority of these adventures are found waiting inside the primary population hubs established by the various regional tribes. Early in the game, major locations like Chainscrape and Plainsong provide essential favors that help introduce the ongoing political struggles of the Utaru people. As you advance further west, larger settlements like Memorial Grove and Thornmarsh act as dense epicenters for high-level tactical operations.
Speaking to marked NPCs with green exclamation points over their heads remains the most reliable method to populate your active journal menu. Rumor mongers resting at local campfires will also periodically share tips regarding distant communities requiring immediate assistance. Taking the time to chat with these gossiping travelers ensures no hidden map locations slip past your attention during long travel sessions.
Companion Missions and Tribal Arc Finales
Several of the most critical narrative threads are directly tied to Aloy's core team members and unlock incrementally as you advance the main storyline. Companions like Zo, Erend, Kotallo, and Alva each possess unique personal objectives that require traveling back to old ruins or confronting specific historical enemies. Finishing these specialized operations is highly recommended as they permanently alter the loyalty and dialog options of your base crew.
Many of these larger character tasks culminate in massive battle encounters against high-tier machines that guard unique legendary equipment. For example, completing Kotallo's request lets players experience a highly rewarding tactical victory that dramatically shifts his personal perspective. Managing these relationships carefully adds immense emotional depth to the overarching narrative before you initiate the final campaign chapters.
Tracking Hidden Quests in the Wilderness
A small handful of optional objectives do not appear in major cities and must be stumbled upon manually while exploring remote geographic landmarks. These isolated events are often triggered by finding a wounded hunter in the wilderness or scanning specific data structures hidden inside collapsed ancient buildings. Keeping your Focus active while traveling between distant regions allows you to spot these subtle distress signals from afar.
Uncovering these hidden locations frequently rewards thorough virtual travelers with rare crafting components and valuable skill points needed to max out your combat trees. For those planning out their optimal path through the game, checking an interactive guide or a comprehensive checklist can prevent a frustrating backtracking search during the endgame phase. Striking a clean balance between exploration and structured tracking makes the massive journey feel incredibly fulfilling from start to finish.
