The Mind-Boggling Enigmas Yet to be Unraveled in Horizon Gaming Series

The Horizon games are all about uncovering the secrets of the world. At the center of the series is Aloy, an outcast on a mission to unravel the events that nearly wiped out humanity and prevent them from happening again. With the Horizon lore spanning a thousand years, there are still many unanswered questions and mysteries waiting to be uncovered. While some in-game collectibles shed light on the rise, fall, and resurgence of Horizon's civilizations, much of the lore remains shrouded in mystery. Here are some of the biggest mysteries that the franchise has yet to solve.

7 Why Did The Twelve Outlanders Attack Mother's Vigil?

Years ago, a group of twelve outlanders raided the Nora village of Mother's Vigil and took hostages. While the fate of the outlanders is known, their motive for the attack remains a mystery. Some speculate that they were simply pillaging the village, but there are hints that suggest a deeper purpose. High Matriarch Teersa mentions that the outlanders were later heard making "strange noises" near an old-world ruin, leading to a theory that they were searching for ancient technology such as the Shield-Weaver armor. However, the true reasons behind the attack and its aftermath remain unclear.

6 Where Are The Other Cradle Facilities?

The Eleuthia cradle facilities played a crucial role in repopulating Earth after the devastating Faro swarm wiped out all organic life. Among them, Eleuthia-9, situated in Colorado, holds particular importance in the series' narrative. It is believed that all the tribes encountered, except for the Quen, are descendants of the individuals born in Eleuthia-9. Interestingly, a data point discovered in the Zero Dawn Project Facility discloses the existence of two other Eleuthia cradle facilities, one in China and the other in Mozambique. Nevertheless, the precise number and location of these facilities remain undisclosed, leaving room for potential revelations in future installments that could shed light on the whereabouts of other tribes.

5 What Happened To Elysium?

Project Zero Dawn personnel and their families were offered refuge in Elysium, a secure facility that would protect them from the Faro Plague. However, Elysium was not intended to be a permanent habitat and had only enough resources to sustain life for about a century. In Horizon: Forbidden West, Gaia reveals that all transmissions from the facility stopped earlier than expected, indicating a potential catastrophic event. While it's possible that the Faro swarm caused the facility's downfall, there is no conclusive evidence to support this theory. As of now, the fate of Elysium's inhabitants remains unknown.

4 Is Vast Silver Still Out There?

There are rumors that an advanced environmental-monitoring AI called Vast Silver went rogue in the 2040s, leading to the creation of The Turing Act to regulate the development of sentient AIs. Despite the AI's whereabouts being unknown, there are multiple indications that it could still exist. With the prevalence of Rogue AIs in the Horizon games, Aloy may encounter Vast Silver in the future.

3 Is There More To The Faro Glitch?

The Faro Automated Solutions machines in 2064 went rogue due to a glitch, resulting in the mass eradication of all life on Earth. It remains a pivotal event in Horizon's history, yet the cause of the malfunction remains shrouded in mystery. While Ted Faro is the prime suspect, it's plausible that someone else may have been responsible for the sabotage. The lack of clarity surrounding the glitch adds to the intrigue of the story as it directly led to the events of the game.

2 Who Were The Hunters With The Same Faces?

Within the game Zero Dawn, players come across a glyph inscribed by a Carja healer named Considerate Udain. This glyph hints at a collective of hunters in the Forbidden West who share identical faces. Nonetheless, a data point in the sequel game suggests that Udain had a tendency to exaggerate. It is possible that Udain's description of the Tenakth was hyperbolic, but given that cloning exists in Horizon's universe, there is a chance that Udain's story is accurate.

1 Who Is Sylens?

Sylens' past remains a mystery to players, despite his significant role in the series. The blue cables embedded in his skin suggest a possible connection to the Banuk tribe, but The Frozen Wilds DLC suggests that his appearance may have been a strategic ploy to gather information from the tribe's spiritual leaders. Sylens' insatiable thirst for knowledge is the only thing known for sure, leaving the possibility for his backstory to be explored in a future installment of the game.