Horizon Forbidden West accessibility features

Feature check at a glance

Of the ten features we track, the official information for Horizon Forbidden West documents 8 in full and 0 in part.

• SubtitlesYes
• Subtitle size optionsYes
• Colour-blind modesYes
• Full control remappingYes
• Hold-to-toggle optionsYes
• Difficulty and assist optionsYes
• Audio cues for navigationYes
• Text-to-speech or menu narrationNot stated
• Motion and camera-shake reductionYes
• High-contrast modeNot stated

Notes on each feature

• Subtitles: On by default when the game starts.
• Subtitle size options: Customisable size and background.
• Colour-blind modes: Tagged 'Colour Alternatives' by PlayStation; filter names not itemised.
• Full control remapping: Fully remappable gameplay controls with conflict guidance; left-handed presets.
• Hold-to-toggle options: Toggle/hold swap options.
• Difficulty and assist options: Story Mode to Very Hard, Custom difficulty, auto heal, auto sprint and more.
• Audio cues for navigation: Tagged 'Visual Cue Alternatives' by PlayStation.
• Text-to-speech or menu narration: No screen reader listed in the official sources we checked.
• Motion and camera-shake reduction: Camera shake and motion blur can be customised.
• High-contrast mode: Not described in the official sources we checked.

Co-pilot: two controllers, one Aloy

The co-pilot system gives a second PlayStation controller, with mirrored controls, access to the game. A parent, carer or friend can help with a tricky section, or two players can share the load if one person finds certain inputs difficult. It is a simple feature but a useful one for families, and it complements the console's own controller assist settings covered in our PS5 settings guide.

Gameplay controls are fully remappable, with guidance when two actions conflict, and there are presets including left-handed support. Toggle and hold can be swapped, stick sensitivity and dead zones adjusted, and vibration and adaptive triggers turned down or off on PS5.

X and Y axis inversion are available, and Quick Swap reduces the need to open the weapon wheel during a fight. Taken together, these controls let a player shape the game around one or two comfortable inputs, then lean on the co-pilot for anything that remains difficult.

Story Mode to Very Hard, plus custom damage

Five difficulty levels are available: Story Mode, Easy, Normal, Hard and Very Hard. A Custom difficulty lets you set the damage Aloy deals and receives separately. An Easy Loot option automatically adds resources from a machine's detachable parts to your inventory if you did not remove them before it was destroyed.

Assists include aim assist, adjustable weapon wheel slow-down, extended or automatic Concentration, auto sprint, auto heal when health falls below half, and auto Shieldwing. Climbing annotations can be always on, a mount can follow the road, and a Story So Far screen recaps the plot for players who return after a break. Our cognitive guide explains why recaps help.

Extended Concentration slows time for longer while aiming, and Auto Concentration triggers it automatically, which reduces the precision needed to hit a machine's weak points. For a player who tires quickly, auto heal removes the need to manage health manually in the middle of a fight.

Sound sensitivity and screen comfort

Volume for music, speech and sound effects can be set separately, mono audio is available, and an option removes high-pitched sounds that can trigger tinnitus. On PS5, volumes for machines, weapons, explosions and ambient sound can be trimmed further. Subtitles are on by default with customisable size and background.

Camera shake and motion blur can be adjusted, and the HUD is fully customisable. The official sources we checked do not mention a screen reader or a dedicated high contrast mode, so those are marked unknown. PlayStation tags 25 accessibility features across the PS4 and PS5 versions.

Players can choose their spoken language and subtitle language at the start, and the Notebook keeps a written record of story information. For Deaf and hard-of-hearing players, having subtitles on by default means the opening scenes are not missed while settings are being found.

If a player has tinnitus or sound sensitivity, try the high-pitched sound removal first and then trim individual categories on PS5, rather than lowering the master volume and losing speech.

Helpers for a large open world

Horizon Forbidden West covers a large map, and Guerrilla added several tools to make it easier to navigate and remember. Navigation markers and waypoints can be shown, a mount can follow the road automatically, and pop-up ability reminders can be switched on or off. A Notebook acts as an in-game encyclopedia of characters, machines and collected datapoints, and a Tutorials section lets players review mechanics at any time.

Motion sensor aiming uses the DualSense controller's accelerometer and gyroscope for small adjustments to aimed shots; it is optional, and PlayStation tags the game as playable without motion controls. Quick Swap makes changing weapons faster.

PlayStation's tags also list Practice Mode, Game Pausing, Manual Saving, Tutorial Reminders and Game Speed (Basic). The game is rated PEGI 16 for violence and in-game purchases. For blind players, the lack of a documented screen reader is the main gap to be aware of.