bld4me Grade
7
Score/10
The Verdict

Heavier than the Zero Dawn Remastered due to the 'Burning Shores' DLC. Treat the official specs as the bare minimum and aim a tier higher.

For a rock-solid 1080p/60fps, you need to bump up a tier on both your GPU *and* CPU.
The official GPU recommendations barely cut it. Step up a tier and grab a card that fully supports frame generation.
Frame gen can drag the officially recommended GPUs across the 60fps finish line, but hitting 60fps *natively* is crucial for a genuinely smooth experience.
Recommendation
Ryzen 5 9600X
Arc B570 10GB
16GB
1024GB SSD
Ryzen 5 7600X
Radeon RX 6650 XT
16GB
1024GB SSD

A modern mid-range build will comfortably lock in a stable 60fps. Throw in 32GB of RAM to give the system some breathing room.If you're hunting for older used hardware, picking a GPU generation that natively supports frame generation is non-negotiable.

bld4me
Writing & Verification

bld4me PC Technical Team

How We Validate

Verifier Comment

On paper, the spec sheet is a copy-paste of the PS5-grade Zero Dawn Remastered. In our actual benchmarks, though? This game is noticeably heavier. It makes perfect sense why it got slapped with an 'Unsupported' tag for the Steam Deck.Even during basic open-world exploration, a rig built to the official "recommended" specs will see both CPU and GPU utilization pegged above 60%. The CPU tax, in particular, is significantly steeper this time around.

Changelog

XeSS FG added. Accuracy of 'Estimated FPS' has been improved for compatible GPUs when 'AI Boost' is enabled, now factoring in the XeSS FG algorithm.
Article published.
On the Go

UMPC, Handheld & Laptop Performance

ROG

ASUS ROG Ally (Ryzen Z1 Extreme)

Grade5/10

Standard 512GB Edition

Legion

Legion Go

Grade5/10

512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD / 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD

MSI

MSI Claw 8 AI+

Grade5/10

Claw 8 AI+ Standard (1TB) / Claw 8 AI+ Polar Tempest Edition

MSI

MSI Claw 8 AI+ (AMD Ryzen AI)

Grade5/10

Claw 8 AI+ (Ryzen AI 9 HX 370) / Claw 8 AI+ (Ryzen AI 9 365)

MSI

MSI Claw A1M (Intel Core Ultra 5)

Grade4/10

Claw A1M-004JP (512GB) / Claw A1M i5 (1TB Custom)

MSI

MSI Claw A1M (Intel Core Ultra 7)

Grade5/10

Claw A1M-002JP (1TB) / Claw A1M i7 High-End (32GB/2TB)

Lenovo

LOQ 15AHP10

Grade8/10

RTX 5060 / 1TB SSD / RTX 5050 / 512GB SSD

The previous game shares the exact same official specs but is Steam Deck 'Verified', while this sequel sits at 'Unsupported'. That alone tells you it hits harder. Handhelds sharing system RAM and VRAM simply can't handle the heavy 16GB system + 8GB VRAM demands. If you want to play on the go, you'll need a proper gaming laptop.

The verdict is estimated based on hardware specifications, assuming a game resolution of 720p and settings at Medium or lower. A 'PLAYABLE' status does not guarantee actual gameplay performance.

PC Parts Selection Guide

Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition PC Component Selection & Build Strategy

You're looking at a modern mid-range gaming rig to run this right: step up a tier for your CPU, grab a GPU that supports frame generation, pack 16GB+ of RAM, and install it on an NVMe SSD.
Pro Advice

BUILD
BALANCE

This game hits both the CPU and GPU hard, and it eats VRAM for breakfast—especially in the expansion. If you're playing through the DLC, your best bet is to step up a tier and grab a GPU with frame gen support and at least 12GB of VRAM. Otherwise, be prepared to compromise and dial back your graphics settings.
More from Series

horizon - Specs & Benchmarks for Other Titles

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
Grade
6
EVALUATED March 16, 2026
Open World Action

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

Actually, the system requirements are exactly the same as the sequel, Horizon Forbidden West. It's an older title, but the hardware demands are definitely not low.

CPU
GPU
Technical Specifications

Specs: Official System Requirements

Source: Steam Store Official
On paper, the spec sheet is identical to the Zero Dawn Remastered. In reality? The Steam Deck 'Unsupported' tag gives it away—this game demands significantly more horsepower. Factor in the VRAM-hungry expansion, and you should definitely plan on building past the recommended specs.

The number of ● dots quantifies the performance level required from PC components on a scale of 1 to 10.

Minimum

Recommended

CPU
Core i3-8100
Ryzen 3 1300X
CPU
Core i5-8600
Ryzen 5 3600
GPU
GeForce GTX 1650
Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB
GPU
Radeon RX 5700
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
RAM
16 GB
RAM
16 GB
Storage
150 GB HDD
Storage
150 GB SSD
Supported Tech (Upscaling & Frame Gen)
Upscaler:DLSSFSRXeSS
Frame Gen:DLSS FGFSR FGXeSS FG
GPU Selection & FPS Analysis

Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition GPU Benchmark & FPS Guide

The GPU demands are up there with the latest AAA heavyweights. The strategy here is simple: target a locked 60fps with raw rasterization, then use frame gen to push it even higher. It's also incredibly VRAM-heavy; you'll want at least 12GB if you plan on cranking up the settings.

Target Mapping

Because of how the game plays, dipping into the 50s will noticeably hurt your experience. Securing a GPU that can hold 60fps+ is non-negotiable. If you're pushing for 4K, a high-end card is mandatory, and you'll still need to lean on frame gen to keep the framerate afloat.
GeForce GTX 1650 OFFICIAL
Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB OFFICIAL
Radeon RX 5500 XT 8GB USED
Radeon R9 Nano
Radeon RX 5700 OFFICIAL
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB OFFICIAL
Radeon RX 6650 XT USED
Arc A750 USED
Radeon RX 7700 XT USED
GeForce RTX 3080 10GB USED
GeForce RTX 4070 USED
GeForce RTX 3080 12GB USED
Radeon RX 7900 GRE USED
Radeon RX 6950 XT USED
GeForce RTX 3090 Ti USED
GeForce RTX 4070 Ti USED
Radeon RX 9070 XT NEW
GeForce RTX 4090 USED
Radeon RX 6500 XT USED
GeForce GTX 1070 (Laptop)
Radeon RX Vega 56M USED
Arc A570M USED
Radeon RX 7600M XT USED
GeForce RTX 3070 Ti (Laptop) USED
GeForce RTX 4060 (Laptop) USED
Radeon RX 6800M USED
Radeon RX 7900M USED
GeForce RTX 4080 (Laptop) USED
GeForce RTX 4090 (Laptop) USED
No matching candidates found in database

Technical Evidence

We intentionally selected CPUs and GPUs with about 20-30% more headroom than the official specs. Over-speccing like this is how you guarantee a rock-solid 1080p/60fps, even when you hit the heavy loads of the expansion.

GPU Benchmarks

Official Minimum
Official Recommended
bld4me Choice
Arc B570 10GB bld4me NEW
Radeon RX 6650 XT bld4me USED
Radeon RX 5700 Official Recommended
GeForce GTX 1650 Official Minimum

CPU Benchmarks

Official Minimum
Official Recommended
bld4me Choice
Ryzen 5 9600X bld4me NEW
Ryzen 5 7600X bld4me USED
Core i5-8600 Official Recommended
Core i3-8100 Official Minimum

This is a comparison graph of the manufacturer's minimum required specs, recommended specs, and bld4me-recommended parts (new and used). Higher values indicate smoother performance. bld4me's recommended parts are selected based on independent research, balancing comfortable gameplay with cost-performance for the game title.

GPU Matrix

Even the officially recommended GPUs will suffer from frame drops into the 50s during heavy scenes. Stepping up a tier to lock a native 60fps—and then layering on upscaling and frame gen for extra smoothness—is basically mandatory.
GPU720p1080p1440p4K
bld4me NEW
Arc B570 10GB
bld4me USED
Radeon RX 6650 XT
Official Recommended
Radeon RX 5700
Official Minimum
GeForce GTX 1650

The FPS values above are estimated based purely on the GPU's native performance without any upscaler. These are merely estimates and do not guarantee actual performance.

Estimated FPS Database

Horizon Forbidden West Complete Editionseo_benchmark_table_suffix

Estimated FPS on this site is calculated based on the official recommended requirements of each game, assuming only the GPU is changed. Actual frame rates may vary depending on the environment, such as the combined CPU, memory, and storage.

Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition

90 SKUS
Share Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition benchmarks for
GPUShare720PHD1080PFHD1440PQHD4KUHD
Grade S
SUPREME"For those who refuse to compromise"

The ultimate GPU. Delivers premium 4K gaming at max settings.

GeForce RTX 5090
GeForce RTX 4090
Radeon RX 9070 XT
Radeon RX 7900 XTX
Radeon RX 9070 GRE
Radeon RX 9070
GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER
GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
GeForce RTX 5080
Radeon RX 7900 XT
GeForce RTX 4080
GeForce RTX 5070
GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER
GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Radeon RX 6950 XT
GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
Radeon RX 7900 GRE

Non-Recommended Models (Grade E)

Performance Insufficient / Risk of Crash

Ranking Criteria Explained

S
SUPREME"For those who refuse to compromise"

The ultimate GPU. Delivers premium 4K gaming at max settings.

A
ADVANCED"If you crave that next level of smoothness"

A step-up GPU for chasing high refresh rates and stunning visuals.

B
BALANCED"bld4me's recommendation. The smart, well-balanced choice"

The smart pick—perfect balance of power and efficiency.

C
COMPETENT"Play at 1080p/Medium"

Ensures standard playability, delivering 30 to just under 60 FPS at 1080p/Medium settings.

E
EXCLUDED"Not recommended. Time to upgrade"

GPU below official supported performance.

The Bottom Line

The Game's Verdict: Recommended Specs & Grade

The sequel to the critically acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn is here. It's easy to look at the spec sheet, see it mirrors the Zero Dawn Remastered, and breathe a sigh of relief. Don't. Factor in the 'Burning Shores' DLC, and the real-world performance hit is noticeably heavier.

Even on the officially 'recommended' GPUs, our benchmarks showed frame drops into the 50s during demanding scenes. Stepping up a hardware tier is crucial if you want a consistently smooth experience.

Pushing higher resolutions and maxed-out graphics? Upscaling and frame gen support are mandatory. And if your goal is absolute zero micro-stutters, giving your system plenty of RAM and VRAM headroom is non-negotiable.