Aloy gets romance options in Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores DLC

Aloy didn’t have much time for romance during the breakneck events of Horizon Zero Dawn, but in the sequel to the post-apocalyptic open world RPG, called Forbidden West, the heroine formed many close bonds with other characters. These relationships were only platonic. According to the Burning ShoresThis DLC for PlayStation 5 is set in the aftermath of the events that took place. Forbidden West, that’s changed.

[Ed. note: This article contains spoilers for the Horizon series and the Burning Shores DLC.]

Aloy was once courted by several male characters, but they were always rejected. There were traces of romance in the story. Forbidden WestEarly in the game players were able to select from Aloy’s responses those that included a heart icon, much like the way romance-specific dialog is marked in BioWare titles such as Dragon Age or Mass Effect. As the selection of heart-shaped options did not lead to a romantic relationship, fans and critics speculated that Aloy might be asexual.

Forbidden WestThe storyline also includes a second hint about Elisabet Sokoeck, a scientist in the distant past whose genetic clone Aloy was. The end of the book is where you will find the final reveal. Forbidden WestAloy finds out that Elizabet had been a gay woman. Although queerness is not officially associated with a gene in reality (despite the fact that many scientists have studied it), the Horizon games always seem to have a magical feel to them when they compare Aloy to her grandmother. Both are treated as the same character, but in different time periods. Because of that, Aloy has been assumed to be gay by many.

Burning Shores. The new DLC pack for Forbidden West, confirms Aloy’s sexuality with the introduction of a romance between the heroine and her female companion Seyka, who’s new to this new chapter. Video below shows the entire scene.

Aloy does have the option to reject Seyka’s proposition, but even if she does so, that rejection doesn’t include any implication that Aloy is straight. Aloy’s dialogue responses to Seyka are: “Yes, I do,” “I’m not ready for this,” or “This is too much for me.”

If Aloy reciprocates Seyka’s feelings, the two share a kiss, but the DLC still ends with the characters parting ways. No matter what, the inclusion of this new character and her feelings for Aloy open up huge opportunities for storytelling in future Horizon games — including more romance with Seyka, or perhaps other characters as well.