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The Horizon series contains several Easter eggs referencing other games, media, and popular culture.
In Horizon Zero Dawn[]
Decima[]
Both HADES and the Eclipse cultists use the symbol of a black circle with a red line intersecting it from below; this image is also used as the logo for the Decima game engine, which was developed by Guerrilla Games for use in the Horizon and Killzone series.
Death Stranding[]
Each of the 3 Stranded Items found across the game are references to Death Stranding, which was developed by Kojima Productions in close collaboration with Guerrilla Games. The inventory icons of the Stranded Items are a silhouette of Ludens, Kojima Productions' mascot.
Jazz Jackrabbit[]
East of Devil's Thirst Bandit Camp, directly next to Metal Flower Mark I (D), there are rabbits identified by the Focus as Jazz and Jack, in reference to the Jazz Jackrabbit series. Guerrilla Games was founded in part by members of Orange Games, a studio which developed Jazz Jackrabbit 2.
Killzone[]
The Ancient Vessel "KZ" depicts a Helghast Assault Infantry soldier, as seen on the European box art of Killzone 3, another title developed by Guerrilla Games.
Additionally, a group of Carja guards at Dawn's Sentinel can be found playing a board game with a small figure that resembles a Helghast soldier.
Metroid[]
A Metroid seen during an explanation of ARTEMIS
During the cutscene The Good News, the silhouette of a Metroid larva can briefly be seen as part of an evolutionary tree.
RIGS: Mechanized Combat League[]
The Vantage Point Denver Stadium contains a logo for RIGS: Mechanized Combat League, a VR game produced by Guerrilla's sister studio, Guerrilla Cambridge.
In Horizon Forbidden West[]
Donkey Kong Country[]
Within Rebel Camp: First Forge, a derailed mine cart can be found surrounded by bananas, barrels, and a red baseball cap, referencing Donkey Kong Country.
Dennis Micka[]
The names of the 4 optional Cauldrons (MU, IOTA, CHI, and KAPPA) spell out the acronym "MICK" when ordered by ascending difficulty level. World designer Dennis Micka chose these names to spell out his surname, Micka, but a fifth planned cauldron (presumably named ALPHA) was removed from the game during development, leaving the acronym incomplete.[1]
Excalibur[]
The sword embedded in stone
Southeast of Riverhymn, a sword can be found protruding from a stone, referencing the mythical Excalibur of Arthurian legend.
Ghost of Tsushima[]
Southwest of Thornmarsh, an invincible Red Fox can be found which will lead the player towards a shrine in the form of a fox sculpture. This is a reference to the Inari shrines found in Ghost of Tsushima.
God of War[]
The War Totem collectables each reference characters from the 2018 God of War, and are found in locations referencing the main characters of the game.
Killzone[]
Inside LATOPOLIS, a rack can be found filled with guns resembling the LSR44 Spoor, the primary weapon used throughout the Killzone Shadow Fall campaign.
Lance Reddick Memorial[]
Aloy at the Lance Reddick memorial
At the Burning Shores, just north of Aerial Capture: Northwest, there's a holographic display honoring Lance Reddick, the voice of Sylens, who passed away in 2023.
The Legend of Zelda[]
In Cauldrons MU, IOTA, CHI, and KAPPA, sealed doors can be found with Triforce symbols above them. These doors can be opened by pressing the sequence for Zelda's Lullaby (◀▲▶◀▲▶) on the controller's D-pad, each leading to a small room with additional loot. Upon opening the door, Aloy's dialogue contains the phrases "hey, listen" and "it's dangerous to go alone", both notable quotations from the Zelda series. These doors were included at the suggestion of designer Dennis Micka, and appear in each Cauldron he was responsible for developing.[2]
An image of a Triforce can also be seen in the background of Vista Point: Dunehollow.
Patrick Munnik Memorial[]
Aloy at the Patrick Munnik memorial
To the northwest of Thornmarsh, on an island connected to the mainland by a sandbar, a memorial can be found honoring Patrick Munnik, lead producer of Horizon Zero Dawn. Upon reaching the memorial site, Aloy will sit on a woven mat with a scenic view of the Isle of Spires and read from a note eulogizing a deceased friend.[3]
Ukraine Graffiti[]
In the Relic Ruins at Restless Weald, a tiny artwork of the Guerilla Games logo can be found next to an image of a heart and the Ukrainian flag, on a railcar.
Ukraine Message[]
A small message can be found carved into rock, allegedly written by a member of Guerilla:
I am Ukrainian. Our nation deserves a better life. We alone protect our country, and therefore I send this message to gamers from all over the world: “When the power of love defeats the love of power, the world will know unity,”