Horizon Forbidden West™ Complete Edition launched on PC on March 21, 2024, bringing the full open-world action RPG — along with bonus content and the Burning Shores expansion, which adds new storylines, characters and a hazardous new area to explore — to Windows. It is a big, detailed game, but the good news is that the official PC requirements are refreshingly modest: a GTX 1650 or RX 5500 XT-class card and 16 GB of RAM will get you started. This guide breaks down the official minimum and recommended specs for Horizon Forbidden West, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations to hit your target frame rate.
- How Demanding Is Horizon Forbidden West?
- Horizon Forbidden West Official PC System Requirements
- Best GPU for Horizon Forbidden West by Resolution
- CPU, RAM and Storage for Horizon Forbidden West
- Recommended PC Builds for Horizon Forbidden West
- Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Horizon Forbidden West?
- Can You Play Horizon Forbidden West on a Laptop or Handheld?
- How to Boost FPS in Horizon Forbidden West
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Demanding Is Horizon Forbidden West?
Horizon Forbidden West is a large, visually rich open world, so it is heavier than a small indie or 2D title — but it is also a well-optimized PC port with solid upscaling support. In practical terms, the official floor is a GeForce GTX 1650 4 GB or Radeon RX 5500 XT 4 GB with 16 GB of RAM, so older budget cards can still run it at 1080p with sensible settings and upscaling enabled. The official recommended tier — an RTX 3060 or RX 5700 — is what you want for higher settings, while 1440p and 4K push you toward a stronger current-generation GPU. It is not a CPU-bound game: the recommended processors are a Core i5-8600 or Ryzen 5 3600, so a modern quad-core is plenty. The one firm requirement is storage, because the developers list 150 GB of SSD space.
Horizon Forbidden West Official PC System Requirements
| Component | Minimum (official) | Recommended (official) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909 or higher) | Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909 or higher) |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300X | Intel Core i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB or AMD Radeon RX 5500XT 4GB | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 |
| Storage | 150 GB available space | 150 GB available space |
Source: the official Horizon Forbidden West™ Complete Edition Steam store listing (app 2420110), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.
Best GPU for Horizon Forbidden West by Resolution
1080p
For a comfortable 1080p experience, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the sweet spot, sitting a clear step above the official recommended RTX 3060 / RX 5700 tier and handling high settings with upscaling such as DLSS or FSR turned on. Current-generation alternatives in the same class include the RTX 5060 and the RX 9060 XT, while anyone already running an RTX 3060 or RX 5700 is right at the recommended spec. Cards at the official minimum, like the GTX 1650 or RX 5500 XT, will run the game at 1080p once you lower settings and lean on upscaling.
1440p
Step up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER for high-refresh 1440p at high or ultra settings. This is the resolution most PC gamers target, and this class of card gives Horizon Forbidden West plenty of headroom above the official recommended spec. Newer options such as the RTX 5070 or RX 9070 are equally sensible picks at this tier, and upscaling keeps frame rates high without a large visual cost.
4K
For 4K, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is the realistic entry point, ideally paired with upscaling to keep frame rates high. 4K at maximum settings is the heaviest way to play Horizon Forbidden West, so a top-tier card and DLSS/FSR make the biggest difference; RTX 5070 Ti or RX 9070 XT-class hardware is the current-generation equivalent of this tier.
CPU, RAM and Storage for Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden West is not unusually CPU-hungry. The official recommended processors are a Core i5-8600 or Ryzen 5 3600, and the minimum is a Core i3-8100 or Ryzen 3 1300X, so almost any modern quad-core will keep up with a mid-range GPU. If you are building fresh, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is excellent value and comfortably above the recommended spec, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the fastest mainstream gaming CPU if you want maximum frame rates. Intel fans can opt for the Intel Core i5-14600K. Memory matters more than CPU here: 16 GB is both the official minimum and the official recommended figure, so 16 GB is the real target and 8 GB does not meet the requirement. A 32 GB kit such as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB simply gives you headroom for background apps and future titles. For storage, the game needs 150 GB of SSD space, and a fast NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD helps cut load times and reduce texture-streaming stutter.
Recommended PC Builds for Horizon Forbidden West
1080p build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — comfortably above the official recommended spec for high-settings 1080p.
1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — the setup most players should aim for.
4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — for 4K with upscaling.
Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Horizon Forbidden West?
If your current graphics card sits below the official GTX 1650 / RX 5500 XT minimum — or you are still running 8 GB of RAM — Horizon Forbidden West is a reasonable excuse to upgrade, but be strategic about it. The graphics card delivers by far the biggest jump in gaming performance, so upgrade the GPU first if you have to choose. The CPU bar is low here, with an i5-8600 or Ryzen 5 3600 listed as recommended, so a mid-range CPU from the last few years will not bottleneck a modern GPU in this game and you can usually keep it. Moving to 16 GB of RAM and installing the game on an SSD with 150 GB free are cheap upgrades that noticeably smooth out the experience. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.
Can You Play Horizon Forbidden West on a Laptop or Handheld?
Gaming laptops with an RTX 4060 or better mobile GPU can run Horizon Forbidden West well at 1080p, though expect shorter battery life and more heat than a desktop. On handhelds like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, the hardware sits below the official minimum GPU tier, so expect to play at low settings with a reduced resolution and aggressive upscaling, and a 30fps target is the realistic expectation. If portability matters, prioritise a device with a capable GPU and pair it with a fast microSD or SSD for storage — the game needs 150 GB of space either way.
How to Boost FPS in Horizon Forbidden West
If frame rates are low, enable upscaling (DLSS on NVIDIA, FSR on AMD, or XeSS on Intel) which offers the single biggest performance gain, and turn on frame generation if your GPU supports it. Drop the most expensive settings first — shadow quality and effects-heavy options such as volumetric and post-processing work — before lowering overall resolution. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, close background apps, and make sure the game is installed on an SSD, since the official requirements call for 150 GB of SSD space. Lowering settings to hit a stable frame rate almost always feels better than chasing maxed-out visuals with stutter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my PC run Horizon Forbidden West?
If your PC has at least a GTX 1650 / RX 5500 XT-class GPU, a Core i3-8100 or Ryzen 3 1300X-class CPU, 16 GB of RAM and 150 GB of SSD space, it meets the official minimum and can run Horizon Forbidden West at 1080p with adjusted settings. For a smooth high-settings experience at 1080p or 1440p, aim for the recommended RTX 3060 / RX 5700-class card along with the CPU and memory listed above.
Is Horizon Forbidden West demanding on PC?
Horizon Forbidden West is a large open-world game, so it is moderately demanding, but it is also a well-optimized port. The official minimum is only a GTX 1650 / RX 5500 XT with 16 GB of RAM, and upscaling support helps a lot, so mid-range hardware handles 1080p and 1440p with sensible settings. It is not one of the heaviest PC releases of its generation.
What GPU do I need for Horizon Forbidden West at 1440p 60fps?
A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER-class graphics card is the sweet spot for high-settings 1440p at 60fps or higher in Horizon Forbidden West, especially with upscaling enabled. That tier sits comfortably above the official recommended RTX 3060 / RX 5700 spec and gives you headroom for future titles too.
How much RAM does Horizon Forbidden West need?
16 GB of RAM. That figure is listed as both the official minimum and the official recommended amount, so 8 GB does not meet the requirement for Horizon Forbidden West. Faster DDR5 memory also helps in CPU-limited scenes.
Do I need an SSD for Horizon Forbidden West?
Yes. The official requirements list 150 GB of SSD space, so an SSD is effectively required rather than optional, and it also reduces load times. An NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro is ideal for modern games.
