Push Square writer Liam Croft reflects on earning the platinum trophy for Horizon Forbidden West, using the piece to push back against the polarised "love it or hate it" discourse that dominates discussion of the game. He argues that Forbidden West improves on its predecessor in almost every practical respect, from side quests and tribes to combat and world variety, even though he feels the writers struggled to give protagonist Aloy a compelling driving mystery once her origin story from Horizon Zero Dawn was resolved.

The article notes the writer earned the platinum after extensive playtime, having worked on the game for review and for guides, and describes the trophy list itself as fairly easy but effective at nudging players towards features like the Machine Strike mini-game and combat arenas. He also expresses anticipation for Horizon 3, referencing its rumoured 2032 release, and closes by inviting readers to share whether they too have completed the platinum.