Beneath the vast deserts, jungles, and metallic ruins of Horizon Forbidden West lies a second layer of discovery — a world of hidden bases, unmarked relics, and gear that can completely change the way you play. While most players focus on the main questlines or collectible markers, the game quietly hides some of its most powerful weapons, armor, and story fragments in obscure corners of the map.
This guide reveals the hidden locations, unmarked missions, and gear that even veteran players overlook — and how to reach them step by step.
Contents
The Secret Base of the Tenakth Rebels (Shattered Paths)
Early in the game, while exploring the Dry Yearn region, you may notice a collapsed tunnel partially buried under scrap metal. This tunnel is not marked on your map and doesn’t become part of any questline. Inside lies one of the most detailed secret areas in the entire game: an abandoned Tenakth Rebel base that never appears in dialogue or missions.
How to Find It:
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Start at the Dry Yearn campfire west of the “Arena” outpost.
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Head northwest along the cliffs until you see a rusted metal bridge with vines.
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Use your Pullcaster on the broken plates to reveal a hidden cave entrance.
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Inside, override a locked door console with your IOTA Override from the Cauldron.
What’s Inside:
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Several audio logs detailing rebel infighting and mentions of Regalla’s early coup.
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A hidden supply cache containing Apex enemy parts and a rare mod coil.
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A collectible Rebel Insignia that does not count toward the official tracker — it’s purely lore-based, making it one of the rarest items in the game.
The Hidden Shieldwing Trial in the Long Coast Cliffs
The Shieldwing glider unlocks dozens of traversal shortcuts across the world, but few players realize there’s a secret platforming trial designed around it in the Long Coast region.
How to Access It:
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Travel to the western coast near the edge of the map, south of the Bulwark.
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Look for a cluster of cliffs with old-world ruins jutting into the ocean.
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Climb to the top and use the Shieldwing to glide between tall antenna towers.
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A timed challenge sequence begins automatically when you cross the first signal beam.
Reward:
Complete the course in under 1:30 to unlock the Sunhawk’s Honor Coil, an ultra-rare mod that increases ranged weapon precision and glide speed.
This hidden trial doesn’t appear on the map or count toward the Arena — it exists purely as a developer secret for skilled explorers.
The Old-World Museum Beneath the Memorial Grove
The Memorial Grove acts as a major Tenakth hub, but few realize that beneath its foundation lies an Old-World vault that predates the tribe itself. Access requires multiple late-game tools.
How to Reach It:
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Acquire the Igniter from the main quest “Death’s Door.”
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Return to the Memorial Grove and descend the left-side ledge behind the fighting pit.
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Burn through a sealed metal vent and drop into a large ruin chamber.
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Use the Pullcaster to drag open a vent panel leading to a subterranean museum.
What You’ll Find:
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A full exhibit hall dedicated to Old-World military technology, including prototype drones and Titan schematics.
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Lore text logs written by scientists detailing pre-Faro conflict strategy — completely optional, but incredibly detailed.
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A locked display case containing the Ancient Relic Blade, a decorative weapon that functions as a spear variant with unique light animations.
The relic blade isn’t upgradeable, but its aesthetic and rarity make it a collector’s item for completionists.
The Hidden Cauldron Sigma-R (Unlisted Prototype Facility)
Most players complete the five main Cauldrons, but a sixth unlisted one exists — Cauldron Sigma-R, a prototype facility located beneath the cliffs north of Thornmarsh. It’s unfinished, half-flooded, and incredibly dangerous.
How to Access It:
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Dive into the flooded cave northwest of Thornmarsh’s coast (requires the Diving Mask).
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Swim through collapsed tunnels with underwater turbines until you reach a mechanical chamber.
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Activate the dormant override console using a Sigma Core from the main story.
Inside the Cauldron:
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Enemies are exclusively Apex variants of standard machines.
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Environmental puzzles require swimming, climbing, and gliding in alternating sequences — the only Cauldron to combine all three traversal types.
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Completing it unlocks the Apex Override Module, letting you permanently override high-tier machines outside combat.
This unlisted Cauldron is among the most challenging areas in the game — and one of the most rewarding.
The Secret “All-Mother” Voice Recording in the Mountains
High above the Cliffs of the Spine, hidden within an unreachable-looking peak, lies a ruined satellite station containing a voice recording from the GAIA Prime program. The audio file is labeled “All-Mother Alpha Response” — a direct link between Zero Dawn and Forbidden West.
How to Get There:
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From the Cliffs of the Spine, use a flying mount to reach the northernmost peak.
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Land on the plateau with twisted antenna towers.
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Enter the collapsed station and crawl through a narrow shaft leading to the control room.
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Interact with the blinking terminal to unlock the hidden log.
The voice in the log is an AI archive from Elisabet Sobeck’s original code — a fragment not referenced anywhere else in the main story. Finding it adds another layer to the lore, explaining why certain AI subsystems in the West behave differently from their Zero Dawn counterparts.
Why These Secrets Matter
Each of these hidden zones reinforces what Horizon Forbidden West does best — world-building through environmental storytelling. None of them are mandatory, and yet they deepen your understanding of the Old World, the Tenakth, and Aloy’s evolving role as a bridge between human and machine.
Exploring them rewards patience, curiosity, and a willingness to look past quest markers. That’s what makes them true HiddenLevel material — discoveries born from exploration, not instruction.
