Throughout Aloy’s adventures, several companions join her, and they end up becoming important figures that are pivotal to her successes. Of all thecompanions that Aloy meets, none of them are as enigmatic as Sylens. He is difficult to understand and even harder to trust, though it appears that he is ultimately trying to do good. InHorizon Forbidden West’s DLC, Sylens makes a brief but important appearance that highlights just how vital he is to Aloy.

InHorizon Forbidden West’s follow-up, Aloy will need Sylens and his immense knowledge, as a colossal threat is on the way. With a character as mysterious as Sylens, it is tricky to decipher what his true intentions are. There are a few directions Sylens could go in the nextHorizongame, and all of them could lead to some interesting outcomes.

A screenshot of Horizon Forbidden West featuring Lance Reddick’s Sylens in a dark room.

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Sylens in Burning Shores

Sylens has always been animportant character in Aloy’s life, regardless of whether she regards him as a friend or foe. The two first cross paths inHorizon Zero Dawnand Sylens mostly communicates through riddles. InHorizon Forbidden West, Sylens returns, and for a moment it appears that he is preparing to betray Aloy. However, the game ends with him deciding to remain on the planet and fight for humankind’s survival. Though one can never be entirely sure, it appears that, for now, he remains loyal to Aloy and her friends.

In theBurning ShoresDLC, Sylens makes a brief appearance to informAloy that she hasn’t dealt with all the Far Zeniths just yet. Walter Londra still lurks, and he is located in Los Angeles. Thanks to Sylens’ research, Aloy also learns a bit about Londra’s background as a tech mogul and celebrity. This isn’t a rare occurrence, as Sylens is incredibly educated when it comes to knowledge of the Old Ones. He is precisely the kind of person Aloy needs around her as she prepares for the arrival of Nemesis.

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Sylens in the Next Horizon Game

Guerrilla Games has confirmed that Aloy’s adventure will continue, which all but verifies that studio is hard at work on the third entry in the series. This is exciting news, though it is still uncertain what role Sylens will play in the next stage of Aloy’s journey. AfterVarl’s death inHorizon Forbidden West, it has become obvious that nobody is safe from the cold hand of death, and Sylens could be the next character to be eliminated. It would certainly be an impactful move, although it would cut Aloy off from Sylens’ great wealth of knowledge, putting her at a massive disadvantage.

If Sylens survives, the question that remains is whether he is a true friend or whether he will abandon Aloy should the possibility to save his own skin arrive. It would not be too shocking to have Sylens betray Aloy, as he is a master of manipulation. Nevertheless, it would be extremely disappointing, as he appears to be sincere. The ideal outcome would be to have Sylens stay true to Aloy, supplying her with vital information and using his conniving mind to outsmart Nemesis. It would be a redemptive moment for Sylens, and it would mean less sadness for Aloy.

After the massiverole Sylens has played in theHorizongames, it is impossible to believe that Guerrilla Games didn’t have big plans for him. His secretive nature makes it impossible to ever be certain of what he wants or intends. This makes him one of the most important characters to look out for.

Horizon Forbidden Westis available on PS4 and PS5.