Horizon Zero Dawn is celebrated for its rich open world and deeply immersive lore, but it also contains fascinating nods to other iconic video game creators. Among the most popular hidden secrets scattered across the post-apocalyptic landscape is a set of unique collectibles known as the Stranded Items. These mysterious relics serve as a direct easter egg celebrating Kojima Productions and their collaborative connection with Guerrilla Games.
Discovering the Stranded Necklace
The first collectible that players can track down is the Stranded Necklace, which features a distinct design reminiscent of high-tech sci-fi equipment. This specific item is hidden within an early game area that players visit during the main questline inside the ruins of the old world. Navigating through the subterranean corridors of the Mother's Watch region will eventually lead you to a hidden room where the relic rests quietly on the floor.
Missing this item during your initial exploration can be easily corrected by returning to the sacred mountain later in your journey. Ensuring you search every dark corner of these ancient facility floors guarantees you will secure this valuable piece of gaming cross-over history. Once collected, it safely resides in your specialized modifications inventory until you are ready to utilize it.
Locating the Stranded Shackles
Moving further into the massive open world brings Aloy to the rugged central territories where dangerous machines roam freely. The Stranded Shackles are located within a heavily fortified military installation known as the Zero Dawn Project facility. To uncover this relic, players must progress through the main storyline until they gain access to the deeper levels of the industrial complex.
While exploring the lower executive suites and office spaces, players should look for a hidden storage room tucked away behind the main narrative path. The shackles can be found resting on the ground near some old world furniture and electronic monitors. Keeping a close eye on your localized compass and scanning with your Focus helps prevent overlooking this easily missed collectible asset.
Tracking Down the Stranded Figure
The final item required to complete the cosmic collection is the Stranded Figure, which resembles a small dark statue of a futuristic infant. This eerie artifact is hidden in the beautiful northwestern region of the map inside the ruins of GAIA Prime. Reaching this area requires enduring a treacherous mountain climb filled with aggressive encounters against powerful airborne machines.
Once inside the frozen facility structure, players need to descend past the primary mission objectives into an optional lower ravine area. Following a narrow metal scaffolding path away from the main door reveals the figure hidden inside a small storage crate. Snagging this final relic marks the completion of your scavenger hunt and prepares you for the final rewards phase.
Unlocking the Mysterious Box Reward
Gathering all three hidden artifacts unlocks a unique trading opportunity that cannot be found anywhere else in the vast kingdom. Players must travel to the bustling desert metropolis of Meridian and locate a highly specialized merchant named Shady Vash. This specific vendor is fascinated by strange relics and offers an exclusive exchange container in return for your hard work.
Trading the necklace, shackles, and figure rewards players with the coveted Mysterious Box item. Opening this premium reward container grants Aloy a generous assortment of rare crafting materials and a valuable modification item. This satisfying resolution effectively blends clever environmental exploration with practical character progression rewards for dedicated completionist players.
