Since the dawn of gaming, science fiction has been a common genre to explore in video game form. Gamers just seem to love fancy gadgets and glimpses into futuristic worlds. As a result, there are a lot of games for fans of the genre to dig into. Here’s a list of some of the all-time best sci-fi games.
5. Titanfall 2
Titanfall 2 is a classic first-person shooter released by E.A. in 2016. Despite being somewhat older than some other more contemporary FPS games, Titanfall 2’s graphics and gameplay hold up superbly well. The game looks amazing, and the guns feel punchy and satisfying. Titanfall 2 features a unique mix of gameplay styles; you spend much of the game playing as a “pilot,” an elite soldier equipped with special armor that lets you double-jump and run across walls. If you can survive long enough, you can call down a “Titan,” a giant mech that you can use to terrorize other players or duel enemy Titans. Becoming skilled at both pilot and titan gameplay is key to mastering this game. Although it no longer receives new content, the servers are still relatively active, making for one of the most unique shooter experiences out there.
4. XCOM 2
For the more tactically minded, XCOM 2, developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2k Games in 2016, is one of the best strategy games out there. The game takes place in the aftermath of 2012’s XCOM: Enemy Unknown, in which an alien empire known as ADVENT has taken over Earth. You don’t need to play the original game to understand or appreciate XCOM 2. You take on the role of freedom fighters working against ADVENT. To succeed, you’ll need to manage your mobile base, the Avenger, and prioritize construction projects to increase your capabilities and research projects to learn more about the alien menace. When the time comes for action, you’ll deploy your soldiers in squads of 4 or more to engage in tactical, turn-based skirmishes. If your soldiers die, they’re gone for good, and you don’t want to lose your most skilled veterans. Don’t be fooled by this being a turn-based game; battles are cinematic and action-packed, and you’ll find yourself tested by the wide variety of mission types and the diversity of the aliens’ troops. The consequences of previous missions’ success or failure carry over into future ones, making for a stressful but rewarding experience where every decision you make must be calculated.
3. Death Stranding
Death Stranding, developed by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, is a unique take on a post-apocalyptic sci-fi game. Despite being exclusive to PlayStation consoles, the game is still very high quality. Following an apocalyptic event known as the Death Stranding, the world has become a far stranger. Rain accelerates the aging of whatever it touches, and ghost-like monsters known as BTs wander the world, attacking humans. The game is a narrative-driven experience with many touches that writer and producer Hideo Kojima is known for in other games like the classic Metal Gear series. The gameplay is mostly walking, true, but it takes great pains to make traversing the desolated landscape as immersive and atmospheric as possible. It is a tale about the importance of human connection told through a gaming experience unlike any other. Death Stranding, along with Hideo Kojima’s other works, definitively proves that video games are art.
2. Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Deus Ex: Human Revolution, developed by Eidos-Montréal and published by Square Enix in 2011, is a game that straddles the line between a linear shooter and an RPG. The game takes place in a cyberpunk dystopia where you play as Adam Jensen, a man converted into a cyborg against his will to save his life after being nearly killed in a terrorist attack. Although Adam is a fully-fledged character, you can decide how he acts, such as using lethal or non-lethal means to subdue your enemies, tackling the game’s many obstacles in various ways, and picking dialogue choices that affect the story. Deus Ex: Human Revolution is an engaging look into a dystopian future run by technology and the dangers of transhumanism and cybernetic technology. Any fan of narrative video games and cyberpunk media should take this game for a spin.
1. Fallout: New Vegas
Even over a decade after its release in 2012, Fallout: New Vegas is still regularly discussed as one of the best roleplaying experiences gaming has to offer. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Bethesda Softworks, this unique entry in the Fallout franchise allows you to explore the Mojave wasteland and the remains of Las Vegas. Once you’re turned loose on the Mojave, you have practically free reign. Nearly every NPC is killable, and many aspects of the story change based on your actions. You can make any character you want, ally with or oppose any faction in the game, and tell your story your own way. The game offers various dilemmas and scenarios, meaning no two playthroughs will be identical. The game is also well-written and thematically rich, tackling subjects like how nations develop and the best path forward in the aftermath of nuclear war. There’s a reason this game remains an all-time classic and must-play for fans of sci-fi, post-apocalypse, and roleplaying games alike.
Fans of the sci-fi genre have been eating well this past decade. Video games allow us to explore new worlds in ways that movies and other forms of entertainment can’t. These games will give any fan of futuristic technology their money’s worth.