55 Best Sci-fi Single Player Games You Can’t Afford to Miss

When you want to forget about the current state of the world and escape for a while, single-player sci-fi games are the best gateway. Whether you want to explore the stars, discover an alternative universe, or would just like to slay some aliens, there is a sci-fi game for everyone. Here are the best sci-fi single-player games you can’t afford to miss.

#55 Batman: Arkham Shadow

Meta

Is Batman a science-fiction character? It’s a bit tricky, honestly. After all, some of his villains absolutely fall into the realm of supernatural and sci-fi, especially with some of their powers, but it’s a fine line. Regardless, Batman: Arkham Shadow is the latest game featuring the Dark Knight, and it once again takes place within the Arkham-version of his universe. You know, as if the title wasn’t a dead giveaway to that?

Anyway, a new threat has arisen: The Ratcatcher and he seems to have a set of cult followers that are willing to do anything he wants. Find out what is happening here and put an end to them.

Controlling rats? Yeah, that’s sci-fi.

#54 Doom: The Dark Ages

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation

Is Doom: The Dark Ages a true sci-fi game? Let’s see. First, it’s set in an alternate version of reality where Hell crosses over into different dimensions and tries to take things over. Second, the only person able to stop them is a former marine who decides to “Rip and Tear Until The Job is Done!” Third, the weapons in this game are so over-the-top it’s literally comical. And in this game, that space marine is taken to another dimension where he’s trained by alien beings to become a kind of savior.

So…yeah, we’re going to go with this being a sci-fi title. Okay?

#53 Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

Nintendo

Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition is set in an alternate version of the future where hostile alien races have destroyed the Earth. The remnants of humanity fled to the stars to try and find a new home. One ship escaped on the White Whale, only for it to be attacked once again and crash land on the planet known as Mira.

Here is where you’ll awaken from stasis and join the group known as BLADE to help create a new home for humanity. However, there are many dangers on this alien world, and the more you traverse, the more mysteries that unfold before you…

#52 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

PlayStation

It’s time to return to the world of Gaia, as it’s on the precipice of a great disaster if you don’t stop it!

Cloud Strife is here with his friends from Avalanche and beyond at his side, and you’ll need all of them and more to take on Sephiroth! Square Enix has taken their remake saga to new heights with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and many have already dubbed it the frontrunner for Game of the Year!

With an expansive world to trek through, numerous quests to partake in, dates to go on with some “lucky people,” and so on, you won’t be bored on this adventure!

The game is out now, so why aren’t you playing it?

#51 Helldivers 2

Steam | PlayStation

Have you ever noticed how some video games want to give you the most action-packed moments ever? Well, HellDivers 2 is one such title, and they’re not trying to hide it. Since the game is out now, you can see just what they achieved in your attempts to defend Super Earth.

Yes, not just regular Earth, SUPER EARTH! You’ll team up with three other players to defeat wave after wave of alien threats in defense of your homeworld. Good luck with that!

The action is intense, as you’ll be dealing with threats that are bigger than you and can take quite a few hits. But the better you do on missions, the bigger the weapons you’ll get in your arsenal!

#50 Portal: Revolution

Steam

Hold on! Before you start geeking out about what Valve may or may not have done, we need to tell you right off the bat that Portal Revolution is NOT a new official game in the franchise. Instead, it’s a fan-made mod. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get it! In fact, it might be even MORE of a reason to get it!

This team came together to make a unique storyline set before the events of the second title with new characters to use and puzzles to solve.

The team truly put their all into this mod, so you should try it out and see how clever you are.

#49 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Epic | PlayStation | Xbox

The world of Pandora from the James Cameron films is sci-fi in all sorts of ways. Not just because of the Na’vi or the creatures that inhabit the world but because of the world itself. The planet is alive, and there’s so much wonder within it that fans of the films haven’t been able to see.

But in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, you’ll get to see the world of Pandora with your own eyes! You’ll become a natural Na’vi and learn what being amongst your people is like! You’ll explore far and wide and ride some of the creatures from the films! You’ll also be a warrior and help defend your new tribe from the returning humans!

#48 Risk of Rain Returns

Steam | Nintendo

What’s more sci-fi than being on a spaceship that is damaged and has to take refuge on a planet full of monsters and now has to survive what’s down there? That’s what we thought.

Risk of Rain Returns is the remaster of the classic title that aims to give players more than they could’ve ever wanted! For example, there are over a dozen survivors to pick from to take on the planet’s creatures. Each of these survivors has skills and weapons that are different from one another, so choose the one you think you can use the best!

Then, head to the planet and loot it to get even stronger!

#47 The Talos Principle 2

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox

Science fiction games are at their best when they give players memorable gameplay to enjoy and a thought-provoking story that they can take on in various ways. The Talos Principle 2 does that and more.

You’ll be put into a place in space and time when humanity is gone, but they are not forgotten. Everything seems perfect, but it’s not, and you know it. You’ll wander through various areas, attempting to learn the truth, and deal with deep questions that will lead to numerous endings.

What is the truth behind it all? What will change when it’s revealed? You’ll have to play to find out.

#46 The Invincible

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox

The Invincible is a first-person adventure game based on a novel of the same name. In this game, we’re following an astrobiologist named Yasna, who becomes a member of a crew. You and your team end up exploring the planet of Regis III. However, you soon find yourself alone, and the exploration mission quickly turns into a rescue mission. Players must find clues and evidence to point you towards your missing crew and what is going on on this mysterious planet. However, you might find that not everything here is welcoming. Every choice you make could very well bring you closer to your untimely demise. 

#45 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

PlayStation

Who doesn’t enjoy Spider-Man? The franchise has been around for ages with a line of comic books, television series, movies, and, of course, video games. If you have a PlayStation 5, you can dive into the latest release for the beloved superhero IP, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. 

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 takes place after the events of Marvel’s Spider-Man and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. We’re taking the role of Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they seek to keep New York City safe. However, this latest installment might push them to their limits. Our tag team duo will have a few notable enemies to deal with from the Spider-Man franchise. Players will want to prepare to take on villains such as Kraven the Hunter, Sandman, Lizard, and the Venom Symbiote. 

#44 Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox

Are you ready to go back to Night City? If so, get ready because Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is here and is ready to make up for the misadventures you likely had when the original title came out in 2020.

That’s right. CD Projekt Red has been working for three years to not only fix their past mistakes but give players an expansion that they could truly be proud of. In the DLC, you’ll go to the mysterious section of Night City called Dogtown. You’re tasked with saving the President after their convoy crash-landed there.

Doing so many ensure your future. Or it could get you killed.

#43 Everspace 2

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox

If you enjoyed Everspace, then check out the sequel. Instead of the roguelike gameplay from the first game, the sequel follows a defined storyline. You’ll step back into the role of a cloned pilot, and off you go on a detailed journey between battling mercenaries, pirates, and aliens. The game also strongly focuses on piloting around the universe in your ship. Whether fighting in open space, navigating through asteroids, or other debris and structures, you can expect plenty of action-packed moments. But it’s not all mindless shooting in this game. When you’re not battling away enemies, there are some environmental puzzles to solve and new loot to uncover.

#42 Starfield

Steam | Xbox

The team at Bethesda has been crafting masterful gaming titles for over 25 years. But now, they seek to push themselves to new heights with the arrival of Starfield. This game will be the first new universe they’ve made in some time, and they endeavor to build something that every player will want to explore and enjoy.

You’ll take to the stars and enjoy a storyline that’ll have you making various choices that can affect what you do and where you go next. Or you can simply venture into the universe they’ve created so you can see all there is to see.

With potentially hundreds of hours of gameplay, you’ll not be bored for some time.

#41 Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox

What is more sci-fi than having massive mechs do battle? Well, if that’s not sci-fi, we don’t want to know what is. FromSoftware is back to continue their long-dormant franchises in Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, and they’ve taken all they’ve learned from the past decade and put it into this new title.

You’ll be flung into a mech-filled war and must do everything possible to come out on top. That won’t be easy, considering you will face threats in potentially every direction. Not to mention, there are massive boss fights featuring mechs that you’ll need to bring down to size.

So mech up! It’s time to go to war.

#40 Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Nintendo

Are you ready to see a classic Nintendo title reborn for the modern era? Advance Wars: 1+2: Re-Boot Camp brings together the first two titles in the acclaimed turn-based military series and gives them some much-needed upgrades!

You’ll pick your commander and then put them onto the field of combat and do your best to overcome the forces of Black Hole! Every commander is different and has units that they work better with. So build up your army properly to maximize their strengths!

You can play the two main campaigns or take your fighting online to see if you can take on your friends!

#39 Pikmin 4

Nintendo

It’s sometimes easy to forget that the worlds that Captain Olimar and the rest of the Rescue Corps go to can be counted as “sci-fi planets,” and yet, it’s true! In Pikmin 4, you’ll head to an equally sci-fi planet and attempt to rescue Olimar and the others from the predicaments they’ve found themselves in.

But the sci-fi elements go beyond the basics of collecting Pikmin and battling aliens! This time, you’ll have a dog-like alien named Oatchi to help you around.

Furthermore, underground sections will push the gameplay and setting to new depths. Plus, there are night-time missions where you’ll use ghost-like Pikmin to fight rage-filled beasts!

So yeah, a classic sci-fi adventure.

#38 Metroid Prime Remastered

Nintendo

Many games deserve the “remastered” treatment for one reason or another. But when it comes to Metroid Prime Remastered, it’s another story. This title was hailed as one of the best games of its generation when it came out on the Nintendo GameCube and the trilogy that it was a part of brought Samus Aran back into the limelight.

But now, with this remastered version of the game, you’ll get to see it at its peak on the Nintendo Switch and witness why this game still holds up to this day.

From the first-person combat to the exploration and story, you’ll feel everything Samus Aran does and fight to keep her alive.

#37 Hi-Fi Rush

Steam | Xbox

Does a game get any more sci-fi than a kid having his heart fused with a music player and it now being the source of his combat style? If it isn’t, we need to seriously rewrite the rulebook.

Anyway, in Hi-Fi Rush, you’ll be thrown into a dystopian future where corporations are more than willing to toss out people they screwed up, including you. But you’re not alone in your fight to take them down. Find unique allies and use their abilities alongside your own to climb the “corporate ladder” and get the payback you deserve!

Plus, with the unique combat system, you’ll have a blast fighting foes.

#36 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Steam | Playstation | Xbox

The gaming space is slowly becoming flooded with video games that are more about the add-ons, season passes, and other updated “experiences” versus just being about the games themselves. So if you’re looking for a title that’s solely a single-player experience while also being really awesome, Star Wars Jedi Survivor is for you.

The game follows the continued journey of Cal Kestis as he attempts to bring down the Empire and secure the safety of those around him.

Wield your lightsabers in various ways to defeat various enemies and unlock new powers to help give you the edge! A deep experience awaits, so trust in the Force and take your first steps.

#35 Atomic Heart

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox

You’ve likely heard quite a bit about Atomic Heart since its arrival. The game is being hailed as the “Russian version” of another dystopian title, and that’s not far off in certain respects.

The game takes place in an alternate reality where the Soviet Union was able to use advanced technology to build a utopia—one where robots were everywhere and could help people do various tasks.

But just when things were being taken to the next level, everything fell apart. So now, you must find out the truth and survive all that’s coming your way while using sci-weapons and abilities.

Oh, and there are female dancing robots that people can’t start talking about.

#34 The Alters

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation

You could easily make the case that The Alters dives into sci-fi far more than other games of its overall genre. The reason for that is you play a man who has to get off a doomed planet, and the only person that can help him…is himself. No, literally. He uses a special machine to “summon” alternate reality versions of himself, ones who have made very different decisions in life, and thus, are well-equipped to handle certain tasks in the ship the astronaut has to fix up.

You’ll have to choose which “Alters” to summon to have the best chance of success, and then manage them so that things keep going smoothly. How many versions of yourself could you stand? You’ll find out!

#33 Stray

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

Stray is the science-fiction game that you didn’t know you needed to play, and possibly the most unusual one around. Set in a futuristic secret city hidden beneath a ruined city, a stray cat finds itself trapped in a world that is completely foreign. The aesthetics of this city were supposedly influence by Kowloon Walled City, an ungoverned and densely populated Chinese enclave in British ruled Hong Kong. Not only is the setting incredibly futuristic, it still harbors the grime and dirt of a super city from our very own Earth – calling this the perfect playground for an adventurous stray cat would be an understatement.

#32 Half-Life: Alyx

Steam

In 2020, Valve brought back the license that made it famous: Half-Life. But as you probably already know, the company didn’t release Half-Life 3, to the fans’ biggest despair. Instead, Valve released Half-Life: Alyx, a virtual reality FPS. It takes place between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2, as Earth is under the control of an alien empire called the Combine. Players control Alyx Vance, a young woman that helps the human resistance movement with her father. Just like the previous games in the series, Half-Life: Alyx mainly relies on shooting mechanics and puzzle-solving. 

#31 Ghostrunner

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

Ghostrunner is a mix between a platformer and a slasher game. It put the emphasis on speed and violence, all while being set in a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk megastructure. The world as we know it is no more, and what is left of humanity is fighting for survival. Everyone is gathered in the same building, a vast skyscraper, and we have to make our way to the top. Luckily, we play as a Ghostrunner, and even though we have no memory of our past we can count on our cybernetic enhancements to grant us superhuman abilities. Both the enemies and the main character can die from a single hit, so everything about Ghostrunner is about speed, precision, and efficiency.

#30 Observation

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation

Observation is a sci-fi thriller where we play as an artificial intelligence software aboard a multi-national space station. Our spaceship, Observation, is in orbit above Earth. But something happens, and our space station is left without power, spinning in the void. When our AI comes back online, the crew is missing. What happened? Where is everyone? It is up to you to find out. As you play as an AI, you can’t move around freely. But you get access to the space station’s cameras, and as the game progresses you can see more of the station. Observation brings the oppressive feeling of space thrillers, but this time, you are the one in charge of finding out what happened to your crew.

#29 Halo Reach

Steam | Xbox

Halo Reach is the fifth installment in the Halo series and a direct prequel to Halo Combat Evolved. The game is set in 2552. Humanity, led by the United Nations Space Command, is at war against an alien collective known as the Covenant. Humans are not really winning this war, and almost all of their interstellar colonies have fallen. The homeworld of the United Nations Space Command, Reach, is now under threat by the Covenant. Humanity only has one hope left: the Spartans, an elite team of supersoldiers. We play as one of these soldiers, Noble Six, as our team is trying to save everyone from the Covenant’s threat.

#28 Prey (2017)

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation

What if the USSR and the USA found aliens during their space race? That question is the premise of Prey’s story. The Soviet Union and the United States work together to capture and study aliens, unbeknownst to the general population. They manage to catch a species of aliens called the Typhon and study it on a space station orbiting the Moon. But in 1980, an accident happens and the project is shut down, leaving the captive Typhon alive in the abandoned station. Years later, a private company purchased this station to conduct experiments meant to improve humanity with Typhon’s abilities. But things don’t go as planned, and you end up trapped in a station overrun by hostile aliens. And as the name of the game suggests, you are the prey.

#27 Tacoma

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation

Tacoma is an exploration game about an abandoned spaceship, but it doesn’t feature any form of combat. In 2088, many space stations are orbiting around Earth, and most of them belong to big corporations like Amazon, Hilton, or the Venturis Corporation. One of the stations owned by Venturis, Tacoma, ends up seemingly abandoned. But what happened? The main character of the game, Amy, is here to investigate. Thanks to an augmented reality device, Amy can review everything that happened in Tacoma. She can see the actions and conversations of the crew and manipulate the footage like a recording, fast-forwarding or rewinding as necessary. Using this footage will reveal what happened to Tacoma and its crew.

#26 Cyberpunk 2077

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

If GTA was set in the future, it would probably look like Cyberpunk 2077. The action takes place in Night City, an open-world futuristic city located in North California. You can do pretty much anything you want in Night City, from beating people in the streets to driving around in your car or going to the prostitutes. Sounds familiar? The main difference between Cyberpunk 2077 and GTA, besides its futuristic setting, is its story. The game follows the story of the main character V, who is having hallucinations of a deceased rockstar because of a mysterious cybernetic implant. Cyberpunk 2077 received mixed reviews when it first came out, mainly because of game-crashing bugs. But since then, CD Projekt Red released several updates, fixing the biggest issues of the game.

#25 Borderlands Series

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

The Borderlands series consists of four games, starting with Borderlands in 2009 to Borderlands 3, released ten years later. All these games are FPS with RPG elements. The main characteristics of Borderlands games are their unique graphics and their sense of humor. The games primarily take place on Pandora, a planet that is believed to be filled with rare minerals. But the planet is mainly home to bandits and raiders, all crazier than the others. Borderlands is one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time. A film adaptation of the series is even in development, starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Jamie Lee Curtis.

#24 Outer Wilds

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

Outer Wilds is a space exploration game like no other. You only have 22 minutes to explore a solar system. After that, the sun goes supernova and blows everything up. The goal of the game is to find out why this solar system is stuck in this 22-minute time loop. Luckily, everything you discover carries on to the next time loop. Outer Wilds is filled with puzzles to solve and people to meet on your quest to solve the solar system’s mystery. And if you don’t feel like saving the universe, you can always travel to the various planets and stare at the environment one last time before everything blows up.

#23 Doom (2016)

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

If your favorite part in sci-fi games is smashing some aliens, then Doom is a perfect game for you. The executive director of the game, Marty Stratton, even says that the key principles of Doom are “badass demons, big effing guns, and moving really fast”. The game takes place in 2149, on a research facility on Mars. Scientists are trying to draw energy from Hell in order to solve an energy crisis on Earth. They find a sarcophagus containing the Doom Slayer, the main character of the game imprisoned by demons after his rampage in Hell. Of course, using Hell’s energy isn’t an easy task, and the facility is eventually overrun by demons. It’s time for the Doom Slayer, aka you, to slay some more demons.

#22 Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

Steam | PlayStation

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered builds very much off of the Batman Arkham series in terms of how it handles its action and adventure elements.

For example, you’ll be put into a deep story as Spider-Man has to save the city from a new threat via The Demons and the power Mr. Negative. But this is only touching the tip of the iceberg, one that’ll bring many classic Spider-Man characters into the fold!

As for the action, you’ll get to wield a wide array of Spider-Man gadgets and attacks in order to attack foes! String combos together to do KO blows, and upgrade your gadgets to be more useful as you progress!

#21 Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition

Steam | PlayStation

Horizon Zero Dawn follows the story of Aloy, a huntress who tries to understand her past. After an apocalyptic event known as the Faro Plague, machines are roaming the lands, killing everyone in sight. Humans lost their technological advancement, electricity, and all cities are now overflown by nature. Generations later, humans are back to a primitive state and live in small tribes, being the prey instead of the predators. Aloy was cast out from her tribe at birth and trained all her childhood to win the Proving, a competition granting her the right to join the tribe. But things don’t go as planned, and Aloy sets off to venture through the post-apocalyptic lands and fight the deadly machines.

#20 SOMA

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

While some sci-fi games are cute explorations titles where you discover the universe, some are really scary games that make you feel lucky it’s sci-fi and not real life. Soma is one of these scary games. It doesn’t rely on jumpscares but rather twists your mind using elements of psychological horror. Soma takes place in an underwater remote research facility in the year 2104. A meteor destroyed most of the Earth, leaving the scientists and patients from the facility as the sole human survivors. The AI overseeing the facility took control of the building and turned all the surviving humans into bio-mechanical mutants. You play as an unexpected patient that just woke up in this chaos. You have to survive this mess, but can’t use any weapon – you either outsmart your enemies or die.

#19 Control Ultimate Edition

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

Control is an action-adventure game that puts you at the head of the Federal Bureau of Control, also known as FBC. The main character, Jesse Faden, is the Bureau’s new Director. A new deadly enemy has invaded and corrupted reality. Your mission is to stop this threat, using your powers obtained by paranormal items imbued with energies from another dimension. Control Ultimate Edition includes the main game as well as its two expansions, The Foundation and AWE. 

#18 Alien: Isolation

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

Alien: Isolation is a survival horror game set 15 years after the events of the original Alien movie. The main character of the game is Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Alien’s star Ellen Ripley. Just like her mother, Amanda needs to avoid the Alien creature roaming around a spaceship. To do so, she has a useful motion tracker indicating when the creature comes closer. The Alien cannot be defeated, so you will have to be smart and hide whenever necessary. You may encounter other enemies and get access to some weapons, but munitions are scarce. Alien: Isolation is a nerve-breaking game that makes you hold your breath in real life, even though the creature can’t see you through your screen.

#17 Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is Square Enix’s take on the popular superhero movie. This action-adventure game follows the adventures of Star-Lord and his friends Gamora, Rocket, Groot, and Drax. The story takes place several years after a massive galactic war that impacted the whole universe. The Guardians of the Galaxy are looking to make quick money by lending their services around the galaxy. But a seemingly funny bet between two of the team’s members will trigger a series of events that threatens the peace of the entire universe. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy features gorgeous graphics, balanced gameplay, and the sense of humor that made the movies famous. 

#16 Doom Eternal

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

Doom Eternal is the sequel to Doom (2016). Once again, the Doomguy is back to smash some aliens. His mission is to save Earth from the demons from Hell, but let’s be real: the goal of any Doom game is to kill as many enemies as possible with several weapons. On top of the traditional single-player campaign of all Doom games, Doom Eternal introduces two new game modes: a multiplayer mode called Battlemode, and a survival challenge called Horde Mode. In Battlemode, players can be either the Doom Slayer or a demon, and they fight until one of them wins. Horde Mode increases the difficulty of the game by sending waves of enemies to the player. Each wave is stronger than the one before, and the goal is to survive as long as possible.

#15 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Steam | Xbox | Nintendo

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, also known as KOTOR, is an RPG set in the Star Wars universe. Four thousand years before the beginning of the Star Wars movies, Darth Malak and his Sith armada attack the Republic. The main character of the game needs to find a way to stop Malak’s plans. The game’s plot and ending depend on whether you align with the light or dark side of the Force – you can either defeat the Sith or rule over them. The original KOTOR game was highly praised and led to the development of several sequels and expansions.

#14 Horizon Forbidden West

Steam | PlayStation

Horizon Forbidden West is the sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn. It picks up the events right after the ending of the original game and further continues Aloy’s adventure. In this new installment in the series, the huntress has to head to the Forbidden West to prevent the destruction of Earth as we know it. Horizon Forbidden West brings new mechanics to the series, such as the ability to swim and fight underwater or use a glider to move in the air. Besides hunting the machines, one of the best parts of Horizon Forbidden West is its sci-fi world. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world, where humans are back in a hunting-gathering state. Nature took back control of the major cities, leaving human tribes in small villages as they need to defend themselves against deadly machines.

#13 Death Stranding

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation

Death Stranding is a pretty unique game. A cataclysmic event called the Death Stranding wiped out most life on Earth, leaving only a few human colonies across the world. Some giant invisible monsters known as BTs feed on humans and cause explosions similar to nuclear blasts, further destroying the world as we knew it. Even the rain can’t be trusted, as it ages everything it touches. The game is set in the United States, now called United Cities of America. The main character, Sam Porter Bridges, is a carrier tasked with delivering goods across the country. He also has to link the isolated colonies together to make America great again.

#12 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

PlayStation

To say that there are plenty of science fiction elements in Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is a bit of an understatement. After all, the game is made by Hideo Kojima. What would you expect there to be, basic stuff in it? Please.

As Sam Bridges, you’re on a mission to connect another country to the United Cities of America that you established in the first game. To do so will be anything but easy, with monsters lurking in the vast world and things like “Timefall” events that can age you just by being touched by its rain.

And that doesn’t even touch on the many sci-fi-style characters you’ll meet!

#11 Dead Space Series

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation

Dead Space is one of the most iconic sci-fi action horror video game series. The three main entries to the series follow the adventures of Isaac Clarke, a starship systems engineer. The first game is set in 2508, as humanity harvests resources throughout the galaxy to prevent the extinction of human life on Earth. Isaac joins a search and repair mission on the oldest harvest spaceship, only to find out the crew got infected by an alien scourge. Isaac has to face powerful alien creatures, as well as his own hallucinations caused by this scourge.

#10 Half-Life

Steam

Half-Life is a staple of both FPS and sci-fi games. It was Valve’s first product, years before Steam and the following success of the company. The main character of the game, Gordon Freeman, is a physicist working at the Black Mesa Research Facility. During one of his experiments, things don’t go as planned and a portal opens to another dimension. Aliens invade the facility, killing several scientists. To cover up the incident, the government sends the military to kill all hostile aliens and any Black Mesa personnel they find. Gordon Freeman turns from a chill scientist to a weapon expert as he needs to survive and escape the facility.

#9 Half-Life 2

Steam | Xbox

Twenty years after the incident at the Black Mesa Research Facility, Gordon Freeman is back in Half-Life 2. During the incident, a portal opened to another dimension, unleashing aliens in the facility. This caught the attention of a multidimensional empire called the Combine, which came to conquer Earth shortly after the events of the original Half-Life game. Gordon Freeman now needs to join the resistance to free Earth from its alien oppressor. Just like in the first game, Half-Life 2 combines FPS and puzzle mechanics. It also adds new features, such as vehicles and physics-based gameplay.

#8 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation

The ultimate sci-fi movie series for me has always been Star Wars. So when an action-adventure game offers to fulfill my Jedi fantasy and wield a lightsaber, I can’t pass. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order goes beyond other games from the franchise by offering more than an FPS featuring the most iconic characters from the series. This game puts you in the shoes of a Jedi Padawan who narrowly escaped the purge of Order 66. As one of the few survivors, you need to rebuild the Jedi Order and learn how to master the Force. 

#7 NieR: Automata

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

NieR: Automata is a pretty unique game, and one of the best RPGs released in the past few years. The story is set thousands of years after the original Nier game, during a war between alien-created machines and human-crafted androids. The game follows the adventures of three androids: 2B, 9S, and A2. They fight against these machines from another world to free Earth and humanity from their control. NieR: Automata features desolate open-world, hack-and-slash combats, some platforming elements, and various RPG customization elements. Understanding the full story of NieR: Automata requires multiple playthroughs, each unlocking part of the story.

#6 Black Mesa

Steam

Black Mesa is a third-party remake of Half-Life, the popular sci-fi shooter from Valve. It was originally published as a free mod before Valve authorized its commercial release. The plot of Black Mesa follows Half-Life’s storyline. Gordon Freeman, a scientist working at the Black Mesa Research Facility, inadvertently opens a portal to an alien dimension, bringing its creatures to Earth. Black Mesa is an improved version of Half-Life, taking advantage of a better engine than the original game. Not only does Black Mesa bring back Half-Life with better graphics, but the developers also reworked the final chapters of the game. Overall, Black Mesa is Half-Life, but better.

#5 Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Steam | Xbox

Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a compilation of six Halo games: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4. Each of these games received a graphical update. The collection even features access to the live-action series Halo: Nightfall as well as the Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta. Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a good way to discover Master Chief’s story with updated graphics and on more consoles than just the original Xbox and Xbox 360.

#4 Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is a collection featuring Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3, and over 40 DLC for these games. The trilogy was entirely remastered, now featuring 4K graphics and various technical improvements. One of the best parts is that Mass Effect Legendary Edition improves the gameplay of the original Mass Effect game, which has a great scenario but outdated controls. This action RPG trilogy follows the story of Commander Shepard, an elite human soldier that tries to unite various alien representatives against a common threat. The games offer various choices that impact the story, not only of the current game but also of the following ones.

#3 No Man’s Sky

Steam | Xbox | PlayStation | Nintendo

When it first came out, No Man’s Sky faced some serious backlash. While the game offered countless planets to explore, there wasn’t much more to do in this universe. Since then, Hello Games raised the bar. Several updates turned No Man’s Sky into what it was meant to be all along: a gigantic exploration game, where you can discover procedurally generated planets filled with life. You can even meet alien species, learn their languages and communicate. Or tame alien animals and ride them to watch the sunset and eight moons on an isolated planet across the universe.

#2 Deus Ex

Steam

Despite being released over 20 years ago, Deus Ex is still one of the best sci-fi games available on PC. The game is set in the year 2052, in a cyberpunk dystopian world. The main character, JC Denton, is an agent of the United Nations Anti-Terrorist Coalition. His mission is to track down a terrorist group that stole the vaccine for a deadly virus. Throughout his adventures, JC Denton will uncover many secrets involving many obscure groups, including the Illuminati. Luckily for him, he can defeat the bad guys more easily thanks to nanotechnology granting him superhuman abilities. 

#1 Detroit: Become Human

Steam | PlayStation

Detroit: Become Human is a sci-fi single-player game that follows the story of three characters: Kara, Markus, and Connor. Kara is a housekeeper wanting to protect a child, Markus is a caretaker for a tetraplegic painter, and Connor is a police investigator. But these characters are not humans: they are androids. And throughout the game, they become sentient and begin to develop their own feelings – the need to protect, the rage from injustice, and the never-ending question of right and wrong. Detroit: Become Human depicts a futuristic world where humans and androids are so similar it makes you question what truly makes us humans.