Infinity and Beyond. Best Sci Fi Games that Will Blow Your Mind
Table of Content
Sci-fi is a very interesting genre. There are a lot of representations of sci-fi, as well as endless discussions concerning what sci-fi is. Does it necessarily have to be about space? Does any story with robots and advanced technology can be considered as sci-fi? The genre frames are blurred, so it is hard to set strict standards for it. Nevertheless, here we present a list of the best sci-fi games, where science reaches real and surreal results, and where it drastically changes the life of humanity. The games include different genres, settings, and plots, so you will find something to your liking. The list is not exhaustive, and each position is not necessarily better than the other. Treat it as a list of recommendations to familiarize yourself with good sci-fi games.
10. Portal 2
The Portal series by Valve is a small revelation in the gaming industry. Sharp satire, which ridiculed the modern scientific approach through the nihilistic sarcasm of super AI Glados, non-trivial environmental puzzles, and overall a bit mad atmosphere captured the hearts of gamers and people who like sci-fi games. Portal 2 was released in 2011 and continued the good traditions of Portal, contributing to them even more. We still play as Chell, who wields a portal gun, try to escape Galdos’s weird and deadly traps by “thinking with portals.” The game keeps the smart humor, stimulating puzzles, and charismatic characters on the boat. In addition to that, there is a cooperative regime for two players, which extends the game’s life.
Available on: Pc, Playstation 3, Xbox 360.
9. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metal Gear Solid 2 is more about stealth-action than sci-fi. Still, the element of science fiction is a uniting part, which makes the game’s plot coherent. We play as Raiden, a soldier without history and a real name, who needs to stop metal gear Rey, a dangerous mass destruction weapon. However, the antagonists, who possess this weapon, and their motivation makes MGS 2 one of the best Sci Fi games. The real weapon of mass destruction is information, and who possesses the information – controls the world. On top of that, the game executes excellent action gameplay and decent audio-visuals. It received awards as the best console game and innovation of the year. Besides, Metal Gear Solid 2 was marked #42 in the top 100 games of all time.
Available on: Ps2, Ps3.
8. EVE Online
EVE Online is a massively multiplayer sci fi rpg game set in distance space. Developed by CCP Games and released in 2003, it gets regular updates, which keeps it on the modern level of quality. EVE has an unprecedented level of freedom and an unusual setting in comparison with its competitors. We start as a single pilot in a vast galaxy full of dangers and treasures. A player may choose any path, which will be interesting for them: trader, fighter, pirate, a free man, or a corporate servant. The game perfectly simulates big scale social interaction, which goes beyond clans or guilds. Players write the story of Eve online, and it is full of great wars, fraud schemes, benevolence, and victimhood. And all of these events happen on a background of interstellar travels, massive cloning, and battleship cruisers. One of the best sci fi games on the market.
Available on: Pc.
7. Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn was a fresh impression among constant sequels and reboots. The game was developed by Guerilla Games and released in 2015. It became available on PC in 2020. Horizon is an action-adventure in the open world, which survived a great cataclysm and returned to the ancient civilizations’ time. At the same time, hunters and gatherers are surrounded by high-tech mechanisms, holographic interfaces, and advanced robots. We play as a hunter Eloy, who needs to figure out what has happened to the world and how to stop the dangerous cult of fanatics, who wish to speed up the collapse of the society. The game has interesting gameplay of hunt for Robo-dinosaurs, stylish looking setting, and a lot of mysteries to uncover.
6. Talos Principle
Talos Principle is a truly unique example among best Sci Fi games. It is presented in the genre of a philosophical, first-person puzzle, developed by Croteam and released in 2014. We play as a nameless protagonist that finds itself in a strange and a bit bizarre place, filled with enigmas of different sorts. The game has a slow, thoughtful pace and suggests a player solve different logic puzzles, which include physics and optics tasks. Slowly, a player learns about the world around them and who exactly the protagonist is. The game raises questions of AI consciousness, its development, and what does it mean to be human.
Available on: Pc, Ps4, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch.
5. Soma
Soma is another bright example of a game, which explores the human mind and consciousness through a surreal sci-fi environment. The game was developed by the Frictional Games team and released in 2015. We play as Simon Jarrett – a person who survived a car accident and was going through a brain therapy course. One of the visits to a doctor turns into a nightmare when Simon finds himself trapped at the bottom of the ocean in a facility filled with walking horrors and littered with broken robots, who see themselves as humans. The game keeps a tense atmosphere through survival-horror gameplay, numerous secrets of the story, and excellent visuals. The game was warmly received by critics and players alike as one of the most atmospheric best sci fi games.
Available on: Pc, Ps4, Xbox One.
4. Subnautica
A tale of a futuristic Robinson Cruso rightfully takes place among the best best sci fi games. Subnautica was developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment and released in 2014. The game starts with a ship crash on a planet, which is more than most covered with water. Our lonely astronaut has to survive somehow and return home. The story is plain and simple but the survival gameplay makes the game thrilling and interesting. Regular survival mechanics, such as drinking and eating, put underwater, play with new colors. The creation of new objects for world exploration is done through advanced technologies and blueprints. Subnautica is a fresh look at survival games and a neat realization of the sci-fi theme.
Available on: Pc, Ps4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch.
3. Prey
Prey (2017) by Arkane studio is a reimagining of the 2006 shooter of the same name. This time, the game expands the original conception into an immersive-sim game and tells a more coherent and thoughtful story. Prey takes place on the space station “Talos-1” infested by hostile aliens called typhons. The player takes the role of Morgan Yu; the protagonist has to stop typhons and to destroy the station to prevent typhons invasion on Earth. The game combines exploring the station, fighting with different kinds of typhons, and resources management. The story reveals an alternative point of view on the space race and human achievements in close international collaboration. Prey masterfully mixes believable sci-fi setting and engaging gameplay as one of the best sci fi games.
Available on: Pс, Ps4, Xbox One.
2. Half-life 2
A milestone for the whole gaming industry, and sci fi games in particular, Half-Life 2 by Valve was released in 2004 and made a real furor. The story of silent scientist Gordon Freeman set a new standard for technological achievements for video games as well as for in-game storytelling. The plot continues the story of Half-life 1; Gordon Freeman continues to oppose the Alliance – aliens, who overtook the Earth, with his cunning, crowbar, and the gravity gun. The game has advanced physics of objects, which opens creativity for environmental kills. Besides, the gameplay juggles with situations and locations, making a player face different obstacles and always engage with different enemies.
Available on: Pс, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Ps3, Android.
1. Death Stranding
One of the most resonating games of 2019. Death Stranding by Kojima productions was in development for several years and all these years people guessed what the game would be? The result was a total surprise for the audience. We play as Sam, a courier in a post-apocalyptic world. The Earth we know suffered the cataclysm called “death stranding”, which turned life upside down. We, as a player, shall reunite humanity by delivering different cargo to survival outposts. The sci-fi element of the game is represented through the so-called chiral network, which uses the afterlife world as a means of data transferring. Death Stranding talks about the tough topic of death through a sci-fi narrative and helps us to understand it a bit better.
Best sci fi games: Tomorrow is in our hands
Best sci fi games are fascinating and interesting, but there are more genres and themes which may interest you. On our youtube channel “What’s happening?!” we create video games overviews, tell interesting facts, and enlighten novelties of the industry. We create not only entertaining but informative content also, so you won’t be bored. Video games often reimagine real historical events, inventions, or personalities interestingly. On our channel, you will find discussions of such reinventions and reimaginings, analysis of creative decisions behind cult games, and stories of people, who create them. Also, we create top lists of different genres and themes besides the sci-fi topic; check it out to discover new games for you. If you want to know what’s happening – visit our channel.