When it comes to thinking about aliens in movies, chances are the Alien franchise will come to mind. It’s an obvious choice as the title is very on the nose. So video games based on that franchise would also be a reasonable thing to recommend to gamers wishing to play something involving aliens. However, we want to look beyond that.
There are only so many times killing humans in a video game can be interesting. Fighting aliens still feels unique, even though it’s a genre that has been around almost since the dawn of video games and Space Invaders. Other than that and Alien games, what are some good modern and retro classics featuring alien heroes and or enemies? We take a look.
10 Halo
Halo pits humanity’s last super soldier, Master Chief, against a league of united aliens known as the Covenant. That’s how the series begins anyway.
When it comes to first-person shooters starring aliens as the villains, this will probably come up nine times out of ten. From the foreign language to the oozing puddles of blood, the Covenant are a memorable race of alien villains.
9 Super Metroid
While the Metroid series doesn’t seem to have much to do with bounty hunting, Samus Aran is definitely an alien bounty hunter. It would be cool if this series turned Samus into a character like Spike from Cowboy Bebop.
A Metroid game wherein Samus hunts down the galaxy’s most infamous alien scum could be cool. As of now each entry in the series, like Super Metroid, does have some creepy aliens to face albeit on a smaller scale for the most part.
8 Saints Row IV
Saints Row IV somehow upped the ante from its predecessor which was already filled with crazy nonsense - players could literally become a toilet.
This game starts off with the boss being elected as the President of the United States before everything turns into Independence Day. Also, there are superpowers because of an alien-like matrix. It’s a good idea for a movie, but an even better one for a game.
7 X-Com: Enemy Unknown
X-Com: Enemy Unknown was a great reboot of the franchise. It made the jump from PC to consoles with ease. From scouting the Earth for alien pockets of resistance to choosing the team, everything felt intense.
It’s a strategy game that is not forgiving. However, for those that pay attention and plan accordingly, the rewards can be high. The sequel is also a great butt-kicking alien simulator.
6 Mass Effect
BioWare decided to create its own space-faring universe via Mass Effect. There are evil aliens to fight in it, but it’s also something different than most titles.
It’s a coalition of alien races fighting together in order to stop a galaxy-wide extinction order. And yes, these aliens can be romanced. It’s no wonder this series got so big.
Fans got a treat in 2021 with the remastered collection which was a big hit. This series is now, hopefully, back on the map.
5 Dead Space
Dead Space is a survival horror series that stars a space miner who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even though he isn’t a soldier, Isaac can hold his own. He is armed with various mining equipment for weapons as he fights his way through zombified mutant aliens known as the Necromorphs.
It was a short-lived series with only three main titles and can be described as Alien with a bit of religious cultism thrown in. Fans would appreciate another sequel and or remaster.
4 Metal Slug 3
Metal Slug is like the wacky cousin to Contra. Each entry gets more and more bizarre with the content these brave soldiers are fighting against.
Besides aliens there are also mutant crabs and zombies in Metal Slug 3. It’s often regarded as the best in the series with an ending that is hard to forget as the fight literally goes into space. There are few run and gun games like it. It’s a short, but sweet ride.
3 Destiny 2
Mass Effect allowed players to befriend aliens but Destiny allows you to star as one. Besides the human race there are two others and one is more like a robot. It’s not much but it is better than nothing. It would be great if the next entry added more races.
Characters aside, this is also a series about a bunch of aliens all trying to control the galaxy through various means. It is the spiritual successor to Halo in many ways.
2 Xenosaga
Xenosaga was a three-part RPG series that was cut short. It was originally planned to be a six part series with each game carrying over content in some way.
It was an ambitious project that while short-lived, still lives on in the hearts of fans. It involved invisible invading aliens, robots with high heels, and lots of religious iconographies. It was a Japanese RPG from top to bottom in other words.
1 Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart
The Ratchet and Clank series is a more lighthearted alien video game. Ratchet is a Lombax partnered together with Clank, a robot, who saves the galaxy from other robots or aliens in various forms.
The best place to start is the newest entry on PS5. Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart is fun for kids, but also has a lot of in-depth content adults can enjoy from hidden quests to dozens of weapons to level up.
NEXT: Classic Games That Still Haven’t Had A Nintendo Switch Release
