If you’re a big fan of the newest hit series to expand on the Alien universe, Alien: Earth, there are actually quite a few great Alien-based games that should definitely be on your radar, and will help kill some time while you wait for the next episode.
You can play all of these Alien games now through various channels, and it’s a perfect way to fill the void if you want a more hands-on experience with the Xenomorphs. Alien: Earth was released earlier this week, and so far has received rave reviews from critics.
6 Aliens: Fireteam Elite – Free On Xbox Game Pass Now
A Must-Play Multiplayer Survival Game In The Alien Universe
Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a standout entry in the Alien video game franchise, offering an excellent blend of action and compelling lore that resonates with fans of the series. Set in 2202, just 23 years after the events of Aliens and Alien 3, it fills a key narrative gap by exploring the aftermath of Weyland-Yutani’s Xenomorph experiments.
Players assume the role of a Colonial Marine stationed aboard the UAS Endeavor, responding to a distress call from the Katanga refinery. This setup not only echoes the iconic tone of James Cameron’s Aliens, but also deepens the lore with new revelations about the Engineer race, Xenomorph variants, and corporate bio-weapons programs.
Fireteam Elite is a co-op multiplayer third-person shooter game with rich environmental storytelling.. Compared to other Alien games like Alien: Isolation (see below), which is more focused on survival horror elements, Fireteam Elite leans into the action-heavy, squad-based combat of the film’s military sci-fi elements.
While it may not capture the same tension as Isolation, it excels in fast-paced gameplay, engaging cinematics, and essential fan service that doesn’t feel forced, making it one of the most faithful and thrilling adaptations in the Alien universe.
It’s no coincidence that Aliens: Fireteam Elite also happened to become available for free on Xbox Game Pass on the same day as Alien: Earth‘s launch, and you’ll definitely want to add that to your play-next list if you’re a Game Pass member.
5 Alien: Rogue Incursion – An Alien VR Nightmare
Get Up Close & Personal With The Xenomorphs
Alien: Rogue Incursion is a single-player, story-driven VR survival horror game set in the Alien universe. Designed specifically for virtual reality platforms like PS VR2, Meta Quest 3, and PC VR, it emphasizes immersion, atmosphere and setting, as well as tension over the fast-paced action you’d find in Fireteam Elite.
Players take on the role of Zula Hendricks, a Colonial Marine veteran, as she infiltrates a secret Weyland-Yutani facility on the planet Purdan (LV-354), overrun by Xenomorphs (surprise, surprise). The narrative is set between the events of Alien and Aliens, expanding on the series’ lore and connecting to established canon through characters from the extended universe.
Unlike other Alien games, Rogue Incursion is a VR-focused experience, making the fear of encountering a Xenomorph feel more personal, more immediate, and way more terrifying. While Alien: Isolation offers a tense survival horror experience in a traditional format, Rogue Incursion pushes that fear uncomfortably into the player’s physical space.
The game received generally positive critical reception, especially for a VR game, and was praised for its immersive environments, 3D audio design, and storytelling. However, it faced some criticism for repetitive encounters and occasional technical issues. Despite these flaws, it stands out as one of the most intense Alien experiences to date, especially for fans seeking a standout VR game.
4 Aliens: Colonial Marines – The Alien FPS You’ve Been Missing
An Unmatched Alien FPS Experience
Aliens: Colonial Marines is a first-person shooter developed by Gearbox Software, released in 2013. The game places players in the role of a Colonial Marine named Cpl. Christopher Winter, part of a search-and-rescue team sent to investigate the U.S.S. Sulaco after the events of Aliens.
Set in 2179, shortly after the film’s conclusion, the story aims to be a direct sequel to Aliens, reimagining what happened to key locations like LV-426 and the Sulaco, while introducing new characters and expanding the franchise’s military sci-fi angle.
Unlike Alien: Isolation, which emphasizes stealth and horror, or Aliens: Fireteam Elite, which offers third-person co-op action, Colonial Marines focuses on single-player and multiplayer FPS combat with a heavy emphasis on gunplay and squad-based tactics.
The gameplay features pulse rifles, flamethrowers, and iconic weaponry from the films, aiming to deliver a cinematic combat experience. However, Colonial Marines is widely criticized for its poor AI, dated graphics, and inconsistent storytelling, despite its potential and strong source material.
Its attempt to retcon elements of Aliens and Alien 3 proved controversial. While it differs from modern Alien games by being more action-heavy and less atmospheric, it’s still worth checking out.
3 Alien vs. Predator (2010) – A Throwback To An Early Alien Hit
One Of Many Alien vs. Predators, But One Of The Best
Alien vs. Predator (2010), developed by Rebellion, is a unique entry in the Alien franchise because it isn’t a conventional Alien game. It blends three distinct campaigns into one experience, allowing players to step into the roles of a Colonial Marine, a Xenomorph, and a Predator. It’s one of many Alien vs. Predator games released throughout the years, but easily one of the most beloved.
Rather than focusing solely on the survival horror or military action seen in other Alien games, it delivers a multi-perspective narrative that explores the strengths and limitations of each species.
The game takes place in 2230, over 50 years after the events of Alien 3, on the planet BG-386, where Weyland-Yutani has uncovered an ancient Predator temple. This setup triggers the return of the Xenomorphs and draws the attention of the Predators.
The intersecting campaigns provide unique gameplay styles, with tense horror sequences as the Marine, stealthy, parkour-style hunting as the Alien, and high-tech methodical stalking as the Predator. Each campaign reveals a different angle of the story, making the universe feel larger and more interconnected.
What makes Alien vs. Predator stand out is its ambitious scope and fan-service-driven gameplay. It successfully brings together elements from both franchises, offering a brutal, fast-paced experience that remains one of the most memorable crossover games of its era, especially for fans wanting to enjoy the full spectrum of the Alien universe.
2 Aliens: Dark Descent – A Real-Time Alien Strategy Game
Choices Have Consequences In Dark Descent
Aliens: Dark Descent is a real-time tactical squad-based strategy game that brings a fresh and thoughtful approach to the Alien franchise. Released in 2023, it stands out for blending tense, atmospheric horror with strategic gameplay, placing players in command of a squad of Colonial Marines tasked with containing a Xenomorph outbreak on the moon Lethe.
The game emphasizes permanent consequences, permadeath, stress mechanics, and resource management, making every decision feel important and urgent. Set in 2198, Dark Descent takes place 19 years after the events of Aliens and Alien 3, expanding the franchise’s lore with a story centered around a top-secret Weyland-Yutani experiment gone wrong.
The campaign follows Deputy Administrator Maeko Hayes and Sergeant Jonas Harper as they attempt to stop the spread of the Xenomorph threat while uncovering corporate secrets and surviving both alien and human enemies. What makes Dark Descent great is its ability to capture the dread of the Alien universe in a genre rarely explored by the franchise.
Compared to other Alien games like Isolation or Fireteam Elite, it places more emphasis on thoughtful squad control and strategy, includes deeper customization, and has a strong narrative. It’s a standout not only among Alien games, but within modern tactical strategy titles overall.
1 Alien: Isolation – Arguably The Best Alien Game Ever Made
Isolation Captures Everything That Makes The Original Film Great
Alien: Isolation is widely regarded as the quintessential Alien video game experience and arguably the best ever made because it captures the raw tension, isolation, and atmospheric dread that defined Ridley Scott’s original 1979 film.
Unlike other titles that focus on action or squad combat, Isolation strips the experience down to survival horror, placing players in the shoes of Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, as she searches for answers aboard the decaying space station Sevastopol.
Set in 2137, fifteen years after Alien and decades before Aliens, the game fits perfectly within the early timeline of the franchise, exploring the fallout from the Nostromo’s disappearance. The setting is meticulously crafted, with retro-futuristic design, flickering lights, analog tech, and ambient soundscapes that make every corner terrifying.
Gameplay revolves around stealth, exploration, and evasion. Armed with only basic tools and limited resources, players must avoid a single, deadly Xenomorph that hunts with some of the best AI in video gaming history. This AI truly responds to your choices, learning, adapting, and reacting to the player’s actions. There’s no overpowering it, only surviving it.
Alien: Isolation stands out because it respects its source material deeply while delivering a nerve-wracking, immersive experience. It’s a masterclass in horror game design that redefined what fans expect from the Alien franchise.
- Movie(s)
- Alien, Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Alien: Resurrection (1997), Prometheus (2012), Alien: Covenant (2017), Alien: Romulus (2024)
- Created by
- Ridley Scott
- First Film
- Alien
- Latest Film
- Alien: Romulus
