Alien remains one of the most-revered sci-fi horror films ever. The IP eventually spread beyond just its franchise to become an important pop-culture reference, with the titular species from the films, the Xenomorph, remaining one of the most iconic movie monsters of all time. Coincidentally, the release of Alien was concurrent with the rise of video games, resulting in video games based on the franchise being both numerous and popular throughout the history of the medium. 2024 was great for the franchise’s films with the release of Alien: Romulus, and now two games based in the Alien universe are closing things out with a bang.
Kicking things off in December is the highlighted title from the month’s PS Plus giveaways, Aliens: Dark Descent. A compelling RTS and turn-based tactics hybrid, Aliens: Dark Descent‘s gameplay and atmosphere make great use of the Alien franchise while delivering an enjoyable, yet challenging, experience. But Dark Descent‘s giveaway is far from the only Alien-centric highlight of the month, as the VR-exclusive first-person survival horror title Alien: Rogue Incursion is set to launch on December 19, 2024. Between a criminally underrated Alien tactics game and a terrifying-looking VR title, Alien fans have a lot to look forward to as the year comes to a close.
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Aliens: Dark Descent Is a Compelling RTS/TRPG Hybrid That Nails the Films’ Atmosphere
Each month, PlayStation Plus subscribers get three games to download and keep for free for as long as they remain subscribed to the service. Of these three monthly games, there’s usually one title that stands out as the premier offering for the month, which for December is Aliens: Dark Descent. Originally released in June 2023, Aliens: Dark Descent is the first major AAA release from indie developer Tindalos Interactive, who ended up partnering with Focus Interactive to bring Dark Descent to life. Anyone who might have missed out on the title now has an easy excuse to dive into its compelling blend of real-time strategy and turn-based tactics.
In addition to its unique approach to tactical gameplay, Aliens: Dark Descent stays true to the aesthetic and tone of James Cameron’s Aliens, honoring the action-laden sci-fi of the 1986 classic and continuing its plot of corporate hubris gone awry. Once again, players have more to contend with than just the Xenomorphs, as rogue Weiland-Yutani corp employees and malfunctioning synthetics also stand between the colonial marines and their goals. As a bonus, Aliens: Dark Descent does a commendable job at translating a genre that typically favors mouse and keyboard to standard controller inputs.
Players Can Go Face-to-Face With a Xenomorph in Alien: Rogue Incursion on December 19
Later in the month on December 19, the highly anticipated Alien VR title, Alien: Rogue Incursion, is set to launch for both PC and PS5 courtesy of the PSVR2. A first-person survival horror title akin to the critically acclaimed Alien: Isolation, Rogue Incursion is promising to be one of the most harrowing experiences players can have in VR, tapping into the cat-and-mouse chase of Isolation while offering an unprecedented level of immersion.
The initial announcement of Rogue Incursion was met with a bit of a mixed reception thanks to fans assuming that the trailer was for an Alien: Isolation sequel. But with the official announcement of an Alien: Isolation sequel currently in development, Alien: Rogue Incursion now has the chance to stand on its own two feet and impress players with a wholly different kind of experience, even if it’s built on the foundations laid by Isolation.
- Released
- June 20, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Tindalos Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Focus Entertainment
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong