Aliens: Dark Descent

Savage tactical strategy and effective use of the license make this a must-play for fans of Xenomorphs or think-’em-ups. Some jagged edges and jank mar things a bit, but it’s the most terrifying strategy game you’ll ever play.

-- As reviewed by TechRadar
Aliens: Dark Descent 1

Product details

  • Includes the Lethe Recon Pack granting your access to an exclusive Black Camo Armor Set and a unique feline companion to liven up the decks of the Otago
  • Face off in a gripping original Alien story against iconic Xenomorph creatures ranging from Facehuggers to Praetorians, Alien Queens and many more, including rogue human commandos and a brand-new threat unique to this Alien storyline
  • Lead strategically and change squad tactics from mission to mission, carefully managing your soldiers’ health, resources, and sanity, to avoid permanent team losses and mental breakdowns
  • Forge unique paths for survival in a persistent world, uncovering shortcuts, creating safe zones and setting up motion trackers to stay one step ahead of these creatures
  • Assemble and level up squads composed of 5 starting Marines classes, with dozens of specializations, unique abilities and weapons

PROS

+ Perfectly channels the Alien Universe’s run-down sci-fi look
+ Colonial Marines are cool as hell
+ Meaningful strategic choices

CONS

- Brutally difficult
- Just clunky enough to feel irritating

Expert reviews and ratings

By TechRadar on June 21, 2023
Savage tactical strategy and effective use of the license make this a must-play for fans of Xenomorphs or think-’em-ups. Some jagged edges and jank mar things a bit, but it’s the most terrifying strategy game you’ll ever play.
60
By IGN on June 19, 2023
If not for the technical issues, this would be easily one of the best Aliens games ever. And it still probably is. Borrowing from some of the greatest squad-based tactics games and adding its own twists, I don't think I've played anything that really gets what was so cool about Aliens, the film, since Monolith's Aliens Versus Predator 2 way back in 2001. And many have tried! It's the sort of game that makes me wish I could look the other way and praise it even higher, but on balance, I just can't. With a few weeks in the med bay for a bit of extra technical polish, it could shine up nicely into something amazing. As-is, it's still an intriguing, inspired, imaginative survival RTS that I can enthusiastically recommend, but only with some caveats.
70