It’s not difficult to see the appeal of sci-fi media: fantastical locations, otherworldly technology, incredible characters, and the thought of a technologically advanced future. With the steady improvements in next-gen graphics, sci-fi video games are only improving.
2023 saw the release of several great sci-fi games featuring breathtaking locations, unfathomable technology, epic weapons, and brilliant stories. These games were all undoubtedly memorable experiences, but only a few can be considered the best the year 2023 had to offer.
Atomic Heartis a first-person shooter single-player game. The game has a great story, fantastic main characters, and a lot of great puzzles and challenging missions. That said, the gameplay is limited at times, especially in combat scenarios.
Many of the visuals and the world as a whole have a “bizarre in a good way” look. This makes the game unique and takes away from certain limitations, like the wonky boss fights. The game is a pleasant sci-fi experience with visuals that offer you something different in the genre, a good story, and many cool little elements.
Robocopis a popular character in cult classics due to the number of movies and video games in which the character has appeared. 2023 saw another appearance for the character with the release ofRobocop: Rogue City. The graphics and voice acting performances are great, and the game features a fair bit of 80s-style action, which is perfect for this character.
However, playing as Robocop does not offer a lot of challenge or excitement in certain areas, as the character is easily the most powerful person in his universe, being able to take large amounts of damage and heal quickly. The character is also stiff and moves in a robotic manner, which is to be expected but can be a little jarring.
System Shockwas first released in 1994 and remade in 2023. The game is set in a cyberpunk-esque 2072 on a space station. It remains largely faithful to the 1994 version, which is excellent, as it was a great game for its time.
Despite keeping to the original in many ways, the 2023 version also makes a lot of improvements in areas that help it catch up with modern games. The gameplay is improved, the horror elements are upgraded, and even the menus are polished. Overall, this is a fun sci-fi experience for both fans of the original and new players.
Aliens: Dark Descentis a fun, real-time tactics-based video game set in the highly popular Aliens universe from the successful movie franchise. In this game, you must rely on your strategic capabilities to customize your squad and lead them into battle against the ever-perilous alien species.
It’s very immersive and forces you to think carefully about every strategic choice you make, rather than just going in all guns blazing. You must manage your squad’s ammo, equipment, and med packs as you navigate your way through this dangerous terrain. Overall, the gameplay is great, and it is a challenging experience that tests your skills in strategy. Also, you get to fight aliens.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconis a mecha-based combat-heavy video game. The game features impressive battles, brilliant graphics, and many great customization options that suit or change how you want to approach combat.
This is a straightforward linear gaming experience where you go from mission to mission, earning cash with which you can purchase upgrades for your mech - or Armored Core as they’re called in the game. The simple objective mixed with the high-octane action, top-quality graphics, and the fact that you get to ride around in a giant robot and cause devastating explosions makes this a fun experience for anyone.
Horizon Call of the Mountainis an action-adventure game set in the mountain regions of the Horizon open-world adventure games. This VR game does a great job of making you feel like you’re in the brilliant and vibrant world laid out in front of you.
The story is decent but not so out of this world that it takes away from the beautiful sites and brilliant combat. This relaxing gaming experience relies on its beauty and direct engagement with you, the player.
The world of Pandora from the James Cameron Avatar movies are undoubtedly breathtaking, as are the Na’Vi and the stories involving Jake Sully and his family. However,Avatar: Frontiers of Pandoraallows you to experience the world in a way the movies can’t.
You play as one of the Na’Vi in a separate story from the movies, and you are treated to the beauty of Pandora in glorious next-gen graphics. The game has a lot of outstanding elements, including customization, weapons, and combat. Still, the ensemble’s aesthetics genuinely steal the show in this beautiful sci-fi gaming experience.
