As a major genre of gaming, sci-fi isn’t showing any signs of becoming less popular. With very exciting sci-fi titles in the horizon, such asStarfieldfrom Bethesda andCyberpunk 2077from CD Projekt Red, 2020 and beyond looks very promising.
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What really makes a sci-fi game good, however, isn’t necessarily the novelty of things. A great game can stay afloat for years if it manages to build a fanbase around its lore and universe, through creative and unique world-building. That’s why these 10 games not only excel as sci-fi titles in general, but also in terms of storytelling and immersion.
10Dishonored
WhileDishonoredis mainly a game about the combination of stealth and combat to assassinate the right targets, people often seem to forget just how incredibly good the lore for it is. The world is a mixture of high tech and Victorian London, a strange yet really unique vibe.
The story follows Corvo Attano, once bodyguard to the Empress and now an assassin looking to exact revenge on those who framed him for her death. Through stealth and supernatural abilities, Corvo has to navigate the city and those who hunt him down for what he’s done.
9Half-Life Series
There’s a pretty good reason why so many fans still hold on to their hope to seeHalf-Life 3announced. The series, created by Valve and the engine of which spawned various other mods of the game and even independent game, is among the most iconic video game series ever.
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There is so much to discover in this game, from factions to monsters to the myriad of characters. With such a simple yet efficient storyline, which starts with Gordon Freeman making his way out a research facility after an experiment gone terribly wrong, this game delivers splendidly in story and background.
8Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
TheStar Warsfranchise is one of the richest out there in terms of lore, and it’s definitely what helpedKOTORbecome such a successful game. To this day, no otherStar Warsgame has quite managed to reach its level of popularity among fans.
Thousands of years before the events that led to the birth of the Galactic Empire, the Republic is threatened by the rise of Sith. The main character must set out on a journey to destroy Dart Malak’s forces while in turn making decisions that ultimately decide their alignment to the Dark or Light side.
7System Shock Series
In the far future of humankind, a nameless hacker is stranded on a space station when awakening from a six-month coma, only to discover that the station’s systems have been conquered by SHODAN, an evil artificial intelligence.
System Shockmay be a traditional FPS survival horror game, but much of its story is found through logs and various e-mails of the station’s other characters. This all builds the incredibly dark yet real world ofSystem Shock.
6Prey
AlthoughPreywent under the radar for most people, it’s an incredibly underrated game. When Morgan Yu wakes up and realizes their reality isn’t what it seems, and that the research station they’re stuck on is overrun byTyphons, they need to make their way out and find what role their brother plays in all of this.
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Preydoesn’t just limit its story to the events within the space station; so much of the lore found in terminals and written notes detail how the world and humanity ended up building a research station in space in the first place. It’s truly unfortunate this level of world-building went unappreciated.
5Deus Ex Series
For theultimate cyberpunk experiencewhile waiting for the release ofCyberpunk 2077, theDeus Exseries is absolutely astounding. With each game, a new storyline takes place within the same futuristic world where various factions and forces are clashing.
Each game also follows a slightly new and different main character in the same reality, with themes of conspiracies and oppressive corporate politics at the forefront. This series has created a cult following, and for a good reason: its world feels close and more realistic than those of most other games.
4Horizon Zero Dawn
Aloy is a hunter in a world that appears deceptively limited with technology. However, it’s the Old Ones, the massive machine-like beasts, that are a constant reminder of what once existed on Earth.
Horizon Zero Dawn’s success can’t be contested. It managed to create a brand new, purely unique world that sucked players in at once. Through quests and adventures, Aloy finds out more about her past, as well as the background of the world, and how it came to its current state.
3BioShock Series
There’s no other game quite likeBioShock, and its twisted dystopia worlds. FromRaptureto Columbia, the player travels from one strange world to another, and through a colorful cast of NPCs and various voice logs, pieces together its story.
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BioShockthrives off of its unique lore, which it introduces through the thoughts and recordings of the various characters who are still alive or once walked the halls of its dystopian worlds. These games will make any player wish they could walk the halls of Rapture, at least for a few seconds.
2Halo Series
No sci-fi list would be complete without a mention of theHalofranchise. While over the years,Halohas failed to deliver what it once was, it pioneered in the genre of sci-fi FPS shooters by introducing an iconic character: Master Chief.
Set in an era of war between humankind and the Covenant alien species, which seek to use the Halo ringworlds and super weapons as artifacts. Much of the lore in theHaloseries has been built carefully over time, and inspired by various great works of sci-fi, which is why it’s so foolproof and rich.
1Mass Effect Series
Most players would be inclined to think ofAndromedaat the mention of theMass Effectfranchise, but let’s not forget all the good its previous installments have brought to gaming. Its classic sci-fi world full of both good and evil species are what make sci-fi as a genre so great.
Mass Effectis also one of the few games that doesn’t treat alien species as mere accessories. Eachcharacteris carefully defined and constructed, which successfully completes the diverse and rich universe ofMass Effect.
