The best games based on alien invasion

Summary

• Alien enemies are a common theme in games, often depicted as having evil intentions towards humanity.
• Halo: Combat Evolved features Master Chief defending humanity from the invasion of Covenant aliens.
• Destiny is a popular live action FPS game where players fight against different alien races to protect humanity.

There are numerous fantasy entities that are often exploited by game designers as enemies in their games. Menacing zombies, vampires, ghosts, and spirits are all commonly encountered as adversaries in games, and of course, aliens are an ever-rich source of inspiration for game developers. There have probably been more alien enemies in games than any other fictional creature.

When we talk about aliens, we generally mean evil aliens, who, in most cases, have bad intentions towards humanity. Generally in the form of minor incursions or even a full-blown alien invasion, from which the player must successfully defend humanity.

8 Halo: Advanced Combat

Presentation of Master Chief

As a genetically enhanced human soldier, Master Chief is probably one of the best-known video game protagonists of all time. He makes his first appearance in Halo: Advanced Combat. His job is to defend humanity from a species of invading aliens called the Covenant.

With its fantastic combat system, fun multiplayer mode and various game maps, Halo: Combat Evolved is considered a classic. All fans of sci-fi shooting games will enjoy this game, even if it seems a little dated by modern standards.

7 Starship Troopers: Earth Ascension

Fast and frenetic RTS

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows
• Released: October 23, 2000
• Developer: Blue Tongue Entertainment
• Genre: real-time tactics, tactical wargame

Based on Spaceship soldiers movie franchise, Starship Troopers: Earth Ascension is a real-time strategy game renowned for being quite challenging. Battles are often chaotic, as the player fights swarms of Arachnids using both ground and air units.

In addition to the RTS-style combat, there's a surprisingly deep strategic layer, requiring the player to manage their troops and make decisions about where to deploy their forces next. Overall, the game does a great job of capturing the feel of the films, as the player strives to fight off endless hordes of insect-like aliens.

6 Destiny

Live FPS service

Set in a post-apocalyptic landscape, players of this live first-person shooter are tasked with defending humanity from several alien races. These include the Vex, the Hive, and the Fallen. Playing solo or co-op, players take part in fast-paced events, battling against alien incursions.

Destiny has been in operation for a decade and is still widely popular among a loyal fan base. It stands out for its combination of RPG-inspired character development and great FPS combat mechanics. With its large and immersive game world, it's fun to play and has real longevity.

5 The War of the Worlds

Art style inspired by the 1920s

• Platforms: ZX Spectrum
• Released: 1984
• Developer: CRL Group
• Genre: Adventure game

In 1898, H.G. Wells's seminal science fiction novel, War of the Worlds was published for the first time. Since then, it has been the basis of numerous films, and was also the seed of one of the greatest radionic pranks ever pulled. The War of the Worlds the video game follows the story closely and attempts to convey it using a 1920s aesthetic.

With a combination of puzzle solving and platform style gameplay, with a big helping of stealth mechanics thrown in, it's quite unique. The game focuses on exploration and survival, rather than head-to-head combat.

4 Xenonauts

There can be no doubt about this Xenonauts is heavily inspired by the games of XCOM franchising. It follows a very similar recipe, combining high-level strategy with turn-based combat in mission scenarios, as players attempt to repel an alien invasion occurring during the Cold War era.

Players must create their own basic infrastructure, research new weapons and defensive technologies, and use these resources to deploy teams of agents to combat the alien threat. Overall, fans of XCOM the franchise would find this game extremely familiar.

3 Spaceship

A definitive RTS game

Spaceship it's a game that took the real-time strategy genre and demonstrated how such a game should be made. Putting the Terrans on defense against two invading species, the Zerg and the Protoss, Spaceship setting the standard for making an RTS challenging and fun at the same time. Each of the three conflicting sides has unique units and strategies and plays completely differently.

The game also helped set the scene for modern eSports, with its fantastic competitive multiplayer mode, and has become firmly entrenched in gaming culture, with almost every gamer knowing what the word Zerg means when applied to RTS tactics.

2 Resistance: Fall of Man

Narrative-based FPS game

Resistance: Fall of Man follows the exploits of Nathan Hale, a soldier in the 1950s. Nathan is fighting tooth and nail against an alien incursion by a race called the Chimera. The game stands out in that excellent narrative is used to justify the often fast-paced first-person shooter action.

The game features a fully destructible environment, which Nathan can sometimes use to his advantage, although this can often also involve greater risk. The aliens are really scary, and the game borders on being a horror title at times.

1 Half-life 2

The Further Adventures of Gordon Freeman

The valve one Half-life 2 is another title considered a milestone in the history of video games. Taking up the story of Gordon Freeman, Half-life 2 it was the first game with the Source engine at its core. At the time, it set the standard for FPS graphics and still looks fantastic today.

Gordon left to fight the Combine once again Half-life 2although this time the plot is a little darker and more sinister. With its fantastic story, quality world building and iconic Half life themes, it's an old game that's still worth playing today.