When the first Alien film came out in 1979, it didn’t take long to make its mark on science fiction. Over the decades, the series has explored different genres and shifted its tone more than once, but it’s never lost the qualities that made it stand out at the start.
What began as a claustrophobic sci-fi horror has branched into action, suspense, and even stories that borrow from home-invasion thrillers. In recent years, the franchise has grown again, adding new films and TV series that aim to push the universe forward while respecting what made it work in the first place.
Alien: Earth – New Television Series
It begins when the Maginot, a space vessel, crashes on Earth. A young woman and a loosely organized group of tactical soldiers uncover something that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest danger. The crash is only the starting point, and the plot splits into multiple threads rather than focusing solely on the wreck.
The first reviews have been very positive. Some critics mention its bold visual style and how the tension never really lets up. Others like that it brings Xenomorph lore to television but still feels tied to the films.
From the very first scene, Alien: Earth sets its tone. The retro-futuristic look is everywhere, the atmosphere is uneasy, and the tension starts climbing almost immediately. It is not shy about violent, bloody sequences, using them to add to the sense of being cornered.
The Success of Video Game Adaptations in Media
In recent years, game-to-screen projects have been hitting the mark more often, and not only with casual viewers. Fallout and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners kept the core of what made their games popular, but each added new elements that helped them connect with both fans and critics.
Much like Alien: Earth, these adaptations build on their worlds instead of simply repeating them. That track record gives Alien: Earth a fair chance at honoring the films while offering something new for fans.
Top Games in the “Alien” Universe
The Alien franchise has had a long life in gaming, with titles that range from tense, slow-burn horror to chaotic action and even tactical squad control. Some of these games are close in tone to the films, others take a different path, but the strongest ones manage to feel at home in the universe while standing on their own.
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | Video | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Aliens Vs Predator Collection | 2010-02-16 | Adventure & Shooter | Rebellion | |
 | Alien: Isolation | 2014-10-06 | Action & Shooter | Creative Assembly | |
 | Aliens Fireteam Elite | 2021-08-24 | Role-playing (RPG) & Shooter | Cold Iron Studios | |
 | Aliens Dark Descent | 2023-06-20 | Adventure & Strategy | Tindalos Interactive |
Alien: Isolation
| Release date: | 2014-10-06 |
| Genre: | Survival horror, Action-adventure, Stealth |
| Developer: | Creative Assembly |
The setting nails the Alien vibe. Everything feels like it was pulled straight from 1979: chunky machines, retro screens, and that gritty, industrial design that makes the world feel lived in.
The narrow corridors and dim lighting keep you on edge the whole time, and the fact that the Alien adapts to how you move means you can never rely on the same trick twice.
What really gets me is how personal it all feels. Amanda isn’t just trying to survive, but she’s chasing the truth about her mother, and that connection to the films gives the whole thing an emotional weight. It’s a slow kind of tension, and when you finally make it out of a close call, it feels like you’ve actually survived something.
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Aliens vs. Predator
| Release date: | 2010-02-16 |
| Genre: | Adventure & Shooter |
| Developer: | Rebellion |
You can play through the conflict from three perspectives that’s what makes it so much fun. As a Marine, it’s all about grit, using your weapons and gear to survive against overwhelming odds.
Playing as a Xenomorph flips the script completely, turning you into a lightning-fast predator that stalks from the shadows and strikes with brutal close-up kills. Then there’s the Predator, which feels like a whole different game: patient hunts, calculated moves, and the satisfaction of using high-tech toys like cloaking and thermal vision to outsmart your prey.
The three campaigns feel distinct enough that you never get bored. Combat is quick, sometimes shockingly brutal, and switching species forces you to rethink every encounter. It’s one of those rare games that actually delivers on the fantasy of living out the Aliens vs. Predator rivalry, and for me, that’s the hook that kept me coming back.
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Aliens: Dark Descent
| Release date: | 2023-06-20 |
| Genre: | Strategy & Adventure |
| Developer: | Tindalos Interactive |
A mix of real-time tactics and squad management, this game puts you in charge of a team of Colonial Marines and it doesn’t pull any punches.
You’re constantly issuing orders in the heat of battle while keeping an eye on ammo, health, and morale. The enemies aren’t mindless either; they react to your moves, forcing you to think on your feet. If a Marine dies, they are gone for good. Levels do not reset either, so any shortcuts you open or areas you clear stay that way.
The decisions you make during a fight can turn the tide, for better or worse. Enemies adjust to how you play, so you cannot rely on the same tactic every time. Losing a Marine is permanent, which adds pressure, and the maps remember what you have done, shortcuts, cleared areas, all of it. With multiple classes, gear, and abilities, you can shape the squad around the way you prefer to handle missions. It’s tense, it’s unforgiving, and that’s exactly what makes it so addictive.
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Aliens: Fireteam Elite
| Release date: | 2021-08-24 |
| Genre: | Shooter & Role-playing (RPG) & Adventure |
| Developer: | Cold Iron Studios |
This is built for fast, cooperative play. You and two teammates face wave after wave of Xenomorphs and other enemies in loud, chaotic third-person battles.
There is a range of classes, each with its own loadout. You can swap roles when you feel like it, shifting between heavy offence and more supportive setups. This one is about holding your ground and surviving big, messy firefights.
Getting a squad together does not take long, and you are straight into the action. The waves of enemies come in different types and sizes, so fights do not blur together. Things move fast, and being able to swap roles means you can jump between heavy firepower or a support slot depending on how the match is going.
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Conclusion
That’s why I’m genuinely excited for Alien: Earth. Set just two years before the 1979 original, it looks like it’s aiming to honor the series’ classic style while still bringing something new. The addition of Wendy, the first hybrid, plus themes about humanity and consciousness, feels like fresh ground for the franchise.
From what early reviews are saying, it’s got bold visuals, a tense, retro-futuristic vibe, and bursts of graphic violence that keep you on edge. If it all comes together, this could be one of those entries we talk about for years.
In gaming, Alien: Isolation still stands out as one of the strongest survival horror titles. It does not make things easy, the Alien’s unpredictable AI and the thick atmosphere keep the pressure on from start to finish. The fact that fans are still talking about a sequel years later says everything about its impact and I just hope we haven’t seen the last of it.