Some of them did a better job than the others, though, and choosing a favorite among them was surprisingly easier than a similar choice in other categories. Are you curious to know which one caught our fancy in this very competitive corner of the gaming world? Let’s begin with the nominees and work our way up from there.

Let’s jump right in! The nominees for the best shooter of 2025 are:

1. Escape From Tarkov

There’s so much to like about this one. It does a brilliant job of making you feel like you’re a battle-hardened mercenary, while its movement systems and excellent weapon variety make it a very viable option for those of you who like playing multiplayer online. Its premise does a great job at providing context for your actions, while the visuals can make things quite immersive indeed.

As far as shooters go, Escape From Tarkov is definitely up there with the best ones of 2025.

2. Arc Raiders

Innovative, intense, and very interesting Arc Raiders’ spin on the extraction shooter formula has given its players a chance to create some truly memorable experience. Its post-apocalyptic world is one in which you can’t really trust anybody but when you find someone you can, it’s a beautiful moment with the potential for some spectacular ambushes on other Raiders.

It’s all so fast-paced and dripping with agency for its players that this gameplay loop is one that’s going to keep us diving back for more every time we get the chance.

3. Battlefield 6

Battlefield 6 had a lot riding on its shoulders after the debacle that was Battlefield 2042. The game has managed to live up to the hype, however, despite a poor response to its single player campaign. Its visuals are outstanding while the Kinesthetic movement system does wonders for its gameplay.

The Portal is so much better this time around, while its weapons, destructible environments, and a general feel of polish being a part of the experience make this one worth owning.

4. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (PS5)

As a version of STALKER 2 that came complete with all of the game’s updates over the past year along with some great touches from GSC that made use of the DualSense’s haptics and adaptive triggers, the PS5 version of the game is the one to beat.

It’s very immersive while the improved and patched A-Life system and the newly added improvements to stealth make exploring The Zone on your PS5 an experience in which you’re always at risk even as you hunt down your enemies with skill and precision. The story is great and the world is one in which there is a lot of potential for unscripted chaos.

5. DOOM: The Dark Ages

The Slayer returned for a third instalment that channels everything that makes the first-person shooter genre so exhilarating. However, id Software’s switched-up gameplay loop coupled with a setting that explored the early days of the Slayer’s battles against enemy forces made this one a brutal romp through incredibly rendered environments.

Of course, those environments were peppered with deadly enemies and cool weapons for the Slayer to take on, and the entire experience is a blast from start to finish. You can’t go wrong with a DOOM: The Dark Ages title if you’re in the market for a new shooter.

6. Sniper Elite: Resistance

Rebellion’s return to the Sniper Elite franchise has been a largely entertaining trip, and watching Harry Hawker take on the Wunderwaffe was a delight. Of course, the gameplay mechanics were a huge part of that happiness, with a lot of freedom being given to players in determining their approach to a target.

The X-ray kill cam, and a lot of solid optional content makes this a great choice for those of you who like to shoot from a distance.

7. The Outer Worlds 2

This follow up to its 2019 predecessor is an RPG that’s going to have you grinning to yourself on many occasions even as you power through some intense battles and navigate a complex world with nuanced interactions between its factions and your character. The Outer Worlds 2 is full of memorable moments that’s balanced out by a story with some serious stakes..

With a lot of potential for build creation and excellent replay value, this is a game that can suck up a massive chunk of your life if you decide to take it on.

8. Escape From Duckov

Team Soda’s unique spin on an extraction shooter balances adorable characters with nail-biting action in this one. The top-down presentation works well to give weight to its mechanics while the visuals and story lend it a pace that’s quite satisfying.

As a single-player extraction shooter, Escape from Duckov stands out from the crowd, with a gameplay loop that seems deceptively simple until a firefight breaks out. It’s definitely worth a shot (pun intended).

9. Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition

Although the main campaign was a little too short for our liking, this tension-filled trek through a Xenomorph-infested facility was quite thrilling. The Xenos are brutal and relentless, coming at you from every possible angle while you’re left scrambling to find a good position and launch your counterattack.

The story on offer is quite riveting too, and it can be very rewarding to hunt down all of the lore drops you find in the well-rendered world. If only the next chapter of the story could get here faster.

10. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has been a great game, making us burn the midnight oil more often than usual thanks to how addictive its gameplay loop can be. Its combat mechanics are top shelf while your psychic powers can be the road to some very creative ways to cause mayhem.

This one is a great addition to the Switch 2 lineup, and ticks all the right boxes that make up a solid shooter.

11. Metal Eden

If you’re a fan of shooters that require you to move fast and shoot faster, look no further than Metal Eden. With a lot of excellent mobility options at your disposal in the field, along with great weapons and a very well-implemented bullet time mechanic, Aska is capable of taking on the android antagonists who stand between her and the Cores.

Its gameplay and level design are somewhat let down by a lack of balancing and weapon progression systems but it’s still an excellent shooter nonetheless.

12. Borderlands 4

The Vault Hunters have returned, and with style. This is an action RPG that doesn’t take itself too seriously unless it’s an aspect of the experience that really counts. As such, its story and gameplay are excellent, while the franchise’s unique art style continues to hold its own among current-gen productions.

With an open world that hides a lot of fun things to do, and the franchise’s signature style guiding you along, you’re going to want to keep an eye on the clock as you play this one unless you’re planning to lose track of time.

13. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition

Sneakybox’s remaster of Demetrian Titus’ 2011 adventure continues to be a brilliant Warhammer 40k game. While it can be a little over-the-top in certain moments of its story, the combination of melee and ranged combat works very well with the weapon variety on offer and the narrative framing of the Ultramarines.

This is a quintessential Warhammer experience and is one that’s worth diving into even after all these years.

14. Ready or Not (PS5/Xbox Series X | S)

We’re going to tell you that this one came quite close to being the victor of this 2025’s best shooter. Its gameplay loop is filled with a sort of tension that comes from a presentation that’s done exceedingly well. It’s straightforward and easy to grasp while its moment to moment unpredictability make it a challenge to master.

Even the best of players might find themselves in the midst of a chaotic shootout, a single mistake costing them a lot of careful planning and tactical infiltration. Ready or Not is a masterpiece but it might not be everybody’s cup of tea thanks to its sensitive content.

15. Gears of War: Reloaded

Markus Fenix’s PS5 debut was all sorts of awesome. With a visual overhaul of the original experience working well with a story that continues to be as exciting as was back in the day, Gears of War continues to be a franchise that does the shooter genre justice.

From the nostalgia factor alone, to the mechanics and weapons you can wield, Gears of War: Reloaded is a great shooter, and its multiplayer scene continues to thrive thanks to the franchise’s immense popularity.

Well, we’ve put our cards on the table. And now comes the challenge of selecting a winner. While it hasn’t been easy and competition has been intense.

The winner of the best shooter of 2025 is…

Arc Raiders

This is a title that’s so unique and full of potential for community-driven chaos that it simply races ahead of its competition, bringing a very unique experience to the extraction-shooter space while its gameplay loop lends itself very well to unpredictability and tension between its world’s inhabitants. Lose yourself in this one, and you’re going to find that your fellow Raiders are your best friends and worst enemies all at once.

It’s been awesome trying out all of 2025’s greatest shooters. Here’s to many more excellent ones in 2026!

Exploring a Xeonomorph-infested facility as Zula Hendricks was quite thrilling, although the lack of variety in weapons and enemy types was something I just couldn’t ignore. It made the game too front-loaded for my liking, although the story was interesting enough to make me see things through to the end of the adventure.

Set between the first and second films of the Alien franchise, Rogue Incursion has you guiding Zula through a GES facility called Castor’s Cradle. She’s there because of a friend and former colleague, who sends out a distress call to her and her android buddy Davis. Things don’t go according to plan, and the duo is soon left stranded on Purdan, the planet on which the facility is located.

The Xenomorphs soon make themselves known to you, and things get quite interesting from there. I won’t spoil the moments that make this game memorable, but know that Zula’s on a clock and decides to blow the facility sky high in order to remove the Xenomorphs from the equation. Grim stuff, I know, but I don’t see how I would have done things any differently.

Actually exploring the facility is entertaining at first, but quickly becomes repetitive. Puzzles come in the form of fuse boxes that you need to rewire in order to gain access to new areas, while a few other doors require you to weld them open from the other side. It’s quite immersive thanks to the impressive visual design and intricate levels, but I soon knew the facility’s layout like the back of my hand.

"There was always something to discover around every corner, be it precious ammo and healing items, bits of lore to further flesh out the GES’s shady dealings at the facility, or messages that brought out the human side of its employees"

That was a good thing as there was a fair bit of backtracking involved, with more paths becoming available as a result. There was always something to discover around every corner, be it precious ammo and healing items, bits of lore to further flesh out the GES’s shady dealings at the facility, or messages that brought out the human side of its employees as they went about their business, keeping Castor’s Cradle running as smoothly as possible.

The manner in which the story was fleshed out by these discoveries is among the highlights of the game. Nothing is presented to you on a platter, and you get more out of your time in Castor’s Cradle based on how diligent you are towards finding out more of what made it a desolate nest for the Xenomorphs.

However, I must give credit to how developer and publisher Survios has managed to make the entire exercise feel hair-raisingly scary. The Xenomorphs are vicious and hunt Zula with unerring precision, often coming at her in droves. While dealing with them with either your revolver, shotgun, or pulse rifle is certainly easy, it doesn’t take away from the fact that all my favorite moments in the game included having one of them in the mix.

"Nothing is presented to you on a platter, and you get more out of your time in Castor’s Cradle based on how diligent you are towards finding out more of what made it a desolate nest for the Xenomorphs"

One of my favorite story moments was one in which I had to make my way carefully through a full-fledged Xenomorph colony carrying a severed robot head, with only my shotgun to protect me and very limited ammo to use with it. I was forced to think carefully and strategically, using the environment to fend off a horde that came at me with all the feral menace it could muster. When Rogue Incursion manages to bring its disparate elements together, it blazes like a thousand suns! A pity, then, that these moments were so few and far between.

While I played through the game on the Story difficulty to save me some time, the challenge on higher difficulties is there for those of you who want it. Sadly, with only Xenomorphs and Facehuggers thrown into the mix, Rogue Incursion’s combat suffers from the same repetition that its exploration loop brings to the table.

With that being said, an area where the game truly shines is its audio design. Zula and Davis’s voice actors establish a comfortable rapport between the two characters right from the very beginning of this story. And when you first step off the ship, the silence that greets you weighs heavily on your shoulders, creating an atmosphere that’s oppressive and suffocating.

The score shifts as suddenly as the Xenomorphs appear, and does a very good job of conveying the fear and terror that having to face down such monstrosities would bring to even the most seasoned Marine. Zula is charming enough to be likable, while Davis brings a sort of measured gravitas to his role as her helper and companion through the harrowing experience they must endure.

" When you first step off the ship, the silence that greets you weighs heavily on your shoulders, creating an atmosphere that’s oppressive and suffocating"

Rogue Incursion is also quite immersive and well-paced, the tension never letting up at any point during its relatively short runtime. As the first chapter of a two-part adventure, I wonder if Survios would have been wiser to just release both games together as a standalone title. The ending of this pilot title felt quite abrupt and came off as rather anticlimactic in hindsight.

All in all, the lack of weapon and enemy variety and a bit of repetitive patterns throughout the gameplay loop hold Rogue Incursion back from true greatness. I began to expect the Xenomorphs every time I was picking up an important item or settling down to begin rewiring the fuse box to an important door. That kind of predictability has no place in a horror title, no matter how excellent and imposing the enemies are. I’d even go as far as to say that I wish there were a jump scare of two at some point as I explored Castor’s Cradle.

While all my problems with the game thus far can largely be ignored if you’re keen to dive into an Alien game, a few glitches and bugs were far more egregious and likely to have you rage-quitting more than you’d like. For instance, I found my directional controls completely disabled after I disengaged from a fuse box more than once, forcing me to either reload the game or try awkwardly dodge sliding to a nearby save point to set things straight again. Here’s to hoping that it gets fixed with a day-one patch!

"Rogue Incursion is also quite immersive and well-paced, the tension never letting up at any point during its relatively short runtime"

Another annoyance was when a character tells you there’s something important nearby, and there’s no indication as to where that might be. While I’m all for encouraging organic discovery, those important items are tucked away so obscurely that it certainly felt like they were hidden in a manner intended to make finding them a chore. That might just be me, though.

Alien: Rogue Incursion is an entertaining take on a popular franchise, but it simply does not do enough to make it stand out on its own. Its excellent visual and audio design work well with its story to give you the impression of an experience that’s only going to get better after its opening act plays out. Sadly, it doesn’t and stays more or less the same for the entirety of its runtime.

While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, there are only so many fuse boxes you can rewire and similarly designed enemies you can take down before fatigue sets in and you simply rush through the story just to see how it ends, thanks to how interesting it is. Fans of the Alien franchise might find enough to like about this one to warrant a second playthrough, but for the rest of us, this is a one-time title at best.

I’d recommend waiting for a sale if you’re thinking of trying this one out, unless the thought of being hunted by one of the action-horror genre’s most iconic monstrosities sounds appealing to you. In that case, this one’s a great option for a slow weekend evening.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Alien: Rogue Incursion was originally envisioned as a VR experience. What prompted the decision to release one for standard screens?

The response to the VR version was amazing, but what stood out was how many Alien fans were asking for a PC/Console version to experience the game with or without VR. That excitement was hard to ignore, and it made the decision pretty clear. We knew we had to bring the experience to more players.

Since VR games are often praised for their level of interactivity, what kinds of sacrifices had to be made in bringing it to flat screens?

VR offers a unique, hands-on experience that’s hard to replicate. For standard screens, we focused on what works best for that format, like adjusting the controls, tweaking the pacing, and discovering new ways to create tension. Moving to PC/Console also provided new opportunities we couldn’t realize in VR. For instance, now that we can take control of the camera, we could rethink some moments and make them even more cinematic and impactful for traditional gameplay. The result is a version that delivers the same intensity but was explicitly tailored for FPS fans.

"For standard screens, we focused on what works best for that format, like adjusting the controls, tweaking the pacing, and discovering new ways to create tension."

With Rogue Incursion being part one of a larger story, will part two make a similar journey from VR-exclusive to regular game or will it see a simultaneous release across both gaming styles?

Our ideal scenario involves a simultaneous global launch for all versions of Rogue Incursion. However, as demonstrated by the staggered release of our VR title, we prioritize a high-quality experience for every player, making platform-specific adjustments as needed. As Part Two development progresses, we will continue to prioritize the optimal player experience, and we commit to timely and transparent communication with our fans regarding any launch decisions.

How do you believe the lack of stereoscopic 3D from VR translates to flat displays when it comes to the sense of horror and scale that comes from VR gaming?

Moving to a flat display presentation gives us new opportunities to immerse the player in different ways – a richer, more authored atmosphere, and a new focus on Zula’s character and mannerisms through her animations and the ways she interacts with the world. Miasma reacts to characters in real-time, lights can behave dynamically to give us greater expression in storytelling and mood-setting, especially in moments of tension and action.

How much will regular action and stealth elements be changed for the PC and PS5 release?

The core action and stealth remain faithful to the original, but we improved combat with new player behavior and made the xenomorph show more of its lurking, stalking nature. We also adjusted controls and camera angles to fit PC and PS5 gameplay, ensuring everything feels smooth and natural while keeping the tension and challenge intact.

"Our ideal scenario involves a simultaneous global launch for all versions of Rogue Incursion."

What can you tell us about the overall player progression throughout Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition?

The player progression on standard screen mirrors what made the VR version so engaging. You’re Zula Hendricks, a tough ex-Marine exploring a deadly research facility filled with xenomorphs. As you move forward, you find iconic weapons and tools that let you explore the environment, pushing you to think creatively and stay on your toes. The pacing keeps the tension building steadily, so every moment feels charged with danger and discovery. We ensured the experience remains as intense and rewarding, whether playing in VR or on a regular screen.

How has the game been re-balanced in terms of players being more accurate with regular controllers than they would be with manual aiming in VR?

With regular controllers, players naturally aim more precisely than VR, so we evolved enemy behavior and combat pacing to keep things challenging. The xenomorphs are smarter about attacking and using the environment to stay unpredictable. We also tweaked weapon recoil and enemy reaction times to make sure the combat stays intense and rewarding without feeling too easy. The goal was to balance accuracy with tension, so every encounter keeps you on edge.

Are there any plans to bring other VR titles by Survios to flat screens?

We’ve learned much while developing Alien: Rogue Incursion for PC/Console platforms. In the future, we want to capitalize on those learnings to put our games on as many platforms as possible.

Is there any specific reason why this game is not coming to Xbox? Will it come in the future?

We have nothing to announce right now, but we’re continuing to look at other platforms for the future.

As a developer, what are your thoughts on the PS5 Pro? How does boost in GPU help in developing your game compared to the base PS5?

As with the move from VR to flatscreen, PS5 Pro allows us to push the visual fidelity to align the game’s look with the Alien universe even more. Greater lighting and volumetric fog fidelity let us play up the hallmarks of the aesthetic of the classic Alien movies, as we push into the washes of light and contrast of sinister deep shadows where anything could be lurking—more realistic reflections and surfacing amplify the used-future design that’s key to the look of our universe.

"Greater lighting and volumetric fog fidelity let us play up the hallmarks of the aesthetic of the classic Alien movies"

What are your thoughts on PSSR? What kind of opportunities will this open for the game?

PSSR significantly improves visual fidelity with enhanced reflections and surface details, which are crucial for creating a believable, atmospheric environment. It helps deepen immersion without a heavy performance cost, allowing us to maintain high-quality visuals and tighten the tension. This tech lets us elevate the mood and make the world feel more real, directly supporting the player experience.

What resolution and frame rates will the game target on PS5 and PS5 Pro?

Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition will aim for 1080p-1440p resolution at 60 FPS on the PS5.

For the PS5 Pro, which offers enhanced hardware capabilities, we would target 1080p-2160p (4k) at 60 Hz using PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) to upscale the scene to a 4K back buffer.

Do you have plans to launch the game on Nintendo Switch 2?

The Switch is a fantastic platform with a great audience. Right now, we’re focusing on delivering the best possible experience on the platforms we’ve announced, but we’re always excited about future possibilities and where the game could go next.

Alien: Rogue Incursion puts players in the shoes of former Colonial Marine Zula Hendricks, who sets off on a mission to expose some of Weyland-Yutani’s shady blacksite experiments. As you would expect from a title based on the classic Alien movie franchise, however, things go wrong, and a series of events ends with Hendricks ending up on a backwater planet named Pudan while investigating an SOS signal.

Since Xenomorphs are the primary threat in Alien: Rogue Incursion, the gameplay largely revolves around a mix of stealth and action. Depending on whether they have the resources to deal with a threat, players will often have to make split-second decisions about whether they want to engage their enemy in combat, or take the stealthy route out, hoping that they don’t get noticed and can ultimately save on valuable resources like ammo and health packs.

Over the course of the story in Alien: Rogue Incursion, players will eventually find themselves equipped with an impressive arsenal of weapons and tools that will help them take on just about any threat they might want.

With this progression scaling in mind, Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition wants to focus on a feeling of hopelessness in a player, especially in its earlier parts, forcing the them to scavenge for ammunition while they avoid the dangerous gaze of the Xenomorphs. To further help with this, the title also features spatial sound design, forcing players to use their ears alongside their eyes when it comes to assessing threats in a room.

Since Alien: Rogue Incursion was originally developed as a VR title, it is worth noting that it will likely leave behind many of the gameplay mechanics associated with the medium. For example, VR-based titles tend to place a heavy emphasis on the player using both of their hands in creative ways when they get into fights. With its transition out of VR, however, this game might end up feeling more like a bog-standard horror shooter.

As the Part One in the title might imply, Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition is the first planned part of a two-part story. Survios has noted that, despite this, the game tells its own standalone story with an ending that should satisfy most players. There are, however, also threads that are being left dangling to then be explored in the eventual Part Two release of Rogue Incursion.

Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition is available in the form of both Standard and Deluxe Editions in pre-orders. The Standard Edition is priced at $29.99, while the Deluxe Edition, which includes the Blue Camo armor and weapon skins and digital in-game art book, is priced at $39.99.

From VR to Flatscreens

Alien: Rogue Incursion made splashes in the VR space for its atmospheric first-person gameplay back in December 2024. Now in 2025, Survios is translating that tense VR experience onto more traditional screens. Rogue Incursion marks one of the rare occurrences where a VR exclusive gets the standardized treatment for PC and consoles.

Evolved Edition Enhancements

Of course, this non-VR release of the game has some specific enhancements and quirks that familiar and new players may be surprised and delighted to learn about … or not. The list of new additions and enhancements is pretty slim. Evolved Edition will hit a consistent 60 FPS for PC and PS5, providing flatscreen compatible framerates that the VR space couldn’t allow. Controller functionality is another big difference. Besides the obvious translation from motion inputs to buttons and sticks, the game supports full haptic feedback and rumble tech, which should substitute at least a bit of tactile immersion of virtual reality. It may not be much in the way of extras and non-VR bells and whistles, but these enhancements are still preferred to the bare minimum of a straight up port.

Graphics

VR games still carry a stigma when it comes to graphics—especially when translating those visuals from a headset to a flat screen. Dimensional depth tends to get lost in transition. So, how does Alien: Rogue Incursion tackle this common VR issue? Well, we’re not entirely sure, but the advanced tools within Unreal Engine 5 certainly help the transition some. Just look at the Evolved Edition trailers: objects and enemies don’t look out of proportion like other VR conversions. It won’t be the most visually impressive game this year, but it isn’t severely lacking in that department either.

Setting and Characters

Originally appearing in the Alien: Defiance comic, colonial marine Zula Hendricks sets out to investigate a distress signal on a remote planet, which sets up the premise of Rogue Incursion. The game is situated closer to the events of Aliens, taking place after Alien: Isolation.

Variety of Xenomorphs

You know how Alien Isolation was a respectful nod to Alien? Well, Rogue Incursion is something of an ode to its follow-up, Aliens. This is demonstrated by the variety of Xenomorphs that stalk the overrun settlement – a contrast to Alien: Isolation’s single xenomorph type. Players will encounter the typical warrior xenomorphs in addition to the smaller facehuggers and terrifying pratoreans. This enemy variety resulted in more strategic fights in the original VR game, which are said to be enhanced further with Evolved Edition.

Atmospheric Survival Tone Inspired by Alien: Isolation

But Rogue Incursion’s biggest draw by far is that it feels like a close cousin of Alien: Isolation. The tense slow-paced atmosphere is here, along with careful ammo conservation and stealth. Though, it should be noted that Rogue Incursion ramps things up a notch with a higher degree of action. Xenomorphs get gunned down without too much of a sweat compared to Isolation, leading to a feeling of control rather than fragility. But one thing is clear, the devs certainly took Alien: Isolation as a strong inspiration behind the game and its planned sequel. If you want an Alien: Isolation successor, this is the closest we’ve gotten.

Zula and Her Android Companion

If Isolation’s silence and solitude were too much, Rogue Incursion offsets it with an android companion named Davis. While the banter and communication isn’t constant, Davis provides periodic dialogue that makes the story more character-driven. Still, this isn’t the kind of quippy banter you might come to expect out of recent media. Rogue Incursion keeps things grounded and gritty.

Sound Management and Stealth

Contributing to that grounded feeling is the role sound takes in stealth. Like other survival horror titles, running around with boots stomping all over the place will draw out enemies faster. Cleverly placed objects cling and clang when stepped on or pushed, further alerting the xenomorphs to your location. Engaging in stealth requires the use of a xenomorph motion tracker and well-timed sneak attacks.

Weapons and Tools

But as mentioned before, this isn’t as strictly stealth-based as Alien: Isolation, thanks largely to the more generous weapon selection and ammo. Zula has a pulse rifle (which still doesn’t behave like it does in the films), a revolver, and a trusty shotgun for those close encounter kills.

Straightforward Combat

It doesn’t take many rounds to drop Xenomorphs—warriors, for instance, go down in two or three shotgun blasts. While the atmosphere still shines, this has less survival horror focus than Isolation. Zula’s defensive options are pretty limited though, with just a dodge and grenade throw at her disposal to distance enemies away a bit.

Deadly Xenomorph AI Behavior

The studio hyped up the unpredictable AI scripting of enemy xenomorphs quite a fair bit leading up to the VR game’s initial launch. However, when reality hit, it became clear that these were enemies like any other shooter. Yes, they route to different paths and don’t directly B-line it to the player all the time, but the ease with which they get gunned down prevents their routing from being meaningful. Thankfully, this has been addressed in vague terms for the non-VR release. Promotional material promises “deadlier Xenomorphs” this time around, showing some footage of Xenomorphs performing some aggressive leaping attacks.

Save System

If Xenomorphs are indeed tougher this time around, saving will be paramount. Saving is accomplished by reaching one of many panic rooms within the desolate facility. The game rarely autosaves, making the player rely on reaching panic rooms, which heightens the stakes that much more.

Brief Runtime

But you shouldn’t have to wait for too long before saving the game, as panic rooms are numerous and well-placed within the game. A game, which by the way, isn’t all that lengthy to begin with. Alien: Rogue Incursion takes roughly 7 hours on a casual playthrough, and with little to no additional content, that time stands with Evolved Edition.

Part 1 of 2

For those looking for more tense Alien gameplay after rolling the credits, not to worry. Rogue Incursion is only part 1 of a 2-part overarching narrative that the Survios studio has planned.

September 30^th Release Date

Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition releases on September 30^th with a $29.99 price tag for the standard edition. The non-VR gamers finally get to experience another Alien: Isolation type experience with this game, but you’ll need an adequate PC or a PS5 to do so. There’s currently no word on an Xbox release, but let’s hope that’s in the works as well.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Remember when this was just supposed to be a second playable character and DLC for Hollow Knight? Over six years since its announcement, Silksong is indeed real, and based on Team Cherry’s own admission, it’s as big, perhaps even bigger than its predecessor. Because you weren’t planning on anything for the rest of the month? Over 200 enemy types, more than 40 bosses, numerous new abilities – and based on demo impressions from Gamescom, best-in-class movement. Hollow Knight: Silksong releases on September 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, and at this point, we’re beyond ready.

Hell is Us

If you’re in the mood for a different kind of action-adventure, one that very adamantly won’t hold your hand, there’s Rogue Factor’s Hell is Us. A dark horse of sorts, it’s semi-open-world-ish, focusing on peacekeeper Rémi, who explores Hadea in search of his parents. The country has seen better days – it’s devastated by war and Hollow Walkers emerging in the wake of the Calamity. With just the bare minimum, you have to gather clues and ultimately unravel the mystery behind Rémi’s parents while uncovering the mysteries of Hadea. With Souls-lite gameplay and a mysterious yet foreboding vibe, Hell is Us could very well make a name for itself when it launches on September 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Cronos: The New Dawn

For a different flavor of horror – the sci-fi survival third-person shooter kind – there’s Bloober Team’s Cronos: The New Dawn, where players control a Traveller under the mysterious Collective, tasked with extracting the essence of key individuals. Or not – you don’t really have to, though that could affect the ending. Between these choices, you’re exploring run-down buildings and structures infested with monsters born from the mysterious Change, using shotguns, SMGs and flamethrowers to bat them back, while casually manipulating gravity and the environment to progress forward. It’s very Dead Space-esque on first appearance, but the mysterious narrative and time travel elements help set Cronos apart when it launches on September 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion

I’m not the biggest Daemon X Machina fan out there, but credit to Marvelous Inc. for doing something different with the sequel. You’re still in this world of Arsenals and Outer factions, destroying similarly armored foes and extracting their parts for your own usage, but Titanic Scion veers hard by turning Arsenals into power armor. The vast open world also facilitates new traversal methods, such as horseback riding, which is as hilarious as it looks, and even a larger Arsenal frame for dealing big damage in a limited window. Launching on September 5th for Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, and PS5, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion could very well be the standout mecha title of the year.

Borderlands 4

It’s funny to think we’ve gone from…whatever Borderlands 3 was meant to be to this epic tale of resistance against a dictatorial figure on an unknown planet that Gearbox promises is its biggest yet. And yet, from everything showcased thus far and against all odds, Borderlands 4 doesn’t look half-bad. The four new Vault Hunters – Vex, Rafa, Amon and Harlowe – all look great in their own ways; the prospect of Licensed Parts for combining different gun manufacturer pieces into one weapon is great; and the addition of grappling, dashing, double-jumping, and more feels just right. Whether the story will stick the landing remains to be seen (I still haven’t forgiven you for Maya, Gearbox), to say nothing of the endgame, but as a co-op looter shooter with slightly classier mayhem, Borderlands 4 could excel. It’s launching on September 12th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Silent Hill f

As the newest mainline title in the Silent Hill franchise since 2012’s Downpour, Silent Hill f ventures into unknown territory. It’s the first title set in Japan, specifically the fictitious town of Ebisugaoka in the 1960s, and features Ryukishi07 as the writer (with artist kera behind the creature designs). As Hinako Shimizu, who finds herself swallowed up by the fog, players embark on a more action-packed journey, one with a heavier emphasis on melee combat. Don’t let that fool you, though, as it offers some of the most disturbing creatures and sights in the franchise yet. After the success of Silent Hill 2 remake, here’s hoping Konami can pull off another when Silent Hill f launches on September 25th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

NBA 2K26

Another year, another NBA 2K and even if last year’s iteration sported solid gameplay, one has to wonder if NBA 2K6 is worth the upgrade. Outside of the improved player and arena visuals, you can embark on The Playoffs online; a new MyCareer mode sees you working up the ranks to the NBA, with The City returning; and all the usual modes, including MyTeam and The W, return with various improvements. Maybe it’ll be enough to hold one over till next year, but for now, NBA 2K26 launches on September 5th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Dying Light: The Beast

Techland has been on a venerable marketing overdrive for Dying Light: The Beast, promising its “most diverse world,” a fairly lengthy experience (about 40 to 50 hours for the story and side content), and much more. And based on the gameplay thus far, it seems like a return to everything that made the Dying Light franchise great while continuing the story of Kyle Crane, who now possesses powerful beast-like abilities. Whether it can redeem the series after the whelming second entry or not, the call of the night is hard to resist. Dying Light: The Beast arrives on September 19th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

EA Sports FC 26

With how underwhelming FC 25 turned out, EA is listening in a big way with the latest entry. Various gameplay improvements include faster overall gameplay and two experiences – Competitive and Authentic, each determining the style of play and pace. Archetypes are also debuting and will be added to Clubs to shake things up. There’s honestly a lot more, and it could be the most exciting sports offering from EA in years when it launches on September 26th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, PC, PS4, and PS5.

Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition

If you thought the title was a mouthful already, this is actually Part 1 of Survios’ VR title-turned-regular-first-person shooter. It follows Colonial Marine Zula Hendricks as she investigates a Weyland-Yutani black site. Which, to no one’s surprise, is full of Xenomorphs. While it may seem like a running and gunning affair, Rogue Incursion also features classic tools like the Motion Tracker, creating a familiar wave of dread when a Xenomorph periodically shows up. Launching on September 30th for PS5 and PC, Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition will support 60 FPS and DualSense functionality.

EA Sports NHL 26

Not one, not two, but three sports games in September? What a deal! NHL 26 launches on September 12th for Xbox Series X/S and PS5, packing several changes, including reworked X-Factors (now with three tiers), goalie size and style now affecting how they play, a new Goalie Crease Control System with over 80 new animations, and more. EA Vancouver has its work cut out after last year’s release, but thus far, it’s looking decent.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants

Everyone’s favorite archaeologist returns in a new story DLC, building on the stellar base experience by returning to Rome, as players venture deeper underground to learn more about the Cult of Mithras and the legendary giants. Based on the latest trailer, it seems the undead are also involved. In terms of puzzle-platforming goodness, The Order of Giants should be another compelling adventure for Indy when it launches on September 4th for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.

Metal Eden

Metal Eden launches on September 2nd for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and sees ASKA, a Hyper Unit, venturing into Moebius to save humanity’s rapidly decaying cores. All the usual weaponry, from a pistol, shotgun, SMG and whatnot, awaits. However, Aska’s main calling card is ripping out enemy Cores and either consuming them for a boost (and rocket punch) or tossing them back to deal explosive damage. Paired with a Brutalist aesthetic, extensive mobility and an intriguing narrative, we’re keen to see how deep the cyber-punk rabbit hole goes.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

Everyone has their dream remake, and for a subsection of role-playing game fans, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is pretty much it. A ground-up remake of the 2004 classic, it offers fully 3D environments and characters alongside Daybreak’s dual turn-based/real-time combat system. And while there are new voicovers and localization, the tale of Estelle and Joshua, who venture across Liberl, changing lives along the way, remains as timeless as ever. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter launches on September 19th for Nintendo Switch, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, with a free demo currently available.

Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac

This may or may not fall under “dream remake” – really, it depends on how much you love Pac-Man – but Pac-Man World Re-Pac wasn’t half-bad. Re-Pac 2, launching on September 26th for every platform, follows in the same vein, remaking Pac-Man World 2 with gorgeous new visuals. However, its latest comparison trailer highlights noticeable differences in levels (which have also been expanded) and Bandai Namco promises quality-of-life improvements, updated bosses, and even a two-player mode.

The first part was released for PlayStation VR2, Meta Quest 3, and PC VR hardware in December 2024, with a non-VR Evolved Edition launching on September 30th for PS5 and PC. We spoke with TQ Jefferson, the studio’s chief product officer, about the PS5 Pro and how its GPU helped with development.

“As with the move from VR to flatscreen, PS5 Pro allows us to push the visual fidelity to align the game’s look with the Alien universe even more. Greater lighting and volumetric fog fidelity let us play up the hallmarks of the aesthetic of the classic Alien movies as we push into the washes of light and contrast of sinister deep shadows where anything could be lurking—more realistic reflections and surfacing amplify the used-future design that’s key to the look of our universe.”

Of course, there’s even more to come for PS5 Pro owners. As part of Sony’s deal with AMD for Project Amethyst, lead system architect Mark Cerny promised a non-proprietary “drop-in replacement” for the current version of PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). It will include “even bigger” visual improvements for lower-resolution titles and launches sometime in 2026. Stay tuned for updates in the meantime.

In Alien: Rogue Incursion, players step into the shoes of former Colonial Marine Zula Hendricks, who is out o na mission to expose some of the shady blacksite experiments that were being done by Weyland-Yutani. In a series of events, Hendricks ends up on backwater planet Purdan while investigating an SOS signal. Players must then investigate the defunct mining colony on Purdan, and in the process, figure out how to they can deal with the threat of Xenomorphs.

Originally developed for VR headsets, Alien: Rogue Incursion emphasises stealth and action gameplay. Players will have to hide and find cover during the course of their investigation of the infested Gemini Exoplanet Solutions research facility. Over time, however, the player will find themselves equipped with an impressive arsenal that can help them take down some of the more dangerous threats in the facility.

Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition is referred to as part one of a planned two-part story. While it has been designed to be a complete story in itself, with an ending that would satisfy most players, there are also threads left behind for a part two to that will be released down the line.

When it comes to gamepaly, Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition will emphasise a feeling of hopelessness in a player as they scrounge for ammunition for their weapons while trying to sneak their way around some of the more dangerous Xenomorphs. To further improve the game’s atmosphere, it also makes use of spatial sound design, allowing players to use their ears just as often as their eyes when they are trying to figure out if they’re in imminent danger of becoming Xenomorph food.

Players will also have access to the classic tools and weapons from the Alien franchise that they might be familiar with, including the iconic movement tracker that allows players to track enemy movement, and some of the more iconic weapons from the sci-fi movie franchise.

It is worth noting, however, that since Alien: Rogue Incursion was originally designed for VR gameplay, its adaptation into a non-VR game might leave behind some of its original gameplay features. Developer Survios hasn’t yet confirmed whether features like the ability to make use of environmental objects as makeshift weapons that can be flung at enemies will make it in the Evolved Edition.

The standard edition of Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition is priced at $29.99. The game will also be available in the form of a Deluxe Edition. Priced at $39.99, the Deluxe Edition also includes the Blue Camo armor and weapon skins, as well as the digital in-game artbook about the art that went into the development of Alien: Rogue Incursion.