The sci-fi genre has been one with the greatest potential as its only limit is human imagination. These games can take place in essentially any setting, any future form of the Earth or any other planet or star in the known or unknown galaxies. Sci-fi games have always been ever-present, but to be fair, the sci-fi genre as a whole was often considered a book and movie medium. This is not the case anymore, and thanks to developments in technology over the last few decades, these games have leaped forward andconquered the gaming space.
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While many sci-fi games aren’t exactly child-friendly, they usually find themselves in the 14-16 teen rating. This is a trend that has been slowly changing, especially when sci-fi games have started to be based more on aspects beyond exploration. Some of thebest sci-fi games out there have a Mature (M) 17+ ESRB rating, and they fully utilize the scope of this rating to deliver an excellent gaming experience.
Dead Spaceis theepitome of horror, and it’s easy to argue the rapid development of this sub-genre is a direct result of how goodDead Spacewas, and how influential it has been. This third-person view game has players controlIsaac Clarke, an engineeron a damaged and stranded spaceship who’s looking for his girlfriend. Isaac’s ship has been attacked, killing most of the crew, and he has to navigate through terrifying necromorphs, interstellar politics, and his own psyche as most of the survivors start to suffer from hallucinations and paranoia.
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Dead Spacewas excellent at using atmospheric horror and slowly building up the tension, but the best part was there was no point where players could relax and breathe, be it the intense and punishing gameplay sequences, or the story itself where the supporting cast slowly descends into madness.
4Prey
2017’sPreywas a pleasant surprise. It wasessentially a first-person shooterwith stealth, RPG, and some open-world elements. It follows players in, an alternate reality where the United States and the Soviet Union captured and held aliens called Typhons on a space station, and have now broken out. This game takes place entirely on the space station, where players have to fight, explore and complete puzzles to get through the game, whilst also having to backtrack through areas of the station and make choices regarding the story.
Preyhas an incredibly bizarre story that is going to leave players somewhat dazed, especially after the opening cutscenes, but it does set a proper tone. Player choice is key and it’s clear the space station is essentially a living nightmare. EverythingPreywants to do is executed fairly well and it’s a solid game for fans of the genre to try.
3Deus Ex: Human Revolution
TheDeus Exseries is one of thebest cyberpunk seriesout there, which is why it’s a shame it has been shelved by Square Enix.Deus Ex: Human Revolutionwas one of the best games to come out during the early 2010s. It follows Adam Jensen and how he dealswith the new worldwhere cybernetic implants in humans are common place. This game is known for its incredible narrative and how much freedom the player has in shaping the story.
Human Revolutionfocuses on themes of human autonomy, how mega-corporations are controlling and manipulating societal growth, and the impact of rapid ‘development’ on social class. These are all mature themes that the game deals with really well to deliver a fantastic story. Along with this is of course the game’s tried and trued robust gameplay systems which oscillate betweenall-out brawls and stealth.
2Mass Effect 2
TheMass Effectseries on its own is widely considered the main piece of sci-fi gaming out there, andMass Effect 2iseasily the bestin the series. This game has historic levels of critical and fan acclaim, and it deserves all of it. Players again follow Commander Shepherd and his journey, with a ton of freedom in the choices Shepherd makes, particularly his social interactions with other characters and even his romantic escapades.
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Not only is there freedom in deciding the fate of Shepherd and his crew, but players also get to shape what kind of person he is. All thedifferent branching routesand options have been made with real depth and quality. This game does use its M rating to great effect with a focus on romance and relationships as well as a hefty dose of third-person shooter violence.
1Bioshock
Bioshockis an incredible experience in storytelling and narrative building. This game has one of the best stories out there and it’s all wrapped up neatly in an incredible package full of exposition, character interaction, and lore stuffed into the background.Bioshocktackles mature philosophical themes and employs literary tools such as the unreliable narrator to great effect. Each game in the series tackles different social and political philosophies, but the originalBioshockand its focus on objectivism and selfishness makes for a completely unique experience in the genre.
Beyond the incredible storytelling, this game has an amazing soundtrack. It builds up its environments and atmosphere expertly, and while the gameplay is not necessarily the main event, it is still pretty great. The RPG elements are well done, and the combat is flexible with tons of freedom as to whether players want to fight their way out, be more stealthy or manipulate enemies through plasmids.Bioshockis fondly remembered many years after its release for a reason, and anyone looking to get into the sci-fi genre, and especially mature games, needs to start with this.
