The best sci-fi games on PC and PlayStation
Starships, distant planets and visions of the future: games with science fiction at their heart.
How to find games that really suit you: Tap “I like it” on up to 5 games. Playalike compares 20 traits such as combat, story and atmosphere and suggests games that hit exactly the same spot, even across genres.
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1 Cyberpunk 2077
- Sci-fi setting
A first-person RPG in a dense metropolis of the future, with many ways to approach each mission.
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2 Portal 2
- Sci-fi setting
A brilliant first-person physics puzzler where you bend space with the portal gun through the decaying test chambers of Aperture Science, driven by the razor-sharp wit of GLaDOS and Wheatley. A separate co-op campaign adds clever two-player puzzles.
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3 Half-Life 2
- Sci-fi setting
A landmark first-person shooter that sends Gordon Freeman through alien-occupied City 17, blending seamless cutscene-free storytelling with physics-driven puzzles and the iconic Gravity Gun.
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4 Half-Life
- Sci-fi setting
The landmark shooter sends physicist Gordon Freeman through the alien- and soldier-infested Black Mesa facility, telling its story seamlessly without cutscenes while mixing tense firefights with environmental and physics puzzles.
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5 Star Citizen
- Sci-fi setting
A sprawling, still-in-development space MMO where you fly seamlessly from planet surfaces into orbit to trade, fight, haul cargo or crew huge multi-person ships with friends. Its level of detail is astonishing, though bugs and rough edges come with the territory.
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6 Mass Effect 2
- Sci-fi setting
Commander Shepard assembles a crew of specialists for a suicide mission, blending cover-based shooting with unforgettable companions and choices that decide who lives and dies.
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7 Mass Effect
- Sci-fi setting
As Commander Shepard, you lead your Normandy crew across the galaxy chasing a rogue Spectre in a landmark sci-fi RPG built around its dialogue wheel, companion bonds and choices that carry into the sequels. Combat is real-time cover shooting with pausable squad powers.
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8 Mass Effect 3
- Sci-fi setting
The emotional finale of Shepard's trilogy pairs tight cover-shooting and combinable squad powers with a galaxy-wide war effort, where choices carried across three games decide who lives, who dies, and which civilizations survive.
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9 StarCraft
- Sci-fi setting
The landmark real-time strategy classic with three wildly different yet finely balanced factions and a gripping sci-fi campaign full of betrayal and intrigue. Its multiplayer shaped competitive esports like few games ever have.
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10 Dead Space
- Sci-fi setting
As engineer Isaac Clarke, you fight through the derelict mining ship USG Ishimura, strategically dismembering grotesque Necromorphs limb by limb. Its diegetic HUD-free interface, scarce ammo and oppressive sound design make it a landmark of sci-fi horror.
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11 StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
- Sci-fi setting
Blizzard's landmark RTS pairs a varied Terran campaign following Jim Raynor, where nearly every mission introduces a fresh twist, with a razor-sharp competitive multiplayer that defined esports for a decade.
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12 No Man's Sky
- Sci-fi setting
A near-infinite procedurally generated universe where you hop freely between vivid alien planets, gather resources, build bases and upgrade your ships. Years of free updates have turned it into a relaxed sci-fi sandbox with optional co-op.
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13 Pragmata
- Sci-fi setting
Capcom's sci-fi action game on a lunar station blends third-person shooting with real-time hacking, as android companion Diana cracks enemy defenses while Hugh fires. Their bond drives the story.
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14 Dead Space 2
- Sci-fi setting
Isaac Clarke carves through a Necromorph-infested space station with strategic dismemberment while battling his own haunting hallucinations. It is a faster, more cinematic sequel that keeps the original's oppressive sci-fi horror intact.
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15 Deus Ex: Human Revolution
- Sci-fi setting
A cyberpunk immersive sim with a striking black-and-gold Renaissance aesthetic, where augmented agent Adam Jensen can tackle every mission through stealth, hacking, persuasion or brute force. Layered levels and a conspiracy plot about transhumanism reward curiosity and experimentation.
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16 Destiny 2
- Sci-fi setting
A free-to-play looter shooter with best-in-class gunplay, where you roam the solar system as a Guardian wielding space magic and chasing ever-better gear. It truly shines in demanding co-op raids with friends and in its PvP modes.
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17 Halo: Combat Evolved
- Sci-fi setting
The landmark shooter where Master Chief battles the alien Covenant across a mysterious ringworld, with smart enemy AI, vehicles and open combat sandboxes. An iconic soundtrack and split-screen co-op helped redefine console shooters.
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18 Titanfall 2
- Sci-fi setting
A lightning-fast shooter built on wall-running and double jumps, with a short but inventive campaign about the bond between a rifleman and his mech BT-7274. It pairs that with fluid multiplayer where pilots and Titans clash on the same battlefield.
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19 Halo 3
- Sci-fi setting
Master Chief closes out the war against the Covenant in an epic campaign of sandbox firefights and vehicle battles. It also offers a legendary multiplayer suite, four-player co-op, Forge and an iconic score.
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20 Deus Ex
- Sci-fi setting
The foundational immersive sim: as augmented agent JC Denton you unravel a global conspiracy and tackle every mission your way – sneaking, hacking, talking or shooting. Open-ended levels, meaningful choices and thought-provoking themes keep it a timeless classic.
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21 Mass Effect: Andromeda
- Sci-fi setting
As the Pathfinder, you explore open alien planets on foot with a jetpack and in the Nomad rover, searching for a new home for humanity in an uncharted galaxy. It pairs fast, mobile third-person combat built on freely mixed skill profiles with BioWare's trademark companion relationships.
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22 Dune: Awakening
- Sci-fi setting
A survival MMO on Arrakis where you battle thirst, sandstorms and sandworms, build bases and fight rival guilds over precious spice. Its draw is a faithful, atmospheric take on the Dune universe, including the lore's Mentat and Bene Gesserit skill paths.
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23 Alien: Isolation
- Sci-fi setting
A nerve-shredding survival horror game where, as Amanda Ripley, you are hunted through Sevastopol station by an unpredictable, unkillable Alien. Its faithful lo-fi retro-futurist look from the 1979 film and constant dread make hiding in lockers terrifying.
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24 Prey
- Sci-fi setting
A linear sci-fi shooter in which you play Cherokee mechanic Tommy aboard a giant alien mothership. Portals, shifting gravity and spirit walking create inventive puzzles and firefights.
What matters with Sci-fi games
Science fiction gives games room to do things no other setting can: bend physics, put you in charge of a starship crew, or drop you into a future city that feels uncomfortably plausible. The genre covers a lot of ground, so the first question is what kind of play you want. Shooters like Half-Life 2 lean on atmosphere and pacing, RPGs like Mass Effect 2 focus on companions and choices, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty asks for quick strategic thinking, and No Man's Sky is about open-ended exploration at your own speed.
It also helps to think about who you play with and how much polish you need. Portal 2 is a strong pick if you want something tight and funny, with a separate co-op campaign built for two players. Cyberpunk 2077 suits players who like a dense open world and many ways to approach each mission. Mass Effect works best played as a trilogy, since your choices carry into the sequels. Star Citizen offers astonishing detail and crewing big ships with friends, but it is still in development, so expect bugs.
Difficulty varies a lot too. The StarCraft games are known for demanding competitive multiplayer, while No Man's Sky has become a relaxed sandbox after years of free updates. If you are new to the genre, Half-Life 2 or Portal 2 are approachable, story-driven starting points that do not require a huge time commitment.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best sci-fi games to play in co-op?
Portal 2 has a dedicated two-player co-op campaign with its own puzzles. No Man's Sky offers optional co-op exploration, and Star Citizen lets friends crew large multi-person ships together.
Should I play the Mass Effect games in order?
Yes, ideally. Choices made in Mass Effect carry into Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, where they decide who lives and which civilizations survive.
Which sci-fi games have the best story?
The Mass Effect trilogy is built around companions and consequential choices, while Half-Life 2 tells its story seamlessly without cutscenes. Cyberpunk 2077 and StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty also offer strong, story-rich campaigns.
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