The best sci-fi games on Xbox and Nintendo Switch
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 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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5 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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6 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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7 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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8 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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9 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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10 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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11 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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12 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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13 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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14 Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
- Sci-fi setting
Stranded on the alien world Viewros, Samus explores ancient ruins in first person, scanning her surroundings and using new psychic powers to open up blocked paths. It is an atmospheric sci-fi adventure that blends shooting, exploration and environmental puzzles.
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15 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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16 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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17 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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18 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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19 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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20 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.
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21 Halo Infinite
- Sci-fi setting
Master Chief returns to a semi-open ringworld where the grappleshot and vehicles let you tackle Banished outposts your own way, framed by a more personal story. A free-to-play multiplayer suite brings back classic, fast-paced Halo arena combat.
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22 The Outer Worlds 2
- Sci-fi setting
Obsidian's satirical first-person sci-fi RPG drops you into a new colony system rife with corporate absurdity, where dialogue choices, skills and even character flaws meaningfully shape your path. Opinionated companions and dark humor make every decision entertaining.
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23 Halo 2
- Sci-fi setting
Bungie's landmark sci-fi shooter tells its war story from both sides, switching between Master Chief and the Arbiter, with dual-wielding, vehicle hijacking and co-op. Its pioneering Xbox Live matchmaking multiplayer made it a console online legend.
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24 Soma
- Sci-fi setting
A harrowing combat-free horror journey through a ruined deep-sea research station that confronts you with unsettling questions about consciousness and identity. Its philosophical story lingers long after the credits roll.
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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