Alien: Isolation still holds up as a horror game, and it’s the kind of game you can go into and play without having to know the full lore of the Alien franchise. However, going through Alien: Isolation can leave you itching for another sci-fi horror game to explore. As you might expect, finding a game that has the same level of dread is difficult, especially with the AI used for the Xenomorph that makes it so terrifying to face. Luckily, there are some other sci-fi games that do a decent job of keeping you on edge.
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The kind of game you want to pick next will somewhat depend on the elements of Alien: Isolation that you enjoyed, as there’s naturally no other game that’s an exact copy of it. Instead, here are some sci-fi horror games that have draws that might leave you wanting to try them out in order to scratch that sci-fi horror itch.
1. Echo Night: Beyond
While FromSoftware is known for games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring, the company has an older sci-fi game that you might enjoy if you liked Alien: Isolation. Its gameplay and setting aren’t what you’d expect from FromSoftware now, but that’s for the best in this case since the Soulslike style wouldn’t feel right for Echo Night: Beyond. This game is a survival horror set in space that leaves you without weapons to defend yourself and a need to keep collecting batteries to use your flashlight. It’s strange and stressful, but it gives you the feeling that it’s almost a blend of Fatal Frame and Alien: Isolation in a unique way.
2. Dead Space
The first two games and the remake of Dead Space bring the most terror with them, with the third game feeling more action-oriented, which means it’s not anywhere near as frightening when you consider that the first two games are already heavy enough on action. This series takes place in space, of course, but you also get to play the role of a character who’s an unreliable narrator. If you like the environmental horror of Alien: Isolation, then these games might be a good choice for you, as even with more action, you spend most of your time in areas that are simply unsettling, and the monsters you face add to that feeling.
3. Soma
If you like the sneaking around aspects of Alien: Isolation and the discomfort of being trapped in a location that’s basically been left in disrepair, then Soma can be a good option for your next game. If you’ve played Amnesia: The Dark Descent, then the gameplay style of Soma will be familiar, as it’s also made by Frictional Games. You can’t fight, so you have to rely on stealth and solve puzzles to keep progressing. In addition to the eerie setting, the story overall is heavy on psychological horror elements, making it a game that’s difficult to forget when you reach the end.
4. Still Wakes the Deep
Still Wakes the Deep is another psychological horror option with sci-fi elements, as you play a character who ends up trapped on a damaged oil rig that has also started swarming with strange monsters that you have to avoid through stealth and by solving puzzles without the option to fight. The setting is meant to make you uncomfortable in some of the same ways that Alien: Isolation does, relying on fears like drowning, claustrophobia, and vertigo. While it’s not in space, Still Wakes the Deep shares a lot of qualities with Alien: Isolation, making it a great choice for your next game.
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