Jupiter has long been a setting for sci-fi adventures. From Isaac Asimov's early story "The Callistan Menace" to Arthur C. Clarke's "2001: A Space Odyssey," the gas giant and its moons have always been mysterious and intriguing to storytellers. While it typically doesn't feature so often now that more facts have been uncovered about its uninhabitable environment, the inclusion of the planet as a setting in many of the early pulp sci-fi novels and short stories has somewhat immortalized it in science fiction lore as a frontier of exploration and discovery.
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Video games have taken many different approaches to Jupiter, Callisto, and Europa, with some placing penal colonies on top of icy wastelands, while others imagine humanity struggling to survive in hiding beneath deep oceans. The following titles are the best video games to have ventured to our solar system's oldest planet.
6 Zone Of The Enders
Kojima's Mecha Classic
Zone of the Enders
- Released
- March 28, 2001
- Developer(s)
- Konami
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Hack and Slash
The Zone of the Enders series is one of Hideo Kojima's many famous projects, and it can trace its origins back to Jupiter. As the young colonist Leo Stenbuck, players will take control of an orbital frame, which is essentially a giant mech, similar to titles like Titanfall and Armored Core.
Though perhaps a little dated nowadays, the game can still provide nostalgia and is a true gem of the PS2 era. Several follow-ups were created, including Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars and Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner.
5 The Turing Test
Clever Puzzle Game With A Sci-Fi Twist
The Turing Test
The Turing Test is a challenging first-person puzzle game set on Jupiter’s moon, Europa. You are Ava Turing, an engineer for the International Space Agency (ISA) sent to discover the cause behind the disappearance of the ground crew stationed there.
Upon arrival a series of puzzles awaits you – tests which, according to the station’s AI, Tom, can only be solved by a human. These puzzles have apparently been set by the missing ground crew – but why have they created them and what are they hiding from?
In an evolving story based on mankind’s instinctual need to explore, protect and survive, you’ll delve deeper into Europa’s ice crusted-core and discover that the lines between man and machine begin to blur. Armed with the Energy Manipulation Tool (EMT), solve puzzles to open the way forward as you learn the true cost of human morality.
Harness the ability to transfer power between machines using your ‘Energy Manipulation Tool’ providing a unique twist on gameplay mechanics and puzzle logic.
- Released
- August 30, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Bulkhead Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle, First-Person, Science Fiction
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Set on Jupiter's moon, Europa, The Turing Test is a sci-fi puzzle game with an emphasis on exploration and mystery. As Ava Turing, players will need to solve a series of puzzles in order to trace the disappearance of an International Space Agency crew.
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Taking inspiration from games like Portal, The Turing Test enables players to manipulate matter, and a guiding AI character is continually present. On top of this, the game features an engaging story with good characters and very high stakes.
4 The Callisto Protocol
Intense Horror Game Set In A Prison
The Callisto Protocol
- Released
- December 2, 2022
- Developer(s)
- Striking Distance Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Krafton
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
The Callisto Protocol is a linear adventure horror game from the creators of Dead Space. Though some fans weren't too impressed with the clunky combat and slow gameplay, the game has earned praise over time among many of its players for its story and terrifying atmosphere.
Having crashed on the moon of Callisto (Jupiter's second largest moon), Jacob Lee is falsely imprisoned in a maximum security prison that he must escape. Following a zombie-like outbreak, Jacob will have to face off against grotesque enemies as he tries to find a way back to safety.
3 Nexus: The Jupiter Incident
2000s RTS That Has Aged Really Well
Nexus: The Jupiter Incident
Nexus: The Jupiter Incident is a unique sci-fi RTS with an emphasis on tactics and ship management. Originally born from the failing Imperium Galactica series, Nexus: The Jupiter Incident sees players take control of Marcus Cromwell, a space fleet captain, as he investigates mysterious events and activities taking place around Jupiter.
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Despite its age, the game still holds up well graphically and was even treated to an HD remaster in 2016. There are some incredible visuals and animations here that still rival some of the cutting-edge games in the genre today, such as Homeworld and Stellaris.
2 The Expanse: A Telltale Series
Hard Sci-Fi Extension Of A Great TV Show
The Expanse: A Telltale Series
- Released
- July 27, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Deck Nine, Telltale Games
- Publisher(s)
- Telltale Games
- Genre(s)
- Graphic Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
The Expanse: A Telltale Series is the first real hard sci-fi adventure from the studio behind The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us games. While technically more of an advanced visual novel than a deeply interactive video game, players will have to make decisions that influence the outcome of a well-written branching narrative.
Based on the Hugo Award-winning series of novels by James S. A. Corey, The Expanse takes place largely in orbit around Jupiter. The uniquely styled and cinematic experience will certainly please any lovers of story-rich games and is also sure to be of interest to fans of the sci-fi genre.
1 Barotrauma
Inspired Co-Op Survival Game
Barotrauma
- Released
- March 13, 2023
- Publisher(s)
- Daedalic Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Developer
- Undertow Games, FakeFish Games
Barotrauma is a survival "disaster management" sim in which players must venture out into the unfathomably hostile abysses of Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, using little more than a submarine and your crew's wits.
The game can be played in both single-player and co-op and is especially hilarious with friends. It is still a game that can be taken seriously, though, with a lengthy and challenging series of missions forming a campaign and a genuine sense of learning and progression. Barotrauma is brutal and unforgiving, especially to beginners, but sticking with it will provide an exceptionally rewarding survival experience.
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