The 80s and 90s video gaming landscape was filled with games about war, westerns, and beating up people in the streets. There were also games about aliens, and typically, they were the villains in these titles. Even now, aliens remain a standard enemy trope in games. There are obvious examples, like the Xenomorphs in various Alien film games, along with the intergalactic races in Destiny.
There haven’t been a lot of games that have turned the tables, giving gamers access to aliens as playable characters. At least, there haven't been many that are as memorable as those that feature alien foes. So, let’s go through some examples where it felt good to be an evil alien conqueror, or simply an alien trying to live out their days.
8 Best Games Based On Alien Invasion
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Alien Hominid Invasion
Save Your Comrade!
Alien Hominid Invasion
- Released
- November 1, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action
Alien Hominid was a big hit on Newgrounds in which players invaded Earth, killing agents in bloody mayhem. The game then got a port to consoles, where its fanbase grew. Alien Hominid Invasion is a long-awaited sequel starring a horde of alien invaders sent to rescue their teammate in a roguelike action platformer. Players can customize their alien and get boosts on each run, including a wild array of weaponry. Every new campaign can make players stronger, and it can be played cooperatively.
Destroy All Humans!
Grand Theft Alien
Destroy All Humans!
- Released
- July 28, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Destroy All Humans was first released in 2005 on consoles like the PS2, as a Grand Theft Auto-style sandbox game but with an alien protagonist. The remaster from 2020 smooths a lot of hiccups out, making it a better gameplay experience. As Crypto, players can zap citizens with rayguns, destroy buildings with their UFO, or even learn powers like hypnosis to control the masses. It’s the most destructive game on the list for anyone who wants to role-play as an evil alien conqueror with no heart.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Multiverse Of Madness
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Released
- June 11, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Third-Person Shooter
The Ratchet & Clank series follows an alien cat-like humanoid, Ratchet, and his robot pal, Clank, across a galaxy of misadventures. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the latest entry and the one that makes the most sense, as there is an alien duo foreign to Ratchet and Clank who hail from another universe: Rivet and Kit.
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After a mishap, Rivet gets paired with Clank, and Ratchet has to survive with Kit as they try and stop an interdimensional collapse. Plot aside, gameplay is similar to the rest of the series, featuring platforming action with a wild array of guns, including one that can turn enemies into pixels.
Katamari Damacy Reroll
Roll Up And Conquer
Katamari Damacy Reroll
- Released
- December 6, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Katamari Damacy Reroll is a remaster of the PS2 original, making the ball-based mechanics work more fluidly on modern consoles. The premise finds The Prince, son of the King of All Cosmos, going down to Earth to gather materials for stars. In each level, players will start small by rolling up things like tacks, and soon they can gather larger objects, including animals. It’s a wacky premise with a dark undertone as The Prince sends these objects into space to magically become stars, whether they were sentient or not.
StarCraft 2
Zerg Rush!
StarCraft 2
- Released
- July 27, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
StarCraft 2, after all the updates and expansions, allows players to go into three campaigns. Terrans are humans, while the Zerg and Protos are alien entities. Every player has their favorite, and StarCraft 2 fans of the bug-like Zerg have a deep appreciation of these creepy critters. Build up a horde, create strategies, and then send these critters to destroy other civilizations in this classic RTS. Perhaps one day the Zerg can return in a sequel if Blizzard ever gets around to it.
Among Us
Secret Alien
Among Us
- Released
- June 5, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Mild Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Party Game
Among Us is a great party game that is basically a riff on board games like Secret Hitler and Ultimate Werewolf. Gameplay is divided into two camps: Crewmates and Imposters. Crewmates work to repair the ship, while the goal of the alien Impostors is to blend in and kill off Crewmates one by one.
At the end of rounds, players will have to vote for who the Imposter is, and it quickly becomes a game of pointing fingers. In each session, not everyone can be an alien, obviously, but Among Us is still a great example and a great opportunity to play an alien saboteur.
Carrion
I Want To Break Free
Carrion
- Released
- July 23, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Action, Indie Games, Puzzle
Carrion is a small indie title wherein players, as a globule alien entity, wake up in a lab. After accumulating enough strength, players will break free and cause destruction in their wake as they try to escape. The more they kill, the bigger they will become, unlocking new powers along the way. Even though the game is pixel-based, the gore is overwhelming, making it a great recommendation for those who appreciate the over-the-top nature of excessive blood.
Under The Skin
Cause Capcom Chaos
Under the Skin
- Released
- October 12, 2004
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Capcom Production Studio 4
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Capcom had a few experimental games on the PS2, and Under the Skin might be the weirdest. As a little blue alien, players go into each level with a set objective, although it usually amounts to causing chaos around town. Players can disguise themselves as other humans, often gaining powers such as screaming into a microphone to cause waves of damage. The coolest inclusion is the Resident Evil characters, like Jill Valentine, who players can also mimic to blast away enemies.
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