Summary
- Aliens in video games often use sneaky tactics and disguise themselves to infiltrate human society, adding variety and humor to the gameplay.
- In games like Destroy All Humans!, Carrion, and Under The Skin, players take on the role of aliens with different motivations, from collecting genetic data to causing mayhem and nuisance on Earth.
- Transformers games feature alien robots who don't impersonate humans but transform into vehicles, with some factions aiming to protect humanity while others seek to subjugate them. The transforming ability adds to the dynamic combat gameplay.
The concept of aliens has always been fertile ground for entertainment. It's exciting and scary to think about other life in the universe. That's why players have seen numerous games about extraterrestrials. Many of these titles have dealt with aliens coming to Earth. Sadly, humans likely wouldn't respond well to little green men.
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For that reason, these aliens must use sneaky tactics. They often employ some disguise or shapeshifting ability to infiltrate the native society. Certain players may think this is pointless. If they're playing as an alien, they just want to conquer. That said, this tactic is necessary in learning more about the enemy. Plus, the various methods of infiltration help stave off any monotony, especially when played for laughs. Watching a Martian mess with a primitive human never gets old.
5 Destroy All Humans!
Metascore: 70
Destroy All Humans!
Though this gleefully demented series is called Destroy All Humans!, that name is a bit deceptive. True, the Cryptosporidium aliens of the Furon Empire come to 1950s Earth with hostile intentions. Specifically, they seek to siphon their species' latent DNA from the primitive people. Humans have this genetic data due to being an early part of Furon evolution. Unfortunately, excessive cloning has broken down the aliens' biology, hence their need for Earthling samples. Collecting these samples requires a subtle touch. The mainline Crypto clone must sneak into government facilities and social gatherings. He does this using a Holobob: a holographic image projector allowing him to impersonate any human he scans. It's convenient, but not his preferred option.
He doesn't even change his Jack Nicholson-esque voice, no matter which race or sex he assumes. Thus, these missions always end in shootouts. The resulting battles are rife with the cartoonish chaos fans love about Destroy All Humans!. The Earthlings send in cops, crooks, and soldiers to eliminate the invader, but Crypto clears them all out with his advanced weaponry. His methods include electrocution, incineration, vaporization, and even invasive probing. These simple "monkeys" don't stand a chance. The smarmy sicko has no problem toppling the world's governments and partying with the hippies afterward.
4 Carrion
Metascore: 75
Carrion
- Released
- July 23, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Phobia Studios
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Action, Indie Games, Puzzle
Whenever humans encounter an alien object, they just have to lock it up in some secret facility for dissection. This sad fate befalls the goo creature in Carrion. Thankfully, it soon breaks free. Players then spend the game trying to find an exit, wreaking absolute havoc along the way. Its human oppressors literally don't know what hit them.
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The Carrion monster is a shapeshifter in that its form is constantly changing. As it crawls through the laboratory, it squashes and stretches to navigate the various vents, holes, tunnels, and tubes. All the while, it leaves a trail of slime in its wake, draining its biomass. Consuming humans restores that mass and then some. Soon, this tentacled behemoth becomes the stuff of nightmares.
3 Under The Skin
Metascore: 82
Under the Skin
- Released
- October 12, 2004
- Developer(s)
- Capcom Production Studio 4
- Platform(s)
- PS2
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
What if an invasion was a rite of passage? That's the case in Under the Skin. Here, once the inhabitants of Planet Mischief reach a certain age, they travel to a distant world and cause all kinds of mayhem. The plucky protagonist Cosmi selects Earth--a particularly difficult assignment--in order to impress his father. However, he may bite off more than he can chew. The little, blue boy isn't equipped for combat. He's only three years old, after all. Plus, he's not trying to conquer Earth; he's simply attempting to be a nuisance.
His efficacy therefore hinges on disguises. After abducting people in his miniature UFO, he can then assume their shapes. Unlike Destroy All Humans!, these guises aren't just for show. Cosmi gains access to their tools and abilities. These can be boomboxes, spikes, or other avenues of annoyance. Each person is susceptible to certain pranks, but they all get angry at the prankster. In the end, it's a rare case where the humans chase the alien.
2 Transformers: Devastation
Metascore: 77
Transformers: Devastation
With Transformers, shapeshifting is literally the name of the game. That said, these space-farers have some key differences from other alien infiltrators. The most apparent is that they don't impersonate people. The robotic beings from Cybertron are too big to pass as humans, so they turn into vehicles. They take the form of cars, trucks, planes, and other crafts. Another factor distinguishing them from typical aliens is that they're not hostile, at least not all of them. The altruistic Autobots aim to protect humanity from the devious Decepticons, who seek to subjugate the feeble fleshlings.
These two factions essentially take the war from their home planet and bring it to Earth.
Fans see that war play out in numerous Transformers tie-ins. These games take inspiration from the myriad of movies and TV shows. Many opt for standard melee combat or shooter mechanics, usually in cities or other destructible environments. The actual transforming primarily functions as a faster movement option. The fighting titles, though, use it for extra attacks. Players swap forms on the fly for specialized combos. It's not exactly inconspicuous, but it does convey the titanic might of these robots in disguise.
1 Alien Hominid
Metascore: 78
Alien Hominid
Alien Hominid HD, the award-winning 2D side-scroller from The Behemoth, is now available for Steam! With hand-drawn graphics, excitingly fast gameplay, and the humor that started it all, loading up this title is like traveling decades back in time, with improved visuals and the same hardcore gaming experience.
Navigate your surroundings by jumping, dodging attacks, grabbing agents, and digging underground! Use your trusted blaster to shoot at anything in your path and hurl grenades towards your enemies for epic explosions! Catch agents off guard with your knife in close-up combat, or chomp their heads off if that’s more your style.
Whether you’re playing solo or 2-player local co-op, Alien Hominid HD is back with the three classic difficulty options: easy with seven lives and continues, with two shields from weapon pickups, normal with five lives and continues, with one shield from weapon pickups, or insane with three lives and continues and one hit kills.
- Released
- November 18, 2004
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo GameCube, PC, PS2, Xbox (Original), Xbox 360
- Developer
- The Behemoth, Tuna Technologies
- Genre(s)
- Run and Gun
Despite the fancy title, Alien Hominid has a simple premise. Multicolored space invaders come down to Earth and fight their way through the locals in a bid for dominance. The series sometimes throws in a twist, such as trying to regain the Mothership from the humans. At the end of the day, though, what players see is what they get. The same isn't necessarily true of the aliens themselves.
Their cutesy appearance hides a violent nature.
The aliens blast their way through legions of secret agents. Covert infiltration gives way to good old-fashioned carnage and conquest. Because of that, the shapeshifting serves the gunplay. Players regularly secure loot for their accomplishments. The items are new attachments or appendages for the aliens, each with a unique perk or power-up. A horn might boost the blaster's range while a Viking helmet aids in health regeneration. The sad part is that these items make the hominids look even more adorable.