Alien (Atari 2600. 1982)
Released in November 1982, this game was one of the earliest video games based on an official movie license, only slightly beaten by Raiders of the Lost Ark. While it was a pioneering effort, it was also quite rudimentary. The technical limitations of the Atari 2600 aside, the game wasn’t particularly original, being a simple clone of Pac-Man. Ghosts became aliens, Pac-Dots became alien eggs, and Power Pellets became pulsars. To distinguish it from the source material, players are armed with a limited flamethrower, although it is not a very effective weapon.
Alien (Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum. 1984)
Developed by Concept Software for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum, this game was released in 1984. It was a much more faithful interpretation of the original movie than its Atari 2600 predecessor. Instead of a Pac-Man maze game, this was a menu-driven strategy game where players command the crew of the Nostromo to either eject the Alien into space or trigger the ship’s self-destruct sequence and escape in the shuttle. As in the film, one of the crew members is secretly an android working to betray the others.
Aliens: The Computer Game (Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum. 1986)
The release of James Cameron’s Aliens in 1986 brought forth two video game adaptations, both sharing the same name. Activision had the rights to an Aliens game and developed one for the North American market. However, their UK subsidiary, Electric Dreams, also developed a separate game for European territories, both sharing an identical title.
Activision’s US version, initially released on Commodore 64 and later on Apple II, was a compilation of six minigames, each designed to recreate specific scenes from the movie. The game received a fair reception for the time, although its scattergun approach wasn’t to everyone’s taste.
Electric Dreams’ UK version, however, has a stronger legacy, due to several innovations. Instead of minigames, it featured a more consistent, first-person experience set in the LV-426 base, attempting to simulate a 3D environment on 8-bit hardware. It was also one of the first team-based combat games, with players responsible for six characters from the film. More importantly, the game was genuinely scary, with the chilling beeping of motion trackers guiding players through the complex base.
Aliens: Alien 2 (MSX. 1987)
This game was only released on MSX in Japan and was developed by Square. While there was a side-scrolling Aliens game released from Japan, it was Konami’s Aliens in 1990 that truly resonated with players.
Aliens (Arcade. 1990)
Released in 1990, Konami’s Aliens was a side-scrolling shooter that became an arcade smash hit, reportedly being their second best-selling arcade game for the year. The game is a fast-paced interpretation of the final act of James Cameron’s movie, where players control Ripley as she battles through wave after wave of Xenomorphs. A second player can join in as Hicks. Konami added new Alien types to the game, providing more variety than the previous iterations. While the game enjoyed immense popularity, it was also challenging, leaving players with empty pockets.
Alien 3 (SEGA Genesis, Super NES, NES. 1992)
The first video game adaptation of Alien 3, released in 1992 by Probe Software, was released across multiple platforms, including the SEGA Genesis, Super NES, and even the Commodore 64. The gameplay was similar across platforms, requiring players to guide Ripley through the prison colony, liberating inmates and eliminating Aliens. However, all the games were characterized by their unforgiving time limits.
Alien 3: The Gun (Arcade. 1993)
A separate arcade rail shooter from Sega, Alien 3: The Gun was released in 1993. As the title suggests, it was a light gun game that disregarded the movie’s plot, focusing on two Colonial Marines who crash on Fiorina 161 after responding to an SOS beacon from the Sulaco, only to encounter wave after wave of Aliens. Although a basic game, it was the closest one could get to experiencing the intense firefights firsthand.
Alien Vs Predator (Super NES. 1993)
Alien Vs Predator, which began as a comic book series in 1989, had its first video game adaptation in 1993. While this game was developed by Jorudan for Super NES, the game’s lukewarm reception led to the cancellation of planned ports for other platforms.
Alien Vs Predator (Atari Jaguar. 1994)
Rebellion, known for its Sniper Elite series, developed a bespoke Alien Vs Predator first-person shooter for the Atari Jaguar. Inspired by games such as Wolfenstein 3D and Doom, this game allowed players to battle as an Alien, a Predator, or a human Colonial Marine, each with unique abilities. Aliens, for example, could use air ducts to move around the levels and regenerate from cocooned victims. This is often considered one of the best games on the Atari Jaguar.
Alien Vs Predator (Arcade. 1994)
Capcom released its own arcade beat ’em up game called Alien vs. Predator in 1994. Completely unrelated to Jorudan’s 1993 Super NES game, it was one of the most well-regarded beat ’em ups of its time, renowned for its stunning visuals.
Aliens Versus Predator (PC. 1999)
Rebellion returned to the Alien Vs Predator franchise in 1999 with a PC release of Aliens Versus Predator, offering three campaigns. The single-player component was widely praised, making the game one of the most popular sci-fi shooters of its time. While its multiplayer component had some balance issues, the single-player campaign was remarkable.
Aliens Versus Predator 2 (PC. 2001)
Monolith Productions, known for No One Lives Forever and F.E.A.R., developed Aliens Versus Predator 2 for PC in 2001. This game featured interconnected campaigns for the three featured species. Although it received positive reviews, its expansion, Aliens Versus Predator 2: Primal Hunt, was less well-received.
Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction (PS2, Xbox. 2003)
Rebellion returned to the franchise with the Aliens Versus Predator: Requiem for PSP in 2007, a game that received a lukewarm reception. The studio later developed the Aliens vs. Predator reboot for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC in 2010. While the reboot excelled in atmosphere and gore, it fell short in other aspects.
Aliens: A Comic Book Adventure (PC. 1995)
Mindscape developed Aliens: A Comic Book Adventure for PC in 1995. This point-and-click game featured a spaceship commander who, inexplicably, doesn’t have an elevator keycard for his own ship. The game was met with criticism and was ultimately halted by Fox.
Alien Trilogy (PlayStation, Saturn, PC. 1995)
Probe Software developed Alien Trilogy, a first-person shooter based on the Alien movies, for PlayStation, Saturn, and PC in 1996. Acclaim published the game after acquiring Probe. Alien Trilogy was a strong seller, especially on PlayStation. The game was praised for its atmospheric take on the Alien universe, enhanced by sound effects lifted from the films.
Aliens Online (PC. 1998)
This MMO FPS from EA was only available for two years, from 1998 to 2000, on the short-lived GameStorm online gaming service. EA pulled the plug after acquiring the platform.
Alien Resurrection (PlayStation. 2000)
Argonaut Games developed Alien Resurrection, a PlayStation 1 exclusive, released in 2000. The game went through several development iterations, starting as a top-down shooter before being redesigned as a third-person game, and finally shifting to a first-person perspective. Despite the game’s decent quality, it was released shortly after the PlayStation 2’s launch, and the film it was based on was considered the weakest in the series. The game’s difficulty also hampered its reception. Interestingly, Alien Resurrection used a dual-analogue control system, a pioneering feature for its time, which is now standard in modern games.
Aliens: Thanatos Encounter (Game Boy Colour. 2001)
Wicked Witch Software developed Aliens: Thanatos Encounter for the Game Boy Color in 2001, a top-down shooter. While far less advanced than its contemporaries on PC and consoles, it was still a significant advancement from 2003’s Aliens: Unleashed for mobile.
Aliens: Extermination (Arcade. 2006)
Play Mechanix, the developer of Big Buck Hunter, created Aliens: Extermination, a light gun arcade shooter. The game was followed by Aliens: Infestation for DS in 2011, developed by WayForward Technologies.
Aliens: Infestation (DS. 2011)
Aliens: Infestation was a Metroidvania game for DS that drew inspiration from James Cameron’s Aliens. It was a critically acclaimed game featuring hand-drawn 2D art, levels set on the Sulaco and LV-426, and permadeath for the characters. Its interesting narrative elements included specific dialogue for each character, creating a sense of attachment to them before their potential demise. The game was developed concurrently with Gearbox and Sega’s Aliens: Colonial Marines.
Aliens: Colonial Marines (PS3, Xbox 360, PC. 2013)
Aliens: Colonial Marines was a direct sequel to Aliens, featuring performances from Lance Henriksen and Michael Biehn. Syd Mead, a renowned concept artist, ensured the game’s world matched the film’s aesthetic. However, the game was plagued by a lengthy and troubled development, resulting in a disappointing product.
Alien: Isolation (PS3, Xbox 360, PC. 2014)
Set fifteen years after the events of the original Alien, Alien: Isolation was a survival horror game developed by Creative Assembly. Players control Amanda Ripley as she investigates her mother’s disappearance. Inspired by the first film, the game focuses on stealth, forcing players to evade the Alien rather than confront it. Alien: Isolation is considered one of the best movie-licensed games, capturing the atmosphere and tension of the original film. The game even featured voice cameos from the original film’s cast.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite (PS4 / 5, Xbox One / Series S / X, PC. 2021)
This three-player co-op shooter, developed by Cold Iron Studios, was released in 2021. Set decades after the end of Alien 3, it was a return to the traditional Alien game formula, focusing on combat. While modest in scope, it surpassed the quality of Colonial Marines.
Aliens: Dark Descent (PC. 2023)
Tindalos Interactive developed Aliens: Dark Descent, a unique isometric, squad-based action-horror game, released in 2023. This game is a departure from previous iterations, combining elements of RTS with genuine survival horror. The combination of elements, though unconventional, proved surprisingly successful.
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