Aliens: Dark Descent is a squad action game inspired by CRPGs

With real-time skirmishes

Our first game reveal of Summer Game Fest 2022 involved Xenomorphs, and that had to be on someone’s bingo card, right? Tindalos Interactive and Focus Entertainment showed off a cinematic trailer for Aliens: Dark Descent with soldiers facing a seemingly hopeless situation — you know the one! — and a sneaky bit of isometric gameplay footage at the end. It’s a (single-player) squad-based action game. Not what I was expecting, at all.

The game’s official site , with a mention of “permanent” death, “shortcuts” and “safe zones,” and “setting up motion trackers in a persistent world where your actions impact levels forever.” Aliens: Dark Descent will have threats like Facehuggers, Alien Queens, rogue humans, and a “host of horrifying creatures new to the Alien franchise.” On that note, this is an “original” story, so things could get… experimental.

As little as the trailer gives away, I like the sound of needing to manage “health, resources, and sanity, to avoid permanent team losses and mental breakdowns” between missions. Granted, I’d do a terrible job if games like XCOM are any indication, but this alien-infested train could derail in a memorable way. Can I name my squad afte🍸r friends and family?

Fly me to the moon, Lethe

“The gameplay we have developed is unique, inspired from our favorite tactical and CRPG games and packaged in nerve-wracking, real-time action,” said Focus Entertainment managing director John Bert. The lighting looks good, I will say. Here’s another screen:

While this might not be the Alien: Isolation sequel we’ve all been waiting for, and the story trailer does little for me, the actual gameplay foundation here seems like a potentially strong setup. Until proven otherwise, I think it’s a decent use of the license. Part of it is going to come down to the controls, though, so we’ll see how it turns out.

Aliens: Dark Descent is co𓆏m👍ing to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in 2023.