Aliens: Dark Descent

 PC
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 69 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 69
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 69
  3. Negative: 9 out of 69

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Whiston532
    Jun 22, 2023
    7
    IMO this game nails the sense of of tension that the series is known for while also making the action sections feel satisfying as well. You feel like there’s multiple viable strategies for completing each mission. It’s punishing yet you always have ways to get out of tough situations you’ve worked yourself into. There’s some negatives though. The games more than a little glitchy. I’ve onlyIMO this game nails the sense of of tension that the series is known for while also making the action sections feel satisfying as well. You feel like there’s multiple viable strategies for completing each mission. It’s punishing yet you always have ways to get out of tough situations you’ve worked yourself into. There’s some negatives though. The games more than a little glitchy. I’ve only had to quit out once and the rest are more visual or not game breaking but it’s still frustrating to see. Also there’s a stealth system and a “awareness” system that are both good ideas but the execution on both is not quite perfect. Stealth is an interesting idea but you don’t have direct control over your units so sometimes you’ll make the right call but a unit will get caught on a corner or something and blow it. Overall if they iron out the bugs I think I’d call this more of a 8 but right now it needs to be Patched… Expand
  2. Rofalot
    Jun 22, 2023
    6
    I wanted to like the game. The core game mechanics are really fun for all of the reasons you'll find other reviewers talking about. But here are the cons:

    The UX/UI just feels unpolished and often confusing. I'm not going to go through all of my nitpicks here because there would be a list of 100 tiny issues that wouldn't be an issue by themselves. The game just needed more playtesters    I wanted to like the game. The core game mechanics are really fun for all of the reasons you'll find other reviewers talking about. But here are the cons:

    The UX/UI just feels unpolished and often confusing. I'm not going to go through all of my nitpicks here because there would be a list of 100 tiny issues that wouldn't be an issue by themselves. The game just needed more playtesters with a fresh eye to tell them what was confusing.

    Next is the sound. Sure, there are some sound aspects that are good, but there are a lot of missed opportunities. For a game of aiming for these fidelity, I was expecting more sound effects for the xenomorphs' claws climbing and walking on the metallic floors, but no sound effects at all.

    Next, the animations. The xenomorphs looked like they had no weight to them at all, as they walked around, it looked like their body was just floating along as smooth as a chicken's head while they walked silently.

    Next, they need to do something about that incessant and annoying soldier banter shouting after every other click to move. Most of the time you're sneaking anyway, and then you just hear the same soldier shouting at the top of his lungs while a xenomorph is right on the other side of the wall. Ideally, there should have been 2 sets of voiced acted lines, 1 while in stealth, and 1 while detected. As a compromise, there should have at least been a separate banter volume slider in the settings to just turn off the banter altogether.    … Expand
  3. themandy
    Jun 24, 2023
    7
    Really AMAZING cut scenes.. but.. the camera control system is disappoiting. also the zoom could be even more deeper into the levels. Also the strange black in the back is tiresome.. after some time
    they should just made it as alien isolation in firest person would be EPIC. not bad game but if they did it in FPS it would be a sucessor to alien isolation. The graphics is amazing but it    Really AMAZING cut scenes.. but.. the camera control system is disappoiting. also the zoom could be even more deeper into the levels. Also the strange black in the back is tiresome.. after some time
    they should just made it as alien isolation in firest person would be EPIC. not bad game but if they did it in FPS it would be a sucessor to alien isolation. The graphics is amazing but it reminds of alien isolation graphics enhances. I will continue this game but it would been epic if it was first person.    … Expand
  4. GeoKorf
    Jun 22, 2023
    5
    I wanted to like it but, from the artistic pov, character models looks stylized ugly... we aren't in the cartoon show you know...

    I wanted to like it but, the core game isn't my 5 cents, the game try to build tension too fast, it delivers good tutorial but after in the 1st mission it became hell of a mess. I wanted to like it but, controls are unintuitive and like all other RTS it's    I wanted to like it but, from the artistic pov, character models looks stylized ugly... we aren't in the cartoon show you know...

    I wanted to like it but, the core game isn't my 5 cents, the game try to build tension too fast, it delivers good tutorial but after in the 1st mission it became hell of a mess.

    I wanted to like it but, controls are unintuitive and like all other RTS it's got, a tons of text into, c'mon guys it's 2023?! Can you make tutorials and game involvement a bit more friendly? No? Then here you go my opinion 5 for trying your the best.

    But it's derivative, can you recall Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction ? Looks like alien fans (me included) wanted any game they could get, but not the great ones like Alien Isolation (2?), i wanted to play something like this!
    It's just RtS, imho, do not fit in Alien universe, or it's just for hardcore nerds idk, play it enjoy it but i can't.
    It's frustrating to get punish so hard on medium level in the freaking 1st mission of the actual game.

    P.s This game would be cool if you take it and released on Mobile devices! But please polish the balance first! I would still try to play but i can't enjoy it to say the least.    … Expand
  5. Babutto
    Jul 8, 2023
    7
    I wanted to give the game a higher score, but the cons were too vivid.

    Pros.: - It is a nice attempt to blend real-time games with the X-Com aesthetics like squad management, base management, etc. - There are memorable characters in this game. Like the protagonist. - Aliens universe. - Cinematics are cool. They unwrap the story well. - Some references to the Alien: Isolation.    I wanted to give the game a higher score, but the cons were too vivid.

    Pros.:
    - It is a nice attempt to blend real-time games with the X-Com aesthetics like squad management, base management, etc.
    - There are memorable characters in this game. Like the protagonist.
    - Aliens universe.
    - Cinematics are cool. They unwrap the story well.
    - Some references to the Alien: Isolation. Especially with the synthetics, and their design.
    - Gradual raise of difficulty.

    Cons.:
    - Absolutely ridiculous anticlimactic ending.
    - Too many static characters in the game.
    - Some upgrades do not make any sense and are never used.
    - Alien movement almost always lead to you.
    - Too many bugs like wasting your precious tools or aliens stuck in front of an unfinished wield of the door. You have to reload the whole last batch of action, which is a waste of time for sure.
    - The worst part probably is the last mission. You grind your way, trying to play best to have a mission with invulnerable characters with minimum abilities. What the ...???
    - The most minor cons are some SJW vibes - all white characters are either evil or psychos (btw, why the protagonist's voice is not Asian?). It is a minor issue compared to the bizarre design of the marines - their models are horrible.    … Expand
  6. Miasv
    Jun 24, 2023
    7
    Dark descent is a solid game with a decent story. Nothing really special, sure, but it is ok enough. I would recommend it.
  7. cabutthead
    Jul 21, 2023
    5
    It is a really fun game ! Makes you feel chased and hunted ....Kudos to the developer for this
    buuuuuuut,
    Its really buggy! REALLY BUGGY ! Many things break the game softly, and you may come across a really hard bug that may turn the game inoperable by not letting you advance any further Mine hard broke at the Atmospheric processor 27 basement 2 level. I killed the queen ahead of    It is a really fun game ! Makes you feel chased and hunted ....Kudos to the developer for this
    buuuuuuut,
    Its really buggy! REALLY BUGGY ! Many things break the game softly, and you may come across a really hard bug that may turn the game inoperable by not letting you advance any further

    Mine hard broke at the Atmospheric processor 27 basement 2 level. I killed the queen ahead of time and BROKE advancement, so I decided to open a case with their support team, which is USELESS!

    yeah, completly and utterly USELESS! They left an unresolved case open for mefor Aliens Fireteam Elite and now, for this problem, I was forwarded to the devs some 2 weeks ago, never heard back from anyone so far !

    So, witha really heavy heart , a 5 for the buginess and totally useless support    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Most Discussed PC Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 66 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 66
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 66
  3. Negative: 2 out of 66
  1. Riot Pixels
    Oct 30, 2023
    65
    Aliens: Dark Descent is an atmospheric RTS, but it irritates me because of raw gameplay elements, half-baked stealth mechanics and identical mazes.
    Read full review
  2. Ragequit.gr
    Aug 13, 2023
    80
    Aliens: Dark Descent manages to absorb the player, with its main arsenal being the strong atmosphere and the high level of challenge. However, I feel that it would need a better sense of control during battles to make it a truly memorable game.
    Read full review
  3. GameCritics
    Aug 8, 2023
    70
    If all of its technical issues can be fixed, Aliens: Dark Descent will prove to be something special. It treats the franchise with respect and care — and when working properly — it nails the tension the series is famous for. Unfortunately, a full, completed release simply should not have this many technical issues, nor cause so much frustration that has nothing to do with the aliens themselves.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »