Natural Selection 2

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 642 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 522 out of 642
  2. Mixed: 69 out of 642
  3. Negative: 51 out of 642

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  1. armchairjerk
    Sep 5, 2013
    8
    Great game and a ton of fun with friends. Draw backs are the maps and how same old same old they become which really hurts the game long term. But they are always adding to it.
  2. Tastycakes
    Jul 17, 2014
    8
    Always one of the most interesting games in my library. This is a game that blends a lot of different play-styles together in one grand, immensely entertaining arena. The RTS role, the many different alien abilities as well as the FPS style Marines all come together in a well made, and overall balanced game. It's always fun, never repetitive and looks great as well. If you're looking forAlways one of the most interesting games in my library. This is a game that blends a lot of different play-styles together in one grand, immensely entertaining arena. The RTS role, the many different alien abilities as well as the FPS style Marines all come together in a well made, and overall balanced game. It's always fun, never repetitive and looks great as well. If you're looking for something different, this is the game I'd always recommend.… Expand
  3. Pureray
    Mar 25, 2013
    10
    If they hadn't made a free weekend and sale I wouldn't have bought this very cool game it turns out, and no one should complain about having a bad commander, like if your that upset about it train to become one yourself then you can just blame the team and/or yourself but just try to have fun which is suppose to be the main purpose of playing. The maps are well designed and i'm evenIf they hadn't made a free weekend and sale I wouldn't have bought this very cool game it turns out, and no one should complain about having a bad commander, like if your that upset about it train to become one yourself then you can just blame the team and/or yourself but just try to have fun which is suppose to be the main purpose of playing. The maps are well designed and i'm even playing this game on the lowest settings so I don't lag which is going well. I'll be cutting this short, overall their are alot of great things about this game that you must try out especially if your into rts and fps.… Expand
  4. AidanM
    Mar 29, 2013
    7
    This game is very creative and a great game to play with friends. Modded servers are AMAZING, you could pretty much play a different modded server once per hour for a whole day, and it would never get boring. However, if you are not playing with friends, matchmaking is terrible. Basically what happens is you either select a server or use quick match (which obviously selects a server) andThis game is very creative and a great game to play with friends. Modded servers are AMAZING, you could pretty much play a different modded server once per hour for a whole day, and it would never get boring. However, if you are not playing with friends, matchmaking is terrible. Basically what happens is you either select a server or use quick match (which obviously selects a server) and once the server loads you go to a room where you pick to be a marine or alien. However, once you are in the room, either you pick a side and there is no one playing the game or the sides are locked. Matchmaking never choses a balanced server and it takes forever to find one. The gameplay is very fun, and it is great to play with friends. However, I advise to look elsewhere if you are looking for quick multiplayer games… Expand
  5. Danil
    Jun 25, 2014
    10
    I believe this is a masterpiece of game development. I am not sure sure how it is even humanly possible to come up with an idea so complex and put it all together into a working game. It is a blend of RTS and FPS. There are 2 teams with completely different mechanics, units, weapons, special abilities and gameplay. Each team has a commander who views the game from an RTS viewpoint. HeI believe this is a masterpiece of game development. I am not sure sure how it is even humanly possible to come up with an idea so complex and put it all together into a working game. It is a blend of RTS and FPS. There are 2 teams with completely different mechanics, units, weapons, special abilities and gameplay. Each team has a commander who views the game from an RTS viewpoint. He places structures, upgrades units, gives orders etc. The rest of the team plays an FPS. The game is not rookie-friendly, It takes about 20 hours to more-or-less get the whole thing. Loading time is atrocious though...… Expand
  6. Taldius
    Jun 22, 2013
    10
    I played the NS1 and felt, even today, it is the best FPS game out there. The developers stuck to their guns and did not sell the title out major distributors because they knew they had something. With the addition of NS2 and its added kick-assery, this is the reason gamers need to promote their champions. Best FPS ever! If you don't like Natural Selection you shouldn't be playing FPS.
  7. caspertoot
    Jul 15, 2013
    10
    One of the best FPS out there. Combines elements of FPS and RTS into one. A unique and genius invention. I strongly recommend this game to all. The only lacking element is the lack of Asian community especially Singapore/Malaysians. There are tons of Singapore servers but i guess there is a lack of publicity in the Asian market.
  8. alla0222
    Jul 22, 2013
    9
    This game is fun to play both alone and with friends! It does not matter if you got it on sale or not, but this is worth your cash! I recommend that you and your friends play, its really fun!
  9. Jacethegamerman
    Aug 12, 2013
    8
    I love this game its fun and the community's great i love it so much great fun is to be had with this game. play this game if you have any love for multiplayer games or 1PS shooter or strategy games you're welcome here.
  10. Mynameispingu
    Aug 31, 2013
    8
    It's a really good game, however after playing for a while I believe it needs more rebalancing, aliens seem to expand quicker, kill quicker and get OP quicker than marines.
    Marines seem to trade in real guns for water pistols, and unfortunately this game is not like Evolution.
  11. Escape5
    Oct 1, 2013
    10
    When I log into Steam, it's to play this game! An amazing blend of FPS with RTS, in which you face off as aliens or marines. I've played other multi-player FPS and they just don't keep me coming back for more the way NS2 does. Also, the developers (www.unknownworlds.com) continue to push out patches and new content for free! Also, the developers are very involved with the community andWhen I log into Steam, it's to play this game! An amazing blend of FPS with RTS, in which you face off as aliens or marines. I've played other multi-player FPS and they just don't keep me coming back for more the way NS2 does. Also, the developers (www.unknownworlds.com) continue to push out patches and new content for free! Also, the developers are very involved with the community and keep them well informed on the game and their efforts. The game is also highly mod-able and the developers promote modding. It used to have a steep learning curve, but the developers have since made the new player experience much better and recently included significantly better tutorials. This one is definitely worth checking out!… Expand
  12. facecake2
    Nov 27, 2013
    5
    Natural Selection 2 is a asymmetrical FPS/Strategy hybrid. The game consists of 2 teams; marines and aliens and both sides have a commander. The thing I like most is the map design and the graphics are pretty decent. However, if you’re thinking about picking this up, I wouldn't bother due to the humble bundle, steam sales, patches, the game has not only changed significantly, the communityNatural Selection 2 is a asymmetrical FPS/Strategy hybrid. The game consists of 2 teams; marines and aliens and both sides have a commander. The thing I like most is the map design and the graphics are pretty decent. However, if you’re thinking about picking this up, I wouldn't bother due to the humble bundle, steam sales, patches, the game has not only changed significantly, the community has gone downhill. This game was perfect upon release with the community being the highlight but it has now passed it's golden age, the regulars are long gone with the “balance test” patch. I usually play as commander now I keep getting ejected over extremely trivial things like: not having a mic and not building specific things early in the game. People also don't follow orders and blame it on you for things not going well. The gameplay changed significantly due to map modifications and game breaking nerfs and buffs. The hitboxes on aliens isn’t great especially for lerks. If you're looking for a decent RTS game, there are better games out there like the total war series. If you're looking for a FPS game, there is counterstrike. However, if you are still interested, I would recommend either getting a mic or playing this with a bunch of friends, otherwise be prepared for endless amounts of frustration … Expand
  13. Gentoo
    Dec 5, 2013
    7
    The only downside I would consider is that it's really hard to master this game. Not like any other casual FPS game. First games in the game can be a tough experience for someone since it takes much time to fully understand it.
  14. TomTom17
    Dec 6, 2013
    6
    A bit overrated but still a good game. When i bought this game on steam i wasent expecting much, just a typical online shooter and that's more or less what i got. The game has strategic elements as well but all you do is build structures on territory's you have captured. You get to play as either the aliens or the marines and i found that playing as the aliens was much more fun. you get toA bit overrated but still a good game. When i bought this game on steam i wasent expecting much, just a typical online shooter and that's more or less what i got. The game has strategic elements as well but all you do is build structures on territory's you have captured. You get to play as either the aliens or the marines and i found that playing as the aliens was much more fun. you get to climb on walls and tag enemy players so that other players know where they are. There are about 5 classes on the alien team and all are fun to play as. Now negative things about the game, the game has no xp or leveling up, no customization of characters, no leaderboards or stats so you cant compare scores with friends, which should be in a multiplayer game. Games like CS GO and Planetside 2 have these features and Planetside is free. So why buy this game, because its fun and i enjoyed playing it for a while. But quickly it got a bit repetitive and dident really care if i won or lost. Also there is one game type, no team deathmatch no capture the flag no free for all. The only game type is building up your base and taking the whole map which is a great mode but i want more variety. If you like sci fi shooters then get this game, it only cost me about £4 so you get a good game for the price.… Expand
  15. Ecks33
    Aug 16, 2014
    8
    i am going to have to give this game a 8 as it is a good game you will find this more into something you would like to play for fun when you are getting bored of your MMO's or your typical FPS games unless you were like me in the past always playing the HL 1 Mod of it then you will have fun. the game does have replay value but a quick warning for 1st time users of this game it will take ai am going to have to give this game a 8 as it is a good game you will find this more into something you would like to play for fun when you are getting bored of your MMO's or your typical FPS games unless you were like me in the past always playing the HL 1 Mod of it then you will have fun. the game does have replay value but a quick warning for 1st time users of this game it will take a long time to load at 1st so you will be expecting that.… Expand
  16. somedude14
    Feb 4, 2022
    9
    Bummer is long load times, but nowhere near as bad as they were at launch. A lot of fun to play, only 16gb so you can keep it on a drive and play it whenever you get the itch. I think the graphics still hold up really well today.
  17. Ambient
    Oct 1, 2015
    10
    Deserves every last bit of success. If only we could have full releases of other nostalgic Half-life mods such as Science & Industry that are even half as good as this turned out. One of the greatest, most organic, most extravagant multiplayer experiences ever created.
  18. ianmanderson
    Jul 7, 2019
    10
    I created my MC account because I HAD TO WRITE THIS REVIEW. I've been playing these games since the original Half-Life mod back in 2002 and this game has always been grossly underrated. I was appalled to see that this game has a lower rating than games like Halo 5 *gross*.
    I am a long time player of RTS games spending most of my time on Starcraft BW+2 (masters on ladder), AOE franchise,    I created my MC account because I HAD TO WRITE THIS REVIEW. I've been playing these games since the original Half-Life mod back in 2002 and this game has always been grossly underrated. I was appalled to see that this game has a lower rating than games like Halo 5 *gross*.
    I am a long time player of RTS games spending most of my time on Starcraft BW+2 (masters on ladder), AOE franchise, and C+C. I believe this game delivers one of the best RTS experiences OF ALL TIME. From a Strategy perspective, the metagame is surprisingly deep and I'm still learning interesting things about the game after playing 3000+ hours. There is great diversity in the number of viable strategies in the game, with things like proxies, tech rushes, and sneaky bases. Even the drawn-out macro games with max upgrade units clashing across the map, all feel balanced and fleshed out, with the game continuing to be refined over the years When you are commander in a game you get to choose what weapons/ buildings are available for your team and you can still issue waypoint commands to your "units", but the fact that each unit is a living, breathing person, adds a huge amount of dynamics and replayability to the whole thing. People can choose to ignore your orders altogether and your teammates can also make suggestions and talk to the commander directly. Commanding in this game (which is optional btw) provides an unparalleled experience at making you feel like you are responsible for a platoon of men, with your every decision having in-game consequences for the tens of other people on the battlefield in real time. It's hard to do it justice by describing it, but let me say I have yet to play another game that delivers the same experience and sense of immersion as Natural Selection does.
    From an FPS perspective, still one of the greatest of all time. I'll start by saying that most people's complaint in this area is the number of weapons, however not only has the developer continued to add content (as of July, 2019), but each weapon has a specific niche and purpose in the game and with the variance in maps and functionality of weapons I never find myself wishing for more. All in all, when you factor in the combinations of weapons and upgrades (marines can have mechs or jetpacks for example) the marines still have about 20 different loadout combinations, while the aliens have 5 playable "classes" each with 9 different upgrade paths. Ultimately replayability has never been an issue for me and I'm constantly coming back for more.
    Graphically the game is beautiful and has held up very well over time, impressive when you consider that this is a small time developer that also created their own engine.
    this game does such a good job at making you FEEL like a space marine exploring an infested space station. it makes you FEEL like an alien hivemind stalking your human prey through the air vents. It makes you FEEL like a platoon leader desperately trying to figure out how to push back the alien menace. Your objectives during a match feel authentic as they are not force-fed to you by the game but rather decided by whatever your commander wants to do.
    I really wish more people knew about this game as even my most hardcore gaming friends have somehow never heard of it. Literally, the only downside to this game is that the community is quite small and you really need about 20 people in server to play the game at its full potential. Although small, this game still has an amazing close-knit community that is free of toxicity and a developer that cares about their product and continues to refine, balance, and stand by it after all these years. They also have increased the stability and optimization of the code over the years and included better tutorials for new players. The learning curve can be steep with this one but longtime RTS players will feel at home with the intuitive building designs. There are plenty of "rookie only" servers that are designated for those that have 200 or fewer hours in the game. From my experience, newbie players don't get flamed and harassed by veterans like they do in far too many other strategy titles. Being a newbie and asking questions is usually met with encouragement, as we all just want more people to play the game with.
    Just know this game is at legendary status, and you should buy it. not only would I buy it again, multiple times, but I think more developers should attempt to make a game that combines RTS/FPS elements and I'm surprised that we haven't seen this more. Thanks to Unknown Worlds for what you have achieved with this game.    … Expand
  19. Lithiumblade
    Feb 6, 2020
    8
    Starcraft meets Counter-strike that's how best I can describe this.
    There is a bit of a learning curve with this game and the community is somewhat toxic compared to the other games.
    The game requirements is steeeeeeeeeeeeep for such an old game, and because battles can be so fast paced you really need those extra frames in order to catch that Alien life form that's running circles    Starcraft meets Counter-strike that's how best I can describe this.
    There is a bit of a learning curve with this game and the community is somewhat toxic compared to the other games.
    The game requirements is steeeeeeeeeeeeep for such an old game, and because battles can be so fast paced you really need those extra frames in order to catch that Alien life form that's running circles around you. I went from being at the bottom of the scoreboard every round to being top 3 for most games by just changing my graphics card. (going from 25fps to 200fps)    … Expand
  20. fmsS
    Jun 30, 2020
    10
    Wait.. it's 2020 and the game still one of the best FPS + RTS games with an engaged community..
    Let me tell you on more thing.. The game has been gifted with one more map last week. This is amazing!
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Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Best PC Game of 2012
32
#32 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. PC Master (Greece)
    Jun 10, 2013
    71
    Certainly not for newcomers in the genre; but it’s a blast for hardcore gamers that crave for action instead of the classic FPS mechanics and want matches that last something between a Counter-Strike and Battlefield 3 battle. [March 2013]
  2. Thunderbolt
    Feb 15, 2013
    60
    Natural Selection 2 is unquestionably a unique title, but its bar to entry is incredibly high for the average FPS player. For the hardcore strategist, it has its appeal, but its complexity severely limits the enjoyment in matches that aren’t significantly populated by experts at the game.
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  3. CD-Action
    Feb 6, 2013
    75
    I am sure Natural Selection 2 will gather a group of devoted fans. After all it’s a good, surprisingly original game. [CD-Action 02/2013, p.50]
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