Prey

 PC
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1672 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,319 out of 1672
  2. Mixed: 193 out of 1672
  3. Negative: 160 out of 1672
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  1. JustinForgueims
    Mar 10, 2022
    10
    Simply superb.
    Everything I like from Half Life but better.
    It's a good shooter, the feeling with the weapons is always good. It's also a good RPG, let's you decide a lot of approaches for your character, from a gunslinger to an stealth boy to a paranormal powers build. The way the game is designed and its details is crazy. Every task has not 1 or 2, sometimes even 5 ways to be done,    Simply superb.
    Everything I like from Half Life but better.
    It's a good shooter, the feeling with the weapons is always good. It's also a good RPG, let's you decide a lot of approaches for your character, from a gunslinger to an stealth boy to a paranormal powers build.
    The way the game is designed and its details is crazy. Every task has not 1 or 2, sometimes even 5 ways to be done, depending on your character skills or your preferred approach.

    The story is also one of the best things of the game. It's giving you information bit by bit and the suspense is still there by the end of the game.
    The games makes you take hard decisions and those decisions and your actions also have consequences.
    The ending and especially the post-credits scene shows that everything you made during the game was important.

    The side quests are also fantastic and with amazing rewards if you expend time doing it.
    It also has one of the best ways I ever seen on how to teach the game lore. Many of the crew members have a story behind and are interconnected and you learn it from small pieces that you gather all around the station. This lore is presented in many ways: emails, notes, audios, videos, calls, so it's not boring to collect it, even more if sometimes it gives clues to complete a quest ot triggers a new one.    … Expand
  2. Askoldnya
    Jul 20, 2023
    10
    This is a masterpiece. A bit rough on edges, but hands down the most advanced immersive sim there is, and great successor to System Shock. Design, visuals, music are amazing and create intimidating but deeply engaging atmosphere. Mysterious story only supports that. Gameplay offers plenty of space for experimentation, a lot of interactivity and many ways to solve problems. I really don'tThis is a masterpiece. A bit rough on edges, but hands down the most advanced immersive sim there is, and great successor to System Shock. Design, visuals, music are amazing and create intimidating but deeply engaging atmosphere. Mysterious story only supports that. Gameplay offers plenty of space for experimentation, a lot of interactivity and many ways to solve problems. I really don't think I can overprize this game with any amount of compliments.… Expand
  3. Blackdung7
    Jul 11, 2021
    10
    This game story is amazing with fantastic gameplay mechanics. I definitely recommend getting this game!
  4. ReturnToMonke75
    Jul 25, 2021
    10
    Prey is a really great game. I’ll describe it as a blending of Bioshock and Deadspace. My first run took 49hrs so there’s lots to do and see and once complete you unlock extra difficulty options for repeat runs. I hope they make a sequel!
  5. 02450ephiz
    Sep 20, 2021
    10
    Underrated masterpiece. The gameplay was of course enjoyable and the story was better than I expected.
  6. Woolee
    Jan 14, 2022
    10
    This review is based on the game after completing it with all the side-quests available, except two (as far as I know). I played it for around 25 in-game hours.
  7. Vulture_
    Jan 4, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Игра просто изумительная столько вариантов прохождения, какой стиль все просто на высшем уровне!… Expand
  8. tr4nc3v1b3
    Jan 15, 2022
    10
    10 ouf 10. Best sci-fi game ever. Amazing game mechanics. One of the best immersive sims at the moment !
  9. ArT_Studios
    Jan 23, 2022
    10
    Great game 10/10.
    Great game 10/10.
    Great game 10/10.
    Great game 10/10.
    Great game 10/10.
    Great game 10/10.
  10. 1Warfen
    Feb 7, 2022
    10
    There's nothing like starting a new job to have your whole world come crashing down within hours. The plot is undoubtedly Prey's strong point. Learning about the history of the Talos I crew is really interesting. Apart from that, surviving here (even on the normal difficulty level) is not at all easy and requires even at some points a judicious management of resources. You feel anxious atThere's nothing like starting a new job to have your whole world come crashing down within hours. The plot is undoubtedly Prey's strong point. Learning about the history of the Talos I crew is really interesting. Apart from that, surviving here (even on the normal difficulty level) is not at all easy and requires even at some points a judicious management of resources. You feel anxious at every step, because you never know where the enemy is hiding. The whole station looks insanely good and makes me want to explore all its nooks and crannies and learn all its secrets. Prey is a really exciting, absorbing, suspenseful and well-written space story about human greed and the desire to become gods.… Expand
  11. KolesAdlerov
    Aug 2, 2023
    10
    Top notch immersive sim with broad spectrum of management and legs! All internal game menus, player physics/actions are very user friendly. Variability and sandbox work at the highest level.

    (on a special difficulty; no HUD) Gameplay: combat mechanics 7/10 stealth (w/o powers) 9/10 atmosphere 10/10 Gameplay as RPG & im.sim: 10/10 Story [aggressive sjw-propaganda] 8/10    Top notch immersive sim with broad spectrum of management and legs! All internal game menus, player physics/actions are very user friendly. Variability and sandbox work at the highest level.

    (on a special difficulty; no HUD)
    Gameplay:
    combat mechanics 7/10
    stealth (w/o powers) 9/10
    atmosphere 10/10
    Gameplay as RPG & im.sim: 10/10

    Story [aggressive sjw-propaganda] 8/10

    Graphics [bad NPCs] 9/10

    Sounds & music [buggy issues] 8/10

    .
    Cheers, Arkane!    … Expand
  12. Blue9710x
    Jul 27, 2023
    10
    Prey is the first immersive sim I've played and I'm hungry for more. I love how every problem has 5 unique gameplay mechanics to get past it and how every aspect of the world feels completely natural but also fun to explore. I love the melancholic music played throughout the game and the terrifying sounds made by the typhons. And I think the story is great, especially the intro andPrey is the first immersive sim I've played and I'm hungry for more. I love how every problem has 5 unique gameplay mechanics to get past it and how every aspect of the world feels completely natural but also fun to explore. I love the melancholic music played throughout the game and the terrifying sounds made by the typhons. And I think the story is great, especially the intro and ending. Highly recommend.… Expand
  13. kamikazegrannie
    Jul 30, 2022
    10
    It's maybe a little silly to leave a review for a 5 year old game, but if you enjoy first-person RPGs like System Shock 2, Deus Ex, Fallout: do not sleep on Prey. It's a game that's an obvious love letter to the already mentioned System Shock 2, but the real star of this game is the space station on which it takes place: it's amazingly well realized, built like a real structure and not aIt's maybe a little silly to leave a review for a 5 year old game, but if you enjoy first-person RPGs like System Shock 2, Deus Ex, Fallout: do not sleep on Prey. It's a game that's an obvious love letter to the already mentioned System Shock 2, but the real star of this game is the space station on which it takes place: it's amazingly well realized, built like a real structure and not a video game level, but is still an absolute blast to explore. Its small, isolated setting also allows the writers to build up relationships in the crew: as you explore, you get little windows into the people that inhabit the station, how they felt about each other, and their histories. I've read other reviews claiming the story is bland, and I guess if you summarize it that's true, but the story here is more about the telling than the arc as a whole, and it's told just extremely well.

    Gameplay-wise—and I feel this is often true of Arkane's games—starts out a little punishing until you get the hang of it. Then the sandbox opens up and you really get to play it your way. A lot of the objectives have more than one way of solving them, and it's fun to realize other possible solutions even after you've completed one. The rest of the mechanics are challenging to discuss without spoilers, but suffice to say you end up unlocking some very unique powers, and there are many interesting ways to build up your character. The way you construct items is also the best application of a resource collection and crafting mechanic I've seen in this sort of game, just absolutely wacky, satisfying, and delightful.

    Something about this game that I haven't seen discussed often but deserves special mention: the UI/UX is so incredibly fantastic. The menus are thoughtful, inventory management works great, the whole thing just plays so smoothly. Whoever worked on it should be immensely proud.

    I can't believe this didn't make a larger splash when it first came out; had it not been free on Epic Games I'm not sure I would've ever noticed it. Play this game, spend some hours with it before you judge it, and I think you'll have a wonderful time.    … Expand
  14. Primerjordan794
    Jun 1, 2022
    10
    Game is really cool with the best story. Actually got scared sometimes but this game is extremely fun.
  15. itsjimmm
    Jun 13, 2022
    10
    One of the best games I ever played, if you ever want to make a game you should deftly check the documentary about the game.
  16. mosmos
    Aug 22, 2022
    10
    This game was my biggest revelation. I've never heard about this game before I've played. I was thinking it's another sf shooter, but I was totally wrong. The game-play, climate and the story is awesome. The world is created with many small details so the discovery of the space station is really satisfactory.
    This game is challenging and offers different ways how to solve the problem,    This game was my biggest revelation. I've never heard about this game before I've played. I was thinking it's another sf shooter, but I was totally wrong. The game-play, climate and the story is awesome. The world is created with many small details so the discovery of the space station is really satisfactory.
    This game is challenging and offers different ways how to solve the problem, however it's definitely not for everyone. If you expect heroic actions and hordes of aliens it's not a game for you.    … Expand
  17. Blenderhead
    Aug 1, 2017
    9
    Prey is BioShock's mechanics in Dead Space's setting, with some original spins on each.

    Gameplay is very similar to BioShock, but with Adam switched from a total to a small number of discrete mods. All changes to the player character are done via these mods; they are not split into separate types like BioShock's Plasmids and Tonics. Weapon handling is good and combat is tough--very    Prey is BioShock's mechanics in Dead Space's setting, with some original spins on each.

    Gameplay is very similar to BioShock, but with Adam switched from a total to a small number of discrete mods. All changes to the player character are done via these mods; they are not split into separate types like BioShock's Plasmids and Tonics.

    Weapon handling is good and combat is tough--very tough. This is obviously a design choice. Most monsters are more powerful than you in a fair fight, so the game encourages you to fight dirty. Different enemies have different weaknesses, and learning how to exploit them is the axis combat revolves around.

    The various powers are interesting, and vary from straight up combat applications like psionic assault and shields to utility powers like slowing time or shrinking to the size of a small object (the better to squeeze through small openings with). Gameplay often revolves around balancing various resources, including the raw materials that the player's weapons and ammo are made from.

    My one complaint is that the game doesn't do a very good job of explaining all of this. I reloaded an early save about 6 hours in, and discovered that taking the Recycling Expert, Toughness, and Necropsy mods reduced the difficulty from what felt like Very Hard back to Normal, without changing the game's actual difficulty slider. The game's early instructions to "play your way," misled me on the viability of taking the mods I wanted from the getgo. The only reason I can see to not take Recycling Expert and Toughness are for the challenge inherent in not taking them; it's not really "play your way," if there are certain must-have abilities, but this is ultimately a small nitpick.

    I really enjoyed the story. Again, I'm reminded of BioShock. We start right off with a twist that's a good way to illustrate the side effects of neuromods. The story clarifies and then obfuscates against several times over a playthrough. And there is a stinger after the credits that would make Marvel comics jealous. The setting is also very original. I likened it to Dead Space, but it has a lot more flair than that, with the player slowly discovering the twists and turns of Prey's alternate history; a world where the Space Race never really ended. Also the game is surprisingly progressive, very reminiscent of Star Trek's vision of the future--I've never seen *any* media property that made a chapter revolve around a queer Asian couple, and Prey really makes you like them--they're nerds, and they're adorable. It's the little touches like that that make this game feel more vibrant than Dead Space. While Dead Space was a pessimistic vision of the future, Prey is more of a cautionary tale of optimistic arrogance. All of that does a great job of complimenting the game's central moral dilemma, which ultimately boils down to whether you're willing to risk humanity's present in exchange for a brighter future.

    My first few hours were a bit frustrating, and I see a lot of comments around the internet about how this game is too hard. It's not; it's too poorly explained. That's really the worst thing I can say about it.

    Comparisons to BioShock (and their common ancestor, System Shock 2) aside, this is a game I haven't seen anything like for some time. I enjoyed my time with Prey, and will likely play through it again to see the other options and tie up some unfinished side quests.    … Expand
  18. Sirwootalot
    Feb 13, 2019
    9
    Roughly 2/3rds through the game, if I had to guess.

    + As usual for Arkane, utterly incredible art direction + One of the most atmospheric, immersive games I've ever played - seriously! + Zero-gravity and spacewalk sections are particularly nerve-wracking, in a good way + Really, REALLY good writing and voice acting, with very few exceptions + Pervasively mysterious and intriguing    Roughly 2/3rds through the game, if I had to guess.

    + As usual for Arkane, utterly incredible art direction
    + One of the most atmospheric, immersive games I've ever played - seriously!
    + Zero-gravity and spacewalk sections are particularly nerve-wracking, in a good way
    + Really, REALLY good writing and voice acting, with very few exceptions
    + Pervasively mysterious and intriguing main story - few plot holes, but many big questions
    + Deep, intricate upgrade and crafting systems
    + You HAVE to find creative solutions to succeed - run-and-gun is rarely viable

    - Not the best performance, graphics-wise, despite few high-res textures
    - graphics are suspiciously jaggy at all times, even with high AA/filtering
    - back to needing creative solutions - certain achievements like "no crew deaths" are near-impossible without meticulous planning, and near-guaranteed to fail due to unforgiving enemy AI
    - Derpy, stiff NPC facial animations don't do justice to the game's better-than-usual voice acting

    I was initially turned off from this game due to being a big fan of the original Prey - I was worried Bethesda was just using the name as a cash-grab (which they kind of did). Title aside, this is an utterly fantastic "shock" style game, set in an intricately designed semi-open space station that you slowly unlock as you go. It's meant to be a spiritual successor to System Shock, and it wildly succeeds at this.    … Expand
  19. GolovA
    Jun 1, 2022
    9
    Half Life +
    Bioshock +
    System Shock +
    Bioforge +
    Deus Ex +
    Alien Isolation +
    Dead Space =
    _____________
    PREY

    Solid and underrated game.
  20. ket
    Jan 1, 2022
    9
    One of the best games I've played in a long time and it is absolutely criminal there are no plans for a sequel to tie up the story that has been started here. Any game that is as good as Prey that has the marketing for it handled competently (which Prey didn't have) would do gangbusters, the story is superb, the gameplay is superb, the ending begs a sequel to tie up the story, the onlyOne of the best games I've played in a long time and it is absolutely criminal there are no plans for a sequel to tie up the story that has been started here. Any game that is as good as Prey that has the marketing for it handled competently (which Prey didn't have) would do gangbusters, the story is superb, the gameplay is superb, the ending begs a sequel to tie up the story, the only downside is that the optional tasks in the game could have done with more bug testing as some tasks are rather buggy to the point of not being able to complete them but fortunately not too many of them are like this. The best way to describe Prey is that it is a mix of Bioshock meets Alien Isolation meets Mass Effect and all of these components mesh, for the most part, wonderfully.

    If you haven't played Prey, play it.    … Expand
  21. Carda1972
    May 5, 2017
    9
    I'm not gonna rate this game by Bethesda's move on Praey to the Gods. That company should be thanking Bethesda for all the exposure they now are getting on their game. If you like HalfLife and System Shock 2, this is a no brainer... just buy it. It's a good PC port, it doesn't have the best textures but the gameplay is very much to my liking. If you're looking for a Doom shooter, I wouldI'm not gonna rate this game by Bethesda's move on Praey to the Gods. That company should be thanking Bethesda for all the exposure they now are getting on their game. If you like HalfLife and System Shock 2, this is a no brainer... just buy it. It's a good PC port, it doesn't have the best textures but the gameplay is very much to my liking. If you're looking for a Doom shooter, I would not recommend this. 9 out of 10… Expand
  22. Zetoc
    Apr 3, 2021
    9
    I first played this game for about an hour when it came out, for some reason it dident really catch my attention and i did not play it again for many years... but man am i glad i gave it a second chance

    This game is a gem! Interesting story and setting, excellent gameplay and both known and unique game mechanics Good sound,music and atmhosphere. Took me around 23 hours to finnish and    I first played this game for about an hour when it came out, for some reason it dident really catch my attention and i did not play it again for many years... but man am i glad i gave it a second chance

    This game is a gem!
    Interesting story and setting, excellent gameplay and both known and unique game mechanics
    Good sound,music and atmhosphere.
    Took me around 23 hours to finnish and it felt not to short or to long

    Gameplaywise its a mix of bioshock and deadspace with a splash of Halflife

    The game is not perfect but it is pretty close

    Enemies are abit uninteresting and not very varied, but its kinda linked to the story
    The UI can be abit clunky and it took me a while to figure out to quickmap weapons etc
    The graphics and artstyle are by no means bad but might be a slight bit cartoonish, where i would have liked more of a deadspace or Re2 Remake astetic and look.
    And i would have like a little longer ending cutscene that explained abit more about what happend after

    But these are minor complaints, i fellt like i was back in the good old days of gaming where i just couldent wait to get home to play more    … Expand
  23. jc_denton
    Nov 24, 2020
    9
    This is a fantastically underrated game that emphasizes player choice. It that sense, it's the closest thing we have to a Deus Ex or System Shock 2 in the modern era. It's an RPG at its heart - don't expect to go in guns blazing and winning the gunfights unless you've maxed out the weapon skill tree. It's a thinking man's game.

    The game features some of the world building I've ever    This is a fantastically underrated game that emphasizes player choice. It that sense, it's the closest thing we have to a Deus Ex or System Shock 2 in the modern era. It's an RPG at its heart - don't expect to go in guns blazing and winning the gunfights unless you've maxed out the weapon skill tree. It's a thinking man's game.

    The game features some of the world building I've ever seen. There snippets of information spread here and there and its up to you to piece the puzzle together. This is one of those games where getting spoiled really ruins a large part of the experience, since the joy and thrill of finding out what's REALLY going on is what keeps this game going. So stop reading reviews, and go get this game. It can probably be had for less than 10 bucks these days.    … Expand
  24. Hurzt
    Sep 8, 2017
    9
    A very great, smart and deep game - just know that this is not your ordinary FPS shooter.

    It kind of takes over the heritage of Ultima Underworld (Arkane almost made a sequel to it, which became Arx Fatalis), the System Shock and the Bioshock games (Yeah, Thief/Dishonored, too) and creates something beautifully familiar, yet original out of it. The game is a slow burner and doesn't    A very great, smart and deep game - just know that this is not your ordinary FPS shooter.

    It kind of takes over the heritage of Ultima Underworld (Arkane almost made a sequel to it, which became Arx Fatalis), the System Shock and the Bioshock games (Yeah, Thief/Dishonored, too) and creates something beautifully familiar, yet original out of it.

    The game is a slow burner and doesn't take you by the hand, yet rewards you for every step you take, especially when attempting to look further behind the obvious spaces and experimenting with the different game mechanics.

    Superb level-, art- and sound-design, lots of different choices, tactics and possible builds, all topped by a haunting and captivating atmosphere...I could go on and on :)

    What amazes me the most is how Prey actually allows you to choose the depth/speed of your gaming experience.
    There is a lot to soak in and discover, but I suppose you could also skip/miss loads of it and still have a fun playthrough.

    In the endgame there were some story bugs / quests I couldn't finish or didn't have the patience to, but all in all it stayed amazing.

    Anyways, as stated in the beginning:
    If you're looking for a more straight shooter experience, this might not be your cup of coffee.    … Expand
  25. AthanasiosT
    Nov 16, 2017
    9
    Atmospheric and a little scary at times, with clever enemies and a space station at your disposal to explore. Player character is fully upgradeable along with the guns, something that is really needed on the later levels of the game. Clever design and realistic zero gravity space walks, along with a very good story, leave you wanting for more. I hope no.2 is on the making.
  26. RedMAK
    Dec 30, 2017
    9
    Great game! I was quite reluctant to purchase it first because of some reviewers saying "woooo, boring, wooo, enemies are repetitive, wooo, AI is dumb", so it defeinitely took some time to get my hands on this. And I can say - the game is GREAT! Immersion is great, compassion, moral questions are great (hello, ADVENT shuttle), graphics are great, the whole gameplay is great. I am a trueGreat game! I was quite reluctant to purchase it first because of some reviewers saying "woooo, boring, wooo, enemies are repetitive, wooo, AI is dumb", so it defeinitely took some time to get my hands on this. And I can say - the game is GREAT! Immersion is great, compassion, moral questions are great (hello, ADVENT shuttle), graphics are great, the whole gameplay is great. I am a true System Shock 2 fan and this one goes pretty close or beyond.
    PROs:
    - Graphics;
    - Immersion;
    - Setting;
    - Twisted and braincrackins storyline;
    - System Shock 2 descendant;
    CONs:
    - Skill tree could be bigger and more developed. If you do not go with Typhon powers, closer to the end of game you literally put points into skills you not actually need, just to put them somewhere.
    - Longer! Harder! I want it LOOONGER and HAAARDER! There is some truth behind the fact that closer to the end you start walking/jumping/gliding as semi-god with little menace from Typhon even on impossible (I was playing on IMP).    … Expand
  27. Mandulum
    Jun 2, 2017
    9
    Five Word Review: A top notch sci-fi adventure.
    Favorite Thing: I'm a sucker for a good scifi game and I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
    Least Favorite Thing: Loading screens. You'll spend a lot of time looking at them.

    Date Completed: 2017-05-22
    Playtime: ~ 32h
    Enjoyment: 9/10
    Recommendation: Play it.
  28. Ensaabahnur
    Mar 8, 2019
    9
    Great game! Spiritual sequel to the bioshock and system shock franchises, it's got a good story ,good ,solid gameplay and very fun overall!
  29. Silverqt
    May 26, 2017
    9
    This game is something! incredible good! That feeling when you didnt expect something good and then it Turns out in awesomeness! Its like dishonored + bioshock + deus ex in 1. Great gameplay, great story, great setting, very interesting side quests. Awesome adventure! I'm so glad that this is not some generic brainless shooter. Thanks Arkane Studios and Bethesda
  30. Monkinsane
    May 11, 2017
    9
    The game is amazing! Deep lore, definitely a thinking man's game. A deep feeling of Bioshock, System Shock, dead space and Deus Ex bleed through in the gameplay (in a good way). You may feel lost in the beginning, but as events unfold and the story unravels, the world will draw you in more and more.

    Whilst I have experienced a crash or 2 on PC, it's few and far between. The game is    The game is amazing! Deep lore, definitely a thinking man's game. A deep feeling of Bioshock, System Shock, dead space and Deus Ex bleed through in the gameplay (in a good way). You may feel lost in the beginning, but as events unfold and the story unravels, the world will draw you in more and more.

    Whilst I have experienced a crash or 2 on PC, it's few and far between. The game is pretty stable, especially after the Dishonored 2 disaster (which I still completed twice despite the crashes). The game is also beautiful, stunning environments.

    I'd highly reccomend picking it up.

    PS. I see the usual trolls are giving it 0's - ignore them.    … Expand
Page:

Awards & Rankings

52
#52 Best PC Game of 2017
11
#11 Most Discussed PC Game of 2017
10
#10 Most Shared PC Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 38
  3. Negative: 1 out of 38
  1. Quarter to Three
    Nov 15, 2017
    60
    Many of its elements never quite come together, so there’s no payoff. The clumsy human stories, the botched difficulty curve, the dangling gameplay threads, the pointless decisions, the cool 3D printer scavenging economy, the coral, the hunters, the various survivors who need saving. If I never had fewer than a dozen mana potions, what did it matter whether I did the quest to put mana healing into the water supply?
    Read full review
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jul 5, 2017
    100
    Prey offers one of the best gaming environments in the history and builds on it its sophisticated, exciting, and unusually entertaining gameplay. A weaker story and sometimes too high difficulty does not change the fact that Arkane studios has once again produced something special. [Issue#275]
  3. PC PowerPlay
    Jun 30, 2017
    80
    A great game of action and exploration, with rich, interlocking mechanics. May be a little bit derivative, but a tonne of fun nonetheless. [Issue#263, p.56]
    Read full review
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