The recent debut of the Artemis II space mission was a breathtaking event, with towering rockets igniting in a thunderous display as they propelled the spacecraft beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. However, the subsequent images of the Orion spacecraft and its four-member crew floating silently in the vastness of space are equally striking.
Michael Collins, an Apollo astronaut, vividly captured the essence of this experience in his autobiography. While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin descended to the lunar surface, Collins reflected on his solitude in the command module, stating, “I am alone now, truly alone, and absolutely isolated from any known life. I am it. If a count were taken, the score would be three billion plus two over on the other side of the moon, and one plus God knows what on this side.”
While many science-fiction video games transport players to distant galaxies or futuristic settings where space travel is commonplace, a select few delve into themes of isolation and vulnerability. As a child fascinated by NASA in the 1980s, I was captivated by Elite, a classic space trading game that presented a vast, empty universe in simple monochromatic graphics. I spent hours maneuvering my small craft between quiet space stations, gazing at the stars and distant planets.
More recently, the initial release of No Man’s Sky in 2016 allowed players to explore strange, lonely planets filled with dangers such as toxic atmospheres and scarce resources, creating an ever-present sense of peril. Although updates have made the game more forgiving, the initial threat heightened the emotional resonance of those tranquil moments of arrival. Likewise, Exo One’s minimalist approach to planetary exploration invites players to pilot a small alien ship across surreal landscapes, skillfully riding thermal currents and descending steep mountains. Game developer Henry Driver shared his admiration for Exo One on BlueSky, noting its ability to mesmerize audiences during a games festival he organized last year.
Numerous other titles also emerged in conversations about games that evoke feelings of beauty, isolation, and existential dread. The acclaimed puzzle adventure Outer Wilds places players in a time loop within a doomed solar system, repeating the same solitary 22 minutes while seeking an escape. Its worlds are both beautiful and harsh, with an impending supernova counting down the time. Similarly, games like Observation and Tacoma set players in damaged space stations, piecing together the narratives of prior calamities. Other titles such as Alien: Isolation, Freelancer, Homeworld, and Out There have also been mentioned for their ability to convey emotions of solitude, wonder, and fear, often relying on minimalist soundscapes and environmental details. Tracey McGarrigan, a games industry consultant, reminisced about the Atari 2600 title Solaris, highlighting its evocative audio and visuals.
While the precise emotions experienced by the Orion crew during their 40 minutes of radio silence behind the moon remain beyond our comprehension, the gaming industry has long aspired to replicate that sensation. These games offer a glimpse into the daunting experience of confronting the vast void of space, with players protected only by a thin shell of metal and limited oxygen supplies. There is an intrinsic human curiosity about the experience of teetering on the brink of existence, whether through extreme sports, amusement park rides, or the thoughtfully designed realms of space-themed games that focus on small crews in confined vessels, grappling with the enormity of the universe.
For fans of the classic turn-based strategy game XCOM, it’s time to gear up for battle once again. Xenonauts 2, the sequel to Goldhawk Interactive’s homage to the XCOM franchise, places players in command of Earth’s defenses against alien threats. Players will manage secret bases, develop new technologies, and lead troops in combat against extraterrestrial foes. The game’s polished graphics and intricate layers of strategy offer a deeply engaging experience, promising to keep players absorbed for an extended period.
Available on: PC
Estimated playtime: 30-plus hours
Indie horror games inspired by the creepypasta phenomenon known as the Backrooms have gained popularity in recent years, with titles like Exit 8 and The Complex: Found Footage. A recent feature from MIT examines these games through the lens of institutional gothic, presenting a contemporary interpretation of Victorian horror set in modern environments like office buildings and shopping centers.
Despite receiving a wave of negative reviews, the Super Mario Galaxy film grossed $372.5 million during its opening weekend. How did an animated sequel with a Metacritic score of 36 achieve such success? Box-office analyst David A. Gross noted, “Family movie-going is leading the industry now.”
As a somewhat remorseful Sega enthusiast, I was intrigued to learn that the creator of Alone in the Dark is seeking crowdfunding for a new Mega Drive game. Frédérick Raynal, who originally developed the brick-breaking game PopCorn in 1988, is working on a revamped version that will include a dedicated controller. The Kickstarter campaign for the game is currently halfway to its funding goal.
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