Fallout has been a titan in the sci-fi space for many decades now. But just because it may be many players' favorite in the genre, that doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of other great games out there that capture the essence of science fiction in even better ways.
Many of the best sci-fi games have actually found their home on Game Pass, letting players experience futuristic worlds and apocalyptic scenarios all under the same price tag. No matter if players are looking for an open-world epic or a slower, more story-driven experience, the platform really has it all.
Control
Shifting Realty One Step At A Time
Details:
- Physics-based combat with a lot of creativity
- A more tactile world that can be interacted with in more detail
Control sends players to a shifting, paranormal setting that feels truly alive and completely different from the run-down wastelands of Fallout. The Oldest House isn’t just a backdrop, but a place that actively reshapes itself in real time, with every room telling a story through environmental details rather than explicit objects or notes.
The combat is where Control completely pulls ahead. Players have access to a range of powers that they can use on both enemies and the environment itself, creating a sense of power that is pretty hard to find elsewhere. The game also flows at a much faster pace, letting players truly dictate how aggressive or passive they want to be with their newfound abilities.
Doom: Eternal
Journeying To Hell And Back
Details:
- Fast-paced action that is cited as the best in the series
- Huge range of gun combos that each serve specific purposes
DOOM Eternal is the culmination of over two decades' worth of franchise development, delivering the best experience in the series by a country mile. Players get to jump back into the demonic world with even more grit than ever, sprinting through enemies and gunning their way through levels however they choose to.
The game manages to capture the sci-fi elements of the universe perfectly and marries them to a satisfying gunplay loop that will keep players coming back time and time again. In terms of FPS games in the genre, few can compete with the sheer level of fun that Eternal provides, cementing itself among the greats both in the franchise and the wider space.
Prey
Nowhere Is Safe In Space
Details:
- Intelligent enemies that require constant adaptation
- Open-ended problem-solving rather than distinct solutions
Prey delivers the kind of systemic freedom that many Fallout games promise but never fully achieve. Every obstacle on Talos I can be solved through a variety of methods, allowing players to creatively carve out their own paths whilst never feeling restricted.
The world itself also feels incredibly unique, something which is difficult to achieve in an otherwise fairly stale genre of sci-fi horror. In the end, the game feels like a love letter to all sides of the science fiction spectrum, letting players feel lost in a tense playthrough that will push them to their psychological limits.
Wasteland 3
The Pinnacle Of Turn-Based Strategy
Details:
- Classic RPG feel
- Party interactions that are closer to the early days of the genre
Wasteland 3 feels very reminiscent of the early Fallout days, having turn-based mechanics that give players all the choice they need to approach every single encounter. But where the game eclipses Bethesda's apocalypse is how well it handles decision-making, where consequences can often be delayed, and long-term outcomes can be severe from even minor mistakes.
The tactical nature of the combat also allows players to feel far more in touch with the world itself. Every piece of cover has meaning, and players will need to focus more on their surroundings to succeed, fully immersing themselves in the environment from the moment the game begins.
Titanfall 2
Exceptional From Start To Finish
Details:
- Incredible single-player campaign with progression integrated perfectly
- Mechanically demanding multiplayer that encourages mastery of movement
Titanfall 2 manages to accomplish something that very few other modern FPS games even attempt, having both a stellar campaign and an exceptional multiplayer experience. Players aren't just forced into scenario after another, and instead, they are given meaningful tools at critical moments that can then be used throughout the rest of the story, rather than just being gimmicks.
When it comes to multiplayer, no other game really comes close to the action and intensity of the large-scale Pilot vs Titan fights. One minute, a player can be dashing and wall-riding around the map, and the next, hop into a giant mechanical killing machine, giving them a power fantasy that just doesn't exist anywhere else in the sci-fi genre.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
