Alien: Isolation

Alien: Isolation (Creative Assembly–SEGA, 2014) is a first-person survival horror game that revisits the universe of Ridley Scott's original Alien (1979). Unlike other titles in the series, this one focuses on constant tension, player vulnerability, and faithfulness to Scott's visual and audio style. In this review, we'll explore its narrative, gameplay mechanics, AI design, audio atmosphere, and philosophical themes that make it an immersive and thoughtful horror experience.

1. Context and Narrative
Protagonist and connection to the saga: We play Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley. Her goal is to discover the whereabouts of her mother, who disappeared after the events of the Nostromo. This filial connection provides a strong emotional thrust, humanizing the experience.

Setting: The space station "Sevastopol" recreates a decaying corporate facility, riddled with dark hallways, ventilation ducts, and dilapidated security cameras. The architectural design recalls the industrial and retro-futuristic aesthetic of the original film, reinforcing the sense of claustrophobia and abandonment.

2. Survival Mechanics

Stealth and Evasion: There is no effective direct combat against the Xenomorph. The player has basic tools (grappling hook, flare gun, wrench) and a limited inventory. Success depends on observation, planning, and clever use of the environment (cabinets, tables, pipes) for concealment.

Crafting System: Gather components scattered around the station and craft distractions (noise makers, flares) or upgrades (motion filters). This approach encourages meticulous exploration and rewards curiosity.

Resource Management: Ammunition and parts are scarce. Every decision to craft or use an item involves a survival dilemma: save the flare to mislead the Xenomorph or illuminate a dark area?

3. The Xenomorph's Artificial Intelligence

The main enemy is not governed by predictable patterns, but by a hierarchical AI system that allows it to:

Patrol areas for noise or movement.

Dynamically switch targets if more relevant stimuli arise.

Use conduits to "appear" in unexpected areas.

Remember the player's recent positions to set ambushes.

This design turns each encounter into a test of ingenuity, as the creature acts almost as another "player" in the game.

4. Sound Design and Atmosphere

Soundscape: The whirring of machinery, intermittent alarms, and metallic creaks create constant tension. The soundtrack, composed by The Hexagon Sun, evokes Jerry Goldsmith's minimalist, dissonant style in Alien (1979).

Use of Silence: In many hallways, there is no music, only the echo of our own footsteps or Amanda's labored breathing. These moments of stillness are as unsettling as the sudden jump scares.

5. Aesthetics and Art**

Retro-Futuristic Fidelity: Analog panels, magnetic tapes, CRT monitors—every element looks straight out of 1979. This "retro" realism reinforces authenticity.

Dramatic Lighting: Spotlights and long shadows create extreme contrasts, making any dark corner more terrifying.

6. Philosophical and Existential Themes

Otherness and the Monster: The xenomorph embodies the absolute strangeness, the unpredictable. Its otherness confronts us with the irrational and destructive, reminding us of our own fragility.

Vulnerability and Power: The player often feels powerless, without the means to fight back. This challenges the fantasy of omnipotence typical of many action video games, instead proposing a survival experience based on humility.

The Corporation and Dehumanization: Sevastopol Station reflects the contempt of large corporations for human life, treated as a resource. The crew's diaries and the Weyland-Yutani's logs reveal cold and calculating decisions that sacrifice people for profit.

Isolation and Anxiety: Amanda's loneliness, without allies, without reliable communication, evokes the existential anguish of "being alone in the cosmos." This radical loneliness deepens the sense of fear.

7. Cultural Impact and Legacy

Revival of Survival Horror: Alien: Isolation proved that pure horror and constant tension could be just as compelling as frenetic action. It inspired other developers to explore the "no real weapons" mode (inspiring games like Resident Evil 7).

Community and Mods: The modding community has created additional scenarios and narrative experiences, exploring other corners of the franchise.

-Existential isolation-

“Amanda is left drifting in a spacesuit, alone in the void – until a light passes over her…”
By taking the final image of Amanda Ripley floating in the void, we can unravel several layers of meaning that speak directly to cosmic loneliness and its existential resonance with the absurd:

1, Human Smallness in the Face of Infinity: In that scene, Amanda is no longer in industrial corridors or compressed ducts: she is suspended in space, surrounded by the dark abyss. This transition from claustrophobic to absolutely open reminds us how much our "environment" defines us and, at the same time, how much we are overwhelmed by what escapes our understanding. The vastness of the cosmos reveals the scale of our insignificance: we are a tiny dot, a spark of consciousness clinging to a pressurized suit, floating without anchor.

2. The Awareness of Our Fragility: Throughout the game, Amanda is gripped by fear, by the relentless stalking of the xenomorph, and by corporate apathy. But only at the end do we understand that, beyond the creature itself, the true terror lies in knowing there is no "plan B," no miraculous rescue, no second attempt. The suit supporting her could fail at any moment, her oxygen runs out, and communication has been lost. This extreme fragility—the human respiratory organ against a vacuum—demonstrates how precarious our condition is.

3. Radical Solitude vs. Chosen Solitude: Philosophically, we can distinguish Amanda's imposed solitude (a prisoner of fate, forced to survive) from the solitude that certain thinkers have claimed as a source of self-knowledge (for example, Kierkegaard or Heidegger). In Isolation, solitude is violence: it is a cry without an echo, a heart beating in absolute silence. There is no serene contemplation: only terror and urgency. This "hostile" solitude confronts us with the question: can we transform the deprivation of companionship into a state of full self-presence, or are we condemned to anguish when the other—human, animal, or divine—disappears?

4, The Flash of Light as Hope or Illusion: The appearance of a light piercing the darkness introduces a deliberate ambiguity. Is it a lifeline, a new danger, or simply the latest play of Amanda's mind, gripped by hypoxia? Philosophically, "light" usually symbolizes knowledge, divinity, or redemption. But here, that light may be just another disembodied flash that abandons her once again. This ambivalence makes us reflect on the promise of meaning in an indifferent universe: perhaps hope is always provisional, a passing phenomenon before the abyss.

5. Solitude and Temporality: The spatial void is outside of time as we perceive it: there is no day and night, no circadian rhythm; only an “eternal present” sustained by a bubble of oxygen. This radical timelessness reminds us of the meditations of philosophers like Augustine: without the flow of hours, our experience of life loses its structure, falling into a state of suspension. Amanda, suspended in an endless instant, becomes a mirror of that “zero hour” of existence: the limiting moment where past, present, and future dissolve into a single impression of pure vulnerability

Final Reflection:
That final image of absolute isolation is not only a narrative denouement, but an existential metaphor. It questions our place in the universe: we are beings condemned to carry within us the awareness of our finitude and, simultaneously, the impulse to search for meaning in an environment that offers no easy answers. Looking at ourselves in Amanda's helmet, we see our own condition reflected...

This is probably the most physically terrifying game I've ever played; It's by far one of the most faithful adaptations of the world the original film introduced with an amazing story to boot, and deserves all the praise in the world for it if you ask me.

Very intense. Scary atmosphere. Good graphics. Great game. You should play it.

I'd say with zero doubt this is the best horror game, I've ever played. The atmosphere is unbeatable, the varying enemies, tools, weapons, and craftable items. Add so much depth to every encounter. Group of androids, EMP+Pipebomb=Quadra-Kill. Group of humans, dont fret one simple noise maker and the alien kills them all. Charge at the Alien with the flame thrower and Molotov, no matter what you ain't killing the perfect specimen, but you can ward him off. Or sneak around him using various craftables. Not only is the gameplay peak but the story definitely respects the Alien franchise, if you love the first 2 movies, you'll love this game... unless you're soft. All in all, I couldn't recommend this game more. Can't wait for the sequel bruzz.

Alien: Isolation és una experiència intensa que et posa els pèls de punta. El joc aconsegueix captar l’essència de la saga Alien, amb una atmosfera opressiva i una intel·ligència artificial que et manté sempre alerta. La sensació de vulnerabilitat és real, i cada passadís fosc et fa pensar dues vegades abans d’avançar. Visualment, és un homenatge als anys 80, amb detalls que fan somriure als fans. Si vols sentir-te perseguit per una criatura que no sap què és la pietat, aquest és el teu joc. I sí, saltaràs de la cadira més d’una vegada!

Alien: Isolation is an intense experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The game perfectly captures the essence of the Alien saga, with an oppressive atmosphere and an AI that keeps you constantly on your toes. The feeling of vulnerability is real, and every dark corridor makes you think twice before moving forward. Visually, it’s a loving tribute to the ‘80s, full of details that will make fans smile. If you want to feel hunted by a creature that has never heard of mercy, this is your game. And yes, you’ll jump out of your chair more than once!

One of the BEST horror games ever made! Anyone who is a fan of this genre of games should giver it a try! 10's across the board!!!!

- Overall great game 8/10, safe buy on discount
- Reminds of "Prey", whis is also highly recommended
- Good graphics for the age, in particular the light
- Predictable, yet classic story
- Enjoyable levels of scare and horror cause a tense atmosphere, not super jumpy all the time
- Bits of backtracking, not annoying
- Gameplay becomes a bit dull after you've mastered the mechanics

This game is a work of art. I don't even like horror, but something about this one and the Alien setting pulled me in. The bad dreams after hours of playing were well well worth it haha. The way the story progresses feels exactly like the Alien movies. It is incredible. Highly recommend if you have been thinking about buying it.

Felt brave playing this for the first time on Hard Mode. Got hard’d instantly. Cost me more in adult diapers than the game. 11/10. Would touch Alien again :D

Amazing horror experience, genuinely was stressed out when I had to deal with the androids, the face huggers, and of course the damn Alien. This game really looks beautiful as well, sometimes I just like taking a small break and looking out into space and looking whats around the station. Also loved how much there is to explore on the ship without it feeling too massive. The sound design was probably my favorite part, it was really well done in this game.

Probably my only critics is that theres no NG+ or multiple save files which stinks, but at the very least it gives you the option to retry missions. Other than that, great horror game!

This game is awesome. Tense and nerve-wracking throughout with a compelling story. Genuinely a top notch title for the horror genre.

YES it was a good game
YES i shit myself many times in the process
go play it

I'm preaching to the choir at this point, as everyone already knows this is the best thing to come out of the Alien franchise since Aliens and is one of the best survival horror games ever made, but that doesn't make it any less true. I still can't get over how this came out right after Aliens Colonial Marines, but I'm glad its reminded many people that the Xenomorph works better as an unstoppable terror beyond comprehension (as Ridley Scott first presented it back in 1979) rather than a bullet sponge bug with no self-preservation instinct.

Alien Isolation make take a while to get going, but once the hunt begins, it never fails to be just as tense and engrossing as the first time I played it, and aside from some pacing issues in its back half, it's a great time all around. Don't let idiots like IGN prevent you from stepping into Amanda Ripley's shoes and experiencing one of te most immersive and thrilling horror experiences you'll ever find.

Alien: Isolation – 35 Minutes In, Heart Still Beating Faster

★★★★★ (5/5)

Only played for 35 minutes, but that was enough to know: this game works.

Did I scream? No.
Did I feel completely tense, paranoid, and slightly sweaty? Absolutely.

Alien: Isolation nails the sci-fi horror vibe—dim corridors, eerie sound design, and that constant feeling that something is watching you. Even in the early parts, before the alien gets super active, the atmosphere alone had me creeping around like a professional hide-and-seek champion.

This isn't a run-and-gun game. It's slow, methodical, and all about survival. And it pulls that off really well.

I haven’t even met the alien face-to-face yet… and I’m already impressed (and low-key nervous).

Highly recommended if you want an immersive, nerve-wracking experience without cheap jumpscares. Just… maybe don’t play it in the dark. Unless you’re into that.

Fantastic game, dripping in atmosphere from the first alien game its a must have game.

absolutely fucking fantastic experience its worth full price and a literal HEIST if you can catch it on sale

this is easily in my top 5 games of all time

Really good game. 69/85

The Alien keeps you scared
The A.I will keep you in check
The story is great as well!
the levels can be confusing but all work really well
The game makes you think at times, cant just run and gun your way out
Tones of variety in the gadgits, tools and weapons

The only thing im not a big fan of is that the game feels a little longer then it needs to be. Especially when compared to horror games. Its not a bad thing, the story is great and keeps you engaged even if you haven't seen the original films!

This without even a shadow of a doubt is my favourite horror game of all time - and that's despite it being released over 10 years ago now. I love this game with all my heart, and I'm so glad that this franchise finally got a good game.

The game has some of the best immersion I've ever played, and that completely sells the horror and tension of Alien Isolation. The music is stunning and matches the franchise perfectly. The sound effects is top notch and every hiss makes every single moment even scarier. This game is visually stunning and it's held up well despite being made in 2024. The story is good, using Amanda (Ripley's daughter) as the protagonist was a good call with some interesting lore being created though I wish there was more. Sigourney Weaver reprising Ripley for that one scene towards the end was *chefs kiss* .

Gameplay was good, but this contains my only issues with the game. One of the most common problems I had which I'm sure many will agree with, was there was far too much backtracking - and resource limiting. I felt like the game could have been shorter and been even better - it's 18 hours (according to HowLongDoesItTake.com) which could be good if there was even more to explore, not the same section 30 times. I feel like the resources either were very rare or spilling out the god damn walls - maybe that's me but I wish it was slightly more consistent and only increased for key moments where the player would probably need it.

The AI for the Xenomorph and even the creatures or humans is top notch and one of the best I've seen in a game. Like I said, this game has amazing immersion and it helps sell the idea that the Xenomorph is naturally hunting Amanda and it feels realistic even though it's just some code.

I haven't played much of the DLCs but they are alright from what I've played - I'm sure there are complains and praise for all of them. I got all the DLC for dirt cheap but I can imagine people weren't happy to pay full price.

Anyway - good game.

One of the best games I've ever played, the devs understood what makes Alien good. The game reproduced the same vibes of the original movies and has a huge respect for the original universe, whether in the scenery or in the soundscapes (the sound effects are pure gold!), in one word, cinema! It should have won the 2014 goty

The moment I panicked and emptied a mag into an alien, then kept clicking even though the mag was empty, even though I knew it wouldn't help and didn't run instead like a logical person should—was the moment I stopped judging the movie characters.

It's creepy, atmospheric, unpredictable, authentic and took surprisingly long to beat.

Literally the best horror game I've ever played. Please give us a sequel!

This game is really good. I was suprisied I went into this with not to much hope but it was reccomended by a friend. This game is for people who are looking for a very goo story rich and scary rich stealth game which I really enjoy. You should go into this expexcting to be extremely scary. Have Fun

Recreates the setting quite faithfully, however as a game it's a barebones experience where tension was swiftly replaced with frustration. I can excuse all the plot convenience because the movies were already pretty cheesy, but this is one of those games that instantly kills you if you don't follow the exact script it wants you to. On top of that, enemies can see and shoot you through walls, inventory is so minimal I stopped bothering to explore, and you're given such vague instructions that the constant setbacks became so boring I stopped caring altogether.

It's safe to say I do not play horror games by ANY means, so when a friend told me I should get the game, and I bought it. My heart did not have fun.

This game scared the literal living shit out of me. Would recommend despite not even finishing the game yet. 10/10

Horrifying alien that never lets up. Recommend it, don't let yourself be afraid of dying though. Use it as a learning experience to try and keep making progress. Great game! Will be playing it again to try and 100% it.

I just got the news, since I live under a rock, that the sequel to Alien Isolation is in early development because of the success of Alien Romulus. I got so happy that watching it on sale, I bought it again even after having it for my Xbox. I still remember playing this game back in 2014 when I was a kid and I had no money, so I was forced to pir*te it, having no idea what I was playing at first and then watching PewDiePie playing this game gave me so much joy.I also got introduced to AngryJoe because of this. Those were my golden years, when everything felt so simple and full of wonder.

Hearing about the sequel now feels like a soft light reaching me out from the past, small enough to be faint but warm enough to touch me. I know times have changed and none of us are quite the same person as we were back then, but even so, getting the chance to relive even a small piece of those memories would feel like a treasure. TRUST ME!

Also f**k IGN, they should quit reviewing games at this point

this game is scary. the monster scares you. then you get scaerd. the ,onster walks aroujnd and scrares you again. thjenm you scared you again/. tyje alime scared ,e multiple times. then your get scared. walks around and scares you aghain. this game really scary. my mom bouigh it for me and this game is really scary.

I love the fact that the xenomorph is controlled by AI, meaning it does whatever it wants is so terrifying its amazing.

Seriously underrated. It's a great horror FPS in every way. I had to take a break often though because of how tense it was for me. It's probably because of the great immersion.

The game is also superb at introducing the player to the environment they are in. It doesn't explain things in tutorials, but introduces cause and effect through story telling.

Alien Isolation is a brutally immersive experience; its tense atmosphere and faithful respect for the original Alien universe kept me hooked from start to finish. The xenomorph’s unpredictable AI keeps you constantly on edge. The pacing can feel a bit slow, and the manual save system can be frustrating at times. Still, if you enjoy horror games, Alien Isolation is a gem you absolutely need to play.

Alien Isolation is an absolute must play that captures the true atmosphere and feeling of the original Alien film. While it was released way back in 2014 it was well ahead of its time graphically and even now as of 2025 it stands up against triple AAA titles. (One thing I can say while there is a VR mod, this game would have been PERFECT if it had full VR SUPPORT it almost feels like it was designed for it but they decided to just go with a desktop mode, a real shame because it could have been up there with Half Life Alyx.) That aside If you haven't played it and your an Alien fan get it already!

Played this 10 years ago and it blew me away.

Play it again this past week, blown away at how great the game still is. Felt compelled to share that love.

Creaking the difficulty up to max is a sweet pleasure. If you love the Alien franchise at all do yourself a favor and play this. Take each room slow. Enjoy it. Soak it in.

(p.s. favorite achievement is getting killed by the Alien 100 times)

Recommended for: If you're an Alien fan, then this game is an absolute must-play. One of the amazing things about this game is that it perfectly captures the atmosphere of the first two movies. It really feels like you're playing in one of the movies yourself.

Even if you've never seen the Alien movies, I would still give this game a try. It has a good story, great gameplay, excellent voice acting, and interesting characters. I highly recommend this game if you like the thriller/horror genre. I do advise watching at least the first movie since the game's story builds on it, and you will miss many references otherwise

I first played this on playstation and once i got my PC, i immediately bought one on steam. I still enjoy the game and the controls are easy to handle.

What a fucking beautiful game, one of the best horror games I have played.

Been playing this for years on consoles and wanted to give it a run on PC. It runs really well and the graphics still look good for a 10+ year old game. The hacking sequences feel really good on the keyboard too.

This is without a shadow of a doubt one of the most rewarding games I've ever played. Alien: Isolation will have you at the edge of your seat and teeth grinding to the core! I feel this game is so underrated and I promise if you have the guts to play, you will experience the most unique gut-wrenching story that exists on the market. I dare you to live in fear as myself and fellow players have!

I have played this game, several times. And no matter how much games have changed today, I would still play this game! Not only is it a part of the Alien lore in a way, its visuals are still great.

This game is pretty fun, but gets a little tedious through out the entire game. The lore and story is definitely worth your time, and the suspense/horror aspect is amazing. You do need some patience while playing though since you are trying to hide most of the time, and hiding in certain spots takes awhile when trying to get away from enemies sneakily. Still enjoyed the entire game though.

For a fan of Alien (1979), this game is perfect in every way. It's rare that productions can have the conviction to pull off something this unique and uncompromising.  A watershed moment for gaming in my opinion.

Played the game with the Mother VR mod and a quest 3 using the keyboard as a controller, and I must say it really holds up, the ship design, amount of detail and quality of the textures is stellar! and its a must play for an alien fan, and even more for a horror survival too. The ability to see where the alien or other enemies takes the edge off and allows you to plan things (specially for a scary cat like me) but also gives you the constant fear of the alien being around you when its up the vents, and the paranoia it comes with it. Its a good system because if you want to relly more in your ears and not know where the alien is just dont pull up the radar, so everyone can be happy. The ai of the alien is famous for a reason, always keeping you on your toes and learning on how you behave, but also you can learn from the creature itself and learn when it tends to be predictable to your advantage. The game gives you a lot of tools for survival so it leaves the creativity to you, I went ahead with just the basics and went through with patience and good timing in maximum dificulty. Once you gain weapons like the flamethrower or the guns make life so much easier and things less scary, but then again you are welcome to avoid using it as much as you can and the horror will continue, some people would rather not have an option so the horror of being helpless is baked in the experience, but The game tries its best to balance it out. I would say besides the sections that are in the space suit, which really cool and cinematic can drag a lot. The game is an amazing experience to go through, specially in Vr. (warning as the hand animations and things can bug out a bit, so the cinematic moments might be lost in translation, but worth the level of inmersion and horror element)

Alien: Isolation is a nerve-shredding masterpiece that nails the suffocating terror of the original Alien film. Creative Assembly didn’t just make a game; they built a xenomorph-shaped anxiety machine. The atmosphere is a dripping, clanking Nostromo fever dream, with every shadow and hiss making you question your life choices. Amanda Ripley’s desperate fight for survival feels personal, gritty, and perfectly paced across a campaign that keeps you on edge for hours. The AI of the xenomorph is downright diabolical—unscripted, unpredictable, and way too good at finding you, no matter how cleverly you hide in lockers or under tables. The sound design? Pure evil genius, turning every distant thud into a panic attack.
The DLCs are bite-sized bursts of brilliance. Crew Expendable and Last Survivor throw you into iconic movie moments, letting you play as Dallas, Parker, or Ellen Ripley in tense, nostalgic scenarios that feel like deleted scenes from 1979. The Safe Haven and Lost Contact packs add challenging survival modes with randomized objectives, perfect for adrenaline junkies who want to test their stealth skills. Corporate Lockdown and Trauma spice things up with new characters and maps, though they lean more into the base game’s vibe than breaking new ground. The Trigger is a fun, chaotic capstone, but don’t expect it to reinvent the wheel.
Downsides? The game’s length might feel punishing for some, and the non-xeno enemies (androids, humans) can be a bit less thrilling to dodge. Also, it’s so stressful I’m pretty sure my heart aged a decade. Still, this is survival horror at its peak—claustrophobic, immersive, and unforgettable. 10/10, would whisper “please don’t find me” to my monitor again.

Alien: Isolation is a masterclass in survival horror. The game perfectly captures the tension and atmosphere of the original Alien film, delivering a truly terrifying experience. The AI-driven Xenomorph keeps you constantly on edge, making every hiding spot and movement count. With stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and a gripping story, it's a must-play for horror fans.

This game was so monumental and so distinctive all horror games will be forever compared to this, and there is an homage level in Cyberpunk 77 straight up making a carbon copy of this game and it's still absolutely awesome.

This is a scary game. If you would choose a single horror game to play and never touch this genre, this would be the one I'll recommend.

The peak in the video game saga and personally one of the peak on the genre that I would call immersive survival horror.

It nails the presentation and atmosphere, as countless others have already pointed out. Still looks and sounds great over 10 years later, is not too long, and has a scary black alien sneaking into and wrecking havoc on the formerly peaceful community of Sevastopol.

What more can an Alien fan ask for?
I recommend you play on the higher difficulties.

The game was too scary so i took my pappatunturi to the local nakkikioski and got myself some makkispekkis kaikilla mausteila

Full Play Review

I usually don't do these but this game holds a special place in my heart

I remember years and years ago watching a Romanian YouTuber by the name of Razvan G play this game and after finally getting to play it myself a little over a decade later it was quite something to "relive" moments like the showroom androids passing through the fire burst, walking outside the station, the small segment playing as Marlow among many other things

Pros: Amazing art direction, scenery, game mechanics, immersion level, characters, enemy AI, tooling, pacing and so so so many other things making thus game nothing short of an absolute masterpiece, i really really regret leaving it to "gather dust" in my backlog for the better part of a year

Cons:

What the fսck are these anti-aliasing settings? Makes the game look like you were in a hot bathtub for far too long minus the fainting and cracking your head against the sink part

The game also doesn't use the industry gold standard horizontal FOV and instead vertical because fսck you you pleb that's why i guess (if you use a regular 1920x1080/16:9 monitor a FOV of 60 seems to be the best unless you want to either get motion sickness or seahorse vision to impress your optician with your now even more fսcked eye-sight)

The PC port also lacks the voice detection feature which made the game all that more immersive, again - because fսck you

I played Fallout 3, 4 and god damn New Vegas without a single mod but this game really needs some obligatory patches

I would also recommend getting that mod which removes the confirmation dialogue for save stations, very immersion breaking and largely unnecessary

DLC: None are worth the price even on sale unless you get the ultimate edition/collection when it's like 10-12 bucks so you're then assured that you get a value higher than 1 buck per hour of gameplay

The dlcs are interesting but very short/rushed and awkward/lacking especially for the price tag they're at

Solid 9/10

This game is a love letter to fans of the original Alien and an extremely solid stealth/survival horror entry. The level of detail and accuracy to the source material found in the environments often gets overshadowed by the equally impressive and innovative AI utilized by the Alien itself. It will keep you guessing and adapt to your tactics as fast as you adapt to it.

Story is solid but not the selling point like in similar titles such as SOMA. If you're a fan of Alien or of stealth/horror, this game is a must, and somehow still worth the price tag IMO.

Also, even if you're running a potato, this game was bestowed with "witchcraft levels of optimization" even for it's time and it still looks great.

Alien is one of my favorite franchises (not just in horror), so I might be biased, but this is one of my favorite horror games of all time.

Recommended for: If you're an Alien fan, then this game is an absolute must-play. One of the amazing things about this game is that it perfectly captures the atmosphere of the first two movies. It really feels like you're playing in one of the movies yourself.

Even if you've never seen the Alien movies, I would still give this game a try. It has a good story, great gameplay, excellent voice acting, and interesting characters. I highly recommend this game if you like the thriller/horror genre. I do advise watching at least the first movie since the game's story builds on it, and you will miss many references otherwise.

I would like to give a warning to pure action fans. This is not a game where you can just blast everything in sight (except maybe on the lowest difficulty setting). This game is not Doom but with Aliens. It requires a mix of action, stealth, and smart use of items.

But pure stealth fans must also be cautious (hehe). This is not a game where you can carefully sneak and hide the whole time. The enemy AI is programmed to punish this playstyle. For this reason, the first tip you always get from veteran players is: "Keep moving!"

My experience: I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I played Alien: Isolation. The feeling of constant terror was amazing. I'm a big fan of the first two movies, and this game was, for me, just as great as those movies. I did have some initial difficulty adjusting to the gameplay because I normally play FPS games either all guns blazing or at a snail's pace sneaky, and that doesn't work in this game. Still, once I adjusted, I had an amazing time!

Technical: I had no technical issues while playing, although there was a funny but annoying moment in the game where a body got stuck inside a door and glitched out. I had to reload a save, but this was probably just a freak accident. (Win10,7800X3D,RX7800XT)

Personal rating: 5/5