Prey

As a massive fan of the genre, I really liked Prey. In fact, it might be the best immersive sim if not for the setting, which I'm not a huge fan of. Nothing wrong with it, just not my cup of tea, I usually like fantasy or cyberpunk more than sci-fi.

That being said, the game is still incredible, despite having quite a few flaws. If you like stuff like System shock, Bioshock, Dishonored, Deus ex, you'll feel right at home.

Let's start with the presentation: it's pretty good. While the game cannot boast the highest fidelity graphics, it looks pleasant and sharp, using the same kind of stylised aesthetic Dishonored uses. Each room is carefully designed and thought-out, with interiors actually making sense and appearing truly lived-in. Unlike System shock, Prey doesn't attempt to create a maze out of its location, and it, IMO, makes traversal a way more pleasurable experience.

Soundtrack and voice-acting are a bit on the scarce side: what we have is decent, but there isn't really that much voice acting nor music. It doesn't mean it's bland, there are definitely some bangers, and I especially enjoyed Alex's VA, it felt very natural and authentic.

The gameplay is the star of the game. In a true immersive sim fashion, you have tons of ways to explore the map, multiple options to overcome the obstacles the game throws at you, and a bit of the non-linear progression on top of that. It's one of those games where you might think "what if I just try to climb that wall, will it work?". and in 99% of the cases it works.

Prey does not hold your hand, does not bother you with endless tutorials, doesn't treat you like a child. It gives you the tools and the problem, the rest is up to you. It doesn't mean, though, that it's a cruel game. The items have a shiny outlook to distinguish them from the background, the inventory grid is quite forgiving for the genre, and it's not a terribly hard game on Hard + Survival.

It's a fun game which requires you to think, but at the same time doesn't punish you for the sake of punishment (with some exceptions, more on that below).

Narrative-wise, it's also an enjoyable experience. I loved the atmosphere, the world-building, and the themes of the game, specifically the ending. There are also side-missions, which are pretty dull from gameplay perspective, but their stories are quite interesting too.

Now, it would be remiss of me not to mention some negatives, so here we go:

1. The enemy variety is practically non-existent. Even worse, 90% of the enemies look more or less the same, as a blob or a humanoid formed from some dark gooey liquid. The rest of the enemy cast is just flying toaster robots.

2. I felt there were some pacing issues towards the end, with certain parts being too dragged out.

3. Similarly, the level design at the end was also not as enjoyable. It felt too restrictive and frustrating to navigate.

4. I had about 2-3 crashes and some script bugs with NPCs, such as a dead character talking. Nothing game-breaking.

Overall, Prey is amazing. It doesn't maintain the same level of quality and dips a little bit at the end, but is still a lovingly-crafted gem of a game.

I love this game. I do a play-through about once every six months. It has the best opening sequence to a game that I've ever experienced. I love the mechanics, the progression, and most of all the story.

One of the best immersive sims ever made. Trumps everything else Arkane has ever made, and most other studios too.
Amazing package with satisfying gameplay, a gripping plot, deep characters, and beautiful style littered with intelligent and thoughtful game design throughout. I'd consider it required reading for anyone who's a fan of immersive sims (or honestly just good sci fi games in general).

With an engaging story and clear-cut gameplay, this action-RPG offers many hours of entertainment for those who love old-school sci-fi shooters! With a multitude of abilities and weapons to choose from, go in guns ablaze as a one man army or sneak past powerful enemies as you explore Talos 1 in search of the truth, and a way home.

Prey (2017) is one of those games that embodies what it meant to create action-RPGs the old-school way: an Intriguing story accompanied with highs and lows that lets you rest and explore between each segment. And with prey, you always find yourself wanting to check out that next part of the quest, or go for that side-quest, or maybe backtrack to explore that previously closed area, and it never feels like a chore.

Graphically, Prey still holds up to modern graphics, well helped on its way with its heavily Art Deco and retro-futuristic inspired art-style. To say that this game is a hidden gem that deserve way more attention than it gets is an understatement,

Prey is probably the best game Arcane ever made.
I can't recommend it enough because games like this are rare and unprofitable
versus the mountain of slop that executive produce for greater margins.

Great game! Went in blind, and really enjoyed it. I found it very scary at the beginning but the fear subsided as I got further through the game. I didn't complete all side quests, and there's things I've missed out on which I'll return to at some point.

The attention to detail within this game is amazing, along with the exploration and level design. I really enjoyed my time on Talos 1, and reading/hearing about life on it was great.

played most of Arkane games and for me personally this one is the absolutely best of them!
Game play is incredible, story is great and some twists are just second to none!
Most underrated game i have ever came across (i am an old school gamer and played stuff like Space Rangers, KOTOR, BlackOps the line...).

Incredible mix of BioShock, Dead Space, Dishonored!

This game is, without a doubt, the best and most underrated one I’ve ever played, and I say this with all seriousness.

Had this game for a number of years. Kept coming back. as I was found and get very difficult. I was raised on games like this. Where it does not hold your hand. and there's always consequences to your actions. All in all, I would recommend this game. It's definitely got the vibe of half life. and Bioshock.

Prey is gameplay freedom paired with an interesting setting and plot. The less I spoil the better. Visual and Sound Design is superb, Immersion level is really high! One of the best games I ever played.

Back when this game came out, I did not enjoy it. I struggled to figure out what I was supposed to be doing, I got endlessly frustrated by the enemies, and quickly lost interest.

Fast forward to 2025, I see it in my library and decide to give it another shot. Immediately hooked by the atmosphere and sense of exploration, not so much in the station itself but in the mystery of it. The whole game feels real despite the futuristic setting, and it does that by allowing the player to solve problems in their own way. Sure you could go look for that key-card, or you could bust into the room next to it and crawl through a maintenance hatch. Sure you can mag-dump a phantom, or you could throw an explosive canister at it instead. Combat reminded me of Dishonored, in the way there is so many styles of taking on foes. Game play alone this game has me pulled in. I'm not even going to talk about the story, but I am thoroughly enjoying it.

I haven't finished it quite yet but I am definitely going to see it through. $30 is a fair price for this title, but as always, wait for a sale. Arkane Studios already went under (This was their last game) and Bethesda certainly will not be missing your extra few bucks.

It's a fun first person shooter with elements that are not found in other games. It is quite unique and the story is compelling. There are lots of twists along the way. 9/10

Hey hey people,

This is the game starfield wish's it could be, unfortunately like most immersive sims your general player isn't smart enough to play them so they are destined to fail.

I recommend anyone familiar with this genre to up the difficulty and toggle the survival mode options since if your like me and good at optimising you WILL break this game in half about 10 hours in.

An absolute classic, Arkane at it's very peak
Also ignore the "Mostly Positive" Reviews of Mooncrash, it is a unique and incredible rogue lite unlike any other.
Thank You SsethTzeentach for bringing attention to this game again.

great game, bethesda really fucked up by not propping up the devs. also, it could have stuck to the trailer design of... what even was that, eastern european morgan yu? not many games made in the west that do such a thing

I would say Prey feels like System Shock minus the horror and with a lot more complexity.
The game world is huge, with the action taking place inside a really large space station. There are so many things to discover and strategies to try that it's impossible to see everything in one playthrough. And it's not that you can reach places through different ways; the skills that you develop also unlock new ways of reaching a new area or goal. Following up on this, the level design is really well done.
It's really immersive, a bit overwhelming at times when you have so many places to go and things to do, but a great experience and a brilliant game.

Basically a Prop Hunt, except the props hunt you. Never thought furniture could be so scary.
10/10 would die to coffee mugs again.

One of my fav story based exploration games ever

Awesome environments, clever level design, terrifying monsters, and a phenomenal story. An absolute roller-coaster of emotions with enough twists and turns to rethink your entire existence. Sum real Truman show shiii

For the price its 100% worth it.

10/10

great game overall, I'll probably revisit in a few months to do another run through the campaign with a different build and do the mooncrash DLC. It really sets you free to find solutions to the problems it presents, and provides many interesting choices.

Echoing a lot of other people though, the ending to me was a big let down. it didn't spoil the whole of the experience, but was slow towards the end and had an ending that was kinda just whatever imo.

A great immersive sim with a little bit of pacing issues at the end. For that, I think its a solid

8.5/10

And 100% playing, even in 2025 like I did

An excellent blend of stealth and RPG elements set in a sci-fi world, Prey is a narrative masterpiece. The game excels at building suspense as you progress through its story. The world, set on a massive space station, evolves as you delve deeper into the narrative, evoking memories of Bioshock, but in space. With the freedom to explore the station, it offers an open-world feel, though the hostile environment also makes it a survival experience.

The mechanics are solid, the VFX hold their own, and it combines elements of Dishonored, Half-Life, and survival with open-world aspects. All of this is enhanced by a well-written, engaging story filled with moral choices and plot twists that are sure to surprise anyone.

Definitely worth trying out :)

Easily my favorite game of all time other than the classics like Jak and Daxter and Sly cooper. This game is a TON of fun with surprisingly good AI that aren't easily manipulated. I had tons of fun exploring and felt like the upgrades were very interesting an opened up a lot of different ways to play. I really wish they made a second one :'')

great game, came back to it after a 1 year and it is still good. :)

For me, this game is the definition of an 'Immersive Sim.' Every moment hits, and the story/lore bring the world to life in a way that few games do. It's a hidden gem, and it makes me miserable to think we won’t get a sequel or another story in this universe.

If you haven’t played it yet, do yourself a favor and try it—you’ll love this piece of media just like I did. Plus, if you've played Half-Life, you'll get into this game much quicker.

A quick word about the ending tho (no spoilers): A lot of people call it dull and cheap, but if you pay attention and re-think it more broadly, it makes a lot of sense.

Very good sci-fi lore and setting. Good open-ended gameplay as is expected from the makers of Dishonored. What really makes Prey stand out is the detail, love, and dynamism they put into the space station setting. At many points it feels reminiscent of the classic sci-fi videogames of the 90s and 00s, with the attention to detail and care very apparent. Highly recommend to anyone that likes good sci-fi and immersive sims.

highly underrated, hidden gem

just a few settings to tweak:

to center crosshair
- go to the local game files, \Prey\GameSDK, open game.cfg
- delete line g_reticleYPercentage = 0.575
- save and set it to read only in properties

disable motion blur
- go to \Users\\Saved Games\Arkane Studios\Prey
- open game.cfg and add r_MotionBlur = 0
- save and set it to read only in properties

better than starfield

this game makes my tallywacker hard. harder than its ever been before. after 50 long pleasureful hours, i highly recommend playing this masterpiece of a game

Way better than I expected up there with system shock 2 for immersive sim games

Definitely one of my favorite games of all time, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Bioshock, I love everything about this game and it has influenced some of the art, stories, and other stuff I've made myself, overall I give it a 10/10, has to be the one of only games I'm content with not having a sequel to.

Fun, rounded game, semi engaging linear story.

After 8 years, this game still has random savefile bugs. That completely DELETE your savefiles. Yes. Delete. Your. Savefiles. For no reason whatsoever. Oh, you were using the cloud? Well then fuck you, -10 hours of gametime for you.

Bethesda, even when they make good games, always find ways to fuck it up. Fucking congratulations.

Some of the best exploration and interactivity in a game.

This game is dangerous don't play it unless you have nothing going for your life because it will completely take over your life and you will forever be a changed person or whatever i think.

This is one, if not, the best example of the immersive sim genre.

I rate this game a 10/10.

If in doubt, just give it a try. Go crazy with the game mechanics. You are gonna have fun.

played it before best game ever dont remember the story so replaying ima try to 100% this time tho

Another Arcane masterpiece with some quirks. The level design, the lore, the tone, and the story—this is a game one should not rush through, I think. It is better to immerse yourself in it.

Arkane does it again.
This is definitely no Dishonored, but it's not trying to be.

With their signature sophisticated level-design and compelling cast of characters, Arkane manages to build an atmospheric masterpiece yet again.

This game is simply amazing. A sci-fi adventure-RPG through and through.
With many ways to approach each situations, and all the time to explore an infested, abandoned space-station, you will most definitely get a bang for your buck on this one, especially if there's a sale.

Also, the game's prologue is definitely an instant classic that I will remember forever :)

For a narrative-focused first-person shooter, this game is looking to achieve a lot. In some ways, it delivers phenomenally: the environment and level design is both visually stunning and mentally engaging, the dialogue and plot discovery incredible and the music... the MUSIC is what got me into it in the first place, after stumbling upon it in Spotify. For the completionists out there, this game rewards your side-quest hunting with genuinely useful boons or fascinating plotlines. To be honest, I think the side plots carried the main story; while the premise was interesting, the weight of relevant character developments was a bit lack-luster, although not boring.

Where its main shortfall comes is in the core gameplay combat loop. Neither the enemy designs (hello, goopy goop no. 3), nor their dynamics offered much interest after the first couple of encounters. Which is a shame because I can SEE that there's so much potential for swapping and changing tactics with all the abilities and environmental hazards involved, but they're touch-and-go, buggy or unpredictable. Traps you set fire off at the slightest inconvience, making that play-style unlikely, and if you like exploring you pretty much can't invest in the cool monster abilities (gotta get gud at hacking). It was overwhelming.

And a personal nitpick is the font choices in-universe and within the UI. For a high-tech art deco setting, the dry stock-standard science fiction sans-serif fonts were a bit awkward.

If you love exploring and digging into micro-stories of characters on a space station and how they supported and betrayed each other, discovering the events out of order and piecing it together yourself, it's well worth the experience (but maybe set the difficulty to Easy to barrel through the combat, and watch out for any bugs that set it to Nightmare by accident...I suffered for a while there)

I really have been enjoying everything about this game. Love the art style, and all the mechanics. Very smooth feeling. Overall just a very satisfying experience so far. Story is interesting as well.

Prey got really underwhelming release when it came out - bugs, tech issues, critics' low to mid reviews and very sloppy marketing by Bethesda. But now after almost a decade it's finally getting its recognition and a name of underrated masterpiece it deserves.

This game is an ultimate brain child of Arcane's immersive sim formula within their own newly developed IP from scratch. it has best parts of Dishonored but tuned and improved for a space survival horror genre inside one big (albeit segmented) map. It has so many new cool ideas and solutions for gameplay mechanics, amazing level design, captivating story with its twists, turns and unexpected reveals, unique retro alternative history sci-fi atmosphere with really cool and high quality sound design to built it up, and obviously the beloved soundtrack by Mick Gordon.

Every single tool, item, weapon, ability, physical prop and map layout can be used to your maximum progression utility - nothing is useless, everything is uniquely designed to has its purpose and combination, which is especially felt on harder difficulties. The progression dynamic is very satisfying in moments to make you feel weak, strong, overpowered and motivated for devising your own ways of experimentation. You can beat this game in so many ways, get different reactions and outcomes from your actions and decisions like: save everyone, kill everyone, go complete stealth, go complete guns blazing, do only weapons run or only abilities, or even none at all.

After my second nightmare play-through without any abilities and upgrades - I can indeed confirm that it is designed so well that even this seemingly basic way of play was considered by developers and still manage to give you completely different, fulfilling and fun experience. The Moon crash DLC is an awesome experiment of a cherry on top - the whole formula of a base game is integrated with rogue-like mechanics, multiple victory conditions and changing level design.

Immersive sim unfortunately is very niche genre to make a lot of money and one of the expensive ones to create. It emerged in 90es with a peak accomplishment of Deus Ex. Died out in 2000s, reemerged in 10s and now sadly dies out yet again, with only Arcane and couple of indies left to hold up the mantle. Yet this genre probably is the perfect example what every game should strife to be.

Pros

+ Atmospheric World-Building: Talos I is beautifully crafted, with each room and corridor radiating a sense of history and foreboding. The environment feels alive, and the attention to detail makes every discovery rewarding

+ Non-Linear Gameplay: One of the game’s standout features is its emphasis on player choice. Whether you prefer direct confrontation or sneaking past threats, Prey allows you to adapt your play style to the situation

+ Variety in Gameplay Mechanics: From combat and stealth to puzzle-solving and resource management, Prey offers a mix of gameplay elements that keep the experience fresh throughout

+ Immersive Sim Elements: The ability to interact with the environment in multiple ways—using tools, crafting upgrades, or finding alternative paths—adds depth to the gameplay and encourages creative problem-solving

Cons

- Pacing Issues: Despite its engaging setup, some parts of the game can feel unnecessarily slow

- Repetitive Encounters: While the Typhon enemies are designed to be both terrifying and challenging, some encounters can feel repetitive, potentially reducing the tension over time

- Balance Concerns: At times, certain weapons or abilities may feel overpowered, whereas others seem less useful. This occasional imbalance can affect the overall

- Enemy Difficulty: In some instances, the enemy AI proves to be unforgiving

Prey is a commendable attempt at blending atmospheric storytelling with gameplay flexibility. Its richly detailed setting and intriguing narrative make it a worthwhile experience, especially for those who appreciate games that reward creative problem-solving and exploration. However, the occasional pacing issues, repetitive encounters, balancing problems, and the sometimes overwhelming enemy difficulty prevent it from achieving perfection.

All things considered, I’d give Prey a 7 out of 10. If you’re a fan of immersive sci-fi adventures that let you choose your own path, Prey is definitely worth checking out—even if it isn’t without its flaws.

DEFINITELY A MUST PLAY.

Immersive story, well put together. Good level design. Gives you freedom to complete objectives in your own creative ways. Give it a try. Also you can challenge yourself to complete the game without using certain enhancements.

In short : a masterpiece like no other, a sci-fi horror that is a mix between Dead Space and Bioshock, with many innovations and unique features.

In detail :

Ambiance : I have never had so many jump scares as in this game. God damned mimics !

Story : Really good with litterally a hundred NPCs well written with deep and intricate stories.

Graphism : Gorgeous and detailed, Talos 1 is a wonder to explore

Sound and musics : top notch, the musics fits the general tone perfectly and the station is full of scary noises.

Gameplay : The true definition of versatility. You have many powers and choices to make to craft your character.

Level design : Simply the best. Each problem can be solved in many ways depending on your abilities.

Conclusion : I recommand this game even at full price. But buyers beware : this is not for everybody, as the rythm is quite slow. You need to read document, listen to messages, observe the environment to progress, this is not a typical action game. Also, you can be blocked if you are not carefull, which happened to me during my first playthrough, and I had to restart a now game. I behave like I was the Doom guy, and I ended up with no ammunition left and ennemies everywhere, and it was in normal difficulty. You need time to understand how the game works.

I like the game play, etc. The only thing I didn't like was the inventory system and hacking. However, mods make those better, so use them. Nexus has the mods you may need, and doesn't affect game play. Also, I recommend the one that skips the intro video.

all game action is going in space station , very interesting athmosphere and there are a lot of unexpected moments and difficulities. so necesary to try :)

gameplay: ****
graphics: *****
story: ****

I love immersive sims, and this game delivers. Plenty of different ways to solve the challenges in front of you, and a fairly interesting story, that doesn't get in the way of gameplay.

One of the best sci-fi immersive sims ever made. The prologue of this game is one of the best moments I've ever had in gaming and really sets the tone for the rest of the game as you explore through the Art Deco laden space station trying to figure out how everything got to the current state.

Much like the genre suggests, the game is heavily tailored to means of exploration based on the player's customization path. There are almost always multiple ways to traverse to a particular place no matter your build. Going in on strength? Rip doors open or whip obstacles out of way. Hell, you can straight-up jump over the damn wall and do away with doors altogether. Spec into hacking? Then every door lock is at your beck and call. Don't have the necessary strength upgrades? Lob a recycler charge in there, but watch out!

Worldbuilding and narrative are fairly well executed. As you travel throughout the space-station, you'll run across e-mails, audio logs, post-it-notes, drawing and scribbles, and more. Some detailing the mundane day-to-day, some funny, some romantic, some just being a keypad number, and more. The world feels plausibly lived in, complete with silly office politics and rivalries to boot. I know, I know, audio logs, but, well, it's the immersive sim way. Whenever some idiot writes in an email "yeah, well lol, i know i'll be turned into a paste if i go to [x] and regroup, but i'm built different, so,", I'm like oooohh yeah, that's the stuff.

My only criticisms of the game would be that the end of the game seems to drag on for a little longer than I'd like, but even then it's a very minor complaint. My main Normal criticism is that there are a lot of parts of the game that extol the virtue of the human condition and connection and whatnot, but a lot of these cases seem to fall flat, or are effortless by means of the player already having to do some of the encumbering tasks anyway. For example, Mikhaila is someone the player character is shown to have been in a small relationship with, but she comes across, for the most part, as complete stranger with no expounding on that in an emotionally meaningful way on its own. Basically what I'm getting at, is that I would have appreciated more effort into characterization, rather than the raw throughline of the game leaning over and going, "btw, this is [x], you care about this one". I'm making it sound worse than it actually is, but yeah.

Anyway, If you enjoyed any of the Dishonored games, then this one should be a no-brainer. The gameplay loop may take a bit to stick, but once it does, boy is it good.

Prey is a lot of fun, allowing for multiple play-styles and multiple outcomes. The added DLC, Mooncrash, is a completely different style of game that has a steep learning curve. Both games started difficult and ended overly easy for me but both were extremely enjoyable. Definitely worth a pick up on sale!

As someone who enjoyed Bioshock, this game shares many things with that and I have enjoyed it so far.

Very fun game. Similar to the first two bioshock games which I also loved. There are a lot of different ways to approach the game and it is all very well balanced. There are a lot of cool creative solutions to problems you will encounter.

There are some surprising bugs that can get a bit annoying, but still very much so worth playing. The mooncrash dlc is also very fun and worth grabbing as well. The mooncrash dlc is a rogue lite within the prey universe. It is different than the base game, but it works well. I've never played the other dlc (typhon hunter) so I can't comment on that.

I'll be checking out other games from this developer as well such as dishonored and death loop.

Really fun game, good combat, interesting story and a compelling environment i actually enjoyed rooting around in for "collectables" which i rarely do. top marks!