Best Games That Feature UFOs

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Summary

  • Some sci-fi games incorporate UFOs as alien adversaries, adding unique gameplay experiences.
  • Games like Destroy All Humans! & X-COM highlight UFOs’ pivotal roles in alien-themed narratives.
  • UFOs are central gameplay elements in games like Earth Defense Force 5 & XCOM 2, offering exciting encounters.

As someone who has spent countless hours strategizing, planning, and executing missions against extraterrestrial threats, I must say that the games featuring UFOs are truly a unique breed. They tap into our deepest fears and fascinations about the unknown, and they offer an immersive experience that few other genres can match.

For several decades, aliens and unidentified flying objects (UFOs) have played a significant role in science fiction literature, films, television series, and video games. UFOs are often depicted in their classic saucer-shaped form, a concept that has been embedded in the collective consciousness since the 1940s.

Some video games introduce Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) as vehicles for alien invasions. Others develop these concepts further, portraying them as formidable enemies in their own right. Regardless of the approach, UFOs are consistently portrayed as a threat. The most engaging games that include UFOs utilize them creatively, such as transforming a crashed UFO into a mission objective, using it as a boss battle, or employing it to compel players to make strategic choices.

8. Destroy All Humans!

Often Amusing Yet Dark

In video games, few aliens have been as menacing as Crypto, the primary antagonist from Destroy All Humans!. Dispatched to Earth in the 1950s, Crypto arrives in America aboard his UFO. His mission is the collection of Human genetic material. Equipped with advanced alien technology, his UFO includes tractor beams for human abductions and a lethal death ray.

Although the game has a serious, somber undertone, it deliberately incorporates humor. To advance in the game, you’ll primarily need to explore a vast open-world environment. The game is brimming with over-the-top UFO clichés, which adds an enjoyable twist to gameplay.

7. X-COM: UFO Defense

Also Released As UFO: Enemy Unknown

In different regions, this particular game might be called either X-COM: UFO Defense or UFO: Enemy Unknown. However, they’re actually referring to the same classic game. It was the initial release in the X-COM series, which later became known as XCOM.

In this strategic video game, players assume control over a team called the Global Defense Unit, whose objective is to stop extraterrestrial UFO invasions. The game offers a mix of strategic play on the global map, as well as tactical play, with battles taking place in a turn-based format at UFO landing sites.

6. Earth Defense Force 5

Third-Person Combat During An Alien Invasion

In the video game called Earth Defense Force 5, players find themselves engaged in a battle against an alien invasion. This game’s action unfolds from a third-person perspective, and the fights can sometimes be incredibly chaotic. The UFOs that players confront are absolutely massive.

In Earth Defense Force 5, players have various weapons and vehicles at their disposal to select from, and making the right choice for the task can be crucial in certain situations. This game may not be overly complex, but it excels at what it sets out to do, offering an enjoyable spin on UFO and alien-themed games.

5. Mass Effect 2

Encounters With The Collectors

In the highly anticipated sequel of the popular Mass Effect series, Mass Effect 2, Shepard’s adventure carries on, featuring interactions with enigmatic extraterrestrials called the Collectors. These Collectors are associated with colossal and perilous spacecraft, which at certain points in the game, transform into formidable adversaries.

In “Mass Effect 2,” The Collector Ships aren’t merely antagonistic forces. They also play a crucial role in advancing the storyline, and are an essential element of the narrative-driven plot. Essentially, while UFOs and alien motifs don’t exhaust the essence of Mass Effect 2, these fresh meetings with The Collectors certainly add an exciting twist to the gameplay experience.

4. The Front

Multiplayer Tactical Shooter

This captivating game, titled “The Front“, combines several elements. It’s partly a survival game, partly a base construction game, and partly a defense game. However, its core essence lies in being a team-oriented, multiplayer tactical shooter. Players strive for dominance over the map, engaging in ground battles, vehicle combat, and even aerial skirmishes.

In the game “The Front”, UFOs serve as a fundamental part of the gameplay. The storyline suggests that UFOs can traverse different dimensions and time periods. It is these mysterious spaceships that drop loot containers, adding an exciting element to the game. At any given moment, players will be able to spot several UFOs on the map, with a beam of light indicating where a loot crate has been dropped.

3. Elite Dangerous

Massive Space Sim With Alien Incursions

The space exploration game, Elite Dangerous, has experienced its share of highs and lows since it first launched. However, in more recent times, the game has experienced a bit of a comeback, leading to an increase in player numbers – numbers that had been gradually decreasing. A significant factor contributing to this resurgence has been the engaging in-game events that have been cropping up.

One such event has been the invasion of huge alien UFOs, which began with a Thargoid incursion, and resulted in the Thargoid Titans locking down certain systems. Players have needed to work together to build new technology capable of taking these behemoths down. The ongoing battles, taking down each Titan in turn, have been exciting and rewarding.

2. Phoenix Point

A Modern Take On Turn-Based Combat

Phoenix Point stands out as a tactical, turn-based combat game, boasting an intricate strategy layer that elevates it above the competition. To many gamers, it’s the epitome of the genre, where every element seamlessly combines to form a game that surpasses individual components in depth and quality.

In the game titled “Phoenix Point“, humans are engaged in a battle against an extraterrestrial invasion. UFOs significantly contribute to the storyline, and the main objective is to develop strategies for handling the escalating number of these invasions. To safeguard Earth from this alien menace, players employ tactics such as espionage, diplomacy, and raw physical power.

1. XCOM 2

The Final Real XCOM Game

In a departure from the conventional XCOM series, except for Chimera Squad which didn’t sit well with fans, XCOM 2 represents the culmination of the franchise. Chimera Squad deviated from its traditional strategy gameplay format. The gameplay is turn-based and can be quite challenging due to the unpredictable Random Number Generator (RNG). Strategy unfolds on a global map as XCOM battles alien forces to achieve victory.

In the game XCOM 2, UFOs play a significant role, frequently appearing as targets for the player’s team. The objective often involves navigating the team into a downed UFO, overpowering the extraterrestrial invaders, and making a successful exit with valuable alien tech for either research or trading purposes.

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2024-12-18 04:37