Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 75 | 120 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 83 | 2 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 88% | 81 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 85% | 79 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Nov 22, 2023) · 300 reviews sampled · 8403 total reviews in window · weighted 210.5 up / 36.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (99)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“Aliens: Dark Descent is well designed and badly built. At once a brilliant collection of wonderfully presented ideas and a defective debacle, it could have genuinely been a Game of the Year contender were it not such a shambles. I love this game to the point of being enthralled. I’m angry at this game for costing me hours of progress. I adore what it so often is. I despise what it so often does.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Aliens: Dark Descent is an intense tactical game with a thick atmosphere of horror and fierce battles, which in its best moments gives an unforgettable experience. But it's obvious that Tindalos Interactive didn't have enough time and money to realize all their ideas.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Aliens: Dark Descent is a more than exciting title with much to offer, especially in terms of gameplay, thanks to an exciting mix of game genres. The developers have managed to capture the Alien atmosphere perfectly, and this could be a dream come true for fans of the movie prequel. I would love to see a second installment allowing players more tactical options. Additionally, it's a shame that the game didn't avoid annoying bugs that spoil the overall impression of an otherwise great game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Aliens: Dark Descent has shown that good Alien games are not tied to any genres, and you can scare and create a viscous atmosphere even in tactical projects. And while not everything went smoothly, the Dark Descent campaign definitely deserves attention.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“It only helps that Dark Descent so ably captures the look and tone of the Alien films. While the characters here aren’t as immediately memorable as the motley crew of marines from Aliens, the voice actors humanize them with impressive details, thus sealing our investment in their fates. The environments are appropriately menacing, with clever fog effects that make each excursion into the “hived” areas an intense experience. And the familiar tick, tick, tick of the iconic motion tracker adds to the stress of every mission. It really wouldn’t be an Aliens game without it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Aliens: Dark Descent is one of the best games in the Alien universe and can easily stand alongside Alien: Isolation. The main draw is undoubtedly the atmosphere, which is simply fantastic and will completely immerse you. The concept of a squad-based tactical RPG, offering great tactical action complemented by unique elements such as a stress level system combined with stealth, will keep you entertained. However, the title is let down mainly by technical issues and minor flaws. If you’re looking for a squad-based tactical RPG with an emphasis on stealth, atmosphere, and real-time combat, this is the game for you.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Although Aliens: Dark Descent has the makings of an enjoyable RTS title, its frequently frustrating gameplay mechanics and pointless genre-mashing missions make it a tough sell for anyone besides the most diehard of wannabe Colonial Marines.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“What we have here is one of the best Alien games, ever. Aliens: Dark Descent not only offers a tremendous atmosphere evocative of James Cameron’s blockbuster, but also a very well-crafted gameplay that exceptionally combines multiple genres.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Aliens: Dark Descent sees Tindalos serve up a cracking RTS that manages to capture the essence of this terrifying sci-fi series whilst giving players plenty of sweet strategy to sink their teeth into. Tweaking the established XCOM setup to better suit the nature of the enemy at hand, this is an Aliens adventure that leans into stealth, studious preparation, consideration of resources and slow-burn exploration as you manoeuvre through evocative environments whilst attempting not to disturb the deadly xenomorph hordes. There are a few rough edges here and there, and some strategy fans may mourn the loss of individual unit control, but overall this is one express elevator to hell we absolutely recommend taking.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Aliens: Dark Descent is easily one of the best video game adaptations of the legendary franchise to which it belongs, somehow managing to be an excellent tactical strategy game and genuinely terrifying at the same time. Tense, engaging, and extremely faithful, it stumbles only in technical execution, and even then, not enough to spoil the experience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Aliens: Dark Descent manages to absorb the player, with its main arsenal being the strong atmosphere and the high level of challenge. However, I feel that it would need a better sense of control during battles to make it a truly memorable game.”
read full review ↗ - 73
“There's little in the way of strategy, so it can be challenging at times, but it's a challenging situation that encourages you. The script is clichéd and the gameplay is often entertaining.”
read full review ↗
The Jimquisition
GameMAG
INDIANTVCZ
3DNews
Slant Magazine
Gaming Professors
Jump Dash Roll
GRYOnline.pl
Pure Xbox
Push Square
Atarita…and 87 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- New Patch for Aliens: Dark DescentNov 22, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: New Game+ updateOct 26, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- A Free New Game+ Mode Makes Landfall in Aliens: Dark DescentOct 26, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- New Patch for Aliens: Dark DescentSep 7, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- New Patch for Aliens: Dark DescentAug 1, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- New patch for Aliens: Dark DescentJul 6, 2023
- Aliens: Dark Descent - First Major UpdateJun 29, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Aliens: Dark Descent - HotfixJun 22, 2023