5 Sci-Fi Video Games From The Last Decade That Deserved More Love

Science fiction has always been a popular genre for video games to delve into, becoming something of an industry constant since the days of "Space Invaders" and "Asteroids." This distinction has continued into the 21st century, with blockbuster franchises like "Halo" and "Starcraft" firmly rooted in the sci-fi genre. 

There are plenty of sci-fi games that everyone needs to play at least once, but even more that have gone overlooked and under-appreciated. Even within the past 10 years, there have been sci-fi games in need of a more positive reappraisal and extra attention. So we're highlighting the games that either received a tepid critical or commercial reception, or both, upon initial launch. In other cases, we're including games that never got the wider recognition that they deserved compared to their more successful counterparts. 

To clarify, we're focusing on games that were released 10 years ago from the time of this writing, not necessarily titles released in the 2010s. Here are five sci-fi video games from the last decade that deserved more love. Give them a shot.

The original "Mass Effect" was among the most celebrated sci-fi games from the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 era, blending action RPG elements with a decision-driven, galaxy-spanning narrative. The trilogy was followed up by the spin-off "Mass Effect: Andromeda" in 2017, which followed new protagonist Ryder as they helped colonists settle in the Andromeda Galaxy. 

As Ryder searches for a planet capable of sustaining their multi-species coalition of colonists, they encounter a hostile alien race, the Kett. Working with a small squad, Ryder combats the Kett while continuing their mission and cultivating relationships within the crew.

"Mass Effect: Andromeda" didn't make a great first impression, with criticism stemming from its buggy performance at launch. The game received post-release support to correct what went wrong, but the title's public perception remained checkered. The mixed critical reception and lower sales stalled any internal plans for a sequel, leaving Ryder's adventures unfinished. Despite this, with many of its initial technical issues now fixed, "Mass Effect: Andromeda" is a fun side story nestled amid the wider franchise.

The 2021 PlayStation 5 game "Returnal" places players in the middle of an unforgiving temporal loop. The story's protagonist is Selene Vassos, who crashes on the forbidden planet of Atropos at the start of the game. Selene is horrified to discover that every time she dies on the planet's harsh environment, she rewinds to the time of her crash, with the landscape altered upon every loop. Arming herself with a variety of weapons, Selene moves to not only break the cycle and escape from the planet, but discover her own deep connection to it.

"Returnal" is the most difficult game on this list, with the game's core loop concept built around the understanding that players will perish often. With that, and varying players' individual skill levels in mind, it can take a long time to beat "Returnal." But for those who stick with the fine-tuned combat mechanics, the game is definitely a rewarding and memorable experience. 

After two years on the market, "Returnal" still hadn't quite sold one million copies. Nonetheless, it stands as one of the most unique and thought-provoking sci-fi titles on the PS5.

"Dead Space" creator Glen Schofield continued his special blend of sci-fi and horror with the 2022 game "The Callisto Protocol." Set in the 24th century, the game has starship captain Jacob Lee crash on the Jovian moon of Callisto after their ship is attacked by a terrorist syndicate. 

Surviving the crash, Jacob is confined to a maximum-security prison on the moon, which is then overwhelmed by a disease that transforms the infected into monstrous mutants. Working together with one of the terrorists, Dani Nakamura, Jacob searches for a way to escape from the now-overrun prison.

Reactions to "The Callisto Protocol" were all over the place, with some praising its horror atmosphere and others knocking it for being too derivative of "Dead Space." Schofield acknowledged a number of initial technical performance issues that also brought scores down, blaming them on clerical errors. Even after post-release support, the game failed to meet internal sales expectations. At the end of the day, "The Callisto Protocol" failed to capture the magic of "Dead Space,". It still holds on as its own ambitious and distinct sci-fi horror game.

Following a solid reception, the 2017 indie space shooter "Everspace" received a sequel in 2023, raising the bar for its exploration and combat. As players explore the cosmos, they can upgrade and modify their starships, or purchase new and better spacecraft altogether. Combat with enemy ships is conducted in real-time, with players actively managing their weapons, shields, and other ship systems as they maneuver from a third-person perspective. In contrast to the first game, the environments to explore aren't procedurally generated in favor of a more conventional open-world.

In its early access phase months before wide release, "Everspace 2" was off to a strong start, especially for an indie title initially released exclusively for PCs. By the time the game prepared for its console release, it had already sold over 300,000 copies. This is all fine and dandy, but it still feels like not enough people are talking about the "Everspace" games years after the franchise's launch. "Everspace 2," in particular, feels like a fuller realization of the team's efforts, standing as the heir apparent to the '90s space combat series "Descent."

Another space shooter, this time with a more pronounced multiplayer component, is the 2024 game "Void Crew." Offering up to 6-player co-op, the game unfolds primarily from a first-person perspective as a team forms a starship crew to explore the wonders of outer space. Different teammates take on different roles in the ship, from piloting the vessel to manning its weapon systems and other support positions. Players must learn how to work together as they take on missions throughout the cosmos and battle formidable enemies.

With its emphasis on tight teamwork, "Void Crew" often descends into absolute chaos. This, of course, is when the game is at its most fun. The game also looks fantastic, with beautifully rendered sci-fi settings to cruise through while taking on various hostiles. Despite all of this, it just doesn't feel like "Void Crew" has gotten the level of widespread recognition that it deserves. As far as sci-fi fun with friends in a genre that isn't just another first-person shooter, "Void Crew" offers plenty of entertaining group-based action.