PCGame

Aliens: Dark Descent

Real-time squad tactics where every marine death is permanent

Tindalos Interactive · Published by Focus Entertainment · Released Jun 19, 2023

ActionStrategy

Reviews
Very Positive
86% of 16K
Recent reviews
Mostly Positive
79% of 116 in 30 days
Players
178
daily peak, Nov 7, 2026
Steam Deck
Playable
Last update on Steam
7 months ago
Apr 7, 2026
Minimum PC
R9 380
8 GB RAM · 60 GB disk
Full requirements

Metacritic: 75/100 (critic reviews)

What is Aliens: Dark Descent?

A top-down real-time tactics game where you command Colonial Marines trying to contain a Xenomorph outbreak on Planet Lethe. Across large, persistent levels, you move the squad as a unit, avoid detection, issue combat orders, set up motion trackers and safe zones, and manage stress, resources, and permanent losses. Between missions, you develop marines and research technology at your base.

For you if...

  • +you enjoy tense real-time tactics mixed with stealth and horror
  • +you like customizing soldiers and managing limited resources
  • +you want a solo campaign with lasting mission consequences

Not for you if...

  • −you prefer turn-based combat or direct character control
  • −you want multiplayer or cooperative squad play
  • −you dislike permadeath, stress systems, or campaign time pressure

What players say

86% of 15,844 reviews are positive · 79% of 116 in the last 30 days

Players praise the way its look, sound, and squad combat evoke Aliens. The dominant complaint is technical trouble: players report progression-blocking bugs, crashes, and performance problems. Some also object to the campaign timer and restrictive save system.

Players over time

▲ +9% vs a month ago

Players online on Steam, one sample a day.

Highest since Sep 2026: 278 players on Sep 21, 2026.

Show the data
DayPlayers
Nov 7, 2026178
Nov 6, 2026122
Nov 5, 2026101
Nov 4, 2026161
Nov 3, 2026128
Nov 2, 2026129
Nov 1, 2026195
Oct 31, 2026166
Oct 30, 2026106
Oct 29, 2026105
Oct 28, 2026101
Oct 27, 2026118
Oct 26, 2026120
Oct 25, 2026145
Oct 24, 2026124
Oct 23, 202697
Oct 22, 2026104
Oct 21, 2026114
Oct 20, 2026115
Oct 18, 2026130
Oct 17, 2026121
Oct 16, 2026107
Oct 15, 2026126
Oct 14, 2026133
Oct 13, 2026127
Oct 11, 2026154
Oct 10, 2026162
Oct 9, 2026124
Oct 8, 2026131
Oct 7, 2026133
Oct 6, 2026141
Oct 4, 2026173
Oct 3, 2026134
Oct 2, 2026109
Oct 1, 2026106
Sep 30, 2026119
Sep 29, 2026105
Sep 27, 2026180
Sep 26, 2026158
Sep 25, 2026146
Sep 24, 2026133
Sep 23, 2026146
Sep 23, 2026158
Sep 22, 2026161
Sep 21, 2026278

How many players finish Aliens: Dark Descent?

21% of Steam players have unlocked «Stuff Of Nightmares», the achievement for finishing the main story.

Share of everyone who owns the game on Steam, including those who barely played it. Updated weekly.

Screenshots and trailer

Aliens: Dark Descent screenshot 1

Aliens: Dark Descent system requirements

Minimum: R9 380, 8 GB RAM, 60 GB of disk space.

As published by the developer.

Can my PC run Aliens: Dark Descent?

Tell us your graphics card once and every game page will answer this for you.

Set up my PC →

Minimum

OS
Windows 10 or 11
Processor
AMD FX-6300 / Intel Core i3-6100
Graphics
3 GB VRAM, AMD Radeon R9 380 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960
Memory
8 GB RAM
Storage
60 GB available space
DirectX
Version 12
Notes
30 FPS, 1920x1080 in low

Recommended

OS
Windows 10 or 11
Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 1800X / Intel Core i7-9700K
Graphics
6 GB VRAM, AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
Memory
16 GB RAM
Storage
60 GB available space
DirectX
Version 12
Notes
60 FPS, 1920x1080 in epic. SSD Recommended

Does Aliens: Dark Descent have co-op or multiplayer?

No: single-player only, no multiplayer modes declared.

Does Aliens: Dark Descent run on Steam Deck?

Playable Playable: it runs on Steam Deck with some adjustments.

  • Some in-game text is small and may be hard to read
  • All functionality is accessible with the default controller configuration
  • Shows Steam Deck controller icons
  • Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck
  • External controllers are not supported for the primary player

PC version details

DRM
None declared on Steam
Controller
Full controller support
Platforms
Windows
Achievements
45
Steam features
Cloud saves, Family Sharing
Languages
Full audio: English. Text only: French, Italian, German, Korean, Polish, Portuguese - Brazil, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish - Latin America, Traditional Chinese, Japanese.

Does Aliens: Dark Descent use AI-generated content?

No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.

Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Nov 7, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam

Tags

Recent updates

1 DLC available.

Games like Aliens: Dark Descent