There are several settings that gaming has experimented with over time. Sci-fi games are especially prevalent in this regard, with the most notable titles allowing players to explore the vast reaches of space or interact with technologies that are simply ahead of their time and feel extremely unique to use.
Regardless of the genre players may favor, there's no denying the fact that there are several games that use a sci-fi setting to great effect. The following titles are especially notable in this regard and are an absolute blast to play through, in no small part due to just how important they were to help develop the notion of sci-fi games becoming a notable genre in the medium.
10 Mass Effect 2
BioWare's release of Mass Effect was widely celebrated among the masses. The idea of playing through a massive sci-fi epic was a tantalizing prospect, and Mass Effect 2 served to strengthen this notion.
The second game in the original Mass Effect trilogy retained the strong aspects of its predecessor while polishing up the game's combat. The end result is a fun adventure that will keep players engaged for quite some time indeed.
9 Stellaris
Grand strategy games might seem like a niche genre, but it's surprising just how engaging and fun these games can be. Fans of sci-fi games should check out Stellaris to understand how this is made possible.
The game is a brilliant entry into the grand strategy genre with Paradox Interactive at the helm, a developer known for their addicting historical epics. The fact that the game still sustains a strong player base and an active modding community is proof of just how beloved and popular this game is in the hearts of fans.
8 System Shock 2
System Shock 2 is one of the greatest and most popular immersive sims of all time. The game improves on pretty much everything from its predecessor and makes for a great time indeed.
System Shock 2 might fall off slightly in its latter half, but the game's sections within the Von Braun are truly haunting and exciting to play through to this day. These massive open levels coupled with brilliant environmental stories set the stage for immersive sims to take over during the heyday of PC gaming.
7 Deus Ex
Speaking of immersive sims, it would be impossible to not talk about the brilliance of the original Deus Ex. The game was a phenomenon upon release and exemplified what open-ended gameplay and player-controlled narratives had the potential to reach.
To this day, there aren't many games that feature the open-ended design and the impressive narrative diversions of Deus Ex. The game is truly jam-packed with content and features some of the most iconic video game levels and moments of all time.
6 XCOM 2
Turn-based strategy games are a blast to play through for gamers who prefer to take their time in games instead of shooting and blasting their way through everything at record times. In this regard, XCOM 2 excels on all fronts.
The game represents a sequel to the brilliant XCOM: Enemy Unknown and serves as a worthy sequel. The concept of permadeath is utilized brilliantly, with the game's difficulty making it clear that only the most comprehensive strategies will be able to clear out the challenging enemy AI.
5 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Before making bombastic real-time action games, there was a time when BioWare was still making titles with more strategic gameplay. This is the time when the incredible Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was released to massive critical and commercial success.
Knights of the Old Republic is considered by many to be the greatest Star Wars game of all time to this day. The narrative is absolutely brilliant, and the games do a great job of adapting the established setting of Star Wars to great effect.
4 Dead Space 2
Dead Space 2 is one of the scariest games of all time, even though it might feature a heavier focus on action compared to its predecessor. However, that is not a negative in the slightest, with the game being considered by many to be a marked improvement over its previous entry.
It's easy to see why so many people adore Dead Space 2. The game's amazing atmosphere and nightmarish enemies make for a gripping romp from start to end. The sheer amount of creepiness and body horror on display is enough to keep some fans up at night!
3 EVE Online
There are several MMORPGs around that players can sink hundreds of hours into. However, most of these games don't boast the in-depth interstellar economy of EVE Online.
The game has several complex systems and can take a while to get into. However, players who find their groove in this title will understand why this wildly popular MMO makes the headlines time and time again. The number of activities at the player's fingertips is enough to keep fans invested for quite some time.
2 Portal 2
Valve has been at the forefront of delivering stellar experiences with their amazing titles, and Portal 2 is no exception. The fact that this sequel managed to build and improve upon everything set in its predecessor is genuinely impressive.
Along with the memorable single-player campaign, the game also features a great co-op mode as well! Suffice to say, Portal 2 is an incredible game that deserves all the praise in the world.
1 BioShock
Ken Levine might be facing some problems with his latest venture, but there was a time when the video game auteur was at the top of his craft. He used his work on System Shock 2 to help him spear the development of one of the greatest video games of all time.
BioShock is easily one of the most legendary and immersive games on this list. The title wastes no time in throwing players into the deep end — quite literally! — and throws a multitude of narrative curveballs that will keep players on the edge of their seats all the way to the end of this adventure.