The Alien movies feel like they’d be perfect for video games, but surprisingly few games have successfully captured the blend of scary suspense, sci-fi thrills, and explosive action that the films are known for. Alien: Isolation really excelled at creating horror and tension, while games like Aliens: Dark Descent, Aliens: Rogue Incursion, and Aliens: Fireteam Elite have generally focused on the action, sometimes at the cost of the suspenseful atmosphere. It’s probably best not to mention some of the other Alien games, like Aliens: Colonial Marines.
Cold Iron Studios’ latest game seems like a big step forward after their previous attempt. At Summer Game Fest 2026, they showcased Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, which significantly improves on the original in several important areas. The way it blends action and horror is reminiscent of what the classic Colonial Marines aimed for years ago. We played the game with other gaming journalists and found it to be a genuinely enjoyable experience battling those famous alien creatures.
Game Over, Man!
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 is an exciting new installment in the Alien series, focusing on intense battles against swarms of Xenomorphs – something past games haven’t always gotten right. The strongest Alien games, like Alien: Isolation, capture the franchise’s terrifying atmosphere. While Aliens: Fireteam Elite was a good online shooter, it struggled to distance itself from the shadow of Aliens: Colonial Marines. Initially, the game felt somewhat simple due to repetitive levels and gameplay.
Though a clear improvement over Colonial Marines, the first Aliens: Fireteam Elite showed how difficult it is to create a great action game set in the Alien universe. The team at Cold Iron Studios learned from that experience and used what they did well to create the much more refined and captivating Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2. The core gameplay remains similar, but with improved controls, better graphics, and a greater challenge, the new game is a significantly more engaging experience.
I recently got to play a really long level with three other gaming journalists, and I was blown away by how intense things could get so fast! One minute you’re dealing with relatively easy Synths, the next they’re suddenly super dangerous. The motion scanner was a lifesaver for spotting enemies – especially when a huge swarm or a Xenomorph showed up. What really kept me on edge was that new enemy types would just appear mid-fight, ambushing us from the darkness and quickly overwhelming our team. Honestly, playing this felt like finally getting the experience games like Colonial Marines were aiming for.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 Does What Colonial Marines Couldn’t
Colonial Marines is remembered as one of the worst games in the franchise, and a low point for the shooter genre. It suffered from poor graphics, uninspired levels, and weak enemies, making it both easy and forgettable. Fireteam Elite 2, however, offers a real challenge. During a demo, our team initially handled a few enemies easily, but were quickly overwhelmed by a large ambush after our medic was taken down, resulting in a swift defeat.
After a couple more attempts – and with some help from a developer – we finally made progress and were immediately facing huge Xenomorphs and swarms of smaller enemies. The game strikes a good balance in difficulty; working together and using smart tactics are key to surviving tough situations. However, overconfidence will quickly lead to defeat, just like the Colonial Marines in the movies that inspired it. Visually, the game feels true to the series while still establishing its own distinct identity.
Successfully completing the mission felt really satisfying, particularly after we learned to work together and respond to the constant dangers. While Colonial Marines didn’t quite capture the perfect blend of suspense and action needed for a great Aliens game, Fireteam Elite 2 gets it right. As a fan of Alien, I’m still disappointed by how much Colonial Marines failed, and though I had fun with the first Fireteam Elite, I didn’t stick with it for long. However, Fireteam Elite 2, along with the upcoming Alien: Isolation 2, makes me optimistic about the future of Alien games – it feels more promising than ever before.
Aliens Fireteam Elite 2 launches later this year for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
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2026-06-13 19:12