Classic 2002 Game Somehow Has Been Re-Released 9 Times and Is Now on Xbox Series X|S and PS5

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With so many games being updated or recreated these days, one independent title has quietly launched on nine different systems over the past two decades. Originally released in 2002 as a free online game playable in any web browser, *Alien Hominid* quickly became popular and showed how much impact independent game developers were starting to have on the wider gaming world.

Originally a browser game, *Alien Hominid* quickly became popular and helped launch its developer while also contributing to the growth of Newgrounds as a hub for creative game ideas. Its enduring success on various consoles proves how well-designed the gameplay is – it’s a simple, reliable shooter that remains exceptional. Beyond that, this beloved indie game paved the way for the digital gaming landscape we know today.

The Little Yellow Alien Who Couldn’t Stop

Alien Hominid is a classic game that helped define online gaming and remains popular on consoles today. It started as a popular Flash game on Newgrounds, a website launched in 1995 that provided a platform for independent creators and helped shape early internet culture. The game’s success brought a Newgrounds favorite to a wider audience.

Newgrounds was a pioneering platform for internet culture, hosting some of the first viral videos like “Numa Numa” and “All Your Base Belong To Us.” It also showcased early webcomics, such as *Neurotically Yours* and *Charlie the Unicorn*, and helped launch the careers of independent game developers. A standout success story was *Alien Hominid*, a fast-paced two-player game where a small yellow alien tries to evade a relentless wave of FBI agents.

Alien Hominid was created by Tom Fulp, the founder of Newgrounds, and animator Dan Paladin. It was designed to feel like classic NeoGeo and side-scrolling shooters such as Contra and Metal Slug. While featuring bright, cartoon-style graphics, the game was surprisingly challenging, making even small victories feel rewarding. It was difficult, but rarely felt unfair.

The game’s success came from a perfect combination of challenging gameplay, striking visuals, and easy-to-learn controls. It’s still an incredibly fun and addictive action game. Created using Adobe Flash, *Alien Hominid* was remarkably accessible for players on consoles of that era. It wasn’t just simple; it was cleverly designed, taking classic gameplay and refining it. This made *Alien Hominid* an instant hit with both young players and aspiring game developers.

A Success Out Of This World

Newgrounds was already a popular platform for independent creators, but the massive success of *Alien Hominid* truly transformed the online gaming scene. This success allowed Tom Fulp and Dan Paladin to launch their careers as professional game developers. Together with John Baez, Brandon LaCava, and Nick Dryburgh, they went on to found the video game company, The Behemoth.

In 2004, The Behemoth partnered with O3 Entertainment to release a bigger version of *Alien Hominid* on the PlayStation 2 and GameCube. A version for Xbox followed in Europe in 2005. The game received positive reviews from many gaming websites, earning a score of 78 out of 100 on Metacritic for both the GameCube and PS2 versions.

So, the game blew up pretty quickly, and after that, they started bringing it to everything! I first played it on the Game Boy Advance back in ’06, then it hit the Xbox 360 in ’07. Just when I thought it was done, they dropped a remastered version for PC, Switch, Xbox One, and the newer Xbox Series X/S in 2023. And now, in 2025, it’s even coming to PlayStation 4 and 5! What’s really cool is they’ve updated the graphics with all the new tech, but they haven’t messed with the original, crazy art style – which is awesome, because so many remasters totally ruin that part.

The popularity of *Alien Hominid* paved the way for other hit games from The Behemoth, including *Castle Crashers*, and even a sequel, *Alien Hominid Invasion*. Beyond these games’ success, it signaled exciting things to come for the gaming industry and hinted at the modern gaming landscape we know today.

Why Alien Hominid Matters

After playing *Alien Hominid* and seeing how well it did, it really showed me and a lot of other devs that you could actually make a living making your own games. It proved there was a real audience out there, and that online communities could help launch entire studios! Games like *Meat Boy*, *The Binding of Isaac*, and *Dys4ia* kept that momentum going, especially on Newgrounds. It was awesome to see so many creators from Newgrounds expand into things like YouTube, bringing that unique style with them.

The success of *Alien Hominid* on popular consoles showed that independent games could reach a wide audience. This has definitely become true in recent years, with smaller games like *Balatro* and *Undertale* becoming huge hits. *Alien Hominid* also helped start a trend of well-made, retro-style platformers, paving the way for games like *Cuphead*.

Even after more than twenty years since its release as a Flash game, *Alien Hominid* is still popular, proving its lasting impact on gaming. The game’s strong design and unique style continue to make it enjoyable and captivating. It just goes to show that creating a truly fun game is often enough to become a classic.

You can now play Alien Hominid on Windows, as well as PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.

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2025-10-18 02:14