20 Best Sci-Fi Video Games Of All Time

Some of the best games ever made.

By James Wilson /

There are many different genres of games to choose from, but Sci-Fi games just have that undeniable magnetism to them. The potential prospect of an intergalactic adventure is always going to catch gamers eyes and get our imagination racing.

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In the right hands, Sci-Fi games can seamlessly transport players to alien worlds where they can meet new and interesting characters and species. They can make us ponder deep philosophical questions, present us with complex problems, or give us the ride of our lives. It can allow developers to combine elements of many other genre of games in order to create something based of an already tested and successful formula or something entirely new and original.

Unfortunately, not all of them have lived up to the hype they can generate. Some, like No Man’s Sky, Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem, will forever be remembered as major disappointments that were not able to deliver on the promises they made.

But every so often, we get a true masterpiece of a game - one that is not only able to satisfy our Sci-Fi needs, but also sets the bar for future games to come.

20. Borderlands

Back in 2009, developers Gearbox Software and publishers 2K Games gave what would later be known as the inspiration for the looter-shooter genre.

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Right from the start, gamers knew they were in for something different and entertaining. Borderlands cartoon-style graphics gave it a unique aesthetic which helped set it apart from other shooters of the time. The planet Pandora felt wild and unpredictable thanks to its hordes of alien monsters and enemy factions for you to engage with.

But the games undeniable highlight was its insane variety of weapons and the ability to play the entire game cooperatively with your friends. Taking inspiration from games like Ultima and Diablo, Borderlands focuses on giving you a massive selection of weapons to choose from and different types of elemental functions.

All playable characters have their own distinctive classes and abilities that can be upgraded as you progress through the game.

The ability to play the whole game cooperatively, no matter what level you were in relation to your teammates, gave gamers the freedom to play with each other while enemy stats were altered behind the scenes.

Many games have copied the looter-shooter format, but Borderlands is remembered as the founding father of the genre.

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