10 Forgotten Sci-Fi Video Games You Need To Play
1. Axiom Verge - Thomas Happ Games LLC (2015)
Metroid is a timeless science fiction video game franchise, with roots stretching as far back as 1986. It has been making media rounds in earnest of late on account of the October 2021 release of the latest entry in the series, Metroid Dread from Nintendo.
The unique blend of 2D game mechanics coupled with moody environments and powerful sci-fi weaponry has many gamers searching for more of the experience upon completion.
Enter 2015's Axiom Verge. An independently developed title, this one is a side-scroller action-adventure game where the player takes on the role of Trace, a scientist who, after suffering a crippling injury, wakes to find himself in an ancient yet high-tech alien world called Sudra.
Discovering there is a deadly blight ravaging the land and a weapon with the potential to turn the tides, Trace takes up arms against the denizens of Sudra.
That weapon, the Axiom Disruptor, is an incredibly versatile instrument of destruction with more than 20 configurations to find and master.
This one harkens back to a simpler time in video gaming when platforming, timing and boss battling were incredibly rewarding experiences that became more and more natural as the narrative progresses.
With visuals and sounds reminiscent of the 16-bit era, Axiom Verge gives Metroid fans everything they look for in a game while still introducing new elements and environments to keep it from feeling like a carbon copy.
The title certainly made a splash back in 2015 for its quality, especially for an independently developed game but has since fallen well out of the limelight. Thankfully a little searching around finds that it is available for most any format still, so discovering (or rediscovering) this one is a drama-free endeavour.