10 Video Games That Blew Your Mind (Without You Realising)

One of the most terrifying games of the last decade, Alien Isolation had a lot to live up to, not only as an entry in the venerated sci-fi horror franchise but also as an apology for Aliens: Colonial Marines.

And it more than accomplished that by using a clever AI trick to give the Xenomorph the terrifying presence that it has.

See, the Xenomorph has two "brains". That is to say, it has two sets of AI algorithms feeding it instructions. The first brain knows exactly where you are and what you're doing at all times, but is hampered by having zero direct control over the body. It instead can only feed instructions, in the most general, vague sense, to brain 2, which, on its own, operates purely on direct line of sight, but can also adapt to the player's behaviour patterns.

The interplay between these two brains is where the game's masterful tension comes from. Brain 1 is always aware of what you're doing, but can only give vague hints to 2. But 2 learns from each encounter, especially if the player isn't taking enough risks and repeating the same strategies. If you hide in the same kind of hiding place too many times, Brain 2 will immediately know where you are, making the game the masterclass in horror that it is.