From Halo 3 to Portal: The top 10 greatest sci-fi games of all time

In recent years game developers have stepped up and shown the world what could lie beyond our immediate perception.

Get yourself ready with a vivid imagination and an open mind as we trek forth and countdown the top 10 greatest science fiction games of all time.

10. Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

When we're kicking off the list with the best Star Wars game ever made - you know we've got some strong contenders coming up - there is absolutely no filler.

When thinking of sci-fi, no series has captured the imaginations of the masses quite like Star Wars. Through some (mostly) timeless films, a following of millions was formed, yet the true depth of the series was unknown to many fans.

Bioware's romp through the morally grey areas of the universe showed the world that Star Wars was never as simple as 'Good' and 'Evil', and Knights of the Old Republic challenged all our preconceptions of the series, as well as morality as a whole.

9. Halo 3

We weren't kidding about there being some heavy hitters this episode, and number nine is without a doubt the lowest Halo 3 would ever show up on any list. As the most beloved entry in one of the most revered science fiction genres in gaming, Halo 3 is a landmark title not just in SciFi gaming, but in all gaming history.

Picking up where its predecessor left off, Halo 3 revolutionised the multiplayer scene with its own brand of high-octane, no holds barred action - an experience that many of us will pine for as we're left deflated from some modern day shooters.

For such an expeditious shooter, the game provides a staggering amount of depth with its story, and continues to flesh out the conflict between the Spartans and the Covenant, as well as the ever looming dangers of 'the Flood'.

8. Mass Effect

Andromeda never happened (Picture: BioWare)

One thing we all love in sci-fi is a fleshed out story, in an expansive and imaginative universe. Sometimes, these things can take years to create over numerous introductions to a series. Yet, every now and then something comes along with what seems like decades worth of back story and depth right from the get go. Something like Mass Effect.

A testament to the talents of Mac Walters and his writing team, the game hit players with one of the most vividly rich stories ever encountered in gaming - something to rival even the most well established franchises.

Across the span of its trilogy - yes we're pretending Andromeda never happened - we encountered entities we never thought we'd saw in gaming. Moral choices that left us second guessing our actions for weeks to follow, a looming evil that seemed truly inescapable, and a cast of lovable characters with true verisimilitude.

7. Deus Ex

This is what thinking outside the box looks like (Picture: Square Enix)

 Very few games have has a setting just as ambitious as Deus Ex.

It's a game world which was created through a series of 'what if's. What if the men in black existed? What if there truly was a huge conspiracy within Area 51? What if the government really were trying to control us through vaccines? In Deux Ex, every bizarre conspiracy you've ever heard of has come true, resulting a in a bleak dystopian world with shady secrets lurking just out of sight.

Thankfully for you, you an pick up on all these details through the magic of cybernetic enhancements which will adapt your play-style in any which way. This will be fundamental as you forge your own path in a game where any approach is a legitimate option - be it stealth, diplomacy, or good old fashioned brute force.

6. System Shock 2

Within the genre it's no doubt we'll visit countless vibrant worlds, and encounter species which are pretty much friendly. Yet that'll only make up a small portion of the galaxy, the rest of it will be filled with all manners of threats that want to see all humans murdered in various painful ways. It's no wonder that sci-fi is the perfect setting for horror, and allows developers to push all boundaries. So lets talk about one of the most important SciFi horror games of all time. System Shock 2.

The game ticks all the boxes for the genre. Malevolent sentient AI set on destroying all humans? Check. Eccentric Russian oligarch turned space explorer who insists he can operate an FTL drive? Check. Terrifying psychic hive mind that can possess and mutate humans? Check.

The setting for the game is entirely unique and is one of the most important titles in gaming history - with many huge games today - such as Prey, SOMA and Dishonoured - owing their existence to System Shock.

5. Super Metroid

So far we've seen some of the most important titles in gaming history, and we're only just at the half way point. We're going to declare now - this is, without a doubt, the most stacked top 10 we've ever made. And it only gets bigger and better from here.

Up next we have a game which marked one of the most empowering moments in gaming history, and spawned a whole genre of games trying to live up to its magic for over two decades following its release.

We don't often associate Nintendo with sci-fi, but they have certainly made one of the greatest Sci-Fi franchises with all time with Metroid - and no title in the series was just as important as Super Metroid. If you're looking for a 2 dimensional romp through some iconic alien environments oozing with atmosphere and you haven't played Super Metroid yet? Well, what are you waiting for?

4. Portal

So we've talked about innovation in the genre so far. Every game on this list has sought to push new horizons in an effort to create an experience that the world would have never expected before. Whilst we're talking about bending the rules, we have to talk about Valves monumental series Portal which didn't just break new grounds in gaming, but fractured the laws of time and space.

There's never been a game quite like portal. It stands completely unique. It brought a whole new spin on puzzle games, brought a seemingly empty environment to life through subtle methods, and created a robot with more personality than most triple A protagonists.

We can go on and on about all the aspects that make this a phenomenal title - but we're going to dwell on our favourite - the antagonist. The ever memorable GLaDOS.

Whilst we're used to seeing ourselves come up against any imaginable mix of humongous alien forms or terrifying space beasties, GLaDOS represents a struggle against something always just out of reach, and her clear malevolence is offset by her undeniably likeable approach. She's one of the most entertaining characters across any game, and a truly imaginative spin for the genre.

3. BioShock

(Picture: 2k Games)

We mentioned earlier that many games owed much to System Shock 2, but now lets talk about the games definitive spiritual successor. No longer in space, but deep under the sea in the twists and turns of the Art Deco labyrinth of Rapture, we're looking at Bioshock.

Bioshock showed the world of gaming that science fiction doesn't have to mean aliens, futuristic technology and intergalactic road trips. It can be a lot closer to home. All it takes is a few drastic ideas to make a familiar setting careen into something we've never encountered before.

In terms of setting, Bioshock was a masterpiece. We've seen plenty of games that have tried to be too smart. With the whole basis of Bioshock's setting coming from the work of dystopian thinkers such as Huxley, Orwell and Rand - you'd think Bioshock would be the same. Yet it was executed - perfectly.

It's beautiful, brutal, and truly makes you ponder about the intricate philosophical dilemmas the game exudes. It doesn't shove it in a players face saying 'Hey look - we made a smart game!', but drip feeds crumbs of information throughout the recesses of Rapture that will get your train of thought in line with the philosophical thinkers.

2. StarCraft

We've touched on a lot of fantastic single player experiences so far - and its clear that the genre is almost tailor-made for story-driven, first person experiences. But now lets bring the setting to the masses, and talk about one of - if not the most - important multiplayer games of all time. Something that created a whole new brand of competitive gaming and changed the face of esports forever. Of course, we are talking about Starcraft.

Starcraft took many staples of the genre and refined them to perfection. Rather than providing endless variety, the game focused on 3 unique races which proved starkly different in their play-style and background. Whether it's the regal and advanced Protoss, the familiar sight of the Terran marines, or the terrifying hive mind of the Zerg swarm - each race was refined to become truly iconic.

The games setting itself was brutally vivid - with Terran fighting for survival in an inhospitable universe, and the Zerg encroaching on all known sectors to assimilate and evolve. Amongst these large-scale bouts we've got a cast of vivid, individual characters - and some of the most interesting character arcs in all of gaming. Just look at the human special operative turned grotesque queen of the Zerg 'Kerrigan'.

These are all great features, of course, but these aren't what made Starcraft the pinnacle of competitive gaming. Through the three unique and refined races, huge depth was discovered in the intricacies of the multiplayer. A game was a true test of a players endurance, strategic thinking and technical ability.

It forced players to adapt under high pressure situations and brought in a depth of micromanagement that was key to mastering the game. This wasn't just a case of 'the biggest army wins' - every unit had its importance. Every command, every hotkey, every click of the mouse was crucial. From the very start of a match, every second was vital, which is why it is still regarded as the most intense game in history, and has been a staple part of South Korean esports for two decades.

1. Half-Life

So what game could possibly stand above all these monolithic titles. Throughout the list we've looked at games which have frequently been applauded as some of the best games of all time, and have set new milestones in gaming history. Usually when trying to put together a list with such exceptional games - we'd be getting pretty worried at the number one spot as we will surely enrage a lot of you with our pick - but we're pretty confident that nearly all of you will stand with us here.

Without further do, lets talk what we consider to be the greatest sci-fi game of all time: Half-Life.

The tale of one physicist who was late to work, resulting in him being caught in the midst of a battle between warring worlds, an alien invasion and a covert cover up. This isn't just a fight for survival, but a terrifying journey to solve the problems caused when science goes too far.

When your only potential allies turn on you, you can only rely on your own wits and courage to traverse the many horrors now lurking in the Black Mesa facility. How bad could these threats possibly be? Around the level of giant egg-laying head crab levels. Yep - it doesn't look great for Mr Freeman.

Valve didn't want this game to be a shooting gallery with a sci-fi feel; they wanted it to be immersive. Impacting. They wanted players to truly feel the threats encroaching. And no game yet had ever felt quite like it.

It set a brand new standard for first person shooters, raised the bar for atmospheric games, pushed every boundary regarding story and immersion - and showed the world that being a good game isn't enough. You have to strive change the very face of gaming.

Still waiting for Half-Life 3 (Picture: Valve Corporation)

The legacy of Half-Life can still be felt today with developers looking to build depths into first person shooters - and whilst many titles have achieved great things - nothing will have quite the impact as this did, nor act as such a pinnacle point in the genres history.

Not to discredit the rest of these games; we can't stress how incredible each and every one of these are, and whether you're looking to traverse the galaxy, ponder morality, or just fight a few ugly aliens, not a single title on this list will disappoint.