 | An editor has determined thatsufficient sources exist to establish the subject'snotability. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Science fiction video game" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(April 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 |
| Video games |
|---|
Related |
Ascience fiction game is avideo game that falls under thescience fiction genre. The genre has existed since the dawn of video games, with their evolution being shaped heavily by it.[1]Spacewar! (1962), one of the first video games ever made, was science fiction-themed. While most video games blend togetherfantasy and sci-fi in a way that makes it difficult to strictly divide the two, also known asscience fantasy orspace opera,[1] a much smaller subgroup of games feature ahard sci-fi setting with more emphasis on scientific accuracy.
Sci-fi games have historically drawn uponliterary influences in their early days, such asRobert A. Heinlein,Larry Niven andE. E. Smith, due to a lack of other types of sci-fi media, such as movies, comics, and other games. However, modern games of the genre more often tend to be influenced by other contemporary media.[1]
Science fiction games traditionally have a male-dominated audience, with a 2017 survey by Quantic Foundry finding that only 16% of sci-fiMMO players were female, compared to 36% ofhigh fantasy MMO players. Thus, they are not as popular asfantasy games overall, although there are exceptions.BioWare games notably have a large female audience, with the players ofStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic being 29% female.[2]
Sci-fi games often feature themes of savingplanets,galaxies, or theuniverse from destruction at the hands of other humans,artificial intelligence, or hostileextraterrestrial beings, culminating in excitingset pieces. They sometimes feature peacefulexploration of the unknown as a smaller part of the game, but rarely revolve around it, in contrast to sci-fi works of other mediums. Despite the creativity inherent in science fiction, many such games are formulaic and practical by necessity to conform to common gameplay mechanics, such as aliens beinghumanoid so they act in a mannershooter players are familiar with.[3]
Realistic playable space combat ordogfighting in sci-fi games is relatively rare despite its prominence in other mediums of sci-fi.[3] Thespace combat genre enjoyed widespread popularity onPC in the1990s, but "dried up" afterwards, due to a shift towardsconsole games and their less complex standard shooters.[4] While stylized renditions are popular in genres likeshoot 'em ups, fully 3D games usually revolve around on-foot gameplay taking place on the surface of planets or withinspacecraft. Modern exceptions includeNo Man's Sky (2016), which lets players explore aprocedurally generated universe, andStarfield (2023), whose space combat was specifically cited as being inspired by 90's sims.[5]
Video game designerHideo Kojima, who was influenced as a child by books byIsaac Asimov andArthur C. Clarke, is notably a science fiction fan. Much of his output has influenced the depiction of sci-fi in video games. TheMetal Gear andDeath Stranding series, both featuring sci-fi elements, have become significantblockbusters,[6] alongside lesser-known works such as theZone of the Enders series ofmecha games,Snatcher andPolicenauts.
Other major franchises in the sci-fi realm includeWing Commander,StarCraft,XCOM,Deus Ex, andHalo. In particular,Halo is one of the best-known sci-fi video game franchises in the world, and draws influences from theRingworld series andmilitary sci-fi.[1]
Sci-fi games often influence real-worldengineers andinvestors in a similar manner as other sci-fi media, by demonstrating ideas for futuristic technology. A notable example wasDeus Ex: Human Revolution (2011), which heavily featured themes of human augmentation, inspiring the creation of a documentary and investments in prosthetics. Some sci-fi games also address the potential dangers of existing technology, such asWatch Dogs (2014) which follows a hacker in a futuresmart city version ofChicago.[7]
| Action |
|  | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action-adventure | |||||||||||
| Adventure | |||||||||||
| Digital tabletop | |||||||||||
| Puzzle | |||||||||||
| Role-playing | |||||||||||
| Simulation |
| ||||||||||
| Strategy | |||||||||||
| Other genres | |||||||||||
| Related concepts |
| ||||||||||