With the release of director Fede Álvarez’s Alien: Romulus on August 16, the longstanding Alien franchise has once again been thrust into the spotlight. Fans had been eagerly awaiting a new film since 2017’s Alien: Covenant by the legendary director Ridley Scott. As a result, there has been a great deal of buzz surrounding the entire series in recent times. This renewed interest isn’t confined solely to the franchise’s cinematic installments; rather, all things Alien have made their way back into the mainstream, including a video game set to celebrate a significant anniversary in a few months.

On October 7, 2024, Alien: Isolation (which Romulus has emphasized is indeed canon) will turn 10 years old. Developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega, this survival horror game fills in the gaps between the events of 1979’s Alien and its 1986 sequel, Aliens. At the center of the narrative is Ellen Ripley’s daughter, Amanda Ripley (Andrea Deck), as she attempts to uncover what became of her mother and her allies. Given that it is an Alien story, it’s only natural that she and her companions are soon ambushed by the dreaded Xenomorph, thrusting players into a battle for survival against one of the most iconic and terrifying science fiction monsters in history.

Ten years is a significant passage of time, and society, popular culture, and the entertainment industry as a whole can undergo drastic changes during that span. So, how does Alien: Isolation hold up in the modern gaming landscape after a decade? How has the perception of it changed over the years?

When I first played Alien: Isolation shortly after its release, I was a teenage fan of the Alien movies eager to explore the franchise and the horror video game genre. To say that the game met my expectations on those fronts would be an understatement. I appreciated its connections to the films and was equally intrigued by its deviations. The visuals were truly astonishing, the gameplay kept me engaged, and, admittedly, the Xenomorph gave me a few good scares here and there, making me eager to play more. Sure, the game wasn’t flawless, with some sections posing challenges (or being boring) and the Xenomorph occasionally glitching, but overall, I couldn’t complain too much. After finishing Isolation, I set it aside for a while.

In the years since its release and my completion of it, I’ve only played it a few times more, most recently to reassess its legacy at the 10-year mark. Surprisingly, now in my twenties, I feel much the same about Isolation as I did in my teens. The graphics, while still strong, do show their age in some places. I can recognize that Amanda’s story has its imperfections and weak points, but it still draws me in. Even though I’ve become less adept at stealth, the gameplay mechanics still hold up. Of course, there were still moments when the Xenomorph caught me off guard, and some areas were a bit of a slog to get through. Nevertheless, to say that Isolation holds up is an understatement. It may not be the best in its class, but for a 10-year-old game, it’s still an excellent sci-fi horror title.

I’ll go even further. Considering how well Isolation has aged over the past 10 years and its lasting legacy, I dare say it deserves a place in the conversation of all-time horror game classics.

When Alien: Isolation was released, I wasn’t the only one praising it. Upon its debut, most major gaming and entertainment publications gave it high marks. In fact, at the time, our own Chris Carter at Destructoid was quite satisfied with what it offered, ultimately awarding the game a commendable 8.5 out of 10. At the same time, among horror game enthusiasts, the general gaming public, and fans of the Alien franchise, the positive remarks far outweighed the negative ones. That was then, and this is now, so what is the legacy of Isolation among today’s gaming masses? Well, it’s fair to say that it remains an overwhelming fan favorite, and its fanbase continues to grow.

As its 10th anniversary approaches rapidly, Isolation is still attracting new players. Thanks to the release of Romulus and the hype surrounding it, there was a remarkable 320% increase in the player count on Steam. Even without the assistance of Romulus, the positive word of mouth combined with the enduring love for the Alien saga has kept Isolation in the minds and conversations of gamers everywhere. Not only is there an active Alien: Isolation subreddit with around 28,000 members, but Reddit as a whole is filled with discussions related to Isolation. Some threads are newcomers discussing whether to give it a try, while others are mini-reviews praising it. Evidently, the fandom behind Isolation is extremely passionate, which is why the title remains so prominent in the horror gaming world after a decade.

Among the numerous Alien-based video games that have been released since Ridley Scott’s Alien premiered 45 years ago, none are quite like Isolation. It’s terrifying, visually stunning, and pays homage to the films it’s based on while carving out its own unique niche. Given that it is still widely played and loved after a full decade, clearly, these elements and more contributed to its success. Here’s to another 10 years.