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It may come as a bit of a surprise that Aliens: Dark Descent on PC is, in fact, one of the first proper, full-fledged follow-ups to the core concept of Firaxis' own XCOM 2 proper. Now, to be fair, Dark Descent is a real-time strategy title, but both games feature squad-based combat against overwhelming forces, have heaps of meta-progression, and come with ample soldier-level customizations to truly bond to your troops. Before they die, of course.
For those who'd like to get a sense of whether Aliens: Dark Descent is an interesting enough concept in theory, we've already gone into substantial detail on that front. The TL;DR of it all is a resounding yes! Who wouldn't want to see what a horror strategy game against the Xenomorph threat would look like? Does it pan out in practice, though? Well, we've spelled it out in the next couple of sections, so read on!
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Should You Play Aliens: Dark Descent on PC?
If you're simply looking for a short, to-the-point summary of whether this is a good game or not, IGN's review encompasses Dark Descent phenomenally well: "If not for the technical issues, this would be easily one of the best Aliens games ever. And it still probably is," said Leana Hafer. Those technical issues, mind, have already been alleviated to a substantial extent thanks to day-one patches, and the important bit - we feel - is that the gameplay experience is really quite great.
Dark Descent takes most of its cues from the widely acclaimed XCOM franchise, and this is extremely informative for those who have already played that. You've got your squad of poor sods and you send them off to... well, die, in some cases. Once again, though, this game is a stealth and survival-focused real-time strategy. Not unlike the old Dawn of War 2 titles, as it were, but deeper and more engaging in most ways.
Play Aliens: Dark Descent today!
Does a Horror-Themed RTS Really Work, Though?
From the beginning of the game, it's obvious that the developer, Tindalos Interactive, reveres the source material. Few times have we seen such a careful, granular handling of Alien's trademark graphics and, more importantly, atmosphere. It's practically up to par with Alien: Isolation in that regard, outpacing even Fireteam Elite, which we enjoyed quite a lot when it came out.
Understanding that the Xenos are not cannon fodder in Dark Descent is key. Or, rather, it certainly is possible to mow down dozens of Drones in one fell swoop, but you're always dealing with an entire Hive's worth of Xenos. There's really no practical limit to the monsters' numbers, and there are only ever so many soldiers you can afford to send on a mission. Xenos are vicious, brutal, and efficient. Whenever you open fire at one, you're alerting the Hive, and thus begins the Hunt phase, which is every bit as hectic and frantic as the best scenes from Aliens and such.
The problem even when you win an encounter with the Xenos is that your Marines do get stressed the heck out. Every given mission is, therefore, an exercise in resource management. Do you need your soldiers healthy and calm, or will just alive do the trick? Does the mission take precedence over anything else? Do survivors? Will you go back to extract your fallen comrades? Tough questions, no doubt.
A Must-Play for Genre Fans
During the preview period, we praised the concept of level persistence. You will, indeed, keep returning to the same levels throughout the game's 30-hour campaign. This isn't a problem, however, but a feature. Key infrastructure needs to be defended, after all (and especially after Guardians enter the picture, as it were), and the exciting bit is that the changes players make stick around permanently. Enemy patrols shift around and change dynamically, however, so your squads must always be on their toes for new encounters.
It's a fascinating take on strategic meta-progression, too. Especially when combined with the usual assortment of soldier customization and progression features, as it all ties into the game's attempts to spook you into making mistakes, even though you're not boots-on-the-ground in Dark Descent.
Is this a successful take on the newly-minted horror survival RTS niche? We'd say so, yes. Certainly, the most successful one such game has ever been, slim as these examples may have been so far. It's a genuinely fun and innovative experience, and we'd recommend it to fans of such things!
Ready Up For a New Bug Hunt
Tindalos has, against all odds, succeded in developing something quite novel here. Aliens: Dark Descent is a delightful horror RTS that's only been brought down in reviews due to some lingering technical problems, many of which will have already been fixed by now. It's a true-to-form love letter to the Alien IP and an engaging squad-based tactics game even outside of the franchise's trappings.
Perhaps most notable, though, is the fact that this game underlines our point from last year, that strategy games are back in vogue. The genre had been sidelined for the longest time, only to come roaring back over the past two or three years. It's phenomenal news after such a long hibernation.
And, really, if this is a sign of things to come from the RTS genre over the coming months and years, we can't wait to see what else comes up. Dark Descent is fun, inventive, and true to its IP. That's more than many players will have expected, and we'd recommend adding it to your must-play list, too.
Get in the Game ! 
