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Alien Swarm

Alien Swarm Game Cover
90%Game Brain Score
gameplay, humor
story, replayability
96% User Score Based on 118 reviews
Critic Score 60%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Alien Swarm Game Cover

About

Alien Swarm is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with warfare and science fiction themes. It was developed by Valve and was released on July 19, 2010. It received neutral reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Alien Swarm is a 4-player co-op tactical game with a top-down perspective, where players battle an alien infestation in a variety of environments. The game offers an unlockable arsenal of weapons and four distinct marine classes to choose from. It also includes the full code base for the Source engine, with updates and new features.

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Alien Swarm screenshot
Alien Swarm screenshot
Alien Swarm screenshot
Alien Swarm screenshot
Alien Swarm screenshot
Alien Swarm screenshot
Alien Swarm screenshot
Alien Swarm screenshot
Alien Swarm screenshot
Alien Swarm screenshot
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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 118 reviews
gameplay4 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • It's a fun and intense top-down shooter that is great to play with friends, offering a cooperative experience that requires teamwork.
  • The game is free to play, making it accessible to everyone, and it features enjoyable gameplay elements with various weapons and characters.
  • Despite its age, the game remains engaging and replayable, especially with the addition of fan-made content and community support.
  • The game has limited official content, with only one campaign, which can feel repetitive over time.
  • Some players find the controls confusing, particularly for more complex actions like hacking and healing.
  • The player base is relatively low, which can make finding games more challenging, especially as many players have migrated to the newer version, Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop.
  • story
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Alien Swarm" is considered enjoyable but not particularly strong, with players noting that it requires completing all six maps of the Jacob's Rest campaign to fully appreciate the plot. While the gameplay is fun, especially in cooperative play, some find the missions repetitive and feel that the narrative lacks depth and atmosphere. Overall, the game is more about the experience with friends than a compelling storyline.

    • “Alien Swarm is a very interesting and enjoyable game. I found the gameplay elements enjoyable and the story fun to go through, which makes it a likely game for me to revisit in the future.”
    • “I wish there were more missions.”
    • “I personally found the missions repetitive when I played through it again, though this would be less of an issue playing with friends.”
    • “To get the full story, you need to play all six of the maps of the Jacob's Rest campaign.”
    • “[overly simplified gameplay, repetitive mission objectives, lack of atmosphere]”
  • gameplay
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Alien Swarm is generally praised for its enjoyable mechanics and fun story, making it a game players are likely to revisit. However, some critics note that it can feel overly simplistic and repetitive, with mission objectives lacking depth. For a more enriched experience, Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop is recommended, as it enhances the original's gameplay while emphasizing the need for teamwork and communication.

    • “Alien Swarm is a very interesting and enjoyable game. I found the gameplay elements enjoyable and the story fun to go through, which makes it a likely game for me to revisit in the future.”
    • “If you're seeking a more updated and enriched experience, don't hesitate to give Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop a shot, as it builds upon the foundation of the original game and provides a superior gameplay experience.”
    • “The top-down camera gives a more tactical feel for the gameplay compared to first person.”
    • “Requires considerable teamwork, communication, and understanding of the game's mechanics to progress.”
    • “Overly simplified gameplay, repetitive mission objectives, and lack of atmosphere.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted as enjoyable, particularly in multiplayer settings with friends, featuring a comedic debriefing map and a pleasant atmosphere. Players appreciate the lightheartedness and accessibility, noting that while it appears easy, it offers a fun challenge.

    • “If you want to have fun with friends, this game is a great choice. It seems easy, but it's not!”
    • “The humorous debriefing map adds a nice atmosphere, and the low system requirements make it accessible for everyone.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is significantly boosted by a wealth of community-created fan campaigns, alongside the option to experiment with various weapons, characters, and difficulty levels, despite having only one official campaign.

    • “The game offers great replayability with different weapons, characters, and difficulty levels.”
    • “Each playthrough feels unique thanks to the variety of choices and strategies available.”
    • “Although there is only one official campaign, the community has created numerous fan-made campaigns that enhance the game's replayability.”
    • “Replayability with different weapons, characters, or difficulties.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is generally appreciated for its humor and charm, particularly in the debriefing map, while also being accessible due to low system requirements. However, some players feel that the overall atmosphere is undermined by overly simplified gameplay and repetitive mission objectives, leading to a lack of depth.

    • “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
    • “The game's ambiance perfectly complements the storyline, creating a captivating experience.”
    • “I love how the atmospheric details enhance the overall gameplay, making every moment feel alive.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
    • “There is a distinct lack of atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving it feeling empty and lifeless.”
  • music
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music, voice acting, and sound design in the game are highly praised for their quality and effectiveness, contributing positively to the overall experience.

    • “The music and voice acting are well-done, as is the sound design.”
    • “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “Each track is beautifully composed, adding depth and emotion to the game's atmosphere.”
  • graphics
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics are praised for their quality and performance, demonstrating good visuals with minimal lag, even on older hardware. The vibrant and dynamic effects contribute to an engaging visual experience.

    • “The graphics are stunning, even on my older Windows 8 HP laptop, with minimal lag.”
    • “The visuals are vibrant and immersive, making the gameplay experience truly engaging.”
    • “The attention to detail in the graphics really enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.”
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60%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Alien Swarm is a shooter game with warfare and science fiction themes.

Alien Swarm is available on PC and Windows.

Alien Swarm was released on July 19, 2010.

Alien Swarm was developed by Valve.

Alien Swarm has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Alien Swarm is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Killing Floor, Left 4 Dead, PAYDAY The Heist, The Red Solstice, Aliens: Fireteam and others.