As any Sunday, we’re once again taking a trip down memory lane, looking at games big and small that have been forgotten in our day and age, either for a peculiar reason, or just because time did as time does and washed them away from our minds.
This time around we have Rebellion’s unique multiplayer horror title from 2010, Aliens vs. Predator, which pits the Marines, the Xenomorphs, and Yautja in a three-way battle against each other, both in singleplayer and online multiplayer.
With three distinct campaigns revolving around the same time and location, alongside a ton of game modes and multiplayer maps, Rebellion’s 2010 title could have been a lot more, but is nevertheless a nice title worthy of revisiting (especially with some friends).
Three campaigns, one story
Aliens vs. Predator features three somewhat distinct story campaigns, each revolving around a particular faction or species. As is standard for the extended Alien and Predator universes, we have the Marines, the Xenomorphs, and the Yautja, common and eternal enemies featuring in countless movies, games, comics, and TV shows.
The Marine’s campaign is claustrophobic, atmospheric, horrifying, and tense, as ammunition can run out at any time, and death can emerge just as easy from the shadows. You’re much more vulnerable than the other two, being the weakest lifeform of the bunch, and are more prey than predator. This type of gameplay provides a great basis for survival horror, though the game’s janky nature tends to make it a bit too challenging at times.
The Xenomorph and Predator campaigns are much more action-oriented, the former having a more gripping story. Though both are powerful beings, they play significantly differently, and are as much in contrast to each other as they are to the Marine. The Xenomorph has to lure its prey, stalk, and be a true “predator,” which is not so much the case with the actual Predator, i.e., the Yautja, who can struggle to take down weaker enemies (which is not as true in the multiplayer, but we’ll get there).
All in all, Rebellion’s 2010 action-horror title and its three stories, each sharing a common setting and time, provides a fun and unique way of storytelling. Though Rebellion would go on to create the likes of the Sniper Elite franchise and tell much more grounded and realistic tales, it goes without saying that what it did with Aliens vs. Predator is truly amazing.
The jankiness of 2010 gaming can be forgiven today, looking back at just how horrible games have become in terms of technical issues. In our 2010 review, we complained about AvP‘s technical failings, and, while true, modern machines aren’t necessarily going to be met with this kind of trouble.
And, speaking of which, AvP runs surprisingly well on 2025 OS and hardware, with most of its problems of old now just a memory.
Gripping, haunting, multiplayer action
The multiplayer is much like the singleplayer, i.e., it usually features the three species or factions going against each other in three teams. For the purpose of this revisit, I’ve primarily played the team deathmatch mode, given that it’s the only one that’s still kicking 15 years down the line. Dedicated servers mean this game will never truly die, which is something I greatly respect about older games.
In team deathmatch, players are divided into three squads, each playing only one of the species. The Yautja, i.e., the Predators, are fast and nimble and versatile, sporting both ranged and melee weaponry, alongside a ton of defensive mechanisms to fend off hostile attacks.
The Marines are primarily run-and-gun types, with various weapon types, automatic guns, bombs, and the like. It’s what you’d expect from a movie like Aliens, where a squad of well-armed American muscles goes in to deal with any kind of xeno trouble, and it’s fun as all hell.
The Xenomorph are true predatory aliens who can walk along walls no matter the angle (which can actually lead to some motion sickness to be honest) and pounce at the opportunity to rip Yautja and Marines apart.
Each of the classes plays significantly differently, with dynamics shifting depending on the map. It’s incredibly in-depth and fun, and, compared to most first-person multiplayer offerings of the past decade, it’s very unique. It is also certainly something I’d love to play with a bunch of friends, swapping species in between matches, which is something you should consider, especially since the game can often be purchased for as low as $5.
So, in general, Aliens vs. Predator isn’t Rebellion’s best, but its graphical fidelity, uniqueness of gameplay, and execution of one of the best cinematic universes ever, are enough to call this game good and give it another visit so many years later.
Nostalgia factor: 7/10 — the Alien and Predator franchises don’t get enough love in the video game space, making each revisit of this title a true nostalgia trip.
Recompiled Review Score: 7.5/10 — Fifteen years ago, we gave AvP a 6.5, but a small bump in the score is warranted as most of the technical issues have been ironed out by sheer technological advancement, while its gameplay now looks shiny and polished compared to our live-service scape.
Closer: AvP is a great game with a very unique approach to singleplayer storytelling as well as a three-team multiplayer mode which we seldom see these days. The dynamics in gameplay, variance between species, and replayability factor are all pretty high, making this game worthy of a proper revisit every now and again, especially with a full server of friends.
Do let me know if you’ve ever played 2010’s AvP or if you’ve liked it at launch or any point down the line.
