Every video game that comes out doesn’t just magically innovate in everything they do; instead, they take inspiration from other titles that did something well and then builds something entirely new. These select titles are referred to as blueprints, with a couple of examples being The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which pioneered the fantasy genre.
However, there are so many other fantastic video game genres out there, such as sci-fi. That is why this list will feature ten sci-fi video game masterpieces that became the blueprint based on influence, mechanics, popularity, design, gameplay, narrative, visuals, innovation, originality, critical acclaim, and overall quality. Creating a game is hard, but innovating and doing what has never been done is even more challenging.
‘Space Invaders’ (1978)
Most of the greatest video game pioneers are naturally old, but the oldest on this list is Space Invaders, which is one of the first games ever. Descending from the top of the screen are waves of enemy aliens seeking to destroy Earth, but the player and their spaceship must scroll across the screen and shoot down these invaders in order to protect the Earth.
The arcade scene was bigger than fans could imagine, and Space Invaders set up the blueprint to make a hit game in this era. From the technical achievement to the style of an alien invasion, this groundbreaking effort was a massive success. Space Invaders also pioneered the increasing difficulty spike, which every game would use in the future to increase the tension and challenge.
‘Mass Effect 2’ (2010)
This list just mentioned how most of the video games on here will be older, but the newest entry featured is the seminal Mass Effect 2 from 2010. This game follows Commander Shepard, who seemingly dies, only to be brought back to life by the mysterious organization Cerberus. Now tasked with investigating the disappearance of several human colonies, they look into an insectoid alien race known as the Collectors.
The first game was absolutely incredible, but the second entry into the franchise is better known for being a pioneer. Mass Effect 2 is the gold standard of video game space operas, using its branching narratives and in-depth worldbuilding to create one of the most fascinating video game worlds. It was such a masterpiece that future titles would use its style and scale to try and repeat its success.
‘Deus Ex’ (2000)
Deus Ex is an underrated sci-fi gaming franchise that desperately needs a return, especially because the first game set the blueprint for many future titles. Taking place in 2052, a pandemic has ravaged most of the world, with only the wealthy elite having access to the vaccine. Players work for a task force that hunts down those who steal the vaccine, which uncovers an even darker truth.
Deus Ex is known for player agency and total unregulated freedom, allowing the player to invest in any role, with each one having creative solutions to the same problem. This systemic game design created a slew of new opportunities and fantastic replay value, especially since player choice drastically affected the story, meaning there are real consequences for everything.
‘Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic’ (2003)
Star Wars became the blueprint for sci-fi movies, using its lived-in world and timeless story to create one of the most defining sci-fi works. This franchise is also home to some fantastic video games, including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. After waking up in the middle of a war, players control an amnesiac detective who leads the charge against a dangerous Sith Lord.
Video games are mostly played for the gameplay, but Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic delivered a narrative masterclass that proved this medium could be renowned for its storytelling, not just the visuals or spectacle. With an incredible video game antihero and a full cast of voice acting, this game was a cinematic revolution that created a blueprint for more story-based games.
‘Elite’ (1984)
Ambition wasn’t kind to older games that couldn’t realize their dreams like modern titles, but that just set up a blueprint for the future. Elite is a procedurally generated universe where players travel the galaxy in their ship and trade goods, take on bounties, mine asteroids, and fend off pirates in order to upgrade their spaceship until it reaches the highest rank possible: Elite.
Most fans probably haven’t heard of Elite since it is so old and niche, but it was one of the first procedurally generated games, which digitally built distinct worlds for players to explore. It laid the groundwork for open-ended sandbox games that let the player do whatever they want, influencing some of the most popular sci-fi games of the modern age.
‘System Shock 2’ (1999)
BioShock is one of the greatest sci-fi video games, but before it, System Shock came. The second game in that series, System Shock 2, is especially influential. The year is 2114, and when the player wakes up from cryo sleep on their ship, they realize everyone else has been slaughtered by a parasitic alien. Now it is up to the player and one other human survivor to destroy the infection.
Audio logs are a staple of video games and a great way to portray worldbuilding, lore, and storytelling, and it was System Shock 2 that introduced them. This influential blueprint is still a defining narrative trait in video games. Fans could piece together the lore of the spaceship and what happened at their own pace, proving this title is one of the greatest classic sci-fi video games.
‘Portal’ (2007)
Valve is a legendary studio with multiple games on this list, including Portal, which is arguably more influential than its sequel, despite the latter being the superior game. Players control Chell, a test subject in a scientific experimentation facility who is forced to undergo puzzle-like experiments. However, the superintelligent computer GLaDOS tries to discard Chell; they set up an escape plan to finally earn their freedom.
Portal 2 is one of the greatest games ever, but the first one is the true blueprint maker. No other game could replicate what Portal did, using its intricate level design and masterful puzzles to create an environment that is immersive and engaging. The physics-based engine and witty dialogue further boost an impressive video game that is a timeless experience.
‘Super Metroid’ (1994)
Nintendo is a prolific gaming empire with some of the best video game franchises of all time, and their sci-fi darling is Metroid. A lot of these games set a blueprint, but especially Super Metroid, which follows Samus Aran chasing after a group of space pirates to an isolated planet after they kidnapped a baby Metroid.
The Metroidvania genre is defined by two games, and one of them is Metroid. Super Metroid, in turn, is the pinnacle of the franchise, using its seamless design to create one of the best tutorials in video game history. The blueprint it laid was for platforming exploration and natural progression through gates after finding a new power-up, slowly building up a toolset.
‘Half-Life’ (1998)
This list already mentioned Valve and their iconic titles such as Portal, but the game that put them on the map was Half-Life. After Gordon Freeman and other theoretical physicists accidentally open a portal from an alien world, they try to escape the facility that is now overrun by aliens who are trying to take over the Earth.
Like Portal, Half-Life also features an amazing physics-based engine that simulates inventive gameplay that is both compelling and groundbreaking. However, it is best known for creating the narrative blueprint for shooters, which it accomplished by blending the story and gameplay into one. Half-Life integrated a rich story into the flowing gameplay, meaning they never got in the way of each other.
‘Halo: Combat Evolved’ (2001)
First-person shooters are still one of the most popular video game genres, and one title that revolutionized the scene is Halo: Combat Evolved. Crashing into a massive world known as Halo, Master Chief and Cortana wage war against the Covenant on the structure, only to learn of a parasitic race of aliens known as the Flood.
The Halo franchise is home to some of the best sci-fi video games of all time, but the first one is also unbeaten in terms of legacy and impact. It popularized so many mechanics and elements, such as a two-weapon limit, regenerating health, dedicated buttons for melee and grenades, and the proof that shooters can thrive on consoles, highlighting the importance of this video game.