Aphelion is on Game Pass right now, day one, $0 extra. It’s a third-person sci-fi adventure from Don’t Nod (the Life is Strange studio), made with input from the actual European Space Agency. Sounds like a slam dunk. The reality: critics are split, with only 33% recommending it on OpenCritic. Here’s whether it’s worth your time.
What Aphelion Actually Is
You play as two astronauts — Ariane and Thomas — who crash-land on a frozen planet called Persephone in the 2060s. Earth is dying. This rock might be humanity’s backup plan. Except something is hunting you.
The game splits between two characters with different playstyles. Ariane handles the action segments: climbing, platforming, running from the alien entity called the Nemesis. Thomas gets the survival and investigation sections — quieter, more puzzle-oriented. It’s 11 chapters total, linear, no open world. Think somewhere between Alien: Isolation and Uncharted with less shooting and more hiding.
The ESA Partnership Is Real (And It Shows)
Don’t Nod worked directly with the European Space Agency on the science. The planet is inspired by Planet Nine. The space suits, equipment, and survival mechanics reference real astronaut protocols. It’s not hard sci-fi — you’re still being chased by a mystery alien — but the foundation feels grounded in a way most space games don’t bother with.
The team behind this is the same group that made Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (currently also on Game Pass and a better game, honestly). They also did Tell Me Why back in 2020. Narrative-driven, character-focused stuff is their lane.
Why Reviews Are Mixed
The elephant in the room: Metacritic has this at “mixed or average” across all platforms. Only a third of critics on OpenCritic say you should play it. That’s rough for a day-one Game Pass launch.
The complaints are consistent. The Nemesis encounters — the Alien-inspired chase sequences — are tense but repetitive. By chapter 6, you’ve done the same hide-and-seek loop a dozen times. The traversal and platforming are described as “accessible,” which is code for simple. The story is the strongest part, but it’s spread thin across 11 chapters with pacing issues in the middle third.
The praise is also consistent. The environments on Persephone are stunning — frozen wastelands, alien structures, shifting reality sequences. The ESA collaboration gives the science real weight. And Ariane and Thomas feel like actual people, not videogame archetypes, which is Don’t Nod’s specialty.
How Long Is It?
Expect 8-10 hours for a first playthrough. It’s linear — no side content, no collectible hunting worth mentioning. One and done. For a Game Pass game, that’s actually fine. You’re not out $40 if the middle chapters drag.
Should You Play It?
If you liked Alien: Isolation — the hiding, the tension, the “one wrong move and you’re dead” loop — Aphelion is worth a weekend. It’s a weaker version of that formula, but the sci-fi setting and character writing carry it. Free on Game Pass makes the rough patches easier to forgive.
If you want action — skip it. This is not an action game. The combat is barely there. You’re hiding, running, and solving light puzzles. If you go in expecting Resident Evil 7-level tension with actual combat, you’ll be disappointed.
If you’re a Don’t Nod fan — play Banishers first if you haven’t. It’s the same team doing what they do best but executed better. Aphelion is their most ambitious game technically, but not their best.
How to Play Right Now
Aphelion is available today on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass (cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC). No Game Pass Essential — you need at least Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. It’s also on PS5 for $49.99 if you’re not in the Xbox ecosystem, but at that price, wait for a sale.
Bottom line: it’s a 6/10 game available for $0. The setting and story are strong enough to carry 8 hours. The gameplay is the weak link. Don’t expect a masterpiece and you’ll have a decent weekend with it.
