Summary
From the body horror parasites ofHaloto the original pixel art aliens inSpace Invaders, video games have played host to a variety ofdangerous alien races. These games often depict one of humanity’s biggest collective fears: that of being wiped out completely. The aliens in these games are often stronger, highly advanced, and ready to kill or enslave the entire human race.
Often shown invading Earth orother human settlements, many of these games are classics in the sci-fi genre and offer players the chance to wage galactic wars, defending humanity to the last. Each of these races poses a huge threat to the continued existence of those in-game, becoming the ultimate foes in humanity’s fight for survival.
As part of the multidimensional collective, known as The Combine, theShu’ulathoiare rumored to be the ruling species of this mysterious and vast empire. Also known as Combine Advisors, these grub-like beings are extremely powerful and can use telepathic and telekinetic powers.
While not individually fast or strong, their abilities allow them to communicate and lead the other armies of the Combine that would go on to successfully invade Earth. They are also able to use their telekinetic powers to great effect and can destroy buildings with little effort. Shu’ulathoi seem very alien to human eyes, looking much like larvae, they have no features or limbs, andrequire cyberneticsto see and touch.
Taking many forms, but all under the control of the Uber Ethereal, the aliens ofXCOMare known as X-Rays by the soldiers who fight them. Initially, these extraterrestrial lifeforms enjoyed technology that far outclassed their human opponents, but humanity quickly caught up, using alien plasma technology to create their own weapons.
The X-Rays come in various forms, from the traditional-looking alien Sectoids to the human-looking Thin-Men, and the large and powerful Mutons. All are controlled by theEthereals,though. These psionic aliens lead and control all other species, and while they are physically weak, their mind powers far outstrip other races, making them incredibly dangerous foes.
Taking the form of pixelated marine life, little is known about the mysteriousInvadersfrom the original sci-fi video game. Hailing from the Invader Dimension, this destructive race made its way into the Milky Way and attempted to conquer Earth. There are various forms of Invader, with some taking the shape of either a crab, octopus, or squid.
With ruthless tactics, the invaders managed to destroy much of human civilization with their constant waves of attack. Although simple in appearance, the Invaders were very successful in their goals and forced humanity to find a new home.
This popular space flight simulation game allows thousands of players around the world to fight in a joint galactic war against the dangerousThargoids. Thesehighly advanced aliensoperate vast spaceships of a biomechanical nature that patrol and fiercely defend their regions of space. They are extremely territorial and refuse any kind of peace with their interstellar neighbors.
Humanity has been waging war with the Thargoids for hundreds of years now, with the second major conflict starting in the 34th century. Although a powerful race, their main goal is to mine a planet for its resource wealth, rather than conquest. The Thargoids employ devastating weaponry, from EMP weapons to combat drones and caustic missiles, that eat away at an enemy’s spaceship.
TheChimeraare an ancient race of aliens that had previously occupied Earth in prehistoric times. Reemerging in the 20th Century, they look to reconquer the planet by killing or infecting the human race. The ancient Pure Chimera uses biological warfare in the form of a virus that was released from a meteor in 1908. Quickly spreading, thisvirus mutates living creaturesinto hybrid Chimera, who then fight for their side.
The Chimera were a highly advanced race and were able to successfully invade much of the world in a very short span of time. They attempted to terraform the planet, to change the climate to suit themselves. Although powerful, their weakness was their reliance on the hive mind control of the Pure Chimera. Taking this away, humanity succeeded in overthrowing the invading race.
These cybernetically augmented alien creatures are the main antagonists in bothQuake 2andQuake 4and have been waging along war against humanity. The origins of the species are unknown, but they rely heavily on technology to further their numbers and enhance their firepower. TheStroggharvests the bodies of other creatures, using them as the basis to create more of their kind. These deformed cybernetic monstrosities are then sent to war.
The Strogg were originally thought to be humanoid in appearance, but their ancient forms are long forgotten. As their society descended into war and augmentation, their sole goal was now the gathering of Stroygent, their only source of food and energy, collected from living beings. The Strogg have several variations, all designed for a different aspect of war. They are ruthless killers and powerful foes.
The endless swarms ofgiant bugsinHelldivers 2represent one of the greatest dangers for humanity in the game. These rampaging creatures may not have the technology, but they have the numbers. They are somehow able to travel through space and infest different worlds. Growing extremely quickly, the bugs can overrun a planet before the threat is even identified.
The bugs can evolve into different species, from the Tank types, which include Behemoths and Impalers, to the Infantry species, which include Stalkers and Elites. One of the most dangerous forms is the Hive Lord, which are giant worm-like creatures that burrow through a planet’s crust, creating new hives for the bugs. If these massive bugs aren’t stopped, they will continue to spread throughout the galaxy,destroying planetsas they go.
Genetically engineered by the alien Chozo race to fight against the X Parasites, theMetroidsare the main antagonists of theMetroidseries. Appearing in many forms, they start their life as jellyfish-like creatures that eventually grow into more advanced variations, including Evolved Metroids and Queen Metroids, which is the only variant that can lay eggs.
Series protagonist Samus Aran would eventually see the extinction of their race, although to save her from the X Parasite, Metroid DNA was used on her, making her part-Metroid and technically the last in the universe. Metroids are apex predators, capable of consuming other species and absorbing their energy and even their abilities.
One of the most successful game series in history,Halorevolves around the war between humanity, the multi-race alien alliance known as The Covenant, and the parasitic species,The Flood. With their natural desire to infect all sentient life, The Flood pose a threat to all living things and are responsible for the mass death of the ancient Forerunners.
The Flood are the reason the Halo superweapons were created in the first place, as they could infect all life in the galaxy if they weren’t stopped. The Flood forms a hive mind, making it very difficult to stop. When an infection consumes enough biomass, it forms an even more intelligent version known as a Gravemind, which can lead to The Flood fighting with even greater coordination and efficiency.
These ancient, highly intelligent machines posenot just a threat to humanity, but to all life in the galaxy. TheReaperswere created millions of years ago by the first sentient race in the Milky Way, the Leviathans. Returning every 50 thousand years to destroy all advanced life, they leave only primitive races alive to inherit the galaxy for the next cycle.
The Reapers are close to unstoppable, as huge sentient star ships they repurpose alien races into mindless husks to fight for their cause. In the game, it is only the combined efforts of every advanced race in the galaxy, and the hero, Commander Shepard, that can stop the Reaper threat. Few other aliens in video game history would be able to take on the Reapers and survive.
