Video games are one of the most popular media in the world, which means there are plenty of gamers enjoying a variety of different titles. From hardcore fans to casuals, there is a level of play for everyone, and this extends from modern masterpieces like Red Dead Redemption 2 to classics such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. But the sci-fi genre in particular is home to some of the best games ever.
Those already well acquainted with the genre will probably already know these, but there are just as many new fans, which is why this list will feature ten incredible sci-fi video games that are perfect for beginners to the medium. Based on aspects such as difficulty, design, gameplay, tutorial, vibe, and overall quality, these video games are a great starting point for any fan looking to get into gaming.
‘Slime Rancher’ (2017)
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Image via Monomi Park</figure>
There are plenty of different sub-genres for sci-fi, and for fans who don’t want to get too stressed out, they may want something like Slime Rancher. Players start a new life on a faraway planet where they become a rancher, but in order to be successful, they must use their multipurpose vacuum pack to explore the region and use the wildlife to advance their ranch.
Slime Rancher is a low-stress video game that is perfect for newcomers who don’t want to be overwhelmed, allowing them to take things at their own pace without the pressure of a more demanding narrative. The exploration and upgrading aspects are also a great introduction to video game mechanics and purposes. Without any harsh penalties or enemies, gamers can enjoy their time and learn the flow of the game without danger.
‘Cyberpunk 2077’ (2020)
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Image via CD Projekt Red</figure>
While this list is for beginners, that doesn’t mean new fans don’t want some action, and for those looking for something a bit more intense, Cyberpunk 2077 should be up their alley. Gamers suit up to take on Night City, but when they are tasked with an important mission to deliver a package, a memory chip of a terrorist is accidentally implanted in their mind, with them now needing to find a cure before it is too late.
Cyberpunk 2077 does feature some complicated systems and plenty of options that newcomers can get lost in, but the game is also a great place for beginners. While intimidating at first, this now-iconic title has plenty of builds and options for players to try things out, allowing them to find the right style of gameplay for themselves. Cyberpunk 2077 is a magnificent open-world RPG that also has aim assist to alleviate stress.
‘Stray’ (2022)
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Image via Annapurna Interactive</figure>
It is a lot of fans’ initial opinion to jump right into AAA titles, but the indie realm might be better for new gamers, offering titles like Stray. Controlling a stray cat in a cyberpunk world, gamers roam around the atmospheric location looking to cause mischief wherever they go and letting their curiosity get the better of them. It is here that they need to escape and find their way back up to the surface.
Stray is strictly a platformer, meaning there isn’t much that can defeat the player, but even then, the jumping is highly streamlined, which makes it so gamers can’t easily fall. This laid-back gameplay style lets players take a breather and simply enjoy the scenery of the neon-soaked world, allowing themselves to be fully absorbed in the setting. It is relaxing to play and quite immersive, proving why it is such a hit for new gamers.
‘Portal 2’ (2011)
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Image via Valve</figure>
Valve is one of the greatest video game studios of all time, with veteran gamers loving their titles, but games such as Portal 2 are also perfect for newcomers. Years after the first game, Chell wakes up in the same facility, except this time it is worn down. With the help of a friendly robot, she must navigate the facility and its puzzles to escape, but that may be difficult when the antagonistic GLaDOS wakes up.
Portal 2 is one of the greatest video games of all time, but that also makes it a great intro sci-fi title. Not only is it a hilarious video game that can hook new gamers with its comedy and charm, but the gameplay is cerebral and stimulating, getting the brain moving. The puzzles can be challenging for someone who hasn’t played games before, but it is such a well-designed experience that anyone can have fun with.
‘Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart’ (2021)
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Image via Insomniac Games</figure>
PlayStation is the go-to console for many gamers, especially new ones, since it has pretty much every franchise and genre you could think of. A great game to check out is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. When a tear in reality separates the titular protagonists, they must travel through time and reality to reach each other again, but the threat of the universe collapsing may be a much bigger deal.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart mixes two timeless gaming aspects: platforming and shooting. However, it never feels too overwhelming, perfectly balancing these mechanics with its difficulty to maintain a consistently engaging pace. From the generous aim-assist to fluid movement and gorgeous animation, this fan-favorite title is a great choice to get a new gamer hooked on the adventure and sci-fi genres.
‘Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’ (2019)
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Image via EAEven if fans haven’t played any games before, it is likely that they’ve watched a Star Wars film, so they may want to start with something familiar, such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Played by Cameron Monaghan, Cal Kestis is a Jedi on the run from the Empire. He must relearn the ways of the Force along his journey to find a safe haven for other Force users in hiding.
Fallen Order can be challenging if players select a hard difficulty, but with an easy option, it is a great option for newcomers. It is also the best game for players wanting to get into the Soulslike genre, featuring similar gameplay and mechanics but giving plenty of leeway, like health, more combat styles, and save points. As one of the best Star Wars video games, it is an enjoyable new game with some fantastic combat systems.
The scores below reveal how the Force sees you. Your highest number is your true alignment. Read on to understand what that means — and what it will cost you.
Disciplined, compassionate, and deeply attuned to the living Force, you have walked the path long enough to understand its demands — and accept them. You lead not through authority alone, but through example. You have felt the pull of the dark side and chosen otherwise, every time. That is not certainty. That is courage.
You are earnest, powerful, and brimming with potential — and you know it, which is both your greatest asset and your most dangerous flaw. You act before you think, trust your gut over your training, and sometimes confuse impatience for bravery. The Masters see something in you, though. The question isn’t whether you have what it takes — it’s whether you’ll be patient enough to find out.
You are not simply dangerous — you are certain, and that is worse. You have decided what the galaxy needs, and you have decided you are the one to deliver it. Your power is genuine and formidable, earned through sacrifice that would have broken lesser beings. But examine your victories carefully. Every Sith believed their cause was righteous. The dark side’s cruelest trick is that it agrees with you.
You were forged in fire and reshaped by those who found you at your lowest. You serve, because service gave you structure when you had none. Your allegiance is not to an ideology — it is to survival and to the master who gave you purpose. But there is something buried beneath the conditioning. The Jedi you hunt? You recognize them. Because you remember what it felt like before the choice was taken from you.
You have looked at the Jedi Code and the Sith Code and found both of them incomplete. You walk the line not out of indecision but out of conviction — you genuinely believe both extremes miss something essential. The Jedi don’t fully trust you. The Sith think you’re wasting your potential. They’re both partially right. But so are you.
‘Deliver Us the Moon’ (2018)
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Image via KeokeN Interactive</figure>
Most of the games on this list are fairly popular, but others are unheard of, like Deliver Us the Moon; that doesn’t mean new gamers can’t play them. Earth’s resources have been depleted, and in dire need of natural resources, a single astronaut is sent to an abandoned lunar facility. His job is to investigate why its energy supply to Earth was cut off and learn what happened to the previous crew.
Deliver Us the Moon is a linear game without any combat, meaning gamers can’t get lost in a vast world with too much to do. The puzzles are straightforward but still captivating to play, making Deliver Us the Moon more like an interactive simulator that lets new gamers experience a game without much difficulty. The core experience is the thriller narrative and the suspenseful storytelling.
‘No Man’s Sky’ (2016)
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Image via Hello Games</figure>
Back when No Man’s Sky came out, it promised the universe and barely delivered a world, leaving many gamers upset. Since then, it has become a refined masterpiece that even new fans can enjoy. With a crashed ship and no memories, the player must explore the unique planet to collect resources and escape, and from there on, the universe is their oyster.
Admittedly, it can be difficult for newcomers to set player-driven goals, but intrinsic motivation is the name of the game. No Man’s Sky lets players take themselves wherever they want, providing an expansive and fully engaging world as their sandbox. This game is impossible to remake, with such a vast scope and sense of ambition that anyone can get swept away in, especially non-gamers looking for something sci-fi.
‘The Talos Principle’ (2014)
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Image via Croteam and Devolver Digital</figure>
The Talos Principle is a sci-fi puzzle game that follows the player in a strange and isolated world, with only a god-like voice greeting them. Exploring the desolate land, players must solve the increasingly complex puzzles while also learning the truth behind the world by listening to the many scattered audio logs.
Puzzle games are great for beginners because they allow them to start to think like a gamer and learn the intricacies without the stress of dying and losing all their items. The Talos Principle offers exactly that, with a fun and engaging gameplay driven by logic and exploration, which doesn’t rush the player. It is a mental challenge, but the game is still a great way to get into sci-fi video games.
‘Mass Effect Legendary Edition’ (2021)
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Image via BioWare</figure>
Sometimes, the best sci-fi game for veterans and beginners is the same thing: Mass Effect Legendary Edition is essential no matter who you are. With a synthetic race of aliens threatening to consume the entire galaxy, Commander Shepard and their crew must travel around the galaxy and unite the remaining fragmented colonies to save humanity.
Every Mass Effect video game is a masterpiece that uses its branching narrative to develop the worldbuilding and lore. It does this through the races and factions, detailing their history and evolution to create unique scenarios. Every choice has significant consequences, but that just means there is plenty of agency. Mass Effect is a classic video game and a masterclass in sci-fi worldbuilding, and with simple yet compelling gameplay, it allows gamers to focus on the story and get immersed in the world.
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