Aphelion
News, coverage and analysis tracking Aphelion across the outlets.
Aphelion Review – A Stunning Yet Frustrating Sci-Fi Experience | Invision Game CommunityAphelion is a visually stunning but frustrating sci-fi experience from Don't Nod, featuring a slow-paced narrative and inconsistent checkpoint system. While the game boasts beautiful icy vistas and good voice acting, it lacks the character development and meaningful choices found in the studio's previous titles. Ultimately, it's a serviceable walking simulator with a standard sci-fi mystery that falls short of its potential.
Tencent is reportedly looking to back out of several studio investments like Story of Seasons developer Marvelous, but…Tencent is reportedly looking to divest from several minority investments in video game studios, including a 20% stake in Marvelous, the developer of Story of Seasons. This reassessment of its portfolio may involve selling stakes back to original management, even at a loss. Investments in studios like PlatinumGames and FromSoftware are reportedly unaffected.
Sync and Stream: GeForce NOW Connects to Members’ Game Libraries Across DevicesNVIDIA's GeForce NOW cloud gaming service is expanding its library with new titles from various PC game stores, allowing players to stream games they already own across multiple devices. The service is also offering discounted annual memberships for its Performance and Ultimate tiers this summer. New games like Embers of the Uncrowned and Pro Cycling Manager 26 are being added, with some available through services like Xbox Game Pass.
Life is Strange creator Don't Nod look to be in hot water as a financial report says they'll be out of cash by NovemberFrench game developer Don't Nod, known for the Life is Strange series, is reportedly facing a severe cash shortage and may run out of funds by November 2026. Despite releasing five games in three years, recent titles have not performed well enough, and minority stakeholder Tencent is not providing further funding. The company is exploring options including seeking external financing, accelerating a new game's release, or taking on work-for-hire projects.
Aphelion and Life is Strange developer Don't Nod in trouble as it struggles to secure funding for its next projectFrench studio Don't Nod, known for Life is Strange and Aphelion, is facing financial difficulties and may run out of cash by November as co-owner Tencent is unwilling to fund its next project or increase its stake. The company is seeking other publishers for funding, but discussions have not yet yielded commitments. This situation could lead to layoffs and a scaled-back development scope for its upcoming game, Project P14.
EDGE #424 review scores – Tomodachi Life, Pragmata, Mixtape, moreThe July 2026 issue of EDGE magazine, issue #424, features review scores for several games including Mixtape, Pragmata, and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. Other titles reviewed include Aphelion, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, and Vampire Crawlers.
Directive 8020 review – Until Dawn in spaceDirective 8020 is Supermassive Games' latest interactive sci-fi horror title, drawing inspiration from films like The Thing and Aliens. While featuring excellent graphics, solid voice acting, and an innovative 'Turning Points' system allowing players to revisit decisions, the game is hampered by a lack of context for choices and a rigidly linear structure. The narrative, set on an exoplanet as humanity's last hope, suffers from character development issues and excessive walking through dark corridors, ultimately scoring a 6/10.
Alien Disclosure: The U.S releasing the UAP files ties into gaming tropes rather nicelyThe recent declassification of UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) files by the U.S. Department of War, FBI, and NASA has sparked discussions about their connection to gaming tropes. While no definitive proof of alien life was revealed, the release of reports from military personnel and astronauts, including transcripts from Apollo missions and sightings near military bases, highlights a growing seriousness in addressing these events. This influx of real-world mystery provides a rich source of inspiration for science fiction games exploring themes of space exploration, alien encounters, and humanity's place in the cosmos, as seen in titles like The Outer Wilds, Aphelion, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, Exodus, and Kerbal Space Program.- Säsong 9 slut – dubbla vinnare i FZ High Score!The ninth season of FZ High Score has concluded, with Minnels and RobertWarrior94 sharing first place with 70 points each, earning them exclusive t-shirts. The season featured reviews for Kiln, Aphelion, and Saros, with Saros receiving the highest average score. Season 10 of FZ High Score is now underway.
Aphelion Review – Keeping Hope AliveAphelion is a narrative-driven science fiction adventure that excels in its storytelling and visual presentation, though its gameplay can become repetitive. Players explore the planet Persephone as either Ariane Montclair or Thomas Cross, tasked with evaluating its habitability for humanity. The game features a poignant story, immersive atmosphere, and a strong musical score, making it a recommended experience for fans of sci-fi narratives, particularly on PlayStation 5.
Something for the Bank Holiday Weekend – 02/05/26This week's gaming news includes the early access release date for Subnautica 2, Star Wars: Galactic Racer's October launch, and the shutdown of developer Spiders. Several games received high review scores, including TerraTech Legion and Ground Zero, while previews covered titles like 007: First Light and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on Switch 2.
What We Played – Tides of Tomorrow, TerraTech Legion & Adorable AdventuresSeveral individuals share their recent gaming experiences, including Overwatch, Alien: Rogue Incursion, TerraTech Legion, Final Fantasy VII Remake Integrade, and Hitman 3's Freelancer Mode. Other titles mentioned include Adorable Adventures, Moomintroll Winter's Warmth, Tides of Tomorrow, Ghost Master, Starfield, and various games on the AYN Thor handheld like .hack//Infection and Super Alloy Crush.
Aphelion review - saving the world, one relationship at a timeAphelion is a sci-fi adventure game that blends walking simulator, romance, and survival horror elements, set in 2062 on the planet Persephone. Players control astronaut Ariane Montclair as she navigates the icy landscape and deals with a mysterious electromagnetic creature after a crash landing. While praised for its characters, animation, and environments, the game is criticized for its linear story, repetitive gameplay, and technical issues.
Aphelion Review – Spectacular storytelling meets less than spectacular gameplayAphelion is a science fiction game that excels in its storytelling and character performances, featuring superb cut-scenes and photorealistic visuals. However, the gameplay is marred by significant jankiness, including clipping issues, stuck characters, and repetitive mechanics, detracting from an otherwise compelling narrative.- Aphelion Review 🪐Aphelion is a story-driven adventure game where players control two astronauts exploring a distant frozen planet for humanity's survival. While the narrative and atmosphere are praised, the traversal mechanics and character relationship development are noted as areas for improvement. The game is available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Gorgeous PS5 Sci-Fi Action Adventure Game Out Today on PS StoreDon't Nod has released Aphelion, a new sci-fi third-person action-adventure game, today on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 5. The game follows two European Space Agency astronauts stranded on the planet Persephone after their mission to survey it goes awry. Aphelion is available for $34.99, with a physical Pioneer Edition priced at $39.99.- Aphelion review: Hope is all we haveAphelion is a narrative adventure game that draws heavily on classic sci-fi horror themes. Developed by Don't Nod, the game focuses on delivering a compelling story within this genre.
DON’T NOD Releases Aphelion Today on PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5DON'T NOD has released its cinematic sci-fi adventure game, Aphelion, on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. The game is available in Standard, Deluxe, and Day One Editions, with a special Pioneer Edition for PlayStation 5 releasing on July 2nd. Aphelion puts players in the role of ESA astronauts exploring the planet Persephone.
Aphelion Lands On Xbox, PlayStation And PC – And It’s On Game Pass Day OneThe cinematic sci-fi adventure game Aphelion is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation, and PC, launching day one on Game Pass. Developed and published by DON'T NOD, the game strands players on a frozen alien world where they must survive environmental hazards and an unknown lurking threat. The article also notes a review score of 3.5/5, highlighting the game's strengths in storytelling and atmosphere.
Aphelion Review | TheXboxHubAphelion is a cinematic space odyssey from DON'T NOD that excels in its visuals and storytelling, featuring two astronauts on a mission to save humanity. While the game's narrative and atmosphere are strong, the gameplay mechanics, including parkouring and checkpointing, are noted as areas that let the experience down. The European Space Agency collaborated on the title, which is available on Xbox.