Xbox Game Pass Adds Must-Play Sci-Fi Hit From the Creators of Life Is Strange

Aphelion is a compelling new title that masterfully balances a high-stakes struggle for humanity’s future with a grounded, character-driven drama about two astronauts, who happen to be former lovers, forced to confront their complicated past. It features the kind of narrative sophistication we have come to expect from Don’t Nod, even if the actual moment-to-moment mechanics occasionally struggle to keep pace with the storytelling.

Don’t Nod continues its trend of genre-defying experimentation. Following the success of the Life Is Strange series, the studio delivered the meditative Jusant and the supernatural action RPG Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden. Despite these shifts in tone and gameplay, the studio’s true signature remains its focus on interpersonal relationships, a thread that remains vibrant and central in Aphelion.

The game kicks off with a dose of professional—and romantic—awkwardness: Ariane and Thomas find themselves in a tense post-intimacy silence on their spacecraft, revealing that they were once a couple. It’s a bold narrative choice that immediately frames the stakes. Yes, they are the last hope for a dying Earth, but the core of the experience is watching two people navigate the wreckage of a messy, unresolved relationship. It is this emotional vulnerability that gives the story its weight.

The duo is en route to Persephone, a newly scouted world rich in water resources, serving as a potential sanctuary for a climate-ravaged Earth. The premise is unnervingly plausible, reflecting our current environmental anxieties. Predictably, the mission goes sideways quickly; their craft disintegrates during atmospheric entry, leaving Ariane and Thomas stranded and separated on the harsh surface. Yet, true to their mission’s name, hope remains the anchor of their journey.

Much of the experience is spent through Ariane’s perspective, as she balances the logistical necessity of survival with the desperate search for her partner. Her struggle mirrors an Orphic journey, navigating a desolate underworld to rescue her lost love. The voice performances by Vanessa Dolmen and Eric Geynes are stellar, capturing the subtle nuances of regret, longing, and determination that elevate the dialogue above typical sci-fi exposition.

However, the gameplay often feels like a missed opportunity. The parkour sequences, while visually impressive, feel dated and imprecise compared to modern standards. Ariane’s movement can be clunky, leading to frustrating missteps that hinder the sense of flow. Given the brilliant, puzzle-centric climbing mechanics found in Jusant, it is disappointing that Aphelion settles for a more generic approach to traversal.

Similarly, the stealth segments oscillate between atmospheric tension and repetitive tedium. Navigating past sound-sensitive predators provides initial thrills, but the system is far too rigid, often holding the player’s hand with excessive prompts regarding how to distract creatures. These encounters rarely feel like a tactical challenge, instead serving as a minor hurdle to overcome before the next narrative reveal.

Despite these mechanical shortcomings, the payoff remains constant. Every hurdle overcome brings you closer to another profound plot beat or an evocative discovery about Persephone’s mysterious past. Don’t Nod succeeds here because they understand that a story is only as compelling as its people. Aphelion is a poignant reminder that while we may look to the stars for survival, it is the relationships we carry with us that define our humanity.

Aphelion is available now on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. The game was reviewed on PlayStation 5 using a pre-release code provided by the publisher. You can review our ethics policy here.

Source: Polygon