Natural Selection 2 cover art

Natural Selection 2

2012Unknown Worlds EntertainmentPC (Microsoft Windows)

Natural Selection 2 is an immersive, multiplayer shooter that pits aliens against humans in a strategic and action-packed struggle for survival. It seamlessly combines shooter and RTS/strategy gameplay.

What it feels like

Sustained edge-of-seat pressure from enemy encounters and resource scarcity creates persistent tactical urgency. Alien threats and ambush mechanics present active, immediate danger to human players.

Tense75%
Menacing50%

What it's about

Futuristic space station setting with aliens versus human colonists anchors the sci-fi premise. Both teams struggle against an opposing alien force in a resource-constrained tactical fight. The relentless escalation and team casualties reflect the toll of prolonged asymmetric conflict.

Science Fiction75%
Survival Against Nature60%
War & Its Cost35%

How it plays

A real-time strategy layer wraps the tactical moment-to-moment gameplay, with commander-controlled economy and unit spawning defining team progression. Aiming and firing ranged weapons with tactile feedback forms the core shooter interaction for human players. Alien players use melee attacks and close-quarters combat as their primary interaction mode.

Real-Time Strategy85%
Gunplay80%
Melee Combat65%
Resource Management60%
Leveling & Grind55%
Lock-On Targeting50%
Real-Time with Pause40%

How it looks and sounds

Infantry perspectives are first-person for marines; aliens shift perspective based on lifeform. Sci-fi environment rendering aims for plausible tactical clarity over stylization.

First-Person75%
Photorealistic50%

How it's structured

Humans and aliens play by fundamentally different rules, movement, and mechanics—a canonical asymmetric experience. Direct asymmetric team competition between humans and aliens is the definitive core experience. Structured team-vs-team gameplay with distinct human and alien roles and coordinated objectives.

Asymmetric Multiplayer95%
Competitive PvP90%
Team-Based85%
Online Co-op40%

Shares Competitive PvP, Asymmetric Multiplayer, First-Person, Gunplay.

Both lean into Competitive PvP, Asymmetric Multiplayer, First-Person, Science Fiction.

Competitive PvP85%Asymmetric Multiplayer80%First-Person95%Science Fiction90%
Depth65% match

Shares Asymmetric Multiplayer, Competitive PvP, First-Person, Gunplay.

Both lean into Asymmetric Multiplayer, Competitive PvP, First-Person, Tense.

Asymmetric Multiplayer85%Competitive PvP75%First-Person75%Tense75%

Shares Competitive PvP, Asymmetric Multiplayer, First-Person, Team-Based.

Both lean into Competitive PvP, Asymmetric Multiplayer, First-Person, Team-Based.

Competitive PvP85%Asymmetric Multiplayer80%First-Person95%Team-Based75%

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Competitive PvP80%Gunplay85%Team-Based75%First-Person65%
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