55
Despite some stunning visuals and an excellent soundtrack, Aphelion sadly doesn’t have the narrative prowess that DON’T NOD is known for. Bland characters and a story that doesn’t deliver on its promising premise, plus a tedious gameplay loop makes this sci-fi adventure a disappointment.
65
Aphelion has some excellent moments regarding the story, but is let down by consistently frustrating gameplay where you feel punished for no reason.
50
A near future third person sci-fi adventure whose believable characters, expressive animation, and glorious icy backdrops are undermined by a linear story with too little variety in its interactions.
1
Not even mediocre. Just boring. Boring story, boring characters. Another DEI game, that no one asked for. And guess what, no one is playing it.
7
Narrative & Character Development is AMAZING; Visuals & Art Direction is GREAT; Music & Sound Design is AMAZING; Gameplay Mechanics are MIDIOCRE; Pacing & Length is OKAY; Technical Performance is OKAY; Technical Performance is OKAY. Overall is an GOOD game.
7
I was so hyped for this game and it's a huge let down. Janky movement -you feel like the character is barely even touching the planet when they move - a planet with barely any interesting scenery, and two characters we barely event have time to get to know, let alone become emotionally invested in, make this a huge let down. The protagonist's voice is irritating. We don't get enough backstory for either character and certainly not their connection - so why should we care if she finds him? For a narrative driven game to fail so miserably at creating a compelling narrative is impressive. The game is buggy too with the protagonist often moving through cliffs and scenery.
Aphelion
Released On:
Apr 28, 2026
Metascore
Mixed or Average
63
User score
Generally Unfavorable
4.5
My Score
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Metascore
Mixed or Average
63
21% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
71% Mixed
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
7% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Apr 28, 2026
90
Aphelion is a beautifully created game by Dontnod and while it's gameplay has its issues, the narrative is pure sci-fi perfection.
Apr 28, 2026
75
Aphelion treads familiar waters for anyone who has played an action adventure game in a post-Uncharted world. But its emotional and grounded narrative about the search for hope is potent enough to look past many shortcomings.
User score
Generally Unfavorable
4.5
30% Positive
26 Ratings
26 Ratings
17% Mixed
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
53% Negative
47 Ratings
47 Ratings
May 1, 2026
10
These reviews are unbelievable. Typical, there are also some bad reviews again because of alleged "political statements." It's just baffling. The game is definitely much better than the ratings here suggest. I played it on the regular PS5. There were a few minor glitches, but I've seen far worse bugs in much better-rated games. The relationship between the two main protagonists is very interesting, and the gameplay is fine too; some people are complaining about that, which is completely incomprehensible. Especially since you can customize a lot in the settings. The graphics and sound are good anyway. I would have given the game a 7 or 8, but when I look at some of the scandalous and biased reviews here, I simply have to give it a 10!
Apr 30, 2026
10
This game you either love it or hate it. I love it because I'm a **** for SciFi and Space. The graphics are amazing, the atmosphere is appropriate, good story. Etc. If you liked interestellar you will probably enjoy this game. Just for the setting.
Apr 28, 2026
70
Aphelion is a pleasant, well-crafted, and visually captivating sci-fi adventure that remains engaging to play, especially thanks to its setting and the credibility of its spacefaring imagination. DON'T NOD builds a world that is beautiful to explore and a story solid enough to carry the journey, but it never quite manages to give the gameplay the same strength as its artistic vision.
May 1, 2026
65
Aphelion has some excellent moments regarding the story, but is let down by consistently frustrating gameplay where you feel punished for no reason.
Apr 28, 2026
60
Aphelion is exactly what you’d expect from a Don’t Nod game. More interesting narratively than in gameplay, it boasts strong graphics, sound, and atmosphere—but not much else.
Apr 30, 2026
50
A near future third person sci-fi adventure whose believable characters, expressive animation, and glorious icy backdrops are undermined by a linear story with too little variety in its interactions.
Apr 28, 2026
40
Coming from Don't Nod, it's a shame that both Aphelion's storytelling and climbing mechanics feels so lackluster, with Uncharted-like sci-fi action failing to make much of an impact at all. Some gorgeous alien vistas and a decent premise fail to interest for long when simply controlling characters feels clunky and uninteresting.
May 3, 2026
7
Narrative & Character Development is AMAZING; Visuals & Art Direction is GREAT; Music & Sound Design is AMAZING; Gameplay Mechanics are MIDIOCRE; Pacing & Length is OKAY; Technical Performance is OKAY; Technical Performance is OKAY. Overall is an GOOD game.
May 3, 2026
7
I was so hyped for this game and it's a huge let down. Janky movement -you feel like the character is barely even touching the planet when they move - a planet with barely any interesting scenery, and two characters we barely event have time to get to know, let alone become emotionally invested in, make this a huge let down. The protagonist's voice is irritating. We don't get enough backstory for either character and certainly not their connection - so why should we care if she finds him? For a narrative driven game to fail so miserably at creating a compelling narrative is impressive. The game is buggy too with the protagonist often moving through cliffs and scenery.
May 2, 2026
7
Ideal for players who love pure storytelling. There is no combat involved; the mechanics are limited to stealth, evasion, and platforming. While the story is beautiful, the game has its drawbacks—specifically the navigation. Finding your way is difficult, and backtracking through the map can get annoying, especially in the last two chapters. Since the gameplay is heavily focused on walking and climbing, it might not suit everyone. Play it for the story, but don't set your expectations too high.
May 1, 2026
3
this game is the biggest piece of ****. it is not about some political reason. This game is just so bad. The story is boring. The game control is so ****. The graphic is like 10years ago. while you're playing this game. What you can get is climb climb and **** climb. Also the trigger of the monster attack is so wired. Also this game have so many stupid bug.
May 1, 2026
2
It's a pity, I was counting on a game that I would play a little bit, but the condition of the game and the general atmosphere are a disaster. How many more games will have to suffer and studios will have to go bankrupt for you to finally understand. As gamers, we want good games, not woke garbage! I give it 2/10 because after all it has some interesting things, if you are interested in it, wait for the steamsale which will probably come soon and you will be able to buy it for a few dollars.
SummaryBy 2060, Earth will be uninhabitable. The discovery of a 9th planet - Persephone - at the edge of the solar system, is humanity's best hope. The European Space Agency is dispatching the Hope 01 scientific mission, consisting of 2 of their accomplished astronauts, Ariane and Thomas. Their mission: to survey the planet and determine whethe... Read More
Rated Mfor Mature
Platforms:
- Xbox Series X
- PlayStation 5
- PC
Initial Release Date:Apr 28, 2026
Developer:
Publisher:
