They Are Here: Alien Abduction Horror arrives on Series X|S, PC, and PS5 as a survival horror game built around being hunted by aliens across a remote island. The premise is simple: you are not fighting back, you are running. That simplicity is also the game’s biggest strength, and its biggest weakness.
Trailer, via DEKLAZON.
The Setup
You play as a survivor on a small island off the coast of somewhere, and you are not there by choice. The island is overrun by alien creatures that move through the air, and your job is to get off the island alive. There is no gun, no combat skill tree, and no upgrade screen. There is only movement, hiding, and the constant fear of being seen.
The island itself is the main character. It is dense with trees, tall grass, and narrow paths that funnel you toward open ground. The design forces you to keep moving, to avoid being cornered, and to always know where the nearest cover is. That design is consistent throughout the game, and it rarely lets up.
What Works
The pacing is the game’s best trick. It starts slow, with long stretches of quiet exploration, and then it builds to moments where the aliens appear and the screen fills with motion. The tension is sustained because the game never overloads you with threats at once. You are usually facing one or two enemies at a time, which means you can focus on the immediate problem without feeling overwhelmed.
The stealth systems are straightforward but effective. You can crouch to move quietly, and you can hide behind cover while the aliens pass overhead. The game rewards patience and punishes hesitation. If you stay still too long, the aliens will find you. If you move too fast, you will draw attention. Finding that balance is the whole game.
What Falls Short
The lack of combat variety is the game’s biggest drawback. Without weapons or tools to fight back, the experience can feel repetitive after a few hours. The aliens are designed to be terrifying, but terror alone cannot sustain a full campaign. Some players will find the constant pressure exhausting rather than thrilling.
The game also leans heavily on scripted encounters, which means the sense of surprise wears off quickly. Once you know where the aliens are likely to appear, the fear loses some of its edge. This is a common issue in games of this genre, but it is particularly noticeable here because the game relies almost entirely on atmosphere rather than player skill.
Performance Across Platforms
The game runs on Series X|S, PC, and PS5, and the performance holds up across all three. Load times are short, and the frame rate stays steady even during busy moments. The lighting is the star of the technical package. Shadows fall sharply, and the contrast between light and dark gives the island a genuine sense of dread.
The audio design deserves special note. The sound of the aliens approaching is subtle at first, a low hum that grows louder as they near. The game uses sound to tell you where danger is coming from before you see it, and that layer of information makes the gameplay feel richer.
| Platform | Key Feature | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Series X | S | High frame rate |
| PC | Customizable settings | Precise control |
| PS5 | Fast load times | Quick transitions |
The Island
The island itself is a closed loop, and the game does not attempt to make it feel otherwise. There are no towns, no side quests, and no branching paths. You are always moving toward the next checkpoint, the next encounter, and the next escape route. This simplicity is both a strength and a limitation. It keeps the focus tight, but it also means there is little room for exploration beyond the immediate threat.
The game does not explain much about the world beyond the island. You are not told why you are there, who sent you, or what happens if you survive. The mystery is part of the atmosphere, but it also leaves the player wanting more context.
Difficulty and Length
The difficulty curve is steady, with occasional spikes during boss-like encounters where multiple aliens converge on your position. These moments test your positioning and timing, and they are the highlights of the game. The game does not punish you harshly, but it does demand precision.
The campaign length is modest, clocking in at around six to eight hours depending on how cautious you are. That brevity could be seen as a positive, since the game does not wear out its welcome. It could also be seen as a negative, since the core loop does not offer enough variation to justify a longer runtime.
Comparing to Other Games
Survival horror games often rely on similar mechanics, and They Are Here: Alien Abduction Horror fits squarely within that tradition. The closest comparisons include:
- Resident Evil 7, which also uses stealth and atmosphere to create tension
- A larger map with more branching paths
- More combat options
Both games are about being outnumbered and outmatched, and both succeed when the pacing is tight.
The difference is that Resident Evil 7 offers more combat options and a larger map. They Are Here: Alien Abduction Horror narrows its scope to a single mode of play and a single setting, and that choice defines its identity.
The Final Stretch
The ending does not resolve the mystery of why you were sent to the island. It simply ends the threat. This is a deliberate choice, and it respects the tone of the game by refusing to tie everything together neatly. Some players will find this satisfying; others will find it frustrating.
The final stretch is tense, with the aliens closing in from all sides, and the payoff comes from surviving rather than from any narrative revelation. That approach suits the game’s focus on the experience rather than the story.
The Verdict
They Are Here: Alien Abduction Horror succeeds because it commits fully to its premise. It does not try to be everything, and it does not apologize for being a single-minded experience. The pacing, the stealth systems, and the atmosphere all work together to create a genuinely nerve-wracking experience.
Where it falls short is in variety. Without combat options, the game can feel repetitive, and the scripted encounters reduce the sense of discovery. The island is a closed loop, and the mystery of the setting is left largely unresolved.
For players who want a pure survival experience, this is a strong entry in the genre. For players who want a complete story or a wider range of mechanics, the game will feel limited.
They Are Here: Alien Abduction Horror scores 7 of 10.
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