DaRmaZat When a studio like DON’T NOD teams up with the European Space Agency, expectations aren’t just high – they’re almost gravitational. The stakes are Aphelion, a sci-fi thriller that slowly pulls you into its orbit and locks you into a mission that feels as fragile as it is demanding of one’s conviction – a test of human persistence for a cause far greater than oneself.
Launched today for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store – and available day-one on Xbox Game Pass – this cinematic space adventure promises a stark journey where a cold, isolated struggle to survive is merely the price of uncovering the planet’s deepest secrets.
Crashed on a Frozen World
The story of Aphelion unfolds in the year 2060, during the Hope-01 mission to the distant ice planet Persephone. Humanity stands on the brink, as Earth is no longer viable, and the discovery of a mysterious subterranean heat source on this ninth planet in our solar system may represent its last chance. Astrobiologist Ariane Montclair and astronaut Thomas Cross – bound by a complicated personal history – arrive with a shared purpose, only for disaster to strike almost immediately.
Their ship is torn apart in a catastrophic crash landing, scattering them across a hostile, burning wasteland of ice. Separated, disoriented, and vulnerable, they quickly realize they are not alone. A terrifying, lethal species stalks the planet, reacting to the slightest sound with deadly intent.
Early on, the game tends to over-explain its mechanics, at times reducing gameplay to simply following the obvious. Once that hand-holding fades, however, the challenge ramps up noticeably. While progression often feels heavily scripted, the intrigue and tension of Persephone’s mysteries remain strong enough to keep you invested. At least, for a while.
Two Perspectives, One Goal
Aphelion‘s gameplay is split between Ariane and Thomas, offering two distinctly different approaches to survival. As Ariane, traversal is everything. If you have experience with titles like Cairn, the similarities are immediately noticeable. While Aphelion never reaches the mechanical depth of Cairn, a significant portion of your time as Ariane is spent climbing, hanging from ledges, or sprinting and sliding through high-speed escape sequences.
Using a winch, you engage in momentum-based climbing and platforming, relying heavily on the so-called “Perfect Grab” to latch onto ledges. This mechanic, however, can feel frustratingly inconsistent, sometimes failing for no clear reason. After some practice, I noticed that pressing the grab button immediately after a jump yields the most reliable results.
Unfortunately, these traversal segments often unfold in visually monotonous environments – caves, rocky surfaces, desolate plains, and snowfields – that can be difficult to read, even with ledge markers enabled. Missing a grab frequently means replaying an entire linear section, which can become tedious. Equipped with a navigator tool, Ariane can also scan for anomalies and interact with electromagnetic frequencies, sometimes even manipulating them to reshape the environment and open new paths forward.
Thomas, on the other hand, cannot jump, let alone climb, forcing a completely different approach. This is something I found very welcome for the sake of variety. Instead, his segments revolve around problem-solving under pressure, as he must constantly replenish oxygen using tanks scattered throughout the barren environment. And for those less resistant to stress, this time constraint can be disabled if desired.
Repetition as the Most Hostile Alien
In terms of atmosphere, Aphelion undeniably excels. The frozen world of Persephone is both haunting and beautiful, brought to life through strong art direction and impressive environmental design. Ariane and Thomas are convincingly animated, often reaching cinematic levels of realism, and the voice acting is consistently excellent.
Combined with high-quality cutscenes and a powerful musical score, the presentation frequently feels like a AAA production. However, this polish is not entirely consistent. Both protagonists’ moment-to-moment animations occasionally betray that illusion – particularly when their legs visibly stutter against slight inclines or minor obstacles.
As the narrative unfolds, you’ll notice the variety hitting a plateau. Most notably during the stealth sequences, repetition sets in. Navigating familiar pitch-black environments while avoiding the same old creature – often with water underfoot that instantly gives away your position – starts off tense but gradually becomes boring and even frustrating.
The issue is compounded by the heavily scripted alien attacks, which can trigger even when you make no obvious mistake, repeatedly forcing you into unavoidable death sequences. In my view, Aphelion keeps drawing from that same well for far too long. As you progress, the environments become increasingly difficult to read, plagued by awkward camera angles and escape sequences that trigger out of nowhere. It often leaves you wondering whether you’re watching a cutscene or still in control.
Final Thoughts
Aphelion is, at its core, a masterclass in audiovisual presentation. Its cinematic storytelling, strong performances, and atmospheric world-building consistently deliver moments that rival big-budget productions. For a significant portion of its runtime, the game remains engaging, even when its gameplay systems lean toward simplicity.
However, that momentum doesn’t fully sustain itself. As the stealth encounters become repetitive and the reliance on scripted sequences becomes more apparent, the experience begins to lose its edge. What starts as a gripping survival journey ultimately stretches its ideas a little too thin. This ultimately leaves me with a somewhat bittersweet feeling. Had Aphelion reached its narrative and mechanical payoff just a little sooner, it could have been something truly exceptional.
Additional Information
Release Date: Apr 28, 2026
Reviewed On: PS5 Pro. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: DON’T NOD
Publisher: DON’T NOD
Relevant links: Available via PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Xbox Game Pass, and Steam.
