Rebellion Developments' 1999 classic — its history, how the press received it, how it plays today, and what a copy costs.
- Released
- 1999 · PC (DOS / Windows)
- Developer
- Rebellion Developments
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- MobyScore
- ★ 8.07
- Players today
- Very Positive on Steam (88% of 1889)
The history
Released in 1999, Aliens Versus Predator is a sci-fi first-person shooter developed by the Oxford-based British studio Rebellion Developments and published by Fox Interactive. The title serves as a crossover between the Alien and Predator film franchises, bringing these iconic cinematic rivals into a shared digital arena.
The game mattered because it offered three distinct playable species, each with its own unique campaign, missions, and plotlines. This approach allowed the game to blend traditional action with elements of survival horror, setting the stage for a sequel developed by Monolith Productions in 2001.
How it plays
The core loop varies wildly depending on the chosen species. Playing as a Marine offers a traditional FPS experience with heavy firepower, ranging from self-tracking SmartGuns to six-barrel miniguns, though their frailty at close range pushes the experience toward survival horror. Predators focus on stealth and precision, utilizing cloaking and four different vision modes—standard, heat, electromagnetic, and "Pred-Tech"—to snipe enemies from afar.
Aliens prioritize speed and flexibility, utilizing claws, tails, and an inner mouth for instant kills. They can cling to walls and run along any surface to ambush enemies from any 3D direction, and can heal themselves by eating corpses. Beyond the campaigns, players can engage in a frenetic single-player Skirmish mode, arena-style deathmatches, or team up against hordes of computer creatures, including Predalien hybrids and robotic Aliens.
How it was received
The game's Gold Edition, released in 2000, was met with massive acclaim. While specific contemporary review scores from outlets were not provided in the records, the title established a strong reputation for its ambitious three-species design.
What players say today
Modern sentiment on Steam is "Very Positive," with 1661 out of 1889 positive reviews. However, player feedback is polarized; while some enjoy reliving childhood memories, others find the experience outdated, citing unintuitive level design that leads to players getting stuck and a lack of modern options for some versions.
“The unfortunate reality is that even if it was nice reliving childhood for a bit, since I still remember the first levels of the marine and predator campaign even after all these years. It soon became…”
“Overall the game is good fun, it’s just massively held back by poor design choices like unintuitive level design that doesn’t communicate to the player at all often leading to getting stuck completely…”
“Although it has not aged too well with time its a given this game is over 20 years old and the quite a lot has been done to make this work. With it being said that this being a Very Experimental its q…”
Screenshots
The box & the art
Cover art, and real copies photographed in the wild.
Legacy
Rebellion Developments later became best known for the Sniper Elite series. Aliens Versus Predator remains worth seeking out today for its experimental approach to first-person combat, offering three completely different gameplay styles within a single licensed package.
What it's worth
A second-hand market that moves over time — a loose disc is pocket-money, while sealed or complete-with-manual copies drive the top end. For today's exact listings, check the live search.
See current copies on eBay →Copies in the wild
Real listing photos — the range of condition you'll meet.
Photographed examples from past listings — illustrative of condition, not a live inventory.
How to play it in 2026
Easiest today: Steam or GOG (DRM-free) on modern Windows. Either way the core game is intact.
The Classic 2000 re-release updates the 1999 original for modern systems. It bundles the Gold Edition content and the Millennium Expansion Pack—which added nine new levels, an automatic pistol for the Marine, and the ability to save within levels. Improvements include widescreen support, controller support, and unlimited saves.
Verdict
Whether this holds up depends on your patience for late-90s design. The conceptual hook of switching between a fragile Marine, a stealthy Predator, and a wall-crawling Alien is still fascinating and provides a variety of gameplay that few modern shooters attempt.
However, the "outdated and confusing" nature of some level designs can be a hurdle for new players. If you can overlook the clunky navigation and archaic feel, it is a rewarding piece of sci-fi horror history.
Sources: MobyGames, Steam, and period/web coverage. Prices reflect the second-hand market and change over time.