Aliens: Fireteam Elite

Welcome to the Corps, Marine

Cold Iron Studios takes you straight into the iconic universe of Ridley Scott's creature feature with Aliens: Fireteam Elite – a cooperative third-person shooter that demands teamwork as much as trigger discipline. If you ever wanted to feel like a Colonial Marine rather than a lone hero, this is your chance to suit up, lock and load, and face swarms of Xenomorphs alongside two buddies. The game is available on Windows via the Microsoft Store, and it promises a campaign that respects the source material while delivering modern co-op action.

What Is This Thing?

Positioning: A tactical co-op survival shooter set 23 years after the events of Aliens, where squads of three marines fight through hordes of classic and new Xenomorph variants across five distinct campaign chapters.
Developer: Cold Iron Studios.
Key Features:

• Five distinct classes (Gunner, Demolisher, Technician, Doc, Recon) each with unique abilities that synergize in combat.
• Deep weapon customization – over 30 weapons with mods and attachments that change handling and feel.
• Authentic alien biology – from facehuggers to praetorians, each enemy behaves differently, demanding adaptive strategies.
• Challenge cards system – a roguelike spin that lets you modify missions for extra difficulty and rewards.

Target audience: Die-hard Alien franchise fans, players who loved Left 4 Dead or World War Z but want a more deliberate, gear-focused experience, and anyone who enjoys synthetic-free cooperation (no bots will carry you here).

First Contact – The Intro That Pulls You In

Imagine this: you board the UAS Endeavor, a rusting naval vessel that looks like it has seen better centuries. The lights flicker, the air vents hiss, and somewhere in the dark a motion tracker blips. Your team mumbles over comms – one of you is a demolisher packing a smartgun, the other a technician setting up turrets. You check your pulse rifle: three-round burst, underbarrel grenade launcher, and a sticky "whump" when you reload. That's the feeling of Fireteam Elite. It doesn't waste time with cutscenes – it drops you into corridors that smell of steam and fear, and before you know it, the ceiling cracks open and a dozen runners pour out. This is not a game about being a superhero; it's about being a grunt who survives by covering corners and trusting your squad.

Class Synergy: The Heart of the Battle

The Five-Colored Team of Misfits

The standout feature here is the class system, which is far more than a stat stick. Each class has a unique perk grid and two active abilities, and the real magic happens when you combine them. A Doc can heal you while the Recon marks enemies for extra damage; the Demolisher knocks back crowds while the Gunner provides sustained fire. The interplay feels organic – not because the game forces you, but because the AI director throws enough variety that you naturally reach for your class's best contribution. It's like cooking a five-course meal with two other chefs: everyone has a station, and if you wander off, the kitchen catches fire.

No Solo Cowboys

This brings me to the game's biggest strength and its sharpest edge: it requires human teammates. The AI bots are competent enough on lower difficulties but become liabilities on Intense or higher. When a Praetorian charges and you're the Technician, you need that Demolisher's knockback right now. The game teaches you to communicate without words – watching heat signatures, listening for reload clicks. For fans of coordinated play, this is heaven. For lone wolves, it's a frustrating grind. Cold Iron clearly built this for three people on Discord, not for randoms who never tag enemies.

Xenomorphs: More Than Just Horde

The diversity of enemies deserves its own spotlight. Unlike typical zombie shooters where everything rushes in a blob, Fireteam Elite gives you distinct alien castes: Bursters explode on death, Spitters poison you from a distance, Drones flank intelligently, and Praetorians tank damage until you focus fire. The game teaches you to prioritize targets – a lesson you learn when your healer gets snatched by a Runner and dragged into a vent. The animation of a Xeno pouncing from a ceiling or crawling through ductwork never gets old; it's pure fan service that remains functional. Each mission throws new combinations at you, forcing you to adjust your class loadout and weapon mods on the fly.

User Experience: Smooth Bones, Rusty Edges

Interface & Controls

The UI is serviceable but not beautiful. Health bars, ammo counts, and a minimal minimap get the job done. The weapon wheel and ability icons are clear, though switching between two weapons feels slightly sluggish – that might be intentional for weight, but it can cost you a hit. On a modern PC (tested on an i7-10700 with RTX 3060), the game runs at a stable 60fps at 1440p High, with only occasional stutter during heavy particle effects. The controls are responsive, and the aim assist on controller is generous enough for casual play, but mouse-and-keyboard is the way for precision shots on those running facehuggers.

Learning Curve

The tutorial is brief and functional – you learn the basics of shooting, healing, and tagging, then you're thrown into the deep end. The class system's depth becomes apparent after a few missions, and the challenge cards add a roguelike meta that rewards replaying missions. Newcomers might feel overwhelmed by the weapon mod screen (with dozens of stats like "stability" and "handling" that aren't clearly explained), but the game scales difficulty well. Expect to die on your first few encounters on Standard difficulty – that's fine. Each death teaches you something about positioning.

Why This Shooter Stands Out

Compared to Left 4 Dead or Back 4 Blood, Fireteam Elite is slower, more methodical, and far less forgiving of mistakes. Its unique advantage is the authentic Alien atmosphere – the sound design (hissing steam, screeching metal, the iconic motion tracker beep) is meticulously crafted. The game also leans heavily on tactical resource management: you have limited consumables (turret deployables, medkits, batteries) that you must pick up and use wisely. That battlefield economy, combined with class roles, makes every encounter feel like a puzzle rather than a spray-and-pray. For fans of Helldivers or Deep Rock Galactic, this is a darker, slower cousin that rewards patience over speed.

Verdict: Should You Enlist?

Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a solid, no-bullshit cooperative shooter that nails the feel of being a marine in the Aliens universe. It's not groundbreaking – the narrative is paper-thin, the environments can feel repetitive, and the solo experience is a chore. But if you have two friends (or are willing to find them online), the hours of tense, tactical combat are well worth the price. I recommend starting on Standard difficulty with voice chat, and don't skimp on learning the class that fits your style. For $39.99 (often on sale), it's a tight 12–15 hour campaign with replayability via challenge cards and harder difficulties. This is a game that respects your intelligence and your squad's coordination – just don't expect to be the hero. Be the gear that keeps your team alive.

Rating: 8/10 – Recommended for co-op squads; skip if you play solo exclusively.

FAQ

How do I start playing with friends or AI?

From the main menu, select 'Campaign' and then choose a mission. Use the 'Squad' button to invite friends or set matchmaking to 'Fill with AI' for solo play. Path: Main Menu > Campaign > Select Mission > Squad.

Can I change my class and loadout between missions?

Yes, go to the 'Armory' from the main menu. There you can switch between seven classes, equip weapons, select perks, and set consumables before each mission. Path: Main Menu > Armory > Class.

What are the basic controls for combat?

Use the left stick to move, right stick to aim. RT fires your weapon, RB activates your class ability. Press A to dodge and B for melee. View full controls in Settings > Controls. Path: Settings > Controls.

How do I level up my class and unlock perks?

Complete missions to earn XP. Each class levels independently. Perks unlock as you gain class levels. Access and equip perks in the Armory under the 'Perks' tab of your selected class. Path: Armory > Class > Perks.

What is the Challenge Card system and how does it work?

Challenge Cards modify missions with difficulty boosts or special conditions. Equip one before starting a campaign mission from the Challenge Card slot. Success grants bonus rewards. Path: Campaign > Select Mission > Challenge Card.

How can I customize my weapons and improve their stats?

Weapons level up through frequent use, unlocking more attachment slots. Equip scopes, muzzles, and grips to boost stats. Visit Armory > Weapons > choose a weapon > Attachments. Path: Armory > Weapons > Attachments.