Unreal
Unreal is a 1998 first-person shooter developed by Epic MegaGames and Digital Extremes. Players take the role of Prisoner 849, who survives the crash of the prison ship Vortex Rikers on the alien world of Na Pali and must escape while battling the reptilian Skaarj and unraveling the tragic fate of the planet's oppressed native Nali.
The game stunned players with its cutting-edge Unreal Engine, delivering expansive outdoor vistas, colored lighting, detailed textures, and atmospheric music that shifted with the action, all well beyond most contemporaries. Its emphasis on exploration and mood, punctuated by fierce encounters with the agile, intelligent Skaarj, made it as much a technical showcase as an action game. The engine it introduced went on to become one of the most widely licensed and influential game engines in the industry.
Unreal and its multiplayer-focused follow-up, Unreal Tournament, remain available through digital storefronts, and the engine it launched continues to power countless modern games.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Unreal, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prodeus Indie | € 24,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Trepang2 Indie | € 29,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| Beyond Sunset Indie | € 9,75 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac, Linux |
| Wrack Indie | € 9,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC |
Prodeus Indie
€ 24,99A modern retro-styled shooter with a robust community level editor.
Prodeus runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Trepang2 Indie
€ 29,99Slick modern shooting with slow motion and destructible scenery, built for pure gunplay.
Trepang2 runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch.
Beyond Sunset Indie
€ 9,75A retro shooter with an atmospheric cyberpunk world to explore rather than just corridors.
Beyond Sunset runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Wrack Indie
€ 9,99A colourful arcade-style FPS emphasising combo scoring and speed.
Wrack runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
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