Bounty hunters are a large part of science fiction, both in film, television, and games. The Wild West nature of many science fiction universes makes the role of the bounty hunter all the more relevant.
From massive sci-fi franchisessuch asStar Wars, to iconic video game characters such as Samus, there are plenty of bounty hunters to be found in the sci-fi genre. Video games as a whole are no exception, with many titles - both old and new - putting players in the shoes of a space-faring bounty hunter.
Some games included here may feature bounty hunter gameplay, while others will feature a character themed around it without the gameplay. Both categories have been considered for this list.
High On Lifeis somewhat of an acquired taste, with some absurd, often inappropriate humor that some players may find grating. However,the colorful environmentsand fast-paced nature of its single-player narrative should appeal to fans of the game’s low-brow humor and sci-fi FPS games alike.
High On Lifealso puts players in the role of an intergalactic bounty hunter, with each mission being themed around a unique bounty. The light-hearted tone and atmosphere, combined with competent, fast-paced action, results in an adventure that won’t be for everyone but hits the mark for its target audience.
6Lonestar
A Turn-Based Rogue-Like With A Bounty-Hunting Theme
This unique,turn-based rogue-likeputs players at the helm of distinct, laser-firing spaceships. The game features deck-building elements, a rogue-like structure, and a unique combat system that revolves around overwhelming the opponent’s lasers. This results in combat encounters that are consistently easy to read, allowing the game to feel relatively fair most of the time.
Lonestaralso features a bounty-hunting theme, with players choosing from a broad range of available pilots and hunting down criminals in space. The spaceships inLonestarare also extremely customizable, resulting in a highly strategic experience throughout.
ThroughouttheMetroidseries, it is understood that the protagonist - Samus - is a space bounty hunter, in some capacity. This is especially referenced at the beginning ofMetroid Dreadand helps to provide context for the game’s narrative.
ManyMetroidgames are worth a look, especially the expansive FPS title,Metroid Prime. However,Metroid Dreadexcels with its combination of classic gameplay and modern action, as well as its consistently impressive environments. However,Metroid Dreadis only related to bounty hunting in theme, so players looking for gameplay mechanics that tie in with this theme will likely be disappointed.
While players don’t exclusively play as bounty hunters inSteamWorld Heist, the space pirate crew and bounty hunter characters will appeal to fans of space bounty hunters and pirates alike. These flavorful characters are wrapped in an evocative combination ofscience fiction and Steampunk, offering a unique setting that’s reminiscent of shows such asFirefly. Furthermore, one of the playable characters, Sally Bolt, is themed as a bounty hunter.
SteamWorld Heistis a distinctively light-hearted adventure through space, with a unique combat system that keeps things engaging throughout.SteamWorld Heistfeatures turn-based gameplay but allows players to manually aim and take shots with each of their characters, resulting in a particularly fast-paced experience. While there’s not much in the way of direct bounty hunting, players can expect to take out plenty of bad guys with their rag-tag crew.
3Mace Griffin: Bounty Hunter
Pulp Science Fiction That Blends Space And Ground Combat
This pulpy science fiction action-adventure game isan old-school FPSfrom 2003 that may have been somewhat derivative of its contemporaries but managed to offer a unique experience. It did this through its combination of spaceship battles and boots-on-the-ground combat. In the game, players take on the role of the titular bounty hunter,Mace Griffin, who joins up with the Guild of Bounty Hunters towards the start of the game.
The gameplay is fairly straightforward throughoutMace Griffin, both in space and on the ground, but will likely appeal to fans of shooters such asHalo. ThoughMace Griffinfeatures a bounty-hunting theme, many of the missions are fairly linear FPS affairs. However, the unique blend of gameplay styles and the pulp sci-fi narrative make it a worthwhile, bounty-hunting adventure.
2Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
Adventuring As An Iconic Bounty Hunter
This iconic old-schoolStar Warsgame puts players in the shoes of the notorious bounty hunter, Jango Fett, fighting through a narrative set before the events ofStar Wars: Episode 2 - Attack Of The Clones. The game’s iconic character and setting do plenty of heavy lifting in makingStar Wars: Bounty Huntera memorable experience, but its gameplay is strong enough to make it worth playing through for any fan of theStar Warsfranchise.
Gameplay-wise,Star Wars: Bounty Hunteris a third-person action-adventure game that combines 3D platforming (made fun through Jango’s jetpack) and fast-paced combat. The jetpack is also tremendously helpful during combat, allowing players to be extremely agile if they manage its fuel correctly.
Freelancerwas one of the first true open-world space-sims, featuring great space combat and mechanics for trading. While the game’s narrative was linear, the gameplay featured many sandbox elements. More specifically, players had the option to collect and trade valuable cargo, become pirates, or hunt down bounties.
Bounty hunting is a regular activity inFreelancer, though the protagonist - Edison Trent - isn’t exclusively a bounty hunter, rather than a jack-of-all-tradesFreelancer. However, the pulp science fiction story, combined with the sandbox-style gameplay, makes for a consistently compelling experience.
