Deep Rock Galactic

Availability: Windows (YMMV), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5

If you’re looking for a less-serious space sci-fi trip and have a few friends who’d be willing to join in, then maybe it’s time to assume the role of space-faring dwarves ready to plumb the depths of an alien world. There are untold riches to be had, and countless hazards and beasts to face in their pursuit.

A cooperative first-person shooter built around the “get in, loot, get out” loop of extraction shooters like Escape from Tarkov, The Cycle: Frontier, or Call of Duty’s DMZ, Deep Rock Galactic will test your wits and ability to respond to unforeseeable circumstances. That core gameplay experience is a lot of fun, and its underground alien environments make for a very convincing and engaging science-fiction experience.

With procedurally generated caves to explore and mine, no two games are ever the same. And the class-based gameplay really forces you to come together as a team for the best outcome. Though it has a silly premise, it’s a fun planet-mining simulation in which to cause trouble with friends.