Aliens: Dark Descent Cheats & Secrets for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S

Tindalos Interactive and Focus Entertainment’s Aliens: Dark Descent was originally released on June 20, 2023, for PC and modern consoles. The title is a real-time tactics and strategy game in which players control a squad of the fictional Colonial Marines from the Aliens universe. Interestingly, the title is one of the final cross-gen Alien games, following in Aliens: Fireteam‘s footsteps by being available for both 8th and 9th-gen console hardware. The game holds a fairly positive reception from both critics and fans, with the title currently sitting at a respectable 76% positive review aggregate score. While most critics praised the real-time tactical combat and film-accurate atmosphere, some took issue with Aliens: Dark Descent‘s steep difficulty curve.

Aliens: Dark Descent Premise

In the year 2198, the Weiland Yutani research station on the moon of Lethe falls under attack by Xenomorph aliens. These deadly organisms are called to the station by Weiland-Yutani researcher Joseph Marlow, who is carrying out the wishes of his Darwin Era cult. Ultimately, the cult believes that Xenomorphs are the next step in evolutionary perfection and are willing to sacrifice human lives to achieve that goal. Thankfully, a Colonial Marine vessel, the USS Otago, is nearby and able to respond to the distress signal sent out by station deputy Maeko Hayes. Together with the surviving Colonial Marines, Hayes needs to stop Marlow and figure out a way for the surviving humans to escape Lethe.

Aliens: Dark Descent is a real-time, squad-based tactics game in which players issue commands to a 4-man squad of Colonial Marines. The game utilizes a third-person top-down perspective, which allows players to survey their surroundings and plan out routes of both attack and retreat. As players navigate through the different stages (which are both larger, outdoor areas and confined, interior spaces), they will engage with enemies in real time. However, players can slow time to issue commands or deploy defensive supports like turrets or mines. During the retreat phase, players need to take alien swarms into account, making sure to secure alternate pathways and weld doors shut.

Dark Descent is unique among Alien games in that it incorporates a Stress level mechanic that impacts how the marines behave in battle. Accordingly, marines with high stress will miss shots, have nervous breakdowns, or even attempt to sabotage the rest of the squad.

Aliens: Dark Descent Main Characters

The story of Aliens: Dark Descent puts players in control of a group of 4 colonial marines that they issue orders to from behind the scenes. While these marines are all randomized soldiers with distinct names, appearances, and personalities, there are some main characters who play a significant role in the game’s story. Unlike the colonial marines, these characters are static and appear as main figures throughout the campaign. Main characters in Aliens: Dark Descent include:

• Jonas Harper: Jonas Harper is a member of the Colonial Marines and becomes the tactical commander of the USS Otago after the Xenomorph outbreak on Lethe. He is the player’s squad leader and the main protagonist of Aliens: Dark Descent.
• Maeko Hayes: Maeko is the former deputy administrator of Pioneer Station, a Weiland-Yutani colony on the moon of Lethe. She is rescued by the Colonial Marines after the Xenomorph outbreak and helps them in their mission with valuable info about the station and Lethe.
• Joseph Marlow: Joseph Marlow is the main human antagonist of Aliens: Dark Descent. A leader of a dangerous, Xenomorph-obsessed cult, Marlow is responsible for bringing the deadly organisms to Lethe. He is a lead scientist and researcher within the Weiland-Yutani corporation.

Games Using the Alien License

Ridley Scott’s Alien is one of the most important sci-fi horror films of all time, so it makes sense that the franchise has been well-represented across multiple mediums, including video games. Alien‘s release in 1979 would coincide with the advent of video gaming in the West and the first home consoles, so it comes as no surprise that one of the first licensed Atari games is a game based on the film. Since then, each console generation has continued to feature at least one game using the Alien license, with Dark Descent being the most recent game to do so. Throughout the years, there have been standard side-scrolling shooters and beat ’em ups using the Alien license, all the way to first-person shooters and survival horror games, and even an upcoming VR-only experience. Games utilizing the Alien license include:

• Alien (Atari 2600, 1982)
• Aliens: The Computer Game (Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, 1986)
• Aliens: Alien 2 (MSX, 1987)
• Aliens (Arcade, 1990)
• Alien 3 (NES, SNES, Genesis, 1993)
• Alien Trilogy (PlayStation, Sega Saturn, 1996)
• Alien Resurrection (PlayStation, 2000)
• Aliens: Thanatos Encounter (Game Boy Color, 2001)
• Aliens: Infestation (Nintendo DS, 2011)
• Aliens: Colonial Marines (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, 2013)
• Alien: Isolation (PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, 2014)
• Aliens: Fireteam Elite (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, 2021)
• Aliens: Dark Descent (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, 2023)
• Aliens: Rogue Incursion (PC, PS5, 2024)
• Alien: Isolation 2 (In-development)

Aliens: Dark Descent Cheats & Secrets

There are no official cheats for Aliens: Dark Descent. However, PC players have access to cheats via the use of a third-party Cheat Engine and trainer files. Additionally, there are several secrets and exploits players can make use of to reduce the difficulty of Dark Descent.

Aliens: Dark Descent Glitches & Exploits

While there are no official cheats in Aliens: Dark Descent, players have discovered several helpful exploits. Most of these are things that require players to make use of in-game loopholes in the programming or enemy AI. While several of these are consistent across all versions of the game, some are only known to work in the PC version.

Reloading Ammo Glitch

Ammo is a precious resource that players must manage carefully in Aliens: Dark Descent. However, a save scumming trick allows players to quickly recover lost ammo. When all marines are out of ammo, reloading a save is known to sometimes refill the squad’s ammunition reserves.

Customizing Marine Skills

The attributes and skills that marines earn randomly at level up might not always be to a player’s liking. There’s actually a way to tailor the normally randomized level-up skill assignments through the use of save scumming. Save just before an Extraction. After extracting, if the skills the marines earn aren’t to your liking, simply reload from the save just before the Extraction and extract again. This way, players can have some agency in the progression path of their marines.

Quick and Easy Save Points

Normally, players will need to expend valuable resources to create a Rest Point for saving. However, if players go up or down an elevator, the game will save automatically. Use this method to create quick and easy save points to not lose progress after playing for long periods without saving.

Use Mines To Your Advantage

Mines are silent when they deploy and can come in handy during a retreat when the squad is getting swarmed by Xenomorphs. Lay down Mines liberally when entering an area. That way, when noise is no longer a concern and the squad is retreating, the Mines will cover their tracks and destroy any aliens in pursuit.

Using the ARC to Take Out Aliens

In the larger outdoor areas with the ARC nearby, planting Motion Trackers around the vehicle can give the squad some breathing room. The noise from the Motion Trackers will draw aliens to their position, and the ARC will run them over as soon as they are in range, giving the squad some time to plan. For bonus damage, deploy Mines next to the Motion Trackers.

Using Drones to Lure Aliens

If players don’t have a Sniper available, they can still kill Xenomorphs from range by using Drones. Lay down some mines and then fly a Drone to an alien position. Use the Drone to make some noise, gradually luring the aliens closer and closer to the deployed Mines. Players can use the same trick to lure aliens into “kill zones” set up with Turrets and Mines.

Easy Healing & Stress Management

Health, like ammo, is at a premium in Aliens: Dark Descent. However, players can use a trick to allow for easy access to squad healing during missions. Equip all marines with pouches, with each one carrying Medkits. Players can use Medkits to apply Sedatives, reducing Stress by 100 points. This method allows players to save their valuable Tool Kits for when they’re absolutely necessary.

Use Fire to Your Advantage

The Flamethrower can create a wall of flame by holding down the fire button while aiming. Accordingly, players can combine this ability with explosive barrels and oil on the ground to create massive walls of flame that corral the aliens into specific pathways. Aliens will not move past or through flames. As such, players can direct swarms into choke points and easily take out enemies.

Aliens: Dark Descent PC Cheat Engine Cheats

PC players have the option of using a third-party Cheat Engine software and cheat trainer files with Aliens: Dark Descent. One such trainer file can be found here, and it contains the following cheats:

Player Cheats

• Infinite Squad Health and Armor
• No Stress
• Invisibility

Stat Cheats

• Set Experience Multiplier

Game Cheats

• Set Game Speed

Physics Cheats

• Set Squad Movement Speed Multiplier

Inventory Cheats

• Infinite Ammo
• Infinite Items
• Set Materials
• Set Xenosamples
• Set Tools
• Set Medical Supplies
• Set Sentry Guns

Aliens: Dark Descent Achievements/Trophies

Completing the following in-game activities unlocks the corresponding Achievement or Trophy.

Aliens: Dark Descent Cheat FAQs

Does Aliens: Dark Descent have cheats?

There are no official cheats in Aliens: Dark Descent. However, there are several glitches and exploits players can take advantage of. Some of these are exclusive to the PC version, but others will also work on the console versions. Additionally, the PC version of Aliens: Dark Descent is compatible with third-party Cheat Engine software. Depending on the trainer file players have, several cheats are available that make Aliens: Dark Descent significantly easier.

Is Aliens: Dark Descent a hard game?

While the difficulty is subjective and dependent on several variables relating to both the game itself and the player, Aliens: Dark Descent is a challenging game. Even on the easier difficulties, players will need to be cautious about how they progress through levels and carefully manage resources. That said, players who have experience playing RTS and turn-based tactics games should feel comfortable with the level of challenge Aliens: Dark Descent provides.

How to Remove Trauma in Aliens: Dark Descent?

Trauma is one of the different effects that soldiers can suffer from, that affects their combat performance. To remove Trauma, players will need to progress far enough into Aliens: Dark Descent‘s campaign to unlock the Med Bay. With the Med Bay available, players can gradually reduce a soldier’s Trauma level. Another option players have to remove Trauma comes from the attributes soldiers gain after leveling up. Players can unlock passive attributes that reduce Trauma by one point per day.

How long to beat Aliens: Dark Descent?

Most players will complete a standard playthrough of Aliens: Dark Descent in roughly 25 hours. Those hoping to earn all the Achievements/Trophies and fully complete the game will spend much longer, though. To fully complete Aliens: Dark Descent, players will spend roughly 55-60 hours.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Aliens: Dark Descent key art.