8.5 /10 20

Prey positions itself as a reimagined immersive simulator that strips away the original game’s legacy to forge its own identity. Set aboard Talos I, a research station orbiting the moon in 2032, Prey channels the DNA of System Shock 2 and BioShock while innovating with player freedom and consequence-driven exploration. Critics praise its layered design and methodical pacing, though some note the narrative’s subtler approach compared to contemporaries. This review examines what makes Prey the genre’s most sophisticated entry in a decade, balancing its technical ambitions with accessibility for newcomers to immersive sims.

How to Play Prey (2017)

Prey is fundamentally about choice. You awaken as Morgan Yu aboard a compromised space station and navigate four interconnected hub areas using exploration, hacking, combat, and supernatural abilities. Progression flows through discovering and fabricating Neuromods—neural implants that unlock powers ranging from telekinesis to Typhon mimicry. Your playstyle shapes the experience.

1. Controls – Standard FPS movement (WASD), with contextual interactions. The Gloo Gun doubles as both weapon and mobility tool. Learning curve is shallow; the station teaches mechanics organically.
2. Progression – Unlock abilities via Neuromods found throughout the station or crafted at fabricators using recycled materials. No level-based grinding; you control your power trajectory.
3. Combat and Mechanics – Combat avoids binary lethal vs. non-lethal design. Enemies can be hacked, distracted, lured into environmental hazards, or fought directly. Your choice of abilities (offensive, defensive, or stealth) determines how encounters unfold.
4. Tips – Scan everything. Mimics produce clicking sounds when near. Hacking turrets creates passive damage. The Recycler is your best resource multiplier. Don’t rush; side quests and exploration reward patience.

Who Should Play Prey (2017)

Prey appeals to players craving systemic depth and narrative weight. Its 16-hour core campaign scales with optional content, making it accessible for both speed-runners and completionists. Story choices matter quietly, affecting endings rather than branching visibly.

• Immersive Sim Enthusiasts – Those who loved Dishonored, System Shock, or Deus Ex will immediately recognize the sandbox architecture.
• Sci-Fi Horror Fans – The atmospheric tension rivals Dead Space, with jump scares telegraphed by sound design rather than cheap surprises.
• Build-Crafters – The Neuromod system offers 60+ abilities. Creating telekinetic, hacking, or hybrid builds yields wildly different playthroughs.
• Skip If – You prefer fast-paced shooters or straightforward narratives. Prey demands patient exploration and rewards lateral thinking over reflexes.

Prey (2017) Platform Performance

Prey scales remarkably across platforms. PC dominates with adjustable settings; consoles deliver solid 60fps on current-gen hardware. Load times on older systems (90+ seconds) contrast sharply with Series X/S (15 seconds). HDR support on PS5 and Series X enhances the station’s visual depth.

Prey (2017) System Requirements

The base game spans 18-20GB and scales gracefully. Minimum specs target 1080p/30fps on older hardware; recommended hits 1440p/60fps on mid-range systems. Modern hardware (RTX 2070+, Ryzen 5 3600+) handles 4K ultra settings.

Similar Games to Prey (2017)

Prey’s ancestry traces directly to four pillars of immersive sim design. Each influenced its core loop of exploration, ability acquisition, and consequence-driven combat. None perfectly replicate Prey’s formula; each diverges meaningfully.

• BioShock – Tighter narrative focus and linear progression. Plasmids function similarly to Neuromods; the underwater setting replaces the orbital claustrophobia.
• System Shock 2 – The spiritual predecessor. More punishing difficulty, procedural elements, and a haunted-station atmosphere. Prey softens pacing while retaining systemic depth.
• Dishonored 2 – From the same studio. Stealth-forward and smaller levels. Prey grants more freedom in approach and bigger traversal challenges.
• Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – Cyberpunk noir immersive sim. Less horror; more cybernetic augmentation flavor. Shorter critical path (12 hours core).

Prey (2017) vs Competitors

Prey occupies a unique position: longer campaign than Deus Ex, broader ability pool than BioShock, and friendlier difficulty than System Shock 2. Its station design rivals BioShock’s Rapture in verticality while exceeding Dishonored’s environmental options. Metacritic consensus places it squarely in the “great” category, slightly behind BioShock but above most 2017 releases.

Prey (2017) Story and World

The narrative unfolds with restraint. You’re Morgan Yu, subject of an experiment aboard Talos I. Within hours, a catastrophe transforms the station into a hunting ground. The story explores identity through both dialogue and gameplay—a central twist recontextualizes your abilities and choices. Talos I itself functions as a character: brutalist architecture, retro-futuristic UI, and environmental storytelling convey desperation. Pacing accelerates in the final third, rewarding careful exploration early with narrative payoff. Unlike linear narratives, Prey respects your agency; minor NPC outcomes depend on your decisions, subtly shifting the ending’s tone without branching visibly.

Prey (2017) Multiplayer and Online

Prey’s online modes launched post-release and occupy niche popularity. Typhon Hunter (released December 2018) is a hide-and-seek competitive mode; Mooncrash DLC functions as a roguelike single-player experience with limited co-op appeal. Neither sustains large communities today, but they demonstrate Arkane’s experimental stance.

• Typhon Hunter – 5-vs-1 asymmetric gameplay. One player (Morgan) hunts five Mimic players hiding as objects. 10-minute rounds; matches rarely exceed 1000 concurrent players on PC.
• Mooncrash Campaign – Procedurally generated missions across Talos I’s exterior. Single-player roguelike with five unlockable characters. 12-hour average playthrough.
• Custom Games – Supports bots if live matchmaking proves slow. Cross-play unavailable. VR mode (added 2019) supports multiplayer on PC.
• Community Health – Matchmaking can exceed 2-minute waits on console versions. PC populations stronger. Game Pass availability boosts seasonal interest.

Prey (2017) DLC and Expansions

Post-launch content divides neatly: Mooncrash adds a roguelike layer; Typhon Hunter pivots to multiplayer. Together they justify the $19.99 Digital Deluxe edition. Neither is essential to the core experience, but both expand replayability meaningfully.

• Mooncrash Expansion – Largest DLC. Replaces the station’s interior with the exterior moonbase. Roguelike structure with five playable characters. $19.99 standalone or bundled. 12-20 hours depending on mastery.
• Typhon Hunter – Multiplayer hide-and-seek. Free with Mooncrash; otherwise minor DLC. Asymmetric gameplay mirrors Last Manatee or Town of Salem.
• Season Pass – Digital Deluxe bundles both at discount. No additional cosmetic DLC beyond these expansions. Arkane discontinued post-launch support in 2019 after Typhon Hunter’s release.
• Free Updates – Balance patches and stability improvements. FPS Boost added for Xbox Series X/S in March 2021. No new story content or weapons post-Typhon.

Prey (2017) Community and Support

The community remains passionate despite niche size. Speedrunners exploit sequence breaks (sub-7-minute completions exist). Modders enhance PC versions with visual upgrades. Official support wound down post-2019, but the subreddit and Discord stay active with build guides and atmospheric appreciation.

• Official Forums – Bethesda hosts forums with developer responses through 2018. Minimal activity post-2019 after Arkane Austin’s restructuring.
• Reddit and Discord – r/prey (~35K members) remains welcoming. Fan discord servers host speedrun races and blind playthroughs. Build guides proliferate.
• Mod Support – Steam Workshop integration enables texture mods, HUD adjustments, and gameplay tweaks. Notable mods reduce loading times or add difficulty modifiers. Console mods unavailable.
• Updates – Patch frequency declined post-2018. Last significant patch: March 2021 (FPS Boost optimization). Arkane Austin’s closure in 2023 ended active development completely.