Aphelion

Aphelion is a third-person narrative sci-fi action-adventure game, or at least that's how it appears in the trailers. In reality, however, it is more of a slow-paced walking simulator with light action, stealth and traversal mechanics. So, what is it about? By 2060, Earth will be uninhabitable. The discovery of the ninth planet, Persephone, on the edge of the solar system, offers humanity its best hope. The European Space Agency (ESA) is sending out the Hope 01 scientific mission, which consists of two astronauts: Ariane and Thomas. Their mission is to survey the planet and determine whether it is possible for humanity to prosper here again. However, the adventure begins in chaos when their ship crashes, scattering them across the planet and setting them on a quest to find one another.

The gameplay for the two characters differs greatly. Thomas was injured in the crash, which also damaged his oxygen tank. His sections focus on observation and piecing together his surroundings in order to survive. His gameplay is a walking simulator with minor survival elements, taking him from supply station to supply station — that is, through abandoned human bases. The focus here is on solving puzzles, analysing the environment and collecting clues (audio logs) to uncover the backstory. Unfortunately, Dontnod could have done more with his circumstances. Ariane, on the other hand, is clearly the more active one. Thanks to her Pathfinder tools and physical prowess, she plays a more active role in the mission. The focus of her gameplay is on traversal and vertical exploration, which means climbing, but in a fairly straightforward way. She also has a grappling hook that allows her to pull herself up to fixed points. She also encounters the 'Nemesis', a creature that can be evaded by sneaking or creating noise or distraction.

Visually and atmospherically, Aphelion is impressive, from the depiction of the frozen planet to the sound design and Amine Bouhafa's excellent soundtrack. However, despite Dontnod's usual talent for creating compelling characters and gripping stories, the narrative in Aphelion struggles to captivate. While some passages are well executed and compelling, especially at the beginning, the relationship between the two separated characters remains emotionally simplistic. Much of it is also overly obvious, and the story is rather linear - unusual for a Dontnod game. The basic sci-fi premise is interesting, as are the themes that crop up from time to time. The gameplay falls short of expectations. In particular, the controls feel clunky when climbing and jumping, and the animations look odd, with movements that do not flow smoothly into one another. Overall, the same gameplay elements are repeated too often and lack the depth needed to sustain long-term engagement. Unfortunately, neither the story nor the audiovisual quality are enough to compensate for this.

Behind Aphelion is Don't Nod, an independent French publisher and developer with studios in Paris and Montreal. They create original narrative games in the adventure (Life is Strange, Tell Me Why, Twin Mirror), RPG (Vampyr, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden) and action (Remember Me) genres. Don't Nod also creates and publishes its own IPs, such as Harmony: The Fall of Reverie, Jusant, and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. Production costs for Aphelion (€8.5 million) and the P14 project in the second half of 2025 (€4.2 million) are not capitalised. "In a challenging environment, Don't Nod is approaching the coming months with enhanced financial discipline and an optimized cost structure. The company is actively pursuing efforts to secure the necessary financing to continue its operations while maintaining its efforts to adapt its cost base," the company's recent financial report states. Currently, the studio is working on a narrative-driven game based on a major Netflix IP, and discussions are ongoing regarding the co-production of the "P14 project" to secure its development.

"With this original action-adventure game, we set out to push the boundaries of creativity within one of the most popular genres. The support of ESA and its teams throughout the development of Aphelion has been a true privilege. This collaboration once again highlights video games' ability to go beyond the limits of fiction and better reflect our reality. We are delighted to finally share this intense and unique journey with players, an experience that fully embodies Don't Nod's DNA and our passion for powerful experiences." - Oskar Guilbert, CEO of Don't Nod

Aphelion was released on 28 April 2026 for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It is also available on Game Pass. The Standard Edition is available on Steam for €29.99, and the Day One Edition is available on consoles for €34.99. The Day One Edition includes the game and a cosmetic pack containing two space suits and six backpack accessories (three stickers and three keychains). The accessories are inspired by the ESA collaboration and Dontnod Games' Jusant and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. The Deluxe Edition is priced at €39.99 and is available via Steam. It includes the game, the cosmetic pack, a digital artbook and a soundtrack. On 2 July 2026, the Pioneer Edition for the PlayStation 5 will be released in retail stores and distributed by Maximum Entertainment. This edition includes the game, all bonuses from the Day One Edition and a Hope-01 sticker designed in collaboration with the European Space Agency.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, Aphelion was not the blockbuster hit that Don't Nod had hoped for. Although it is a solid narrative adventure, it often struggles to captivate the player.

Features

• A visually and aurally impressive adventure
• Gripping story in places as well as some superbly staged sequences
• Collaboration with the ESA