'For All Mankind' was pretty good, wasn't it? Sadly, the show's run has finished now, and while we've got spin-off 'Star City' picking up the mantle, it's still going to be a while before we get any more space politics drama on our screens. Luckily, we can find it on our tabletops instead, with these fantastic space board games.

If you haven't seen it, For All Mankind is the story of an alternate history in which the space race between the U.S. and Russia never fizzled out. Instead, it becomes a multigenerational competition that drives everything from electric vehicle adoption to gender equality.

If, like millions of other Apple TV subscribers, you've been rapt watching 'For All Mankind' and want to bring some of that hot diplomacy and betrayal to your own kitchen table, you're in luck. Several space-based board games let you get a taste of the space race intrigue without having to connive your way to the top of an actual space agency.

Social deduction games have exploded in recent years with good reason. Some of the best tabletop games include some level of politicking, as well as the deal-making, deception, and favor trading that entails. Making social and technological advances often comes at the cost of high levels of international brinkmanship and some very gray ethics.

So, are you ready to kick off the space race once again? Here are 7 space board games that capture the high drama of the era, but without all the devastating foreign policy implications of the real thing.

1. Twilight Struggle

Developer: Ananda Gupta, Trevor Devries | Release Date: 2005 | Players: 2 | Recommended Age: 13+

Twilight Struggle is a perfect distillation of the tension and national anxiety embodied by the Cold War. It follows the conflict between the U.S. and Russia across five decades, and its space race track mirrors For All Mankind's geopolitical stakes.

Every satellite you managed to hurl into the atmosphere or astronaut you successfully guide into space represents both a technical and a propaganda victory. It’s like watching Margo Madison and Sergei Nikulov battle with dice in place of launch vehicles.

Buy "Twilight Struggle" at GMT Games

2. Twilight Imperium

Developer: Corey Konieczka (Fantasy Flight Games) | Release Date: 2017 | Players: 3-6 (up to 8 with expansions) | Recommended Age: 14+

Considered by many to be the gold standard in space politicking, Twilight Imperium drops you into a vast galaxy after the fall of the ancient Lazax empire.

Players take on the role of interstellar empires competing to conquer the capital planet at the center of a huge galaxy. They achieve this by building space docks and warships, trading goods, and clashing in cosmic combat.

The true brilliance of TI lies in its asymmetry, with each of the 17 factions having a variety of advantages and quirks that differentiate it from the others, and the way it drives players to negotiate with — and backstab — each other on the galactic stage.

Laws and elections can quickly shift the balance of power in the game, and the rules can be subverted or twisted to your advantage through the deft deployment of crushing bureaucracy. It's a long game and not one for beginners, but there really is nothing quite like a session of Twilight Imperium.

Buy "Twilight Imperium" at Asmodee

3. High Frontier (4th Edition)

Developer: Phil Eklund (Sierra Madre Games) | Release Date: 2019 | Players: 1-5 | Recommended Age: 14+

Designed by real-world aerospace engineer and rocket scientist Phil Eklund, High Frontier puts you at the helm of a space agency or private aerospace company and tasks you with building a self-sustaining space economy.

It channels For All Mankind’s scientific obsession and is a great showcase for the intersection of personal and national ambition and feasibility. Every decision feels freighted with international importance, and players are forced to grapple with mechanics like realistically modeled orbital mechanics and unforgiving resource scarcity.

Beware, though; High Frontier is one of the most complex board games ever developed, but can also be one of the most rewarding for committed players.

Buy "High Frontier" at Ion Game Design.

4. SpaceCorp: 2025–2300 AD

Developer: Phil Eklund (Sierra Madre Games) | Release Date: 2018 | Players: 1-5 | Recommended Age: 14+

SpaceCorp takes us far beyond the imagined future of For All Mankind's world of governmental space agency programs, and into a timeline where vast, powerful corporations have transformed cosmic exploration and exploitation into big business.

Players begin in low Earth orbit and steadily expand their way into the depths of space, trying to find the balance between risk and profit. Like any good far future dystopia, SpaceCorp positions massive corporations as the true governing entities of the future, swapping in private investors for diplomats and corporate boards for politicians.

It's the natural evolution of the creeping commercialization that For All Mankind's later seasons begin to gesture towards. Real life is making similar gestures, if we're honest, and I, for one, welcome our new corporate overlords.

Buy "SpaceCorp: 2025–2300 AD" at Amazon.

5. Terraforming Mars

Developer: Jacob Fryxelius (FryxGames) | Release Date: 2016 | Players: 1-5 | Recommended Age: 12+

Terraforming Mars takes the terrestrial-based space race so vividly portrayed in For All Mankind and ships it to the Martian surface.

Players compete to build massive engines of profit and production to transform Mars into a livable habitat, all in the glorious name of cutthroat capitalism.

It perfectly embodies the dream-versus-profit conflict so adeptly portrayed in For All Mankind, while also reflecting the later seasons' focus on the red planet as a new stage for human rivalry and ethical reckoning, clothed in the reassuring euphemism of progress.

6. Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

Developer: Touko Tahkokallio (Lautapelit.fi) | Release Date: 2020 | Players: 2-6 | Recommended Age: 14+

A personal favorite, Eclipse is a 4X* game that blends elements of exploration with research and direct (fairly deterministic) combat.

Players ruthlessly compete for victory points derived from controlling systems, building specific structures, discovering artifacts, and researching scientific innovations. It's a beautiful interpretation of one of our world's oldest refrains, the often impossible balance of diplomacy and domination.

A full game of Eclipse ends up reflecting on human nature in some of the same ways the show does, illustrating how often our best intentions are undermined by our desire for personal advancement (or total victory).

*4X stands for Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate.

Buy "Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for the Galaxy" at Zatu Games.

Making a sequel to Ridley Scott's 1979 classic "Alien" should have been a disaster. This was a movie that defined a whole new sub-genre of outer-space horror, a perfectly structured scarefest that also introduced one of cinema's greatest-ever monsters to the world.

Luckily, James Cameron — then one of Hollywood's hottest properties off the back of "The Terminator" — has never been a shrinking violet, and was brave enough to face the Xenomorph challenge head-on. Reinventing the franchise as a muscular sci-fi action movie, he created a whole new sub-genre of his own with a film every bit as memorable as its predecessor.

So, as the peerless "Aliens" turns 40, here — in honour of LV-426, the moon where the movie takes place — are 26 reasons it's still the greatest sci-fi action movie of all time.

1. James Cameron’$ original pitch

With only "The Terminator" (and the long-forgotten "Piranha II") on his resumé, James Cameron was yet to ascend to "king of the world" status when he pitched for the "Alien" sequel. His subsequent meeting with studio execs has since become the stuff of Hollywood legend.

The story goes that he turned over a copy of the script, wrote "ALIEN", added an S to the end, and then scrawled a couple of lines through the final letter. "ALIEN$" was a language the bigwigs understood, and you know what? Cameron was kinda right.

2. A new genre

Same continuity, same creature, same lead character… "Aliens" is undeniably a sequel to "Alien".

But while Ridley Scott's original film was already the definitive outer-space horror, Cameron boldly shifted genres to make the definitive outer-space action movie. Forty years on, fans are still debating which one is best.

3. Nothing is wasted

Anyone teaching action movie screenwriting should use "Aliens" as a core text. It's lean, it's efficient, and every line and moment is integral to the all-time classic whole.

It's no accident that Ripley shows off her Power Loader skills in the opening act — it's Cameron's version of Chekhov's gun.

4. The time jump

Some sequels pick up immediately after their predecessor left off. But by leaving Ellen Ripley in hypersleep for 57 years, the universe has a chance to evolve around her. Indeed, that's enough time for Weyland-Yutani to colonize LV-426 and — just maybe — pay a visit to that mysterious spaceship with all those eggs in its cargo hold.

What could possibly go wrong?

5. Ellen Ripley

Ellen Ripley may have been the accidental hero of "Alien", but she's 100% proactive in "Aliens". At the beginning of the movie, she's still traumatized by her experience on the Nostromo, and her employers at Weyland-Yutani are doing little to help. But her cool head in a high-pressure situation puts highly trained Colonial Marines to shame, and by the final act, she's grown into one of cinema's greatest heroes.

Sigourney Weaver rightly earned herself an Academy Award nomination for her tour de force performance.

6. The Colonial Marines

Cameron waited until late on in production to shoot the scene where the Colonial Marines wake up from hypersleep. It's a genius move, their real-life familiarity helping to establish a convincing camaraderie between these elite soldiers.

Even though most are lucky if they speak more than a line or two, Cameron's writing is so tight that we already know plenty — and care — about them when they inevitably become Xenomorph fodder. (Top fact: with the exception of Lt Gorman and Corporal Hicks, the Marines all share a first initial with the actor who plays them.)

7. The Dropship

Physics purists can bemoan the science all they like, but there's something undeniably cool about the craft that plunges the Marines to the surface of LV-426. A wonderfully utilitarian example of pre-CG model work.

8. The slow-build

In the original version of the movie, an entire hour has passed before you see an alien. Cameron doesn't waste a second of that time, however, establishing characters (see above), introducing Newt, showing off the geography of the Hadley's Hope terraforming base, and building a creeping sense of dread.

Those acid burns on the floor can't be good news, right?

9. The shouldercams

In an era when cameras can be shrunk down into phones or even a pair of glasses, anybody can film anything. But when Cameron gave his soldiers shoulder-mounted video units, it felt genuinely groundbreaking. It provides a suitably chaotic Marine's-eye-view as the carnage unfolds, but you always know whose perspective you're following because, well, their names are written on screen.

10. The ambush

"Aliens" may take its time getting to the actual aliens, but when it does, it doesn't hold back.

The walls start moving, flame-throwers start flaming, and suddenly the Marines are on the back foot against a vastly superior enemy. Throw in an exploding bag of ammunition, and it's all so brilliantly disconcerting that you need several rewatches to work out what you've just witnessed.

Within a matter of minutes, Hicks, Hudson, Vasquez, and Gorman are the only Marines left standing — and Gorman's technically comatose.

11. The Xenomorph drones

HR Giger's original Xenomorph is a design classic, but Cameron was more concerned about practicality than looks.

The new alien suits (usually occupied by gymnasts and acrobats) prioritized movement, as the director went big on research and development to make sure their motion was as inhuman — and as fast — as possible.

Remarkably, only six suits were built for "Aliens", but ingenious editing makes it look like Hadley's Hope is swarming with them.

12. The Alien Queen

We'd seen the eggs, the Facehuggers, and the drones. But, as Ripley pointedly asks, "Who's laying the eggs?"

The answer is a truly terrifying new stage in the Xenomorph life cycle, and arguably the last essential addition to the franchise's mythology.

Designed by Stan Winston (who'd worked with Cameron on "The Terminator" and won an Oscar for his work on "Aliens"), the Alien Queen is a towering apex predator who'll do anything to protect her kids.

13. Newt

Introducing a kid to a hard-boiled action franchise can be a risky move, but Rebecca Jordan (known to everyone as Newt, played by Carrie Henn) is totally integral to "Aliens".

As the last known survivor of Hadley's Hope, she's resourceful as hell and has plenty to teach the heavily armed Marines about survival in a Xenomorph-infested world. She also brings out the maternal instinct in Ripley, a key theme of the movie that comes to a head in her famous face-off against the Queen: "Get away from her, you bitch!"

Speaking of which…

14. The quotable dialogue

"We're on an express elevator to hell." "They mostly come at night… mostly." "Game over, man. Game over." "I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."

Few action movies — with the possible exception of "Predator" and "Die Hard" — are quite as chock-full of zingers as "Aliens".

15. The APC

The Armored Personnel Carrier is every bit as iconic as the dropship it calls home.

Part mobile base-of-operations, part all-terrain action vehicle, it's the reason the few remaining Marines escape their close encounter in one piece — even if its transaxles have issues dealing with concentrated acid blood.

It's telling that the Resources Development Administration hardware in the "Avatar" series is so heavily influenced by this timeless "Aliens" tech.

16. Facehuggers on the move

The Facehugger that jumped — and subsequently impregnated — Kane in the original “Alien was already the stuff of nightmares. But the parasites in the sequel are much more than some acid-blooded jack-in-a-box.

In “Aliens”, those spider-like legs allow them to scurry around to hunt down their prey, ensuring they're a clear and present danger — even if you're not foolhardy enough to put your face over an open egg.

17. Carter Burke

If there’s one thing the "Alien" saga has taught us, it's that you should never, ever trust Weyland-Yutani, chillingly referred to simply as "the Company".

If "Alien"'s Ash was the ultimate company android, Burke (Paul Reiser) is the epitome of the company man, a total scumbag whose friendly, "I'm-your-best-friend demeanor" can’t disguise the fact that he’d screw you over for a percentage, kiddo. The only character in the movie whose death by Xenomorph elicits a cheer.

18. The motion trackers

You don't need to see the Xenomorphs to know they're there.

The ominous beep of the Marines' motion trackers is a highly effective way of teasing the approaching menace — even when they're hiding in the ceiling.

19. A countdown to detonation

It's bad enough that you're trapped on a barren moon surrounded by a vicious hive of extraterrestrials who want to use you as hosts for their offspring. And that your primary choice of rescue has crashed on the surface, leaving you even more stranded.

Then, fate (or, to be more accurate, James Cameron) throws you a curveball in the form of an atmospheric processor about to go nuclear. The clock is well and truly ticking…

20. Bill Paxton

The late Bill Paxton was Cameron's lucky charm, also turning up in "The Terminator", "True Lies", and "Titanic". But "Aliens" is his signature role, as the famously pessimistic Private Hudson makes the most of his limited dialogue.

As an interesting sidenote, Paxton had the honor of being killed on screen by a Terminator, a Predator, and a Xenomorph.

21. The Power Loader

Part Japanese mecha, part Transformer, Ripley's Power Loader is an instantly iconic piece of kit, so painstakingly designed that it looks like it could actually work IRL.

If you're going to go woman-to-woman with an angry Alien Queen, never leave the house without one.

22. Bishop

Ash, the Nostromo's resident synthetic in "Alien", was a bona fide bad 'un, prepared to sacrifice the crew in the name of getting a valuable Xenomorph back to "the Company"’s weapons division.

It's hardly a surprise, then, that Ripley is suspicious of Bishop (Lance Henriksen) from the off. Luckily for everyone, he gradually proves his worth via his skills with the knife game, elite dropship-piloting abilities, and generally being an all-round good egg.

Not bad for an android… (Bishop is manufactured by Hyperdyne Systems, a nod to Cyberdyne in Cameron’s “Terminator” movies.)

23. The music

"Aliens" was James Horner's first collaboration with Cameron (he went on to write the scores for "Titanic" and "Avatar"), and the then-32-year-old provided the perfect musical backdrop for the action unfolding on screen.

Sure, some of the themes are derivative of the composer's own "The Wrath of Khan" soundtrack, but it's impossible to imagine "Aliens" without Horner's contribution.

24. The sound effects

The best sci-fi franchises are as recognisable for their sound as their visuals. So, just as, say, "Star Wars"’ lightsabers and "Star Trek"s transporters are aurally unmistakable, "Aliens" has its own distinctive soundscape.

Hear a pulse rifle firing or the squeal of a Xenomorph, and you know exactly where you are. Best Sound Effects Editing was one of the film's two Academy Award wins, and it's easy to see why.

25. The Special Edition

If you've never seen "Aliens", the tighter theatrical cut is definitely the place to start. But once you know what's waiting for the Colonial Marines on LV-426, the Special Edition is the definitive version of the movie.

From Newt's family making first contact with a Facehugger to a wonderfully tense sentry gun sequence, Cameron's extra footage enhances a classic. It also adds to the film's mother/child subtext when we learn that Ripley had a daughter, Amanda, who died just before Ellen was discovered by the Weyland-Yutani recovery crew.

Amanda would later be retconned to become the lead character in the survival horror video game "Alien: Isolation".

26. Cameron himself

Cameron's intense working methods famously didn't go down well with his unionized British crew, who famously made t-shirts bearing the slogan "You can't scare me, I work for James Cameron".

But whatever the on-set experience, it's impossible to deny that he marshalled proceedings to perfection. Even the director's lesser works — the "Avatar" sequels, for example — feature action beats of unassailable genius. "Aliens", however, demonstrates a filmmaker at the pinnacle of his powers.

Every sci-fi action movie ever made will be judged against "Aliens". Even the brilliant "Predator" lives in the shadow of a movie that remains untouchable — and endlessly rewatchable — four decades after its original release.

"Aliens" is available to stream on Disney+ in the UK, and to rent and buy on various platforms in the US.

America and Hollywood might feel like the natural home of sci-fi, but Britain has quite the science fiction pedigree of its own.

Doctor Who is obviously our great nation's most famous sci-fi export, standing tall amongst the other giants of the genre, but it's far from our only contribution. From television to literature, there is a history of some truly great and groundbreaking science fiction coming from this loose collection of islands.

So, make yourself a nice cup of tea and have a seat while we break down the UK’s 10 best science fiction shows of all time (in no particular order).

1. Doctor Who

Release date: November 23, 1963 | Seasons: 41 | Cast: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker, Ncuti Gatwa (& many more)

Doctor Who might not be the juggernaut that it once was, but it is one of the longest-running science fiction shows in the world. It's been going (on and off) since 1963, and it has always had something important to teach its audience.

From the off, it was a show championing scientific curiosity, kindness, and openness, though the stern tones and prickly demeanour of William Hartnell have since given way to a minimum of 14 different actors playing the same role.

While there’s certainly a difference between the original run of television serials and the typically self-contained format of the modern incarnation, the sheer wealth of different stories available means you can find something for everyone.

2. The Quatermass Experiment

Release date: July 18, 1953 | Seasons: 4 | Cast: Reginald Tate, Wilfrid Brambell, Katie Johnson

From Doctor Who to one of its contemporaries, or rather, the show that inspired it. The Quatermass Experiment was a set of four different sci-fi serials, each containing 6 episodes, that debuted in 1953, a full decade before Who hit our screens.

The Quatermass Experiment is a striking piece of television, partially because it was really the first of its kind, because it was squarely aimed at adults. Before this, most sci-fi TV was aimed at kids, while silver screen efforts focused on schlocky B-movie-style effects, such as those seen in “The Day the Earth Stood Still”.

Humanity's first rocket launch to space goes awry when it returns to Earth with two crew members missing, and the one remaining astronaut is gravely ill. Professor Quatermass and his team are left struggling to unravel the mystery of what happened to the crew.

While only the first two episodes managed to survive the original live broadcast, the serial still went on to have a huge impact on science fiction. It was one of the first sci-fi shows with mass appeal, and the trio of follow-up serials kept Bernard Quatermass as an icon of pop culture all the way into the 70s, with a variety of Hammer Horror adaptations to bring the character to new audiences.

3. Blake’s 7

Release date: January 2, 1978 | Seasons: 4 | Cast: Gareth Thomas, Michael Keating, Sally Knyvette, Paul Darrow

And now for something completely different: Blake 7, aka one of the grittiest and most depressing space shows that Britain ever produced.

Blake’s 7 tells the story of Roj Blake, a political dissident working against the totalitarian Federation controlling Earth and its colonies. On his way to a lifetime of false imprisonment, Blake manages to escape and capture a powerful alien vessel, which he then crews with another 5 people and 1 computer, to work together to overthrow the federation.

While most sci-fi of the time was chipper and optimistic about our future, Blake’s 7 was a sci-fi show that explored themes of political dissidence, cynicism, and freedom fighting. It’s a show about a small group fighting a much more powerful enemy, and frankly, it goes to some very, very dark places. When the phrase “mass-murder” has to be bandied around more than once, you know you've left happy-go-lucky behind.

It has an incredibly dour feeling most of the way through, and the ending does nothing to change that vibe. Dark tone aside, Blake’s 7 is the sort of sci-fi show that we just don’t see anymore.

4. The Prisoner

Release date: September 29, 1967 | Seasons: 1 | Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat, Peter Swanwick, Denis Shaw, Fenella Fielding

If you’re a British sci-fi fan of a certain vintage, then you should already be familiar with The Prisoner.

Filmed (mostly) in Portmeirion, the show has some of the most iconic visuals in sci-fi history, despite only being a single self-contained series. From the giant evil balloon, known as Rover, to the beautiful houses of Portmeirion itself, The Prisoner is an incredibly visually striking show.

It follows the plot of a British secret agent who becomes frustrated with his position and resigns. While preparing for a trip, he is rendered unconscious using knockout gas and awakes to find himself inside a perfect recreation of his own home, but this one is located in a mysterious settlement known as The Village.

The plot goes to some wild places from there, but the story is deeply rooted in the societal fear that was surrounding the ongoing counter-cultural movements of the day. Individualism is pitted against collectivism throughout the show, and it’s a testament to the writing that neither ideal is shown to be the obvious right choice by the end.

5. Red Dwarf

Release date: February 15, 1988 | Seasons: 12 | Cast: Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn, Norman Lovett

If you’re into Space and British Comedy but you’ve not watched Red Dwarf yet, then what the smeg have you been doing?

This space sitcom follows the adventures of mega-slob Dave Lister, his neurotic, hologramatic bunk-mate Rimmer, their evolved Cat (of the same name), and square-headed mechanoid Kryten. Each episode sees the crew dealing with various sci-fi calamities, from emotion-sucking monsters and time travel shenanigans to being stuck on a frozen asteroid, as they make their way through a harsh galaxy.

The show packs some of the funniest moments in British TV history, especially during the first 5 series or so. They parody every sci-fi concept known to humanity, balancing straight comedy, horror, and drama. You'll get introspective looks at what it means to be human alongside ridiculous situations where Lister gets turned into a 6-inch-tall RoboCop rip-off.

It's also deeply rooted in the British working-class culture of the time, which means plenty of time for curry, beer, banter, and slobbing around the place.

6. Hyperdrive

Release date: January 11, 2006 | Seasons: 2 | Cast: Nick Frost, Kevin Eldon, Miranda Hart, Stephen Evans

In a similar vein to Red Dwarf, but nowhere near as popular, Hyperdrive is a Nick Frost-led sci-fi sitcom from 2006. It tells the tale of a British spaceship, the HMS Camden Lock, in its attempts to serve the national interest in an ever-evolving galaxy.

Starring British comedy favourites such as Kevin Eldon and Miranda Hart, Hyperdrive is a very silly show that ended up more like a workplace sitcom in space rather than the next Red Dwarf.

What saves Hyperdrive is the dry humour and the slightly insane set and character design. The series is replete with a baffling array of alien races, almost all of which are basically humans with varying levels of prosthetic facial makeup or zany outfits. Some of these guys are obvious parodies of alien races from classic shows, but they’re all thoroughly weird and worth the price of admission on their own.

7. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Release date: January 5, 1981 | Seasons: 1 | Cast: Peter Jones, Simon Jones, David Dixon, Mark Wing-Davey, Sandra Dickinson

If you’re more familiar with the movie adaptation or the original radio show, then you might have missed out on the slightly more obscure The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy TV series. A decent amount of the radio cast reprise their roles in this single season of British TV, and much like the radio show, the production was ground-breaking for its time.

The show is a ramshackle blend of production techniques, using everything from model shots, classical animation, and even a fair few instances of matte painting to show the truly impossible on a grand scale.

As a result, the TV show has its own surreal vibe that isn’t always found in other versions, and it can get surprisingly grimy and dark when it needs to. Plus, if you get the DVD version, there’s an added joke where every so often it’ll pretend to have an ‘infinite improbability drive’ issue and stop working.

8. Black Mirror

Release date: December 4, 2011 | Seasons: 7 | Cast: Basically everyone

Any talk about British sci-fi cannot fail to mention Charlie Brooker’s seminal science fiction Netflix series that was so popular it damn-near became a phenomenon.

If you’ve somehow missed out on the show so far, it’s a sci-fi anthology series where each episode tells a self-contained story, usually about an element of modern-day society. This ‘reflecting society’ element is why it’s called ‘Black Mirror’, as it could be said the show is holding up a ‘black mirror’ to society.

Black Mirror mostly works in the realm of speculative fiction, but several episodes have a more contemporary, real-world setting. The bulk of the show, though, deals with the pitfalls of technology, modern consumer culture, and the modern media landscape, certainly realms more than familiar to science fiction.

9. Life on Mars

Release date: January 9, 2006 | Seasons: 2 | Cast: John Simm, Philip Glenister, Liz White, Dean Andrews, Marshall Lancaster

While it might not be what you immediately think of when it comes to sci-fi, Life on Mars is a fantastic show that straddles the space between speculative science fiction and crime drama, though it’s closer to ‘A Stir of Echoes’ rather than ‘Childhood’s End’.

The show tells the story of Sam Tyler, a modern-day police officer who hits his head and wakes up in the 1970s. While trying to figure out what’s going on, Sam has to deal with the realities of life and policing in the UK in the early 70s, something that’s shockingly entertaining to watch him attempt to juggle.

The real draw of the show is the mystery. Throughout the runtime, you’re never really sure if he has travelled back in time or if he’s either dead or in a coma. Even when you start to think that the show is giving you answers, you’ll soon find the rug pulled out from under you, and the want to finally learn what is happening will keep you coming back.

10. Utopia

Release date: January 15, 2013 | Seasons: 2 | Cast: Alexandra Roach, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Paul Higgins, Fiona O'Shaughnessy, Adeel Akhtar

The final entry on the list is a bit more of an obscure one. Back in 2014, Channel 4 put out Utopia, a sci-fi conspiracy thriller with a comedic bent to it.

Utopia follows a group of nerds who discover a comic has been predicting historic events and accidentally unmask a shadowy conspiracy. While the show was unceremoniously ended after only two series, and on something of a cliffhanger, it offers something that is dark, gritty, humorous, and horrific in equal measure.

Utopia doesn’t shy away from the violence inherent in telling a dystopian story. In fact, the level of violence can be a bit much at times, which is part of the reason some audiences shied away from it. But, if you can stomach it, Utopia is some of the most thrilling British sci-fi ever produced.

More sci-fi TV

That’s it for our list of excellent British Sci-Fi Shows, but if you enjoyed the list, you might want to check out our list of upcoming sci-fi shows. If the big screen is more your speed, we also have a list of upcoming sci-fi movies.

Kids who grew up in the '80s and '90s couldn't enjoy the massive selection of live-action sci-fi TV available right now.

With the biggest out-of-this-world adventures likely to be found in theaters, many of the most memorable — and undoubtedly the weirdest — concepts tended to be found in Saturday morning cartoons.

This is a realm of exposition-heavy opening credits, relentlessly earwormy theme tunes, and heroes who, for no obvious reason, choose to hang out with cute/annoying [delete as appropriate] comedy sidekicks like Orko and Snarf.

The massive success of "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" also established a symbiotic link between television screens and playrooms, as toy giants Mattel, Hasbro, and Kenner realised that a successful animated series could be the ultimate advertising opportunity for their latest product lines.

Below, we've picked out 20 sci-fi cartoons that brought outer space, time travel, must-own vehicles, and genre-defining villains into millions of living rooms every week. Just don't blame us if you get sucked into YouTube and Wikipedia rabbit holes, as you look back on classic (and not so classic) shows that helped shape a generation…

1. Battle of the Planets

Dates: 1978-1980 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: 7-Zark-7 (a robot)

Japanese anime series "Science Ninja Team Gatchaman" gets a US makeover, with most of the original show's more violent excesses toned down.

7-Zark-7, a robot whose design owes absolutely nothing (ahem) to R2-D2, was added to supply exposition and kid-friendly comedy, but the basic premise remains — five teens in bird-like superhero outfits (and a very cool spaceship) come together as G-Force, protecting Earth from the evil Zoltar.

2. The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang

Dates: 1980-1981 | Toy Line? No | Cute/annoying sidekick: Mr Cool (a dog)

A spin-off from nostalgia-heavy '50s-set sitcom "Happy Days" might seem an unlikely addition to this list, but — even more than live-action stablemate "Mork & Mindy" — this series is unashamedly sci-fi.

The Fonz, Richie Cunningham, and Ralph Malph end up travelling through time with a 25th-century woman named Cupcake, finding themselves in all sorts of 'hilarious' scrapes as they try to get back to 1957 Milwaukee. Iconic DJ Wolfman Jack (who also appeared in "American Graffiti") supplies the opening narration.

3. Ulysses 31

Dates: 1981-1982 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: Nono (a small, nail-eating robot)

Looking to take a crash course in Greek mythology? French/Japanese co-production "Ulysses 31" transfers Homer's Odyssey to the 31st century, as the titular starship captain kills a robot Cyclops, angers the gods of Olympus, and is sentenced to wander unknown stars until he finds the Kingdom of Hades.

While Ulysses looks like a Bee Gees tribute act and his laser sword is a "Star Wars"-shaped lawsuit waiting to happen, this show is bold, ambitious and — at times — surprisingly bleak.

4. SuperTed

Dates: 1982-1986 | Toy line? Yes (plush toys) | Cute/annoying sidekick: N/A

Undoubtedly the only show on this list to have debuted in Welsh, Brit cartoon SuperTed is the story of an ordinary teddy bear who's brought to life, and subsequently gains superpowers courtesy of some "cosmic dust". Former "Doctor Who" star Jon Pertwee voices the hero's jetpack-wearing alien bestie Spotty, who stays remarkably calm considering SuperTed effectively rips off his skin every time he activates his powers.

The character returned in a US co-production, "The Further Adventures of SuperTed", in 1989.

5. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

Dates: 1983-1984 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: Orko (a floating Trollan magician)

As much of a colossus as its musclebound hero, "Masters of the Universe" is the ultimate '80s cartoon. Commissioned by Mattel as a blatant weekly half-hour commercial for its popular toy line, the show pits He-Man and his heroic chums against the evil (but strangely inept) Skeletor in a battle for control of Castle Grayskull. Eternia's residents are potential plastic playthings first, characters second, though they never forget to deliver a corny moral at the end of each episode.

The second live-action "Masters of the Universe" movie is in theaters now.

6. Bananaman

Dates: 1983-1988 | Toy line: No | Cute/annoying sidekick: Crow (a talking, er, crow)

Whenever youthful Acacia Road resident Eric Twinge eats a banana, an amazing transformation occurs… A superhero cartoon and a healthy eating campaign in one, this comic-book-inspired series is an unashamedly tongue-in-cheek British pastiche of Superman and other caped crusaders.

Legendary '70s comedy troupe the Goodies supply the voices, as Eric's fruity alter-ego, Bananaman, battles the villainous likes of General Blight, Doctor Gloom, and, of course, Appleman.

7. Challenge of the GoBots

Dates: 1984-1985 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: No

The Transformers weren't the only robots in disguise vying for kids' eyeballs in the mid-'80s. In fact, these robots — an amalgamation of Tonka's GoBots and Bandai's Robo Machine toys — made it to TV first, though the show's mythology (in which the heroic Guardians battle the villainous Renegades) never caught fire like its more successful mechanical cousin (see below).

That said, Peter "Optimus Prime" Cullen and Frank "Megatron" Welker have voice credits on both shows.

8. Transformers

Dates: 1984-1987 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: No

The only cartoon on this list that's even more toyetic than "Masters of the Universe", the original "Transformers" cartoon was the result of Hasbro's efforts to create a backstory for shapeshifting toys it had imported (and subsequently rebranded) from Japan.

It's that classic tale of good robots (Optimus Prime's Autobots) fighting evil robots (Megatron's Decepticons), using an unsuspecting planet Earth as their battleground, while transforming into planes, trains, and automobiles — not to mention tape players and dinosaurs.

The 1986 theatrical movie boldly killed off many of the franchise's most iconic characters in a bid to flog more toys.

9. ThunderCats

Dates: 1985-1989 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: Snarf (a cat-like child-minder)

"Masters of the Universe" and "Transformers" were the biggest beasts to emerge from the 1980s cartoon playground, but "ThunderCats" was never far behind. Indeed, it's had a couple of animated reboots, and is arguably crying (or should that be roaring?) out for a live-action movie.

On paper, its warrior cat people premise sounds like a disaster, but thanks to its timeless iconography — the Sword of Omens, ever-living bad guy Mumm-Ra, the catchiest theme tune in an era of catchy theme tunes — "ThunderCats" is a bona fide classic of the era.

10. Star Wars: Droids

Dates: 1985-1986 | Toyline: Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: No

Lucasfilm attempted to keep the "Star Wars" flame burning with a short-lived animated double-bill of "Ewoks" and this more overtly sci-fi offering.

Subtitled "The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO", it follows some (now non-canon) adventures of the droid duo before they meet Luke Skywalker on Tatooine. Anthony Daniels (inevitably) voices 3PO, R2-D2 stars "as himself", while The Police drummer Stewart Copeland provides the theme tune.

11. She-Ra: Princess of Power

Dates: 1985-1987 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: Kowl (a flying koala/owl hybrid)

1985 movie "The Secret of the Sword" revealed that, much like Luke Skywalker, He-Man's alter-ego, Prince Adam, has a long-lost twin sister of his own. And, even though she's been working for Skeletor's old boss Hordak on Eternia's sister planet, Etheria, Princess Adora is just as heroic as her brother – especially when she waves around a magic sword of her own to transform herself into She-Ra.

It's essentially "Masters of the Universe" with an all-new line-up of toy opportunities, though the story was rebooted as the acclaimed "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power" in 2018.

12. Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors

Dates: 1985 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: Oon (a tiny lance-wielding knight)

Future "Babylon 5" creator J Michael Straczynski was hired to create a "MOTU"-esque mythology for Mattel's existing Wheeled Warriors toys. The result was this short-lived cartoon, in which an evil race of sentient plants known as the Monster Minds tries to take over the universe.

For some reason, the aggressive flora have the ability to transform into a fleet of multi-purpose vehicles — it's a good job, then, that eponymous hero Jayce and his buddies have fancy wheels of their own.

13. M.A.S.K.

Dates: 1985-1986 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: T-Bob (an egg-shaped robot who transforms into a scooter)

With the popularity of "Star Wars" action figures on the wane, manufacturer Kenner made a bid for some of that lucrative two-toys-in-one "Transformers" action.

In this particular cartoon/toy commercial, the altruistic members of M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand (sic)) thwart the evil schemes of V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network Of Mayhem) with their transforming vehicles —such as a motorbike that turns into a helicopter. The protagonists also wear helmets (or masks — geddit?) that give them unique abilities.

14. Centurions

Dates: 1986 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: Shadow (a dog), Lucy (an orangutan)

The impossible search for the next "Transformers" continued with this blatantly toyetic actioner.

Three implausibly named soldiers (ocean specialist Max Ray, land guy Jake Rockwell, and fly boy Ace McCloud) are the titular Centurions, who use their impressive arsenal of exosuits to save the world from Doc Terror, an evil cyborg whose name is an absolute PR disaster. The show is possibly most notable for having comic-book legends Jack Kirby and Gil Kane on its creative team.

15. Defenders of the Earth

Dates: 1986 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: Kisa (a telepathic black panther)

When Ming the Merciless relocates from Mongo to our very own North Pole, Flash Gordon joins forces with three other less famous characters from the King Features comic-book back catalogue to, well, defend the Earth.

Flash, the animal-whispering Phantom, Mandrake the Magician, and super-strong Lothar bring their unique skills to the table, along with their respective kids. The catchy-as-hell theme song features lyrics from a certain Stan Lee.

16. BraveStarr

Dates: 1987-1988 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: Deputy Fuzz (BraveStarr's Prairie Person deputy)

Years before "Firefly" and "Serenity" got in on the act, the "Masters of the Universe" dream team of Mattel and animators Filmation took the notion of a space Western very literally indeed.

Superpowered Marshal BraveStarr protects the planet of New Texas from various frontier bad guys, assisted by the eyes of the hawk, the ears of the wolf, the speed of the puma, and the strength of the bear. His 'Equestroid' steed, Thirty/Thirty, can also transform into a bipedal, gun-wielding form.

17. Visionaries

Dates: 1987 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: No

Like "Masters of the Universe" and "Star Wars", "Visionaries" straddles the line between sci-fi and fantasy.

When all technology stops working on the futuristic planet of Prysmos, magic becomes the dominant force. A wizard named Merklynn subsequently gifts two factions of "Knights of the Magical Light" (aka the Spectral Knights and the Darkling Lords) with the ability to transform into the animal totem they wear on the chestplates of their armor.

The good guys get to run around as lions, foxes, and bears. The villains? Well, they have to make do with beetles, lizards, and molluscs.

18. Fantastic Max

Dates: 1988-1990 | Toy line? No | Cute/annoying sidekick: Zoe (Max's five-year-old sister)

Effectively "my first sci-fi", this cartoon from the "SuperTed" stable makes the irresponsible move of sending a baby into space (without his parents) on a regular basis.

Max is accompanied on his adventures by anxious robot C-3PO AB Sitter, and FX, a magical alien masquerading as a toy who can turn the kid's implausibly impressive sand sculptures into fully functioning robots.

Max also has a tendency to yell "dirty diapers" at times of (very mild) peril.

19. The Pirates of Dark Water

Dates: 1991-1993 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: Niddler (a monkey-bird)

Just as BraveStarr plundered Westerns for inspiration, this show puts a sci-fi/fantasy spin on another classic Hollywood staple.

On the alien world of Mer (think "Waterworld", but with less Costner), an estranged prince named Ren leads a ragtag bunch of heroes on a quest to find the 13 "Treasures of Rule" — all the while hoping to save their planet from a sentient oil slick known as Dark Water.

20. Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars!

Dates: 1991 | Toy line? Yes | Cute/annoying sidekick: Does the human kid count?

It's basically "Star Wars" with animals, set in a parallel "aniverse" where the eponymous space captain Bucky O'Hare (a green hare) leads a furry rebellion against the evil Toad Empire.

The show only ran for 13 episodes, but it made a big impact, particularly in the UK, where it became a popular part of the after-school CBBC schedule. The theme tune is one of the most memorable out there — "Let's croak us some toads!" — and the Righteous Indignation is surely one of the best names for a spaceship, ever.

It looks there for the taking, doesn't it? The third rock from the sun just sitting there, all defenceless, run by squabbling politicians ruling over a human race who'd rather be sharing "get ready with me" videos than vigilantly watching the skies as they should be.

But next time you set your sights on invading planet Earth, remember that it's easier said than done. Some of the mightiest alien attack forces in existence have met their match in this particular corner of the Milky Way, as the residents of this nondescript ball of rock have repeatedly found ways to repel extraterrestrial attackers — even when they're massively outgunned.

So don't embarrass yourself in front of your attack fleet. Having painstakingly researched numerous previous assaults on Earth, we've assembled a guide to all the things you should — and indeed shouldn't — do the next time you try to bring those snivelling humans to their knees. Follow these tips, and the Earth can be yours to do with as you please.

DO… target major landmarks

Case study: "Independence Day"

If you really want to show your prospective underlings who's boss, you'll need to make a big entrance. Hovering over major landmarks (eg: The White House, The Empire State Building, the Capitol) is a great place to start, as the eyes of the world's media will be upon you.

Some bystanders will think you came in peace, of course, but by the time the masses have realized what you're up to, it'll be way too late for those puny humans.

DON'T… invade if you have a severe allergic reaction to water

Case study: "Signs"

Don't be like these crop-circle-obsessed idiots. If water's not for you, you really shouldn't set your sights on a planet whose surface is over 70% water. There are other, less soggy worlds to conquer.

DO… dress up as the personification of evil

Case study: "Childhood's End"

A bit of a cheat code, this, but if you really want humans to fear (or, at the very least, respect) you, you could do worse than model yourself on Satan/Beelzebub/Mephistopheles/Old Nick/the Devil/whatever you want to call him. They're sure to hang on your every word, though do be prepared for them to assume the worst of you, even if your intentions are good.

DON'T… get cocky

Case study: "Superman II"

Earth's famously yellow sun works such wonders on Kryptonian physiology that it can be tempting to get everyone you know kneeling at your feet. Alas, hubris is a one-way ticket to the Phantom Zone.

DO… plan ahead

Case study: "War of the Worlds"

Transporting invading forces down to a planet's surface can be such a time-consuming process that unnecessary delays could give locals an opportunity to mount a resistance — inconvenient, to say the least.

By playing the long game, however, you can bury your vehicles of mass destruction underground centuries before they're needed. A few carefully deployed bolts of lightning later, and you'll be frying humans for fun.

DON'T… get drawn into crazy conspiracy theories

Case study: "The X-Files"

Infiltrating the upper echelons of existing Earth governments may seem like an oven-ready route to taking control. But unless you have a clear, easy-to-define plan, your followers will get bored long before your Machiavellian schemes come to fruition.

DO… turn Earth into a pre-industrial society

Case study: "The Tripods"

Applying mind-controlling "Caps" to 14-year-old Earthers is a smart move that can ensure they'll spend their lives worshipping you as gods.

But arguably the Master's smartest move was rendering all Earth technology obsolete, making all the advances of the Industrial Revolution null and void – nobody's going to fight off your giant three-legged war machines with pitchforks and rotten cabbages.

DON'T… telegraph your arrival

Case study: "3 Body Problem"

There's a lot to be said for surprise attacks.

So if you're confined to sub-light speed travel (damn you, Einstein!), it's probably best not to give humanity a few centuries' head start — even if you're not confident their tech won't surpass yours in the meantime.

DO… go back to an earlier point in history

Case study: "Star Trek: First Contact"

It's said that the definition of madness is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result. Cybernetic terrors, the Borg were quick to realize this, and — after one too many defeats at the hands of the technologically inferior Federation – changed the rules of engagement by travelling back in time to assimilate humanity before they had the wherewithal to fight back.

Employ this method, and resistance really will be futile.

DON'T… limit your aspirations to a small town

Case study: "The World's End"

We get it. You find a small suburban town you like – with more than its fair share of charming bars – and putting down roots seems the only logical thing to do. Being top dog on the local council, however, is not the same as world domination.

DO… develop the ability to loop time

Case study: "Edge of Tomorrow"

We all make mistakes, but that really doesn't matter if you can channel your inner Punxsutawney Phil and turn back time. By trapping everyone else in your own personal Groundhog Day, you can learn from your battlefield errors, fix the things that once went wrong, and ensure you come out on top. Every. Single. Time.

DON'T… skimp on your disguises

Case study: "The Invaders"

It's the small details that count. If your tech is sufficiently advanced to craft convincing human facsimiles, why not push the boat out a little further and give them a pulse and a pinky finger that doesn't stick out at a telltale weird angle?

DO… have humans raise your offspring

Case study: "Village of the Damned"

Even if their offspring are evil little ****s, humans tend to love their kids. Take advantage of this evolutionary flaw (sorry, trait) by impregnating Earth women and having them raise your progeny for you.

It's unlikely your children will be able to hide their inherited desire for world domination for long, but they'll do what they can to pave the way for your arrival.

DON'T… forget your jabs

Case study: "War of the Worlds"

Even humans know that it's often a good idea to get vaccinated when they visit a new country. So heading to Earth without boosting your immunity to local diseases means risking colossal embarrassment. And lots of excess phlegm.

DO… spread your spores

Case study: "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"

Spaceships are hard to do. Not only do you need to build them and develop a form of propulsion capable of traversing the immense distances between stars, but you also have to keep the creatures inside them alive in the vacuum of space. In other words, too much effort.

If, however, you spread your spores via stellar winds, all the painful work is done for you. Once your seeds have made Earthfall, it's just a small matter of infecting unwitting Earth folk and replacing them with pliant pod people. Job done.

DON'T… forget to update your anti-virus software

Case study: "Independence Day"

Maybe you forgot to renew your anti-virus subscription. Maybe you think your operating system won't be susceptible to malware designed for 'inferior' Earth computers. But come on, losing your fleet to a virus sent by a mid-90s Mac is a system error you'll never live down.

DO… hide in plain sight

Case study: "Bugonia"

Most humans choose not to believe that there are aliens among them. So if you sent a spy to Earth, made sure they looked entirely human and they got themselves, say, a respectable job as the CEO of a major company, nobody would ever suspect they came from another planet.

In fact, anyone who suggested they were born on a different world would be so thoroughly discredited that keeping their identity secret would be a doddle.

DON'T… rely on a hive mind

Case study: "The Avengers"

Sure, there are certain efficiencies that come from networking your computers, but you'll have egg on your face the next time Earth's Mightiest Heroes (their words, not ours) join forces and take out your command ship.

DO… absorb everything in your path

Case study: "The Thing"

If you're the sort of alien species who can absorb and replicate any species you come into contact with, then Earth really is yours for the taking. The only thing you need to avoid is crash-landing in an uninhabited area.

Find your way into more populated parts of the world, however, and projections suggest the entire planet could be yours in just three years.

DON'T… be dandruff

Case study: "Evolution"

Arsenic is poisonous to carbon-based lifeforms, so — the logic goes — selenium must be toxic to anyone whose DNA runs on nitrogen.

The science may be questionable, but would you want to take the risk? Especially when you know Earth has vast supplies of selenium-filled Head & Shoulders waiting to take you out.

DO… have fun

Case study: "Mars Attacks!"

Taking over your nearest neighbor in the Solar System is a serious business, but that doesn't mean you can't have a good laugh while you're doing it.

Want to know what would happen if you attached the head of a "Sex and the City" star to a dog's body? You'll never know unless you try. Playing skittles with ancient landmarks? Why not give it a go? And surely it would be rude not to reimagine Mount Rushmore with your own visage.

DON'T… bother

Case study: "Doctor Who"

For a small blue dot described as "Mostly Harmless" by "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (other reference works are available), Earth has a lot of supporters across the cosmos. Indeed, so many previous invasions have been thwarted by Time Lords, superheroes, and other unlikely protectors that it may be best to stay at home.

Inconsistent, experimental, downright ludicrous… "Masters of the Universe" has a line-up of heroes and villains unlike any other in sci-fi or fantasy.

Thanks to the franchise's unique origin story, the hit '80s cartoon series was effectively a commercial for Mattel's extremely lucrative toy range. The show's writers subsequently did their best to accommodate the strange whims of action figure designers on the hunt for more and more playable designs. What other mythology would even try to accommodate extending necks, water squirters, and intentionally unpleasant aromas?

So, as the new He-Man movie prepares to transport us back to Eternia, we take a look at 12 of the weirdest characters from the "Masters of the Universe" back catalogue.

1. Mekaneck

A great guy to have on your team, but only if you need someone to peer over a reasonably high fence. Mekaneck is the Inspector Gadget of He-Man's gang, capable of periscoping his mechanical neck to implausible lengths and, er, not much else.

Later iterations of "Masters of the Universe" saw him contemplating the pointlessness of his powers, but he was still considered worthy of a place in the new movie.

2. Buzz-Off

Ever wondered what you'd get if you fused the DNA of a flying insect with that of a human male?

"Masters of the Universe"'s answer to the question was rather different from David Cronenberg's in "The Fly", as Buzz-Off — who pulled off the double-whammy of being both a Heroic Warrior and an instruction — was a muscular bee fella with wings, a stripy sweater, and a buzz-like speech impediment.

3. Clawful

The toy designers at Mattel always loved a pun, but this may be the most shameless of them all. Human lobster Clawful was nominative determinism in action, being both an awful guy (he was one of Skeletor's hired goons) and the owner of a giant claw.

In the Filmation cartoon — which gave the character a more reptilian appearance — he fancied his chances of getting his filthy claws on Skeletor's throne.

4. Whiplash

Most of 'Masters of the Universe''s heroes and villains were one-offs, but some were extremely derivative of other franchises.

The reptilian Whiplash (whose name came from his ability to whack stuff with his tail) was essentially an Eternian version of veteran Spider-Man adversary the Lizard. His colleague Webstor, meanwhile, borrowed heavily from the Wallcrawler's own skillset.

5. Moss Man

Probably the only "Masters of the Universe" action figures you could use as air fresheners in your car, Moss Man toys came with a pleasant pine scent.

In the original cartoon, this eco-friendly hero was a master of disguise and a cunning spy who utilized the fact that he was a walking plant to help him blend into the background. He could also control foliage, making him Eternia's answer to Swamp Thing.

6. Two-Bad

Are two heads really better than one? You'd really have to ask Two-Bad, though it's unlikely both of his noggins would agree on the answer.

This member of Skeletor's entourage was effectively "The Odd Couple" fused together in one body, as his constant bickering with himself ensured he rarely lived up to his boss's minimal expectations.

7. Sy-Klone

The most striking thing about Sy-Klone — aside from that bold blue-and-yellow color scheme — was how much he copied He-Man's style.

Rather than being the long-lost brother of the most powerful guy in the universe, however, this one-man ode to terrible spelling was actually a cyborg who could spin his body very, very fast to create mighty winds.

8. Stinkor

This guy stank the place out — literally. Human/skunk hybrid Stinkor could compete with Mekanek in the useless power stakes, though at least his godawful stench (so bad even he had to wear a protective mask) worked over slightly longer distances.

The toy was infamous for its (intentional) pong, but Filmation vetoed his appearance in the cartoon after the show's writers found it impossible to take him seriously. Stinkor did, however, find his way into later shows — including Kevin Smith's 2021 follow-up "Revelation", where he was voiced by Silent Bob's sidekick, Jay (Jason Mewes).

9. Snout Spout

The embodiment of Mattel's "toy first, worry about the backstory later" policy, Snout Spout (also known as Hose Nose), used his robotic elephant head to squirt water.

Although he was created for the "Masters of the Universe" toyline, Eternia's firefighter in chief arrived too late for the original Filmation cartoon, so he made his cartoon debut in the spin-off show "She-Ra: Princess of Power".

10. Clamp Champ

It's not clear which ruling body granted this He-Man disciple the status of champion of the clamp, but the "Heroic Master of Capture"'s pincer action — in toy form, at least — put Clawful's to shame.

When the action figure launched in 1986, he was, shockingly, the first Black character in the MOTU line. He had to wait until "Revelation" for his TV debut.

11. The Rock People

By the mid-'80s, "MOTU"'s only real rival for the title of " world's most popular toyline" was "Transformers".

The Rock People were a feeble attempt to cash in on the shapeshifting craze, as Stonedar, Rokkon, and Granita (the latter never immortalized as an action figure) could turn themselves into… er, meteors. Like Snout Spout, the residents of Geolon were created too late for the original He-Man cartoon, but did cross paths with She-Ra.

12. King Hiss

Beneath his human exterior, King Hiss (later King Hssss) was an ophidiophobe's worst nightmare. Because, under that carefully crafted mask, this reptilian ruler was actually a writhing bundle of snakes inexplicably working together as one.

It remains a mystery how anyone at Mattel would think '80s kids might get a kick out of a few snakes emerging from a set of human legs. They tried it anyway.

The new 'Masters of the Universe' movie is in theaters from June 5, 2026. You can watch the original "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" on Amazon Prime Video.

The best sci-fi games are often pigeonholed into specific genres like shooters, strategy games, and RPGs, and for good reason; franchises like Mass Effect, StarCraft, and Half-Life are all-time classics. But sometimes it’s nice to explore the stars in a safer way... a more chill, vibey kind of way that helps you relax and unwind.

Don’t get us wrong, gunning down aliens and blowing up space stations is obviously fun. But sometimes you’re just not in the mood to overthrow intergalactic governments or have intricate dogfights while soaring through the stars. Luckily, there are some great relaxing sci-fi games out there that span the gamut from tranquil and atmospheric to downright cozy.

From walking sims to farming sims, interactive stories and sandbox creations, sci-fi games don’t always have to be epic, sprawling adventures. They can be peaceful and calming, perfect for decompressing after a long day, or snuggling up on a rainy afternoon.

So grab that oversized mug and a chunky, knitted blanket because we’re about to dive into the 11 best cozy sci-fi games this galaxy has to offer.

11. Abzu

Platforms: PC, Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X|S | Developer: Giant Squid | Release date: August 2, 2016

Abzu is routinely cited as one of the best cozy games ever, and for good reason. Players take on the role of a robotic diver who explores the oceans of an alien planet. There’s no dialogue or writing throughout the entire game, just a fantastic orchestral score and the enchanting visuals. Instead, each player will build the story in their mind and probably end up with something slightly different.

Throughout Abzu, you dive through various ocean biomes and swim with orcas, manta rays, and even enormous giant squid. No spoilers here, but in the game’s third act, the sci-fi really comes into full view, and what you thought was just a cozy ocean simulator turns into something truly otherworldly.

Visually, the game is pure artwork, with a pastel gloss coating each oceanic biome. Plus, there’s something so mesmerizing about the size of the animals in the game. It’s one thing to hear that blue whales are the size of three school buses…but it’s entirely another to actually swim next to one.

10. Star Trucker

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox X|S | Developer: Monster and Monster | Release date: September 3, 2024

Unless you’ve been living on Mars for the past five years, you’ve probably noticed that simulator games are everywhere. Planes, trains, and automobiles have been joined by trams, taxis, ships, tractors, and more. If there’s a thing with a seat and a motor, there’s a sim game for it.

With truck sims being so popular, it seems only natural that eventually one would go to space. Enter Star Trucker, where you load up cargo into your trusty space semi and then haul it across the galaxy.

The campy premise is fun, and the chill gameplay of gliding through space as you make your deliveries is both entertaining and low-pressure. There is a bit of a learning curve, since most truck sims have you going left and right, whereas this one adds in the dimensions of up and down too.

There’s even some spaceflight mechanics stuff in there. Thanks to the thrusters, which don’t work the same way as engines, so there’s a bit of delay in everything you do, giving the controls that sliding-on-ice feel. But once you get the hang of it, the rest is smooth sailing. It’s well worth checking out, so 10-4 good buddy, git-er-dun!

9. Verdant Skies

Platforms: PC | Developer: Howling Moon Software | Release date: February 12, 2018

Verdant Skies is a sci-fi take on Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley, and the second you start playing the game, you’ll immediately see the similarities.

Your mission is to settle the planet, Viridis Primus. You create farms, go fishing, explore caves, and make relationships (both friendly and romantic) with the other colonists. There are some sci-fi twists, though, including a unique plant splicing machine that turns you into more of a bioengineer than a farmer, but the general vibe is chill.

Fans of the genre know who they are, and if that’s you, then Verdant Skies is a great addition to the pantheon. Plus, the game’s hand-painted art style feels welcoming and comforting, and offers something new compared to Stardew’s iconic pixel aesthetic. If you want a cozy game that lets you farm and fall in love — but in space — this is it.

8. Lost in Space: The First Adventure

Platforms: PC, Switch, Switch 2 | Developer: Scary Robot | Release date: February 19, 2026

Long before Netflix's 2018 Lost in Space show (starring the goddess Parker Posey), and even before the 1998 Lost in Space movie that oddly starred Joey from Friends and Eliza Thornberry, there was the original 1965 show that ran for three seasons. Lost in Space: The First Adventure is stylized to look like the original Lost in Space series.

In the game, you play as Will Robinson, who discovers that his family has gone missing on an alien planet. This isn’t just a visual retro throwback to Lost in Space, though; its style also feels reminiscent of old 90s PC adventure games. A mix of exploration, puzzles, platforming, and inventory management makes this little indie gem feel surprisingly varied yet accessible. It's planned to be the first of a five-part series, too.

Because of its retro influences, Lost in Space: The First Adventure has a wholesomeness to it that I can’t fully describe. It’s almost like an episode of Leave It to Beaver, but in space. For anyone wanting something cozy and chill, I think that’s the perfect vibe.

7. Hardspace: Shipbreaker

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox X|S | Developer: Blackbird Interactive | Release date: May 24, 2022

If you want a cozy game disguised as something a bit more thrilling, check out Hardspace: Shipbreaker. You play as a worker for the Lynx Corporation, and your job is to break apart and salvage old ships to collect useful materials.

There’s a good amount of action for a “cozy” game, and wrong moves can cause detonations, devastating crashes, or explosive decompression. Players can even die, and probably will die numerous times. Luckily, this is a Mickey 17 situation, and the good folks at Lynx own your DNA and clone you every time you die, sending you right back into the mission!

The game expects you to die, and even encourages it, allowing players to have fun, get wacky, and try out experimental techniques to break down the ships. It’s almost like Lego in reverse, as you systematically dismantle ships, figuring out the best way to pull everything apart without damaging the expensive components.

There’s no fail state — you’re just out here trying to do the best you can. This creates some really fun, stress-free gameplay, turning what could have been a tense, dystopic space drama into an easy-going romp.

6. Virginia

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X|S | Developer: Variable State | Release date: September 22, 2016

Best described as a cross between The X-Files and Twin Peaks, the narrative walking sim Virginia tasks players with becoming an FBI agent on a missing-persons case. But there’s also a secret side mission, where you’re tasked with watching your partner, who the FBI has flagged for suspicious behavior.

What follows is a series of unexpected events that may or may not be connected, including secret government programs, a demonic cult, scandalous affairs, and an alien abduction. While the premise seems suspenseful and full of mystery, the game is actually surprisingly chill.

There’s no combat, no dialogue, and no need to rush. Each level is essentially a scene, and players are free to roam the space as much as they want before choosing to progress the story. That, combined with the game’s cinematic score performed by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, makes Virginia a surprisingly deep, yet also calm experience.

5. Lightyear Frontier

Platforms: PC, Xbox X|S | Developer: Frame Break | Release date: March 19, 2024

Look, we’re probably never going to get Titanfall 3, and that’s a damn shame. But for any mech-obsessed gamers out there, Lightyear Frontier is a must-play.

Players explore an alien planet in their trusty mech in this genre-busting title that’s part exploration game and part farm sim. It’s basically a high-tech take on Stardew Valley, but instead of a 2D pixel world, Lightyear Frontier is lush, colorful, and fully 3D, making it really fun to explore the planet.

It’s especially great for anyone who loves farm sims (and I know there are lots of you out there) since a majority of the gameplay is harvesting wild plants, growing your farm, and tending to alien livestock, all inside your giant mech.

4. Return to Grace

Platforms: PC, Xbox X|S, PS4, PS5 | Developer: Creative Bytes Studios | Release date: May 30, 2023

In Return to Grace, players take on the role of a future archaeologist who lands on a frozen alien planet to investigate a giant station that houses the godlike AI entity called Grace. But when you arrive, the station is abandoned, and Grace is offline. Where is everyone, and why has Grace gone dormant? It’s your job to find out.

Return to Grace is a narrative walking sim, so even though there’s a bubbling mystery pushing the game forward, it’s still a super slow-paced, chill adventure. Plus, the station is designed with a retrofuturistic jet age aesthetic, making it a visually stunning space to explore. Despite the leisurely gameplay, Return to Grace has a great story packed with emotion.

3. Europa

Platforms: PC, Switch, Switch 2 | Developer: Novadust Entertainment | Release date: October 11, 2024

There’s lots of talk about Jupiter’s moon Europa, and whether it might have subsurface oceans that contain some form of life. But imagine a realm where Europa has been terraformed into a vibrant world teeming with life. As an android boy, you run, fly, and surf across the planet, discovering mythical alien creatures while trying to figure out what happened to humanity.

Like many games on this list, Europa is so effective because it takes a big, daunting question (like the downfall of humanity) and wraps it up in a relaxing, cozy world. Europa is heavily inspired by the artwork of Studio Ghibli films, and has some definite Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom vibes, but it's less focused on puzzles or combat, and more on the sheer joy of exploration.

2. Astroneer

Platforms: PC, Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X|S | Developer: System Era Softworks | Release date: February 6, 2019

Astroneer is a base-building sandbox game where you — or you and some friends — can settle various alien planets. You can explore the worlds, harvest resources, and build a variety of structures and vehicles. Think of it like Subnautica without all the dangerous animals.

While you can die, the game has a pretty chill Minecraft-style respawn system where you spawn in at your last-used shelter and have all your resources waiting for you at the spot where you died.

Also like Minecraft, it’s got a catchy lo-fi soundtrack that’s great for vibing out to. So I guess the game can best be summed up as Subnautica + Minecraft - combat = Astroneer.

1. I Was a Teenage Exocolonist

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2 | Developer: Northway Games | Release date: August 25, 2022

We love games that blend genres together, but “I Was a Teenage Exocolonist” goes places we were not expecting. It’s a surprisingly cozy story-driven, part visual novel, part roguelite, and part deck-building game with 29 different endings.

I Was a Teenage Exocolonist follows the triumphs and struggles of a young colonist on the distant planet of Vertumna IV. You engage in card battles to tackle the various challenges in your life as you learn new skills, form friendships, and shape the future of the colony. We simply adore the gorgeous art style that’s packed with vibrant colors and sci-fi flourishes.

Unlike in most cozy games, you’re going to die here, and you’re supposed to. With each death comes a different ending, and new unlocks that give you additional options and choices for your next playthrough that help you change outcomes for the better.

Despite all the death, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist still feels surprisingly cozy. You can have romances, make friends, study at school, and take up some odd jobs. For the ultimate example of video game cozification, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist even forces you to slow down and take rest breaks to lower your character’s (and your own) stress levels.

Video games have come a long way since their inception, but you’ll find the furthest they’ve gone (so far) is the depths of space itself. No, we're not talking about video games set in space; these actually went into space.

From individual missions to tours aboard the ISS, video games have featured surprisingly often in the inky blackness of space. Astronauts are pretty busy when they're on a mission — it's quite expensive to get them into orbit, and the taxpayers don't want to spend millions of dollars so Victor Glover can play Halo in orbit — but they do occasionally get to take games into space.

So strap in and prepare to blast off as we look at our brief history of sending video games to space.

1993 — Tetris becomes the 1st game In space (that we know of)

In the early 90s, the newly born Russian Federation was still managing the world’s first modular space station, Mir.

One of the brave cosmonauts tasked with a 196-day mission aboard the world’s pre-eminent space station was Aleksander Serebrov. When Serebrov wasn’t busy setting the world record for the number of space walks (a record later surpassed by Anatoly Solovyev), he found time to enjoy his Game Boy with a copy of the seminal Russian puzzle game, Tetris.

Not only does this make Serebrov the first person to play video games in space, but it also marks a spectacular piece of technological patriotism.

In 2011, Serebrov’s Game Boy and copy of Tetris were auctioned off in New York for $1220 USD, along with a note of provenance reading: "Like all cosmonauts, I love sport. My particular favourites are football and swimming. During flight, in rare minutes of leisure, I enjoyed playing Game Boy."

1998 — And now for something completely different

Keeping things with the Mir station, in 1998, one of the final missions to the station, STS-89, was launched from Kennedy Space Centre.

Onboard was a crew of American astronauts, including mission specialist Andy Thomas. Alongside being an excellent mechanical engineer, aerodynamic scientist, and mission specialist, he’s also a bit of a gamer — at least, if his choice of entertainment aboard the Russian space station is anything to go by. Andy bought with him a PC game called ‘Monty Python’s Complete Waste of Time’.

If you haven't heard of it, consider yourself lucky. It’s basically an FMV mini-game collection that is, aptly, a complete waste of time. We’re not 100% sure why someone would want to lock themselves in a cramped, ageing space station for 6 months with this terrible game, but it cemented itself in history as the second game played in space.

1999 — Folks, we’re going international

The longest continually manned space station in history, the International Space Station (ISS), is a modern wonder of the world. Along with a host of astronauts, it's also briefly been home to one of the greatest space strategy games ever made.

In 1999, space mission STS-96 delivered the first crew to inhabit the station, including Daniel Barry, who brought with him a copy of StarCraft because he happened to be a big fan of the franchise. Where better to enjoy a sci-fi RTS than the cold vacuum of space?

While his mission aboard the ISS only lasted around 30 days, in an interview in 2017, Barry said that part of the reason he chose Starcraft as a way of connecting with his far-flung family.

Barry used to Zerg-rush his partner and daughter back on Earth, so this was a way of taking that bond into orbit. Sadly, he wasn't able to actually play the game, but the copy he took to space now resides in Blizzard’s headquarters.

2001-2005 — A mystery game

Sometimes, kids are given the chance to speak to real astronauts and ask them questions, and even more rarely, they’re allowed to do it with the President of the United States.

Back in 2009, a bunch of school kids and the 44^th President of the United States, Barack Obama, called the crew of the ISS, including one John L Phillips, to ask them questions.

When asked by one of the kids if they were allowed to play video games in space, Phillips admitted that on one of his previous missions, he had brought a PC with him to get some gaming in on his off time.

This means that during his 6-month mission aboard the ISS in 2005, he managed to bring some undisclosed video games with him and spent his free time gaming. Although by the sounds of the interview, his free time was pretty thin on the ground.

2016 — The future of gaming and space

When it comes to the future of gaming, enthusiasts may tell you that it lies in the twin avenues of AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality). While the veracity of those statements is, at best, questionable, the final entry in the saga of games going to space features Microsoft’s AR HoloLens technology.

In 2016, astronaut and former jet pilot Scott Kelly tweeted a picture of himself wearing Microsoft’s AR-enabled HoloLens goggles, with a link to a YouTube video talking about NASA’s ‘Project Sidekick’. This project mostly focused on enabling crews to benefit from ground-based assistance when completing highly technical procedures aboard the ISS or other spacecraft.

While the project is focused on using the goggles as a productivity aid, that doesn’t mean they’re entirely devoid of fun uses as well. While Kelly and fellow astronaut Tim Peake were trying out the headsets, they came under attack from virtual aliens and had to blast lasers from their fingers to fend off the attack.

It’s not immediately clear which game they’re playing, but the likely answer is RoboRaid, a HoloLens game that sees you pinching your fingers to fire lasers at invading aliens.

While news on Project Sidekick has been a little slim over the past few years, outside of a Hologramatic Doctor being beamed to the ISS in 2022, there’s still every chance that the crew aboard the ISS is still blasting alien robo-bugs in space to this day.

And there you have it, all of the times (so far as we know) that video games have made their way into space.

With gaming an ever-more ubiquitous part of our lives, it only makes sense that this trend will grow into the future, and we might even see the fateful day where someone plays FNaF 57: Freddy in Space, actually in space.

Sci-fi isn't known for being low-key, chilled, or relaxing. Aliens, dystopian nightmares, and twisted realities are more than likely provoking a reaction from viewers that flies a lot closer to terrified. Suspenseful and tense, the best sci-fi thriller movies are focused on nailing these themes.

If you’re looking for a semi-stressful movie night served alongside a takeaway with a side of indigestion, then you’re in luck. These standout titles aren't necessarily overtly scary — see the best space horror movies for that — but they certainly border on it, emulating the perplexing nature of the sci-fi genre. From mind-bendingly claustrophobic apocalypses to hardcore body horrors, they’ll leave you feeling incredibly uncomfortable and like you need a breath of fresh air.

It’s not always the obvious thriller tropes that will unnerve you, though, and we’ll get more into that below. So, why not take a look through the libraries of Paramount Plus, Disney, Netflix, and Amazon Prime in search of your next watch, using this list of the best sci-fi thriller movies for guidance? But, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

12. Predestination

Release date: March 8, 2014 | Cast: Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Noah Taylor | Director: The Spierig Brothers | Rotten Tomatoes score: 84% critics, 75% audience

Time travel, terrorists, and tension are the pillars of The Spierig Brothers’ "Predestination" as The Barkeep/Agent Doe (Ethan Hawke) goes back in time to try and stop the elusive “Fizzle Bomber”. A slightly whimsical name for a story that is anything but. In fact, it’s mind-bendingly complicated with so many twists and turns you might not even remember where you started in the first place.

Based on the 1959 short story "'—All You Zombies—'" by Robert A. Heinlein, it explores the theme of paradoxes created by time travel and the consequences that can emerge because of it. It’s impossibly hard to simplify the plot without giving anything away, so we’ll just tell you that you’ll need to put your phone away for this one and pay full attention.

Ultimately, you should watch it if you want to get lost in the claustrophobia of loops, leaps, and a dizzying time-jumping abyss.

11. Westworld

Release date: August 17, 1973 | Cast: Yul Brynner, James Brolin, Richard Benjamin | Director: Michael Crichton | Rotten Tomatoes score: 84% critics, 70% audience

Before Westworld became a hugely successful TV series, the concept existed in 1970s cinema under the same name.

A human experiment firmly seated as a sci-fi Western sees guests visiting an amusement park called Delos, where three different themed worlds exist, all run by lifelike androids. Unsurprisingly, one of which is Western World. A malfunction sends the park hurtling into chaos as the androids turn against the tourists and people who have held them captive.

With such a strong plot and oodles of tension, it's easy to see why director Michael Crichton chose to bring it to the big screen, and why HBO decided to revive it with modern technologies some 40 years later. Despite the movie's advanced age, it’s more relevant today than it ever has been, and even more unsettling to watch a premonition of AI in the 70s that is eerily more believable now.

10. Coherence

Release date: June 20, 2014 | Cast: Emily Baldoni, Maury Sterling, Nicholas Brendon | Director: James Ward Byrkit | Rotten Tomatoes score: 89% critics, 81% audience

Eight friends are having a dinner party. Nothing unusual there. But then, a comet passes by Earth, and everything gets mighty uncomfortable… and that’s putting it extremely lightly.

Coherence is a psychological sci-fi thriller that really didn’t have much budget behind it — just $50,000 in fact — but what it does with this incredibly low movie budget is nothing short of phenomenal.

As James Byrkit’s first and only feature film directorial credit, it received widespread praise for boldly running with an idea without the big money or cast list to back it up, executing on it against the usual blockbuster odds. Coherence unravels strange events and disturbing moments that are sure to thrill.

9. Ex Machina

Release date: April 10, 2015 | Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac | Director: Alex Garland | Rotten Tomatoes score: 92% critics, 86% audience

There’s a theme that’s emerging amongst the best sci-fi thrillers, and that’s in the exploration of artificial intelligence, its capabilities, and its perils. Alex Garland’s Ex Machina is one of the best examples and demonstrations of this in cinema.

Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) wins a trip to his company’s CEO, Nathan’s (Oscar Isaac)residence, but when he arrives, it turns out his ‘win’ wasn’t quite what he expected. Instead, he’s enlisted as the human component of Nathan’s experiment with AI, a humanoid robot he’s created called Ava (Alicia Vikander).

Caleb must interact with Ava to see what emotions she’s capable of, what she can learn, and what she can’t. I mentioned that sci-fi thrillers aren’t typically low-key and chill, but Ex Machina might trick you into thinking it can be. Just you wait.

8. The Thing

Release date: June 25, 1982 | Cast: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David | Director: John Carpenter | Rotten Tomatoes score: 85% critics, 92% audience

If you’ve happened upon any of my other works on Space, you’ll know I’m a bit of a fan of The Thing.

Living amongst the best 80s sci-fi movies, it’s a movie that truly manages to horrify way before CGI was able to lend a huge helping hand. And sometimes, a well-crafted prosthetic and a dash of film trickery can be all that it takes to create something so realistic that it’s truly thrilling.

A research team in Antarctica is thrown into chaos when an extraterrestrial lifeform takes over their base. What’s worse — and unbeknownst to the researchers — the Thing can infect them, imitating the appearance of those it kills.

Thus comes a tense game of trust and mistrust that has every single person on the base questioning who is real. And rightly so, as this unknown creature is as relentless as it is horrifying.

7. Interstellar

Release date: November 7, 2014 | Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain | Director: Christopher Nolan | Rotten Tomatoes score: 73% critics, 87% audience

Having to find a new planet to live on because Earth has become uninhabitable could send even the hardiest of minds down a terrifying rabbit hole.

In Interstellar, director Christopher Nolan brings this very concept to life. Humanity’s place on Earth has become increasingly fragile, if not borderline impossible. The unusual “blight”, a pathogen destroying all crops and consuming oxygen, means the only option foreseen to save everyone is to find somewhere else out in the galaxy to live.

With disease ravaging Earth, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) leads a group of astronauts out on an incredibly dangerous mission through a wormhole on a last-ditch attempt at finding somewhere else to live.

The claustrophobic and lonely journey they make — along with the harrowing sacrifices along the way — makes Interstellar one heck of a watch, but be warned, it’s an emotional ride.

6. Children of Men

Release date: December 25, 2006 | Cast: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine | Director: Alfonso Cuarón | Rotten Tomatoes score: 92% critics, 85% audience

In the year 2027 (which is somehow just one year from now, please stop, passage of time), Children of Men imagines a world where women have been infertile for years, dooming humanity to a slow extinction. But then mysteriously, a woman gets pregnant, and it’s up to Theo, a former activist, to ferry her to safety through a world depleted and ravaged by desperation.

In Children of Men, humanity is the problem, not overtly gruesome alien beings or life-threatening technologies. It's a tense and thrilling watch as the duo flees across the UK from the totalitarian regime that pursues them. Despite its original Christmas release date, you certainly won’t leave feeling jolly and bright.

5. Predator: Badlands

Release date: November 7, 2025 | Cast: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi | Director: Dan Trachtenberg | Rotten Tomatoes score: 86% critics, 95% audience

Set after the events of 2018’s The Predator and the third in Dan Trachtenberg’s reign over the Predator franchise, Predator: Badlands sees Dek, a young Yautja, crash onto a hostile planet.

To fight for his survival (and honor), he’s tasked with hunting down an apex predator, but along the way, he finds himself teaming up with an unlikely ally in Thia (Elle Fanning), an android from the Weyland-Yutani Corp.

This movie is the kind of thrill ride that gets your heart racing, palms sweaty, knees weak, mom’s spaghetti, etc. But it’ll also make you laugh. A twist on the franchise that has divided opinion on humanising the Predator into a new sort of character, but it’s still an utterly thrilling addition to the franchise.

4. 12 Monkeys

Release date: December 29, 1995 | Cast: Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, | Director: Terry Gilliam | Rotten Tomatoes score: 88% critics, 88% audience

You’ll most likely relate Terry Gilliam to his part of the Monty Python comedy group, but he’s also the brain behind some really weird movies, including 12 Monkeys (see also Brazil).

Prisoner James Cole (Bruce Willis) is given the terrifying task of heading back in time from 2043 to try and stop a man-made virus from wiping out the entire planet. His endeavor to alter the past is chaotic in its execution and incredibly claustrophobic.

While the plot alone could carry a great thriller, it’s the acting of Willis, Pitt, and Stowe that elevates this wild story to the next level. It's a real noodle scratcher that’ll leave you trying to decipher exactly what everything meant long after the credits roll.

3. Donnie Darko

Release date: October 26, 2001 | Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore | Director: Richard Kelly | Rotten Tomatoes score: 88% critics, 80% audience

Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a depressed high school student looking to find some sort of meaning or semblance of emotion in his dark and lonely life. It's a bleak and weird trip through the human psyche, and not just because of the terrifying bunny/man. Donnie Darko is an odyssey of psychological torment for the movie’s lead character.

You could say this one leans closer to sci-fi horror, what with the nightmare bunny that haunts Donnie and threatens him with impending disaster, but it’s the tension building and profound psychological exploration that make up the core of the movie; well, that, and the occasional jumpscare.

2. Moon

Release date: June 12, 2009 | Cast: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Dominique McElligott | Director: Duncan Jones | Rotten Tomatoes score: 90% critics, 89% audience

Alone for three years, astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is nearing the end of his mission in space, collecting a rare resource needed by Earth. His only connection with the outside world is the lunar station’s computer, GERTY.

Dreaming of home, Sam's isolation and keeping himself alive prove a perpetual nightmare, especially when he ends up in a horrible accident mere weeks before he is due to leave the station. As events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that Sam might not make it back to Earth.

Moon leaves you asking some big questions, and it rarely provides straight answers, which feels akin to shouting into an abyss, much like Sam probably feels throughout his lunar ordeal.

1. Aliens

Release date: July 18, 1986 | Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn, Bill Paxton | Director: James Cameron | Rotten Tomatoes score: 94% critics, 94% audience

I can already hear your keyboards clacking to declare that "Aliens" isn't a thriller, it's a sci-fi action flick. And well… we're both right. It's a sci-fi action thriller.

The sequel to 1979's sci-fi horror masterpiece Alien, this sequel ramps up the action, the tension, and the number of Xenomorphs significantly. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) attempts to return to a normal life after being rescued from her deep-space slumber following the Nostromo incident, but fate has other ideas.

Contact has been lost with a colony on the planet where Ripley first encountered the Xenomorphs, and she joins up with a crack team of marines for a rescue mission. Things… do not go well. Ripley must overcome her trauma to save the survivors. While Aliens is best known for its iconic action sequences, there is plenty of intrigue, suspense, and drama during the quieter moments.

James Cameron is an icon of cinema, but when he made Aliens, it was only his fourth ever directorial credit. That he could craft such a masterpiece at that stage of his career is simply… thrilling.

Stargate SG-1 is one of the best sci-fi shows of all time, and an ideal candidate for a multi-month-long binge.

Netflix knows this, too, because in February 2026, all ten seasons were added to the streaming service*, letting fans enjoy the adventures of Jack O'Neill, Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, and Teal'c as they explore the galaxy via an interstellar portal known as the Stargate.

The franchise owes its origins to the 1994 Stargate movie starring Kurt Russell, but the spin-off TV series SG-1 arrived in 1997. It lasted for an impressive ten seasons, and these days SG-1 is what most people think of when they hear the word Stargate.

The team would travel to different worlds, meeting (and often battling) with aliens inspired by different eras in human history, such as the Egyptian-inspired Goa'uld and the Nordic Asgard. The show offered a unique blend of sci-fi action, mystery, and humor that was unlike anything else out there at the time.

There have been several spinoffs and TV movie sequels of Stargate SG-1, but the original show is still the best. With over 200 episodes available to watch right now, it's easy for newcomers to feel overwhelmed by the show's expansive mythology. If you just want the cream of the crop, though, these are the ten best Stargate SG-1 episodes.

10. There But For The Grace of God

Original air date: February 20, 1998 | Season: One | Episode: 20

Some shows take several years to find their footing, but Stargate seemed to hit the ground running, with excellent episodes like 'There But For The Grace of God' in Season 1.

Daniel Jackson is transported to an alternate Earth, where he finds that the Stargate program is completely exposed to the public, the Goa'uld have invaded Earth, and SG-1 is no more. It's a great 'mirror' episode — similar to those seen in Star Trek — introducing the concept of alternate realities to the SG-1 team, which lays the foundation for future arcs and raises the stakes with the Goa'uld.

It's also an unrelentingly bleak episode — something it gets away with because it's not happening in reality — but there is some fantastic character work and acting on display here.

9. Camelot

Original air date: March 10, 2006 | Season: Nine | Episode: 20

Season 9's Camelot starts as a run-of-the-mill SG-1 episode, but things escalate quickly. The team finds themselves offworld in a village called Camelot. Yes, that Camelot, complete with all the story tropes of the era: King Arthur, the Sword in the Stone, the Holy Grail — it's all here.

Everything is not as it seems, and eventually, the team finds an Ori supergate — a stargate big enough to transport entire fleets of spaceships. The combined forces of our galaxy amass a fleet to stop the Ori invasion, and promptly get their asses handed to them in a massive space battle that ends on a tense cliffhanger.

For a finale, Camelot ticked all the boxes by raising the stakes and leaving you clamouring for the resolution. With Carter left floating in space and a pregnant Vala carrying 'the will of the Ori', viewers were left on the edge of their seats, wondering how any of this could be resolved.

8. Lost City

Original air date: March 2, 2004/March 9, 2004 | Season: Seven | Episode: 21/22

By the time Stargate SG-1 reached Season 4, it was cooking. In the two-part story, 'Lost City', the newest antagonist, Anubis, decides to invade Earth with a massive fleet. O'Neill, meanwhile, had absorbed the knowledge of the Ancients to find their Lost City, which is rumoured to contain powerful weapons that could save the planet.

It was originally envisaged as a movie, and you can tell. The stakes, the action, and the effects budget — this is Stargate swinging for the fences. The opening episode hits all the right notes to set up the drama, but it's the second part that makes 'The Lost City' an all-timer thanks to exceptional pacing and a climactic final battle.

It's also the origin of the spin-off show, Stargate: Atlantis, which went on to have five seasons of its own. It's a stunning watch, culminating O'Neill's finale words to Sam, Teal'c, and Daniel: "Ave, amicus" (Goodbye, friends in Latin/Ancient). It's a heartbreaking finale after the emotional high of Anubis' defeat, and a bold choice to close out a season.

7. Abyss

Original air date: July 19, 2002 | Season: Six | Episode: 6

While spaceship battles and firefights are cool, it's often the quieter, smaller episodes of shows that end up standing out, and season six's 'Abyss' is proof of that.

With O'Neill captured by the Ba'al, we see him tortured and helpless, being killed and revived over and over again as the Goa'uld seeks to break his will. You can almost feel the walls closing in as we experience O'Neill's suffering. Daniel Jackson — who has himself died and ascended to a higher plane of existence — returns to the show to console Jack, offering him his own path to ascension.

The vast majority of the episode is set in claustrophobic rooms, as O'Neill bounces between his ordeal with Ba'al and the tender moments with Jackson, and these intimate pairings really elevate 'Abyss' to all-timer status.

Musings on pain, morality, and mortality elevate the dynamic of these two odd-couple characters, showing the depth of their relationship and the respect they have for each other. Cliff Simon is tremendous as Ba'al, too, with this episode propelling him from background character to primary antagonist for seasons to come.

'Abyss' is very much Stargate's take on TNG's 'Chain of Command', and it stands proudly alongside its Trekkie counterpart, stepping away from sci-fi plots and arcs to reflect on relationships, suffering, and sacrifice.

6. Heroes

Original air date: February 3, 2004/February 10, 2004 | Season: Seven | Episode: 17/18

Season Seven's 'Heroes' is a wonderful piece of sleight of hand. From the outset, it has the vibe of a light-hearted mockumentary. A documentary crew is given access to the SGC and starts bothering SG-1 as they go about their day-to-day, and the vast majority of it is shot from the film crew's perspective. It's somewhere between Stargate meets The Office, This is Spinal Tap, and the crew in Spice World: The Movie.

Emmett Bregman, played by Saul Rubinek, is given access to mission reports and team interviews, and he's largely brushed off as an annoying hack. The two-parter takes a turn, though, when SG-3 and SH-13 start taking heavy losses on a mission, and reality hits Bregman — and everyone else — like a freight train.

It could have been a fourth-wall take by Bregman into the media and its intrusions around the time of the airing of 'Heroes', but instead, we get an impassioned revelation that the documentary showcases the rawness of loss, rescue, and hope. Without giving away too much (we really don't want to spoil this one), the episode has one final deception to unveil, and it's a real gut punch.

The show ends with Jackson, who has been avoiding Bregman, finally deciding to share footage and talk to him. It's a tacit acknowledgement of the importance of independent journalism, the role it serves in showcasing the horrors of war, and honoring the sacrifices that have been made. It was a fantastic watch when it aired, and perhaps even more so now through the lens in the global landscape in 2026.

5. Meridian

Original air date: January 30, 2002 | Season: Five | Episode: 21

Killing off a major character is always a bold choice, and Meridian is a perfect example of how to approach it with restraint. Airing in 2002, Jackson is exposed to lethal radiation after diving into a reactor to shut it down and prevent a meltdown.

It's a somber watch as we see Jackson deteriorating in a hospital bed. As he drifts in and out of consciousness, he converses with Oma Desala, an ascended being who offers to guide him to a higher plane. Jackson ultimately chooses to accept his death, and his friends watch him eventually succumb to the radiation.

When the heart monitor flatlines, with his friends gathered around him, it's impossible not to shed a tear. We're lifted out of the darkness this time, though, as a blinding light appears and Daniel ascends. O'Neill and Jackson share a final (ish) farewell before Jackson disappears through the gate. Jackson's final line, 'Thank you for everything', isn't just the character speaking; it's actor Michael Shanks expressing his gratitude to his castmates, and to the audience.

You could argue that Jackson's eventual resurrection in the season six finale 'Full Circle' undercuts this one a bit, but at the time, it was a massive deal, and his death went on to define season six, as the team struggled to deal with the loss.

4. 1969

Original air date: February 3, 1999 | Season: Two | Episode: 21

A sudden solar flare accidentally transports the SG-1 team back in time to 1969, where they must find a way back home, but also adjust to the world around them.

Season 2 was a chance for the show to take some risks and see where the Stargate could go beyond the off-world planets and battling major antagonists. The team meets a younger Hammond, and they try to convince him to help them. Hijinks ensue as the team butts heads with the US military of the time, while also hitching a ride in a van from some friendly hippies.

The ending is a nice touch, bringing everything full circle with the reveal that Hammond had been waiting for this moment ever since SG-1 was formed, giving the General some much-needed depth.

Other shows, like Star Trek: Voyager, would use this narrative device across two-episode double bills, but SG-1 managed to do it in one, covering the important beats without ever losing the viewer. It's a great watch that blends the show's sci-fi elements with an emotional warmth to great effect.

3. Threads

Original air date: February 8, 2005 | Season: Eight | Episode: 18

The penultimate episode of Season 8, Threads, manages to do a lot in its 63-minute extended run time. From Jackson's struggles with ascending (again), to the rise of Anubis, and the relationship between Carter and O'Neill, the episode manages to tie up a lot of loose ends, allowing Moebius, the season finale, to breathe.

The usual fate of the galaxy stakes take a backseat, as Threads is mostly about the SG-1 team itself and their personal struggles, and it's a smart move. There's plenty of closure here, and it all feels earned.

The closing scene of the team celebrating Daniel's return from the Ascended Realm by going on a fishing trip exemplifies this, ending on a high note ahead of the dramatic season finale.

2. Nemesis

Original air date: March 8, 2000 | Season: Three | Episode: 22

Nemesis's opening is deceptively tranquil. Carter is on vacation visiting family, Teal'c is off world, Jackson is recovering from an appendicitis operation, and O'Neill is predictably on a fishing trip.

But before you know it, the calm is shattered when the Replicators board Thor's ship. This highly advanced race of insectoid machines is built from tiny blocks and is capable of — as the name suggests — replicating itself by eating technology. O'Neill finds himself allying with the Asgard, fighting against this seemingly unstoppable enemy.

The tense battle culminates in the Beliskner being destroyed, in turn killing all the Replicators, except for one, which is seen crawling out of the ocean, setting up future battles with this duplicating menace. The team, meanwhile, escapes by beaming the Stargate aboard to gate out before returning via the second gate.

Nemesis achieves a lot, introducing a dangerous new villain that even the mighty Asgard fear, while ramping up the tension for a suitably dramatic season finale. Add the memorable cliffhanger, and Nemesis is one of Stargate's strongest finales.

1. Window of Opportunity

Original air date: August 4, 2000 | Season: Four | Episode: 6

Airing in August 2000 as part of Season Four, 'Window of Opportunity' sees O'Neill and Teal'c relive the same day over and over, Groundhog Day style.

It's more whimsical than a lot of the entries on this list, with O'Neill and Teal'c engaging in some hilarious, consequence-free shenanigans. The duo learns to juggle, learn pottery, and play golf through the Stargate. Teal'c takes out some frustrations on an unlucky grunt who bangs him with a door at the start of every time loop, and O'Neill gets to (temporarily) sample the will-they side of his will-they-won't-they relationship with Carter.

Beyond the hijinks, though, there are emotional stakes that make this episode one to remember. The cause of the time loop is suitably tragic, and forces O'Neill to relive some of his own trauma. By the finale, the comedy has drained away, leaving only raw emotion and vulnerability from O'Neill. The whole thing is perfectly paced and well written. It's a fantastic episode that only gets better on a rewatch.

Just don't rewatch it too many times, or you might start to lose it. You know, lose it. It means go crazy, nuts, insane, bonzo, no longer in possession of one's faculties, three fries short of a Happy Meal... WACKO!!

"Project Hail Mary" has hit theaters, and it's getting rave reviews (and not just from us). Fans of the book are in for a treat, but there are some major changes between the Ryan Gosling flick and the Andy Weir novel it's based on.

The book was equally lauded when it landed, delivering a delicate balance of speculative and hard science fiction that’s hard to come by. While the book reads easily and is seemingly structured to facilitate a film adaptation, bringing it to the big screen in such a successful way was definitely no easy task.

Changes had to be made to squeeze the 496-page novel into a 156-minute screenplay. Beyond the time constraints, what makes a great novel doesn’t always make a great movie, and sometimes things need to change. Some of those changes are small, while others shifted the entire thematic feel of the story.

Here is every difference we spotted between the "Project Hail Mary" movie and book.

Spoiler warning for both the book and the movie!

1. Carl

In the movie, Carl (Lionel Boyce) is a pretty central figure throughout the first quarter of the film, providing Dr. Grace (Ryan Gosling) with not just security but also inspiration for saving the human race. He’s literally one of the few humans in the film with more than a handful of lines.

Those who haven’t read the book may then be surprised to know that one of the three major human characters in the movie isn’t in the book at all. It’s pretty obvious why Carl was added in, as he acts as both comic relief, a humanizing foil for Grace, and as a verbal sounding board for Dr. Grace as he’s experimenting.

In the book, all that dialogue takes place in Grace's head, which just doesn’t work all that well in movies.

2. The Hail Mary

The titular spacecraft has had a bit of a redesign and a few rooms added in. In the novel, which comes complete with a handy visualization of the spacecraft, The Hail Mary looks almost like an oversized version of a cartoon rocket ship, with only three rooms and a storage area all stacked on top of each other.

The film’s version of the ship is much different, incorporating a central living pillar with the rockets surrounding it, providing more space for Grace to exist in. This change was probably made to give the ship a cooler visual appearance, and possibly add a bit more realism around the centrifugal spacecraft, making it one of the few areas where the movie feels more scientifically accurate than the book.

The movie version also has a domed entertainment room for watching media, which is not present in the book. This gives us some nice visuals and lets the movie communicate Grace's homesickness.

3. Grace Alone

A surprisingly large chunk of the novel is dedicated to Dr. Grace on his own before he ever meets Rocky. In the film, most of this time period is spent on comic relief, building back story, or showing Grace fumbling around the ship while he gets drunk. In the novel, however, Grace is already well on his way to accepting and understanding his predicament and solving his myriad problems by the time he meets Rocky.

The shift changes his character pretty significantly for the beginning of the film and turns Rocky’s arrival from a major plot twist in the book, considering how far in it takes place, into a minimal surprise for the movie (that is, if the trailer hadn’t already ruined it).

4. Science Stuff

It’s pretty clear that the filmmakers decided that the heart of Weir’s novel was not his meticulously researched attempt at scientific accuracy of the unknown and imagined, but instead the emotional connection between Grace and Rocky. And they were 100% correct.

The film almost completely drops any and all scientific babble from the book in favor of character development, action sequences, and emotional gut punches. It works wonders, pulling out the heart that’s woven through the novel’s science talk and ensuring that the film never feels like it’s just a lecture.

Though for those of us into harder sci-fi, a little bit of techno babble wouldn’t have hurt.

Related: I talked to author Andy Weir about the astrobiology behind 'Project Hail Mary' (interview)

5. Saving Rocky

In both the book and film, Rocky and Grace’s attempt to collect a sample of the atmosphere of Adrian goes wrong, and Grace ends up unconscious, forcing Rocky to leave his protective bubble and rescue him, seriously injuring himself. However, what happens after this is drastically different.

In the book, Grace drags Rocky back to his part of the ship, exposing himself to the Eridian environment; in the film, Rocky crawls back while Grace is unconscious. In the novel, Grace then attempts to rescue Rocky by doing a series of “cleanings” that he believes should help the alien recover (it turns out he was actually doing the wrong thing).

In the film, none of this happens. Instead, Grace does a lot of science while waiting around for Rocky to wake up on his own accord. The change probably stems from the lack of science stuff in the film. Where the book took pains to explain how Rocky’s biology worked in a scientific manner, thus setting up Grace’s attempt at saving him based on this knowledge, the movie does not.

The end result has the same emotional punch; they just got there in different ways.

6. No poop

In the book, Grace takes an interest in how Rocky basically eats, digests, and poops, with him eventually watching Rocky eat and then basically take a dump. They left this out of the film entirely.

Who could possibly guess why?

7. Every character not named Rylan Grace, Carl, or Eva Stratt

While the book isn’t all that jam-packed with other characters in meaningful ways – Stratt is actually better developed in the film than in the novel – the film takes this to an extreme.

Grace befriends multiple other scientists working on the ship with him, and their relationships are unpacked and explored. This is also true for his fellow crewmates, with whom he becomes close friends in the novel while he’s training them. Nearly all of them are reduced to cameos in the movie.

This is just a matter of saving time. The film can’t unpack all of Grace’s life before he blasts off, especially as its focus is far more on Rocky and Grace together, so there’s just not enough time to explore these other characters.

8. Grace visits Rocky’s ship

In the film, there’s a striking moment when Rocky gives Grace a goodbye gift as the pair prepare to return to their home planets: a walk inside Rocky’s ship. Rocky builds Grace the equivalent of an Eridian space suit that allows Grace to enter Rocky’s ship in one of the more poignant and gorgeous moments in the film.

None of this happens in the book. From the gift exchange to the suit to the scene in Rocky’s ship, everything was made up for the film. Given the movie’s deeper emotional focus, it makes sense to add this moment. Plus, by that point in the film, audiences are dying to see Rocky’s ship.

9. The whole timeline

The film's timeline isn’t exactly clear or stated, but overall, it feels much, much faster than the book. In the book, Rocky and Grace spend months together trying to understand the astrophage and find a way to stop it. By the end of that time period, Grace is fluent in Rocky’s sing-song language, and the pair has done a lot together.

The film feels like a much shorter timeline – maybe only a matter of weeks. Grace doesn’t fully understand Rocky until the film’s conclusion, when he’s living on Erid, and the movie isn’t edited to suggest an extensive period of time.

This shortened timeline feeling also hits the flashbacks, with Grace’s time studying and planning for Project Hail Mary on Earth playing out in a faster manner as well. All this may just be attributed to the shorter run time of the movie, but it is noticeable.

10. Astrophage contamination

While this major plot point isn’t changed from the book to the film – the taumeoba eventually affects the astrophage fuel, forcing Grace to rescue Rocky – the build-up to this plot twist is drastically greater in the book.

The novel repeatedly establishes that the taumeoba is dangerous, to the extent that there is an entire storyline where it escapes and destroys a fuel tank of astrophage, forcing Grace to do an extensive cleaning of the entire ship. The book wonderfully foreshadows one of its best moments, but the film doesn’t do this at all, setting up the action with a few lines of dialog instead.

Time constraints once again strike here, but there’s also the fact that the movie drops the plot’s true twist — that Grace is a coward — only a few minutes before. Structurally, there are just too many punches coming to have this moment feel like the shock it was in the book.

There you have it. All the major differences we spotted between the "Project Hail Mary" movie and book. Did we miss any others that you noticed? And what did you think of the movie compared to the book? Sound off in the comments below.

First, the good news. Time travel isn't necessarily forbidden by the laws of physics. In fact, the mathematics underpinning Albert Einstein's theories of relativity offer up possibilities via the likes of wormholes and curved spacetime that might allow someone — or more likely something — to make a journey back into the past. Not that anyone really knows how you'd do it — or if it's even possible at all.

Luckily for sci-fi writers, there's rarely any need to worry about backing up their ideas with facts. Over the years, they've come up with numerous ingenious ways to negotiate the space-time continuum, from iconic cars and spaceships slingshotting around stars, to heavily-modded telephone boxes and even — we're sorry to say — a time machine built into a hot tub.

We've already looked at how sci-fi deals with faster-than-light travel. Now, we're looking at 16 memorable ways movies and TV shows have smashed through the fourth dimension, so keep reading to find out how to travel through time.

1. Flux Capacitor

As seen in: "Back to the Future" (1985)

Doc Brown never really gets into the science of the Flux Capacitor — all we really need to know is that this cobbled-together component is "what makes time travel possible". But when this unassuming glass box is installed in a car — preferably stainless steel, it aids with "flux dispersal", apparently — you can rest assured that you're going to see some serious s**t.

There are drawbacks, of course. Getting your DeLorean serviced is not as easy as it once was, you need enough road to get up to 88mph, and — unless you've had a Mr. Fusion generator installed — you'll require some plutonium if you're going to generate the 1.21 gigawatts required to traverse the fourth dimension. A small price to pay, perhaps, if you want to meet your parents when they were kids.

Other time-traveling cars are available, including the Volkswagen Beetle and Cadillac Eldorado driven by Austin Powers.

2. TARDIS

As seen in: "Doctor Who" (1963-present)

Arguably the most powerful and sophisticated time machine of them all, a Time Lord's TARDIS (it stands for Time And Relative Dimension In Space) makes hopping around the space-time continuum as easy as going to the shops in your car.

Despite the show's efforts to explain away a TARDIS's functionality with black holes and the Time Vortex, its abilities are best regarded as magic. Any place or time in history (or the future) is at your disposal when you're the owner of a TARDIS, a vehicle that has the uncanny ability to blend into its surroundings — assuming, of course, a faulty chameleon circuit hasn't condemned you to a permanent phone box exterior.

The future dudes in "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" also decided that phone boxes made for bodacious time machines — though their version was most definitely not bigger on the inside.

3. Stellar slingshot

As seen in: "Star Trek" (1967-present)

Captain James T Kirk's famous voiceover never talked about "time: the final frontier", but the Enterprise and its successors have set coordinates for the fourth dimension on numerous occasions.

Sometimes known as the "light speed breakaway factor", Starfleet's preferred time travel technique involves accelerating to maximum warp before performing a slingshot maneuver around a star (or other body with a strong gravitational field). This subsequently sends the starship forward or backward in time, while occasionally (and inexplicably) transforming your shipmates into freaky clay heads.

The calculations required to reach your destination are mind-bogglingly complex, which is why you need a Spock (see Original Series episodes "Tomorrow is Yesterday", "Assignment Earth", and 1986 movie "The Voyage Home") or a captive Borg Queen ("Picard" episode "Assimilation") to make it work.

This complexity is presumably why the Borg opted to unveil a more user-friendly time travel solution, namely "chronometric particles", in "First Contact".

4. The Quantum Realm

As seen in: "Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania" & "Avengers: Endgame" (2019)

Unfortunately, the convenient time travel rules seen in "Back to the Future" — don't interact with your past/future self, don't bet on future sporting events — no longer apply in the MCU, where messing around in the past does not change the future.

The Avengers do, however, have access to the Quantum Realm, the sub-atomic domain where time starts to behave in weird, non-linear ways. It's all kind of random, but luckily Earth's Mightiest Heroes also turn out to be Earth's Brainiest Heroes when Tony Stark works out how to circumvent potential issues with quantum fluctuations, the Planck Scale, and the Deutsch Proposition.

In layman's terms? Iron Man builds a "time-space GPS" capable of getting the team when and where they need to be — as long as they have enough Pym Particles (the mass-altering fuel for Ant-Man's suit) to make the round trip.

5. Time Displacement Chambers

As seen in: "The Terminator" (1984-present)

With flesh-and-blood commander John Connor proving to be a thorn in its silicon side, malevolent AI Skynet builds time displacement equipment to open up a new frontier in the human/machine war — the past.

Although we don't see the machinery at work in the first two movies, later "Terminator" outings reveal a mass of spinning metal that zaps anything inside it to a predefined point in the past or future, with the goal — again countering the rules laid down by "Back to the Future" — of altering the timeline.

As an important side note, the device only works if you're covered in living tissue — or a shapeshifting cyborg constructed from mimetic polyalloy — so you need to be comfortable with the fact you'll be arriving in a new time period as naked as the day you were born.

6. General relativity

As seen in: "Interstellar" (2014)

Is this technically time travel? Possibly not, though Einstein's theory of General Relativity does have some time-travel-like consequences.

In "Interstellar", the intense gravitational field of a black hole named Gargantua dilates time for the crew of the Endurance mission, meaning that mere hours on the surface of an alien world are equivalent to years back on Earth. When intrepid pilot Coop is eventually reunited with his daughter, Murphy, he's skipped decades while she's now significantly older than he is — in effect, he's travelled to the future.

Special Relativity also comes into play in the '80s Disney movie "Flight of the Navigator", where a kid is abducted by an alien spacecraft in 1978 and — after a quick faster-than-light jaunt to the planet Phaelonn — wakes up in 1986. Luckily, the boy's sophisticated spaceship buddy Max also has the time travel smarts to take him home again.

7. Time inversion

As seen in: "Tenet" (2020)

Lots of people — including writer/director Christopher Nolan — will tell you that the time inversion in "Tenet" isn't technically time travel. We disagree, seeing as the tech can transport you into the past and back again.

It works by flipping entropy, the amount of disorder in a system, which — according to the second law of thermodynamics — always tends to increase. In other words, stepping through one of the Turnstiles in "Tenet" allows you to experience time in the opposite direction to everybody else, meaning that your future is their past, and vice versa.

There are drawbacks, however. There are no shortcuts — your journey through time must, by definition, unfold in real (albeit reversed) time — and it's really, really hard to get your head around the mechanics of the situation. Similarly themed "Red Dwarf" episode "Backwards" was a lot easier to follow.

8. "The Box"

As seen in: "Primer" (2004)

Jeff Bezos famously launched Amazon from an ordinary garage. In "Primer", two ordinary guys go one step further by building a time machine in their spare time.

As you'd expect from a film that cost less than $10,000 to make, the device makes the Flux Capacitor look like the pinnacle of sophistication. Even so, it's big enough to accommodate a human time traveler, and it actually works. The only problem is, negotiating and understanding the subsequent paradoxes — which writer/director Shane Carruth made little effort to simplify — requires a PhD in high-level physics.

"Safety Not Guaranteed" takes a similarly DIY approach to a complex problem.

9. Closed loops

As seen in: "Looper" (2012)

The time travel in "Looper" is limited but extremely effective. With the tech outlawed soon after its creation in 2074, it fell into the hands of the criminal underworld, who use it as an untraceable method for disposing of people they don't like — send the victim 30 years into the past and, the theory goes, their body will never be discovered.

The drawback, of course, is that the only journey you can make is between 2074 and 2044, vastly reducing opportunities for time tourism. Also, the eponymous Loopers (assassins in the past hired to kill people sent back from the future) know they'll be bumped off as soon as they've gone the long way round to 2074, thereby closing the loop. It's brutal, but nobody can say the system doesn't work.

10. Anomalies

As seen in: "Primeval" (2007-2011)

These gateways through space and time are too random and sporadic to provide a useful method of temporal travel. They do, however, have a habit of transporting dinosaurs into the present day, which is handy if you want to recreate "Jurassic Park" in the UK.

Similar portals are a convenient way of getting from point A to point B in the spacetime continuum, and a riff on the notion of wormholes/Einstein-Rosen Bridges. Notable examples include the Guardian of Forever in "Star Trek", the time travel device in "Continuum", and the gateway that transports new soldiers to a future conflict in "The Tomorrow War".

It's also pretty close to the time-travel side effects of Third Energy in the "Dino Crisis" games, which, wouldn't you know it, also brought dinosaurs to the present day.

11. Quantum Leap Accelerator

As seen in: "Quantum Leap" (1989-1993)

Found in a top-secret facility beneath a mountain in the New Mexico desert, this experimental time-travel tech sent its inventor, Dr. Sam Beckett, on a frustratingly random journey through space and time.

There were caveats, however: he could only "leap" to dates within his own lifetime (with the odd exception), and had to inhabit other people's (or chimpanzee's) bodies while he was there.

And unlike other famous time travelers who are strictly forbidden from meddling with history, Beckett needs to alter the timeline (for the better) if he's going to make his next leap.

12. Mutant powers

As seen in: "X-Men: Days of Future Past" (2014)

Why waste your time building a fancy time machine when mutant powers can do the job just as easily?

In "X-Men: Days of Future Past", Kitty "Shadowcat" Pryde's teleporting abilities are repurposed to transport Wolverine's consciousness from 2023 back to his 1973 self. In Chris Claremont's original comic, it was Pryde herself who made the journey, but the mission remains the same — altering the past to avert a mutant apocalypse.

In "The Umbrella Academy", fellow teleporter Number Five also possesses superpowers that allow him to travel through time. He's subsequently head-hunted by the Commission to help monitor the timeline.

13. Alien blood

As seen in: "Edge of Tomorrow" (2014)

Exposure to the blood of an alien invader — specifically one of the Mimics' Alpha leaders — traps cowardly military PR guy Major William Cage in an inescapable time loop.

It's more a cool plot device than a logical explanation, though it's no more ridiculous than the cave in "Palm Springs" and whatever it is in "Groundhog Day" (a magical rodent?), which induce similar déjà-vu-inducing qualities.

14. A stone circle

As seen in: "Outlander" (2014-present)

The stone circle that transports World War II nurse Claire Randall back to the 18th century may just be a marker for a pre-existing region of magical properties in the Scottish Highlands.

Its powers also appear to act on a few lucky (or unlucky, depending on your point of view) individuals. Either way, this is another time travel technique best written off as unadulterated sorcery.

15. A cyberpunk raincoat

As seen in: Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2026)

If Sam Rockwell thinks this is the best way to time travel, who are we to argue? That man is a treasure.

Known only as The Man from the Future, Rockwell's character zaps back from the future and lands in a Norms diner, looking to assemble a dream team to stop the AI apocalypse. And, somehow, he succeeds despite looking like a wet-weather averse suicide bomber.

His time machine is constructed from a see-through raincoat, an angry piggy backpack, a bunch of wires and tubes, and every sci-fi-looking gizmo and doodad the prop department could hot-glue to it.

He claims that it's "the height of f***ing fashion" where he's from… we're not so sure about that, but it's a rad piece of costume design.

16. A hot tub

As seen in: "Hot Tub Time Machine" (2010)

Yes, this is actually a thing in an actual movie. Some things just defy explanation. Seriously, what the hell were they thinking?

The last few years have been a good time for sci-fi gaming fans, and 2025 was no exception. We've embarked on expansive space journeys, battled cosmic behemoths, and survived the post-apocalypse several times over. And now, as the year comes to a close, we're here to lay down the space law with our best sci-fi and space games of 2025.

We've seen it all, from big-budget, AAA titles like The Outer Worlds 2 and DOOM: The Dark Ages to plucky indie projects like Routine and Citizen Sleeper 2. Almost every genre is represented on this list too, with strategy games and RPGs sitting proudly alongside first-person shooters and fighting games.

If you'd rather look forward into the future, you can also check out our upcoming space and sci-fi games list, which showcases everything we're hyped about that's coming in 2026 and beyond. If you think we missed anything, sound off in the comments. Now, let's dive into our Space's best sci-fi and space games of 2025.

10. The Outer Worlds 2

Release date: October 29, 2025 | Platforms: PC (Windows), PS5, Xbox Series X/S | Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

The Outer Worlds blasted off in late 2025 to surprisingly little fanfare, but most players agree it's a big upgrade over the original space-set RPG. With a far more comedic tone, larger maps (across several planets) to explore, and flexible dialogue and progression systems, it packed almost everything we could've wanted from a follow-up.

The story follows an all-new custom character — an Earth Directorate agent — tasked with uncovering what's causing destructive rifts that are spreading across the galaxy. As you'd expect from an Obsidian game, the narrative is shaped by your decisions and actions, with character builds offering all sorts of bonus options to deal with delicate situations. The replay value is high, as long as the mix of FPS action and open-ended exploration clicks with you.

9. Dune: Awakening

Release date: June 10, 2025 | Platform: PC (Windows) | Developer: Funcom

Though it's not directly connected to Denis Villeneuve's massive movie adaptations, Dune: Awakening puts much of their aesthetic to good use and manages to capture the harsh, but beautiful wonder of Arrakis.

As an online survival game, it doesn't break a lot of new ground, but Frank Herbert's universe's unique traits and elements give it a different flavor from the get-go and refresh the familiar MMO gameplay loop.

In a gaming landscape full of always-online MMOs worth exploring in depth, Arrakis' treacherous sands and its more populated locales are alluring in ways even the biggest Dune fans weren't expecting at first. With a focus on base-building, factions, and tales that expand on the characters and lore we already knew, Dune: Awakening finds its own balance and rewards persistent groups of players.

As a solo adventurer, there's also fun to be had, but prepare yourself for a more nomadic playstyle, making use of powers and gadgets to avoid direct conflict. Just remember: Do not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.

8. DOOM: The Dark Ages

Release date: May 15, 2025 | Platforms: PC (Windows), PS5, Xbox Series X/S | Developer: id Software

Taking on entire demonic armies of hell never gets old, especially when we get to step into the big stompy boots of the mighty Doom Slayer (or Doomguy for the OG fans). This year, DOOM: The Dark Ages gave us an extremely metal prequel that — while a bit too lore and cutscene-heavy — presented more surprising tricks and gameplay refreshes to keep the long-running FPS series alive and kicking butt.

But wait, this is a sci-fi list; doesn't DOOM: The Dark Ages have a medieval setting? Yes, but it also contains plenty of plasma guns, rocket launchers, spaceships, and whatnot. It expertly mixes dark fantasy and sci-fi elements, and the art direction alone makes it an adventure worth embarking on.

Some say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but id Software has proven all the doubters wrong once again. Sure, it's not as inspired as the best DOOM games, but few shooter formulas have remained this fun and iconic for so long.

7. Marvel Cosmic Invasion

Release date: December 1, 2025 | Platforms: PC (Windows & Linux), PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 1/2 | Developer: Tribute Games

Another big favorite that arrived right before the end of the year was Marvel Cosmic Invasion. Tribute Games is no stranger to knocking out excellent side-scrolling blasts from the past (but they're modern releases), so expectations were high.

With a fun cast of heroes borrowed from across Marvel's history, and enough combos and special moves to carry the adventure to the finish line, it's one of our favorite modern beat 'em ups and no doubt one of the year's best sci-fi games overall.

Annihilus, an often-overlooked Marvel villain, also gets much-deserved time to shine in this pixelated cosmic odyssey, with his insectoid Annihilation Wave at the center of the galaxy-wide chaos that also showcases other famous bad guys like Knull and Galactus. A lesser version of Marvel Cosmic Invasion could've been one-note, but Tribute Games went for broke with both the roster of playable characters and the selection of enemies and locations. The result is an amazing celebration of the more space-oriented side of the Marvel universe.

6. Terminator 2D: NO FATE

Release date: December 12, 2025 | Platforms: PC (Windows), PS4/5, Xbox One & Series X/S, Nintendo Switch | Developer: Bitmap Bureau

We recently ran through the Terminator games that are actually good, since most of them… you know, suck. We can add another entry to that list, though, as Bitmap Bureau's Terminator 2D: NO FATE is a certified banger. It leans hard on the retro vibes and refreshes the side-scrolling formula with some new tricks.

At first glance, it might look like an old-fashioned throwback with pure arcade DNA you can beat in one sitting, but with alternate story paths and plenty of unlockable modes that make achievement-hunting a blast, Terminator 2D: NO FATE surprises without diluting its pick-up-and-play nature. The pixel art is gorgeous; the controls are smooth; and the mission variety keeps the experience dynamic during its short runtime. James Cameron's 1991 sci-fi action masterpiece finally has a game tie-in worthy of its legacy.

5. Tempest Rising

Release date: April 24, 2025 | Platform: PC (Windows) | Developer: Slipgate Ironworks

Slipgate Ironworks surprised us in 2025 with Tempest Rising, an excellent sci-fi real-time strategy game. At first glance, it looks very Command & Conquer influenced, but once you get past the obvious homages, you'll discover Tempest Rising is so much more.

With two very asymmetrical playable factions (and the promise of stranger additions on the horizon), this RTS leans hard on its sci-fi elements, and the moment-to-moment fun factor is higher because of it.

The story takes us into an alternate history Earth where two factions battle over the control of territory and the mysterious Tempest resource, which has enabled all sorts of technological advancements. The complexity quickly ramps up, and the two distinct campaigns know how to keep things engaging in the long run. After that, of course, it's all about offline skirmishes and, if you're brave enough, dueling online opponents. With robust base-building, solid combat mechanics, and well-designed units, Tempest Rising now sits comfortably among the RTS classics.

4. Routine

Release date: December 4, 2025 | Platforms: PC (Windows), Xbox One & Series X/S | Developer: Lunar Software

Entertainment Editor Ian here for this entry. I'm a bit of a baby when it comes to horror games, but I will soldier through when the aesthetic is on point. So, as a fan of the retrofuturistic, tapepunk look of movies like Alien, Routine necessitated me putting on my big boy pants and wading in.

I'm glad I did too, because Routine is a masterclass in visual styling, world-building, and tension. The opening half of the game plays out like the android sections of Alien Isolation, as you avoid killer space robots while figuring out what happened to the crew of the moon base you were sent to repair.

Then something else arrives, and we're a family-friendly website, which means I can't use the torrent of curse words that I would normally use to describe it here, so I'll just say "flip that thing, flip it right to heck". You'll spend a bit more time than is ideal hiding under a desk, waiting for enemies to move so you can proceed, but this minor pacing quibble aside, Routine is absolutely deserving of your time.

3. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Release date: June 26, 2025 | Platform: PS5 | Developer: Kojima Productions

Death Stranding 2 is unlike anything else out there. If you're looking for conventional stories and characters, look elsewhere because this is a Hideo Kojima game. He's a weird guy, but you can't deny the man's ability to craft stylish and intriguing games. If you vibe with that, this bold sequel is one of the year's best releases.

Death Stranding 2 has a bigger focus on player freedom than the original, letting you tackle deliveries across difficult landscapes in more interesting ways. As a result, much of the original's monotony was nullified, but what about the rest?

Well, it's hard to describe the plot, and even harder to do so without spoiling anything. But in this off-beat post-apocalypse, where mysterious hostile creatures roam the Earth and communities seek to reconnect via the Chiral Network, porter Sam Bridges and his allies seek to help Australian colonies 11 months after the USA-set original game. With a bigger focus on combat and vehicles in between long walks, it really stands on its own and continues to be a unique experience. It's not for everyone, but it rewards the curious.

2. Split Fiction

Release date: March 6, 2025 | Platforms: PC (Windows), PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2 | Developer: Hazelight Studios

After winning Game of the Year at The Game Awards back in 2021, Hazelight Studios went to work on their next ground-breaking co-op title. The result was Split Fiction, a bonkers co-op adventure that takes us through a smorgasbord of both fantasy and science fiction worlds, honoring the past and present of the genres across gaming, movies, and books.

In this loopy adventure – which can be played in split-screen or online co-op – two aspiring writers are trapped inside stories they've written when a company tries to shamelessly steal their creative ideas. This might sound familiar in our age of AI slop generated using stolen works, but the game's execution is at least more entertaining than Big Tech's attempts to destroy the internet.

With light cycles and laser cannons featuring alongside dragons and magical powers, there's never a dull moment in Split Fiction. The sheer variety of ideas, distinct sequences, and set pieces it throws at you is simply mind-blowing. Dust off that second controller, call a friend, and play this one — you owe it to yourself.

1. Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

Release date: January 31, 2025 | Platforms: PC (Windows & macOS), PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch | Developer: Jump Over The Age

Citizen Sleeper 2 was one of our most anticipated games for 2025, and launching back in January, it was a fantastic way to start the year.

This dice-driven RPG is a standalone sequel to the original (which you should definitely also check out), building upon everything that made the original great. It's part role-playing game, part choose-your-own-adventure book in disguise, and your mileage will depend on your tolerance for reading in your games, but the story it tells is worth the effort.

It's not just a book, though — it's built on the foundation of decision-making and dice-rolling that Dungeons & Dragons fans know and love. You play as an escaped android trying to survive a cold, cyberpunk future amongst the stars.

Due to its board game-like design, the idea is to go through Citizen Sleeper 2 several times, experiencing different outcomes and digging up tales and discoveries you may have missed the first time around. The simple gameplay means that repeating runs is never a slog, so it's perfect for gamers who prefer the more relaxing side of the medium.

Just don't expect the writing to go so easy on you; Citizen Sleeper 1 & 2 are heavy explorations of transhumanism, the gig economy, and the pressure corporate control puts on all of us. Happy holidays, everyone!!!!

As we barrel towards the new year, it's a time for reflection. A time to look back on the best sci-fi TV shows of 2025 and say "blimey, that was pretty damn good".

The top sci-fi TV shows of 2025 are a mix of big franchises, returning hits, and exciting new additions. The voyages of the starship Enterprise continued in "Strange New Worlds", the Fifteenth Doctor had his second and final spin in the TARDIS, and "Andor"'s phenomenal second outing pushed the boundaries of what a "Star Wars" show could be. Even those famously antisocial Xenomorphs came to Earth for the very first "Alien" TV show.

Elsewhere, the last year has seen the continuation of several prestige TV hits, including "Foundation", "Silo", and "Black Mirror". Our small screen playlist also found room for some mould-breaking originals, most notably "Murderbot" and "Pluribus" — not to mention a memorable BBC documentary about the post-Apollo years of the space race. So, let's start the countdown on Space's 12 favorite shows of 2025, starting with…

12. Invasion: season 3

Cast: Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, India Brown | Watch on: Apple TV

Thought the titular alien invasion was done and dusted in season 2? The needs of ongoing drama mean that life — and hostile ETs — tend to find a way, and two years after the fall of their mothership, it turned out that planet Earth's foes never really went away.

While many of the characters returned from previous years — at least one of whom was presumed dead — this season was, in some ways, a soft reboot for a show that seemed to wrap up several key plotlines last time out. The storytelling remained ambitious and the effects impressive, notably the introduction of the translucent, squid-like apex aliens. Nonetheless, "Invasion" had the feel of a 2000s/2010s network TV show given an epic budget, particularly in comparison to the brilliant sci-fi shows elsewhere on the Apple TV menu screen.

11. Doctor Who: season 2

Cast: Ncuti Gatwa, Varada Sethu, Millie Gibson, Jemma Redgrave | Watch on: BBC iPlayer (UK)/Disney+ (rest of the world)

And so, after just two seasons, the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) regenerated into… unless we're very much mistaken, Billie Piper. It was an unexpectedly early departure for the Time Lord and marked the end of the BBC's partnership with Disney+. But how will his final batch of adventures through space and time be remembered? Probably as a mixed bag.

Although she was sidelined in the second half of the season, Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) started out as a memorable companion, gradually warming to her Gallifreyan tour guide while yearning for home. Cartoon villain Mr Ring-a-Ding was a visual effects tour de force, "The Well" gave a brilliant David Tennant-era monster an unexpected comeback, and penultimate episode "Wish World" landed in a truly chilling alternative universe. But with just eight episodes to play with, the arc plot overpowered everything else in the season, with its big reveal (about returning Time Lord villains the Rani and Omega) not quite worth the wait.

10. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: season 3

Cast: Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Rebecca Romijn, Melissa Navia | Watch on: Paramount+

Has any TV show ever revelled in its prequel status quite as much as "Strange New Worlds"? The third leg of the show's (now-confirmed) five-year mission continued to go big on references to the original series, with familiar characters showing up on the Enterprise (Roger Korby, Trelane) and plenty more moments that boldly went where "Star Trek" had gone before.

As in season 2, a weakness for gimmicky episodes (including a holodeck outing) got in the way of the Starfleet-standard of seeking out new life and new civilisations. Even so, the Vezda instantly established themselves among the franchise's scariest villains, while Lt Ortegas (Melissa Navia) shared a brilliant two-hander with a crashed Gorn. The show also never forgot that its trump card remains its crew, one of the most watchable in "Star Trek" history.

9. Foundation: season 3

Cast: Jared Harris, Lou Llobell, Lee Pace, Pilou Asbæk | Watch on: Apple TV

"Foundation" could only have existed in the streaming age. After all, no old-school broadcaster would have had the patience — or the budget — to persist with two opening seasons that went all-in on exposition. Indeed, the show went so deep with its ambitious, centuries-spanning story that it seemed like ages before the interstellar skirmishes kicked off in earnest.

Season 3 still indulged the show's hard sci-fi leanings, of course — the mathematical models, the spectacular spaceships, the idealistic construct of the Foundation — but it also remembered the best blockbuster space operas have a bit of "Star Wars" in their DNA, too. Telepathic villain the Mule (Pilou Asbæk) would probably have felt right at home in the Mos Eisley Cantina, and he brought some much-needed chaos to a series that hasn't always excelled at having fun.

8. The War Between the Land and the Sea

Cast: Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jemma Redgrave, Ruth Madeley | Watch on: BBC iPlayer (UK only)

In 2009, "Doctor Who" spin-off "Torchwood" reinvented itself for its third season. "Children of Earth" ditched the show's previous monster-of-the-week structure in favor of a single, hard-hitting story told over five episodes. The result was a sci-fi masterpiece.

Sixteen years later, showrunner Russell T Davies resurrected the format for "Who"-adjacent drama "The War Between the Land and the Sea", and while it couldn't quite live up to its aforementioned predecessor, it was definitely cut from the same cloth.

Classic "Who" monsters the Sea Devils were the ideal antagonists, waking from a lengthy deep-sea slumber to punish humanity for its mistreatment of the oceans. But despite the global scale — and unforgettable images of cities being buried under mountains of trash reclaimed from the seas — the series never lost focus on the touching (and pivotal) relationship between unlikely human ambassador Barclay (Russell Tovey) and his aquatic counterpart Salt (Gugu Mbatha-Raw).

7. Murderbot

Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Tamara Podemski | Watch on: Apple TV

You only have to look at the sheer volume of Apple TV shows on this list to see that the streamer's had a hell of a 2025 — in fact, it's become the go-to destination for discerning sci-fi fans. Perhaps the oddest of its entries here, however, is this adaptation of Martha Wells' "The Murderbot Diaries" book series.

Although the title suggests otherwise, "Murderbot" was not some tired rehash of "The Terminator". The eponymous security droid protagonist (played by Alexander Skarsgård) actually chose its own name and, thanks to some off-the-books hacking, developed free will. It also had plenty of disdain — expressed via sardonic voiceover — for the humans it was programmed to protect.

Extremely violent and very, very funny, this show was as unconventional as its surprisingly relatable lead — like Murderbot, we've all had days when going to work feels much less worthwhile than sitting back and watching your favorite TV show.

6. Silo: season 2

Cast: Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, Steve Zahn, Harriet Walter | Watch on: Apple TV

Apple TV went even deeper underground with the second instalment of its big-budget adaptation of Hugh Howey's "Silo" novels. If season 2 couldn't quite live up to the compelling first outing, that's mainly because protagonist Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson) spent most of this year trapped in the (mostly) deserted Silo 17. Meanwhile, the real drama and intrigue was taking place back home in Silo 18.

Minor flaws aside, this was slow-build storytelling of the highest order, drip-feeding answers to its many mysteries as the bunker residents realized the so-called "Pact" might not be as benign as they'd been led to believe. Duplicitous mayor Bernard Holland (an excellent Tim Robbins) continued to be a thorn in everybody's sides, while the unstable Solo (Steve Zahn) gradually revealed himself as tragic collateral damage in Silo 17's sad fate.

And then there was that final scene, a major game-changer ahead of the already-confirmed seasons 3 and 4.

5. Black Mirror: season 7

Cast: Paul Giamatti, Cristin Milioti, Peter Capaldi, Rashida Jones | Watch on: Netflix

Charlie Brooker's techno "Twilight Zone" arguably went off the boil during its last two seasons, but the long-running anthology series was back on form this year. "Black Mirror"'s latest six-episode run even indulged fans with a couple of sequels, courtesy of "Plaything" (a follow-up to the choose-your-own-adventure "Bandersnatch") and "Into Infinity", a return to the pitch-perfect "Star Trek" pastiche of "USS Callister".

Whenever this show is at its best, it runs the gamut from comedy to tragedy to raw emotional power, sometimes in the space of a single episode. Season 7 was no exception. While anthology shows are notoriously punishing on creatives, there was little sign that Brooker and co are running out of ideas. And even when a premise was slightly derivative (the tech that allows Paul Giamatti to enter old photographs in "Eulogy" has echoes of classic "Red Dwarf" episode "Timeslides", for example), the writers managed to lift the stories to the next level.

4. Alien: Earth

Cast: Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant, Samuel Blenkin, Alex Lawther | Watch on: Hulu (US)/Disney+ (rest of the world)

How do you make the Xenomorph scary again? "Fargo" creator Noah Hawley's ingenious solution to a decades-old conundrum was to make the double-jawed beastie a supporting player in its own TV show. He instead shifted the focus to bickering multinationals, a bunch of kids running around in state-of-the-art synthetic bodies, and — best of all — a whole new menagerie of icky extra-terrestrial fauna.

Visually and sonically, the first-ever "Alien" TV show was lovingly faithful to Ridley Scott's original movie, yet also had the handy knack of knowing which bits of franchise lore it could discard. And, in the long-established tradition of Weyland-Yutani and their competitors, the human characters turned out to be much more dangerous than their extra-terrestrial guests — at least you didn't see them selling each other out for a goddamn percentage.

3. Once Upon a Time in Space

Cast: Anna Fisher, Carl S McNair, Aleksandr Lazutkin, Sergei Viktorovich Zalyotin | Watch on: BBC iPlayer (UK)

The stories of the "The Right Stuff" pioneers of the Mercury program and the Apollo astronauts that followed have been told many times, but the experiences of later spacefarers are less well known. This excellent four-part BBC documentary rectified the shortfall by telling the story of the Space Shuttle, Mir, the ISS, and the rise of commercial spaceflight, with compelling (and often entertaining) contributions from the astronauts, cosmonauts, and ground-based participants who experienced it first-hand.

"Once Upon a Time in Space" was, of course, a celebration of the men and women who made it all happen, but also a peek behind the curtain (both iron and metaphorical) of NASA and its Soviet/Russian counterparts. This was a story of bravery, ingenuity, and, inevitably, tragedy (the Challenger and Columbia disasters were both discussed at length), told against a backdrop of rapid political and economic transformation.

2. Pluribus

Cast: Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, Carlos-Manuel Vesga, Miriam Shor | Watch on: Apple TV

Vince Gilligan's place in TV history is assured, as the brains behind both "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul". He also has impeccable sci-fi credentials, having written numerous episodes of "The X-Files" and co-created the short-lived spin-off "The Lone Gunmen". "Pluribus" is the result of that stellar resumé colliding with a big Apple TV budget, and it's proved to be every bit as spectacular as we could have hoped. It's also, according to Apple TV, the platform's most-watched series ever.

This is a highly unconventional alien invasion drama, in which an extra-terrestrial broadcast unleashes a novel virus that… well, makes everybody kind and considerate. "Better Call Saul" star Rhea Seehorn is a revelation as a cynical romantasy author who, unaffected by the infection, became a lone rebel against a billions-strong collective of people who just want to be her friend.

"Pluribus" is slow-burning, beautifully written, and utterly unique — the breakout sci-fi show of 2025.

1. Star Wars: Andor season 2

Cast: Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O'Reilly, Adria Arjona | Watch on: Disney+

"Andor" creator Tony Gilroy never made any secret of where his show was going to end. It didn't matter, however, that we knew the fates of many of the characters, or that existing canon had set many key moments in stone. Few TV shows have ever been as tense or edge-of-the-seat gripping as the second season of this "Rogue One" prequel — "Andor" season 2 was up there with the best "Star Wars" there's ever been.

This was a political thriller in sci-fi clothing, a powerful examination of a corrupt, totalitarian regime that felt timely and relevant despite being set in a galaxy far, far away. But for all the Empire's dastardly deeds, there was still room for hope, as Cassian Andor, Mon Mothma, Luthen Rael, and the other proto-Rebels — the ensemble cast is uniformly brilliant — fought the power against the most impossible odds.

On April12, 1981, NASA's premiere space shuttle Columbia launched into orbit withastronauts John Young and Robert Crippen at the helm, inauguratingthe U.S. shuttle era.

After 25years of spaceflight, NASA's orbiter fleet has sent planetary probes on theirway to Venusand Jupiter,helped astronauts retrieve and repair satellites, launched the Hubble Space Telescope and plays acrucial role in the ongoing construction of the InternationalSpace Station.

But theroad has not been smooth. Two shuttles and 14 astronauts have been lost duringNASA's 1986Challenger accident and the 2003Columbia disaster. NASA's three remaining orbiters are now marked for a2010 retirementto make way for a capsule-based vehicle,heralding the end of the U.S. space plane fleet.

Thefollowing is SPACE.com's coverage of NASA's space shuttle silveranniversary.

For moreon NASA's next space shuttle flight:

• STS-121 Shuttle Commander Confident inJuly Launch Target
• NASA Set for Shuttle Fuel Tank Repair
• Return to Flight: NASA's Road to STS-121
  
• SPACE.com's Collection of Launch and Mission Archives
  

Enjoythese Space Shuttle themed image galleries:

CAPE CANAVERAL - Columbia blastedoff 25 years ago today on NASA's first space shuttle mission. Seems like agood time to roll out my own personal list of shuttle program superlatives. Andthe winners are:

Best shuttle mission: STS-49 in May 1992. Threespacewalking astronauts grabbed an 8,960-pound satellite with gloved hands aftertwo failed attempts to snare it with a $7 million capture bar. First flight ofChallenger replacement orbiter Endeavour. First drag chute landing.

Loneliest astronaut: Pierre Thuot, on the end ofEndeavour's robot arm during that same flight, watching the stranded satellitetumble away from the shuttle after tapping it too hard, for the second time intwo days, with the capture bar.

Best shuttle bar: The Outpost near Johnson SpaceCenter in Houston. A shrine to shuttle astronauts.

Most recognizable shuttleastronaut: John Glenn. Runner-up: Sally Ride.

Best shuttle crew: STS-27 in December 1988. Set tofly a classified military mission, Robert "Hoot" Gibson and his crewwore black masks to a preflight press conference. Asked by reporters abouttheir top-secret payload, Gibson said: "We could tell you, but then we'dhave to kill you."

Best answer in anastronaut candidate job interview: BillShepherd, first commander of the International Space Station. The U.S. NavySEAL was asked what he does best: "Kill people with a knife."

Best crew nicknames: STS-69 in September 1995. Known asDog Crew II, the group included the late Dave "Red Dog" Walker, Ken"Cujo" Cockrell, Jim "Dog Face" Voss, Jim "Pluto"Newman and Michael "Underdog" Gernhardt. The crew wore an alternatemission patch that featured a bulldog peering out of a doghouse shaped like ashuttle. They ate their preflight breakfast from dog bowls. Runner-up: Jean-Francois"Billy-Bob" Clervoy.

Best crew walkout: STS-44 Terminal CountdownDemonstration Test. For a launch-day dress rehearsal one day after Halloween in1991, commander Fred Gregory and his crew wore hairless skullcaps as theydeparted quarters. It was a tribute to bald crewmate Story Musgrave.

Strangest shuttleastronaut: StoryMusgrave. Runner-up: RickSturckow.

Smartest-and-bravestshuttle astronaut:Mir crash survivor MichaelFoale.

Sickest astronaut: "Barfin' " Jake Garn.The U.S. senator from Utah suffered a notorious bout with space adaptationsyndrome on his 1985 flight. Runner-up: J.O. Creighton, who fell illbefore STS-36, delaying the February 1990 launch.

Luckiest astronaut: Dan Bursch, the only astronaut tosurvive two perilous shuttle launch pad aborts (on STS-51 in 1993 and STS-68 in1994).

Tallest astronaut: 6-foot-4 JimWetherbee.

Shortest astronaut: 5-foot NancyCurrie.

Biggest shuttle flier: Russian cosmonaut Valery Ryumin.

Best"astro-couple": Robert"Hoot" Gibson and Rhea Seddon. Runners-up: Mark Lee andJan Davis, who became the first marriedcouple to fly together in space on STS-47 in 1992.

Coolest spacewalk: STS-41B in 1984. Bruce McCandlessand Robert Stewart tested Buck Rogers jet backpacks known as manned maneuveringunits.

Greatest spacewalkingachievement: STS-61in December 1993. An unprecedented five consecutive days of spacewalks wereperformed to repair the
myopic Hubble Space Telescope and outfit the observatory with new scienceinstruments and equipment.

Scariest launch padabort: STS-41D in1984. A fuel valve triggered an engine shutdown four seconds before a plannedlaunch, leading to a propellant leak and a fire with six astronauts aboard.

Scariest launch sincethe 1986 Challenger disaster: STS-93 in 1999.An electrical short crashed two engine computers five seconds after launch,leaving the crew one failure away from a risky emergency landing attempt. Runner-up:STS-114 in 2005. In ahaunting reminder of the 2003 Columbia accident, a one-pound piece of externaltank foam insulation brokefree two minutes after launch, barely missing the shuttle's right wing as theship climbed toward orbit.

Best bullet-dodger: Astronaut Mike Mullane.The first case of solid rocket booster O-ring "blow-by" (which laterdoomed Challenger) was recorded on his first flight, STS-41D in 1984. The mostserious shuttle heat shield damage prior to the Columbia accident was talliedon his second, STS-27 in 1988.

The dreaded do-overaward: STS-73 in1995. The flight was scrubbed six times before blasting off. Three earliermissions (STS-61C, STS-35 and STS-36) each were delayed five times.

Most likely to be sentback to crew quarters: Astronaut Steve Hawley. He endured 11 launch scrubs prior to his fivespace flights.

Best all-astronaut rock'n' roll band: MaxQ.

Worst all-astronaut rock'n' roll band: MaxQ.

Best Elvis impersonator: Max Q lead singer Carl Walz.

Best sticks: Max Q drummer Jim Wetherbee.

Best stick: STS-49 Mission Commander DanBrandenstein. On the 1992 flight, Brandenstein squeezed enough gas out ofEndeavour's tanks to pull off a third rendezvous with a wayward spacecraftafter his crew failed to snare it during two initial attempts. Mission plannershad only budgeted enough propellant for two tries.

Best beer fund: STS-49. Brandenstein's crew wasfined during training for each uttered curse word. As things got hairy duringthe mission, he reminded his crew over open communications loops: "TheEagle Is Listening."

Best crew patch: STS-71 in 1995. Famed aviation andspace artist RobertMcCall designed the patch, which depicted Atlantis and the Russian spacestation Mir converging before a rising sun. The sun symbolized the dawn of anew era in space flight.

Best post-landingpicture: STS-43 in1991. A supermarket tabloid published a doctored photo showing an alien exitingthe shuttle with the astronaut crew.

Most mysterious shuttlemanager: GeorgeAbbey, former director of Flight Crew Operations. His process for selectingastronaut crews: black magic.

Best shuttle-era KennedySpace Center director: Forrest McCartney, who led KSC through the tumultuous post-Challengerrecovery. McCartney was loved and respected on the fourth floor of KSCheadquarters and the shop floor. Runner-up: Jay Honeycutt. A greatmanager and a really nice guy, he also understood the media's role in"telling the NASA story."

Best shuttle launch director: Bob "Part-the-Clouds"Sieck. A former Air Force meteorologist, Sieck's expertise in weather systemsand forecasting came in handy. Unflappable, the iceman also was the verypicture of grace under pressure.

Most accomplished KSCmanager: John J."Tip" Talone Jr. Talone was flow director for Discovery during thepost-Challenger recovery and oversaw the manufacture and delivery ofreplacement orbiter Endeavour. Talone directed ground testing and processingfor International Space Station components before taking on his most recentchallenge: heading the effort to convert KSC back into a moonport.

Most likely to be anastronaut: StephanieStilson, who oversaw ground processing of Discovery for last year's firstpost-Columbia flight.

Best International SpaceStation construction crew: The STS-98astronauts, who deliveredthe U.S. Destinyscience lab to the ISS in February 2001.

Best 2-for-1 deal: STS-83 in 1997. One mission. Twolaunches. Two landings. Led by JimHalsell, the crew cut short a science mission because of a failed fuelcell. NASA launched the crew again in less than three months so their mission(reconstituted as STS-94) could be completed.

Best space taxi driver: STS-71 Commander Robert"Hoot" Gibson. He ferriedtwo Russian cosmonauts to the Mir station and returned to Earth with U.S.astronaut Norman Thagard and two other cosmonauts in 1995.

Best shuttle homeboy: "Booster" BillNelson. A native of Brevard County, Nelson's grandparents homesteaded onland where NASA eventually built the Shuttle LandingFacility. The politician-in-space flew aboard Columbia the mission beforethe Challenger accident.

Best shuttle homegirl: Kay Hire, the first KSC engineer tobe selected as an astronaut. She flew on STS-90, a neuroscience mission, inApril 1998.

Best liftoff line: Launch Commentator Lisa Malone on STS-95with John Glenn onboard in 1998. "Booster ignition and lift-off ofDiscovery with a crew of six astronaut heroes and one American legend."

Best diving catch by alaunch commentator:Bruce Buckingham on the initial STS-68 launch attempt in 1994. "Three,two, one, liiiiiiiiiif-Rendundant Set Launch Sequencer abort."

Most star-crossedmission: STS-35 inDecember 1990. Repeatedly delayed during a six-month period by diabolical fuelleaks. Shuttle toilet broke in orbit.

Weirdest scienceexperiment: STS-58in 1993, the headless rat mission. A guillotine-like "rodentdispatcher" was used to "fix" rats in orbit as part of a lifesciences study.

Worst summer: 1990, also known as the "summerof discontent." Within a period of about 72 hours, NASA announced the Hubble Space Telescope was launchedwith a misshapen mirror and also grounded its shuttle fleet because ofmysterious fuel leaks.

Weirdest launch delay: STS-70 in 1995. Set to launch onthe historic 100th U.S. human space flight, the mission was delayed afterYellow Shafted Flicker Woodpeckers drilled dozens of holes in external tankfoam insulation. The shuttle was returned to its assembly building for repairs.The mission ultimately became the 101st U.S. human space flight.

Best prelaunch astronautprayer:"Please, God, don't let me screw up."

Publishedunder license from FLORIDATODAY. Copyright © 2006 FLORIDA TODAY. No portion of this material may be reproducedin any way without the written consent of FLORIDATODAY.

CAPE CANAVERAL - No onereally expected the first space shuttle to fly on April 12, 25 years ago.

It was only the secondcountdown for Columbia. A computer glitch scrubbed the first attempt two daysearlier. After struggling through the ship's creation, workers and astronautsalike were sure several more counts were in the works.

Then it got down to thelast minute.

Pilot Bob Crippenand Commander John Youngwere the only two people aboard, taking the highly unusual risk of riding avehicle that had never taken an unmanned test flight.

Crippen turned to Young."I think we might do it!"

When the engines and solidrocket boosters lit, Gene Beckett could see the shock wave rolling across thegrass toward where he stood outside the Vehicle Assembly Building at KennedySpace Center.

"It physically movesyour skin, your clothes and everything else, when you get that initial thunderwhen those SRBs light," said Beckett, now director of United SpaceAlliance's Florida Program Office.

In the launch controlcenter, chief shuttle project engineer Bob Sieck and his colleagues hugged oneanother, shook hands and waved flags.

"The marathon that ittook to get us to that point . . . it was just lost in the euphoria thatovercame us," said Sieck, who lives in Viera. "We actually pulled itoff, and it worked."

It wasn't easy.

The new ship

Crippen became an astronautin 1969. He saw the end of the Apollo moon program in 1972 and thought he wouldfly a lot sooner than 1981.

"The space shuttlemain engines were having problems," he said. "We had a lot of blowupon the test stand, and of course that's something you don't want to happen, sowe were busy working those. And also, our infamous tiles, the shuttle heatprotection system, would not adhere to the vehicle very good."

Since the foam that coatedthe external fuel tank was expected to pop off, engineers wanted to understandhow dangerous it would be to the tiles. So Sieck provided a testing tool -- hisrace car. With an array of tiles on the rollbar, he would drive at 100 mph ormore under a structure on the shuttle landing strip, running the tiles intoslabs of foam until they broke.

Apollo veteran Beckett, wholives on Merritt Island, was charged with keeping track of the ship's partsafter it arrived at KSC from Boeing's plant in Palmdale, Calif. "Withoutcomputers, we'd have never been able to do it," he said.

This was no"gumdrop" capsule like Apollo had been. "All of a sudden, we hadtires, we had wheels, and we had wings, and we had elevons and control surfacesand payload bay doors."

The new systems neededdocumentation. Gary Henderson of Melbourne, now with United Space Alliance'sprocurement office, was hired to write instruction manuals. "I have noidea what they're talking about," he told his wife after the first day."They all speak in acronyms. I'm never going to learn this."

He stuck with it,deciphered the technology and listened to the doubts of the steely-eyed missilemen who had sent astronauts to the moon.

"I can remember theApollo guys sitting next to me and saying, 'This isn't going to work.' Theywere ready to go back to a single stick at that point."

Tile damage

Crippen and Young trainedendlessly, for any problem they thought they could do something about.

"People at Kennedy hadreally done great work on the vehicle," Young said at Kennedy Space CenterVisitor Complex on Friday. ". . . We spent lots of weeks down here wherewe were in the vehicle learning every switch and circuit breaker and what itdid and operating it, and so it was a lot of fun."

Crippen's only worry wasthat he might mess up.

"All of our previousspace launch vehicles had been flown unmanned before we put people on them, sothis was a test pilot's dream to get to fly this flight," Crippen said.

Crippen, a Navy pilot,compares the launch to a catapult shot off an aircraft carrier. The ascentwasn't violent, he said, but "any time you go from sitting on the pad togoing to 17,500 mph in eight and a half minutes, it's a pretty excitingride."

On orbit, they saw aproblem.

Ignition of the solidrocket boosters had prompted a pressure wave -- later mitigated by changes tothe water sound suppression system -- that caused Columbia to loseheat-shield tiles.

Nonetheless, the orbiter,which had launched on the 20th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic flight, landedwith aplomb at Edwards Air Force Base in California on April 14. The peopleat KSC were exhilarated, but there was no way they would launch 24 times ayear, as the hype would have it.

"There wasn't aquestion in my mind that somebody didn't understand how complicated thisvehicle was to maintain," Beckett said.

Legacy

NASA hopes the three-shipfleet will finish building the InternationalSpace Station by the time they retirein 2010.

Even so, the shuttle has alegacy, and it's already taught lessons for the designers and operators ofNASA's next spaceships.

"In hindsight, we'dhave made it simpler," Sieck said. "It's got a lot of good featuresin it and lots of redundancy, but it was designed to be a multipurpose vehiclefor any kind of customer. . . . As a result, we have a very complex vehicle,and it's very heavy, and we don't have the customers for a lot of itscapability today."

Fourteen astronauts and twoships are lost -- Challengerin 1986 and Columbia in2003. NASA still wrestles with the dangers and implications of the lattertragedy. The accident inspired new goals considered worthy of the risk: flyingto the moon and Mars.

"That represents a seachange in American space policy for the first time in more than three decades,so that truly is the legacy of the Columbia crew to me," NASAAdministrator Mike Griffin said.

The decision to build ashuttle, to "retreat back to low-Earth orbit" after flying to themoon, is now regarded as a policy mistake, he said.

Even so, people look backand see a technological wonder that deployed scientific observatories such asthe Hubble Space Telescope. "Italso put up a number of Department of Defense satellites that I believe helpedus win the Cold War," said Crippen, who flew four missions.

The ship enabled thedevelopment of a broad range of capabilities in space, said astronaut KenBowersox, director of flight crew operations. "We've dabbled in a lot ofareas, and we've exposed a very large number of people to spaceflight."

It's also a workhorse thatmade the International Space Station possible, Henderson said.

"When we got backdown," Crippen said, "John said it was, I guess, like the world'sgreatest all-electric flying machine, that we'd never built anything like itbefore, and I'm not sure we will afterwards."

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