Natural Selection 2

Natural Selection 2

Unknown Worlds Entertainment · 2012 · Multiplayer, Strategy, FPS, Team-Based, Action

PC
Very Positive85% · 8,62180Metacritic75playing now
Best price 38 Fair price
$2.47-51%
$4.99lowest tracked $0.99
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Trailers & screenshots

About Natural Selection 2

✦ AI summary

Lead a team of marines or alien lifeforms in this hybrid first-person shooter and real-time strategy game where commanders direct the battlefield from above while squads battle for territorial control. Choose your side and evolve unique abilities, from wall-running Skulks to jetpack-equipped marines, all supported by commander-placed structures and tactical resources in this constantly updated, moddable multiplayer experience.


Natural Selection 2 pits alien against human in an action-packed struggle for survival. Wield devastating weaponry as a Frontiersman marine, or become the xenomorph as a deadly Kharaa lifeform.

Strategy Meets Shooter



Natural Selection 2 is a First Person Shooter and Real Time Stategy game rolled into one! Each team, alien and human, has a Commander. The Commander looks down on the battlefield and issues orders, places structures, collects resources, researches technology, and deploys abilities.

Here are some gameplay examples: A human Commander could drop health packs and ammunition to a trapped marine squad, and deploy sentry guns to help them defend their position. Or an alien Commander could grow a new Hive to spread infestation throughout newly captured territory, allowing more alien eggs to spawn...

Two Unique Sides



Aliens players choose to evolve into one of five lifeforms: The fast, fearsome Skulk can run on walls and deliver massive damage with its jaws. Lerks fly and deploy gasses to support their teammates in battle. Gorges heal other lifeforms and build tunnels, hydra turrets, walls, and other tactical structures. Fades blink in and out of battle, picking off marines with giant scythes. Finally, the giant Onos is so massive and so tough, that even entire marine squads can't take it down.

Marines wield rifles, shotguns, grenade launchers, pistols, and other weapons. Cluster grenades can clear ventilation shafts of sneaky Skulks, flamethrowers make short work of alien structures and infestation, and boosts dropped by the Commander increase combat effectiveness.

When attacking on foot doesn't cut it, marines can construct hulking Exosuits wielding miniguns and railguns, and equip jetpacks for high speed assaults on alien Hives.

Long Term Development



Natural Selection 2 receives constant updates. This year, 2019, Unknown Worlds continues to develop new features, content, and improvements.

Mod Tools Come Standard



Natural Selection 2 comes with all the tools we used to make the game. All game code is open source. That means you can create, and play, an endless variety of mods. Publish, share, and download mods from the Steam Workshop, and automatically download mods when you join modded games.

Digital Deluxe Edition



Digital Deluxe Edition includes:
  • Official Soundtrack - 1 hour of tribal, industrial music composed by David John and Simon Chylinski
  • Digital Art Book - 40+ pages of art by Cory Strader, including environments, creatures, weapons and more
  • Exclusive in-game marine model - Exclusive in-game marine model - A new marine model with custom visor and armor plating
  • Exclusive Wallpapers and Avatars - Unique views of the NS2 universe by Amanda Diaz

DLC & expansions

🎁 Complete the collection

Base game + 9 of 10 DLC at today's best prices (some DLC unpriced).

$55.38
to own everything

What Steam players say

Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.

✦ AI summary

Natural Selection 2 is praised by dedicated fans as a strategically deep and uniquely fun multiplayer shooter with a commander system that sets it apart, though it suffers from high CPU demands and a declining playerbase that limits accessibility. Players consistently lament that the game feels dead despite its quality, while some note that alternative games like Tremulous and Unvanquished offer similar concepts with different mechanics, making NS2's current state a missed opportunity given its low price point and loyal remaining community.

Recommended Jul 10, 2026
I haven't been able to play this game in forever since this game is heavy on CPU usage, I think it's good but honestly Tremulous and Unvanquished does the same concept except way better (for starters, there isn't a commander system and multiple people can take on building structures), only issue with both though is that barely any people play Trem or Unvq so Natural Selection 2 might still be pleasing to some people, 100+ people still play this game daily as per SteamDB. NS2 is 5 euros and goes on sale for 1 euro, if you like multiplayer shooter games I'd suggest to give this a try
3 found this helpful
Recommended Jul 5, 2026
MAKE NATURAL SELECTION 3 AND MY LIFE IS YOURS
2 found this helpful
Recommended Jul 5, 2026
subnautica prequel
1 found this helpful
Recommended Jul 17, 2026
One of the best games ever made. Damn shame it's dead as hell. Damn, damn, damn shame.
Recommended Jul 9, 2026
kicked for smurfing (3 hours on the game)
Recommended Jul 6, 2026
Best game ever made!! I just hope the devs will let me collab with them to create Natural Selection 3 one day. Been playing NS since I was a kid modding my half-life to play this game. Nothing comes close to this game as far as the level of strategy and just the amount of fun you can have fighting battles with people. I love this game so much.

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