Alien: Isolation is one of the best sci-fi horror experiences based on the Alien movie franchise. Not only are players put up against Facehuggers and a Xenomorph, but the game faithfully recreates the ominous and eerie atmosphere of the original film.
While the game can lead to a truly nightmarish experience, it also offers a surprising amount of Easter eggs and references to the Alien series. If that wasn’t enough, Alien: Isolation also references other movies and video games!
10 The Opening Credits
The original Alien film had an eerie opening title sequence that set the tone for the movie. During the credits, foreboding music plays while the letters slowly form the word “Alien.”
A similar sequence plays out at the start of the game, except it is an extreme close-up of the letters as they spell out “Alien: Isolation.” On top of that, Ellen Ripley gives her mission report from the first movie’s events over the credits, directly calling back to the 1979 film.
9 Hypersleep
After the opening credits, Amanda Ripley is visited by Christopher Samuels as he invited her to go to Sevastopol Station with him to find her mother, Ellen. He offers her a free ride on the USCSS Torrens. While Amanda is reluctant to go with him at first, she accepts his invitation.
Amanda wakes from Hypersleep on the Torrens in the next scene, where the player can roam around and explore. Alien fans will recognize the Hypersleep chambers Amanda wakes from as these appear in several Alien films, including the original.
8 Game And Watch
Alien: Isolation does not limit itself to simple Alien references. It also nods to other video game companies and properties. Players can find one of these references in the Hypersleep Chamber area on the Torrens.
As soon as players step out of the chamber, they can look down to find a device that resembles Nintendo’s handheld Game & Watch games. This is an odd Easter egg to include in an Alien game, but it is a nice nod to Nintendo and their fans.
7 James Cameron! Or Is It?
Right next to the Game & Watch device, a magazine is open to a page with a picture of a man. The man looks strikingly similar to director James Cameron who directed Aliens in 1986.
Whether this is James Cameron or not is up to debate with fans among the Alien: Isolation community. It would make sense for the game to shout out one of the directors in the franchise, especially the man who directed one of the most popular films in the franchise.
6 Wall-E And The Pixar Lamp
After leaving the Hypersleep Chamber area, the player can explore the Torrens. They will come across a common area with a bathroom, several beds, lockers, and terminals. In the center of this room is a table with two objects that resemble items from Pixar Animations.
The lamp on the countertop looks similar to the iconic lamp from the Pixar logo. On the edge of the counter, there is a miniature figurine that resembles Wall-E. Another questionable Easter egg, but who doesn’t love some Pixar?
5 Drinking Bird Toys
During the original Alien movie, viewers can see small drinking bird toys throughout the Nostromo. In fact, they can be found throughout the series as they pop up in Aliens, Aliens 3, and Alien: Covenant. Somehow, this little toy became a staple of the Aliens franchise.
The drinking birds even show up throughout Alien: Isolation. Players can find plenty of these colorful toys throughout the Torrens and Sevastopol. The first one that appears in the game is in the Hypersleep Chamber area.
4 Origami Unicorn
Much like how the magazine at the start of the game paid homage to James Cameron, origami unicorns throughout the game reference another director integral to the Alien franchise. The unicorns reference Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott, who also directed the first Alien movie.
The origami unicorn in the film alluded to Deckard’s identity as a replicant. Replicants are androids in the Blade Runner universe, and players can find the origami unicorns near synthetics in the game—a very clever Easter egg for fans of both series.
3 The Alien Queen
Sevastopol is the target of a horrific Xenomorph infestation. There are many xenomorph eggs throughout the station. This begs the question: who is laying these eggs? Typically, Queens would lay the eggs, but there is no Queen in the game. At least, not explicitly.
There are many hints of a Queen on the station throughout the game, but the player never encounters it. Some players claim to hear the growls and screams of the Queen. The game developers have confirmed there is a Queen on Sevastopol, but they chose not to show her to subvert expectations of players who expected a fight against a Queen.
2 Cat On Board
During the second mission, players have to walk through a hallway that leads to the primary airlock from the baggage claim area. While in this hallway, platers can make out a cat meowing in the distance. As players get closer to the primary airlock, the cat abruptly stops meowing.
This could be a reference to Jonesy, the cat in the original Alien film. However, it is most likely Hughes’ cat as he mentions the cat in a computer log. This cat could still be paying homage to Jonesy, but it is a shame that it presumably meets a terrible fate at the hands of a Xenomorph.
1 Ash And The Magazine
When Ripley discovers the plan for the Nostromo in the original film, Ash attempts to suffocate her by forcing a rolled-up magazine down her throat. While it is an odd way to kill someone, Ash’s unique technique is featured in Alien: Isolation.
While walking through Sevastopol, players will come across many hostile Working Joe synthetics. Alistair Smythe, the Head of Synthetic Development, is ironically killed by a Working Joe with the magazine stuffing method, an obvious callback to Ash from the movie.
NEXT: 15 Best Co-Op Games On Xbox Game Pass
