The Expanse Video Game Disappoints With Outdated Design Philosophy

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a sci-fi action game based on the popular television series, plays more like a third-person shooter reminiscent of Gears of War rather than the narrative-driven Mass Effect successor many anticipated. Set between seasons one and two of the show, the game tasks players with infiltrating a corporate space station to delete incriminating data while facing soldiers and mutant creatures. Despite the rich source material from nine novels and six acclaimed TV seasons, the hands-on demo suggests the game prioritizes action over storytelling and character development.

The game positions itself as a prequel to the television series, taking place between the show's first and second seasons while drawing from the broader novel canon. Players control a protagonist and her twin as they attempt a covert infiltration mission aboard a corporate space station, with the primary objective of destroying digital evidence related to a cargo ship theft. The developer has emphasized environmental design and world-building as central to player immersion, suggesting that narrative depth emerges through spatial storytelling rather than traditional dialogue-driven gameplay.