The Best Order to Play Dead Space Games
Dead Space is one of the most well-known survival horror video games franchises. Set in sci-fi, deep space environments, it features scary adventures in which the player character, Isaac Clarke, has to overcome multiple challenges. Dead Space games feature an action horror gameplay, in which the horror atmosphere is balanced with action combat gameplay, including diverse weapons, items and upgrades throughout the games. The difficulty can also be increased for players looking for a greater challenge.
The first Dead Space game, released in 2008, introduces the gameplay and environment elements that will be seen throughout the series: sci-fi environments, scary monsters and moments of deep space silence. Due to these distinct elements, Dead Space is a refreshing horror game experience. The gameplay in Dead Space consists of third-person action, while traversing the corridors of spaceships, space stations and the like. Dead Space features dark locations, zero-gravity environments and a well-developed story. In Dead Space (2008), engineer Isaac Clarke is tasked of repairing the spaceship USG Ishimura, a mining vessel.
Dead Space video games feature a very unique atmosphere and identity in the video games industry, combining the dark, sci-fi environments the series is known for with scary monsters and engineering tasks. While the main character, Isaac, is tasked with engineering objectives, these tasks are not complicated, and instead add to the immersion of the game and of the character. There are many details in the game environments, as well as audio logs that expand the backstory and help to explain the events of each game. The weapon upgrades also feel rewarding for players who select higher difficulties for a more challenging combat and survival experience. In Dead Space, players need to manage their inventories, keeping their supply of health items as well as ammunition, while surviving the horror environments of the series.
Is There a Story Connection Between Dead Space Games?
The Dead Space video games are set in the same universe and continuity. The main games tell the story of engineer Isaac Clarke, while other games tell stories that are related to the locations and events of Dead Space. For this reason, playing the Dead Space games in story order is suggested for players who want to have a more comprehensive experience in the story development of the series, while at the same time having a better immersion in the Dead Space games universe. While playing the games of the franchise in story order is not necessary to enjoy the gameplay, it could greatly affect how the story is experienced by the players, specially considering that the games are connected to each other, story-wise, in particular the main games.
It is important to note that the order in which the Dead Space games were released is not necessarily the best chronological story order to play the games to understand the story development. For example, while Dead Space (2008) was the first game released in the Dead Space franchise, a subsequent game, Dead Space: Extraction, released in 2009, actually takes place before the events of Dead Space (2008). For this reason, story-wise, it makes more sense to play Dead Space: Extraction before playing Dead Space (2008). This is only one example of why the story order can be very different from the release order.
The Story Timeline Order of Dead Space Video Games
This is the chronological story order of the Dead Space video games, also the suggested order to play these games to have a better story experience of the Dead Space universe. Playing in this order will help players better understand the story development, the backstory of each game, the context and motives of various characters, and also better immerse in the Dead Space games. It is important to note that this chronological story order is not the same as the order of release dates of the games. The order presented in this list is the most reasonable order in which to play the Dead Space games in regards to story.
Dead Space: Extraction
Dead Space (2008)
Dead Space (2011)
Dead Space Ignition
Dead Space 2
Dead Space 3
Dead Space (2011) and Dead Space Ignition seem to take place at a very approximate time. However, considering the story events that develop in each game, I've decided to include Dead Space (2011) before Dead Space Ignition, because, in my opinion, if played in this order, the story events of Dead Space will make more sense than if played in another order (such as playing Dead Space Ignition before the 2011 Dead Space game).
Dead Space (2022) is a remake of Dead Space (2008), and tells the same story. Considering that these two games tell the same story, I've decided to include only Dead Space (2008) in this chronological story order of Dead Space games that I've written, to keep things simple. However, it should be noted that both Dead Space (2008) and Dead Space (2022) games feature the same story, and for this reason they can be considered interchangeable in a story order playthrough. In other words, you can either play Dead Space (2008) or Dead Space (2022) for the same story experience.
The Story Timeline Order of Dead Space Video Games
For horror games fans and Dead Space fans, I've written a list that organizes Dead Space games in chronological order and also adds the year in which each game takes place. Consulting this list is helpful to have a better notion of Dead Space story events, story development, and the Dead Space universe. While this order is essentially the same as the chronological story order of Dead Space games, the inclusion of the years of the games in this list can be quite immersive to understanding the order of events of the Dead Space universe.
2508 Dead Space: Extraction
2508 Dead Space (2008)
2510 Dead Space (2011)
2510 Dead Space Ignition
2511 Dead Space 2
2514 Dead Space 3
In the specific case of Dead Space (2022), considering that this game is a remake of Dead Space (2008), Dead Space (2022) should be considered to take place at exactly the same time as Dead Space (2008), since these two games tell the same story. In other words, they are two different games that tell the same story, and for this reason, both of these games can be considered to happen at the same time. Since Dead Space (2008) happens in 2508, so too does Dead Space (2022) happen in 2508. In this Dead Space timeline list that includes the year in which each game takes place, Dead Space (2008) and Dead Space (2022) are interchangeable.
If you are interested in the story timeline order of horror video games, you may also be interested in checking out the story timeline orders of Outlast, Resident Evil and Silent Hill,
Sources of Research: