STAR TREK Heads Into Psychological Horror and Deep Space Colony Building With Two New Games; Watch the Trailers
Star Trek fans got a pair of major surprises during Summer Game Fest, and neither one is what most people would have expected.
While the future of the franchise on television and in theaters remains a bit uncertain, the gaming side of Star Trek is suddenly looking very exciting. Two completely different games were announced, one taking the franchise into psychological horror territory and the other offering a massive colony-building adventure set among the stars.
The first reveal came from Paramount Game Studios, which announced Star Trek: Shadow Frontier. The game is being developed by Bloober Team, the studio known for its work in psychological horror, including the acclaimed Silent Hill 2 remake.
Described as a "mature, story-driven 3rd person action-adventure," Shadow Frontier puts players in the role of Ro Laren, one of the most beloved recurring characters in the franchise. This time, she's on a dangerous mission to save an old friend while confronting some very personal demons along the way.
The official description reads: “After crashing onto a distant planet overtaken by a strange consciousness, Ro Laren must survive in an environment that is as breathtaking as it is lethal.
“In true Star Trek fashion, Ro’s mission is driven by duty and purpose. But here, discovery comes at a terrible cost. The more she uncovers, the deeper she is pulled into a corrupted labyrinth where her memories twist and the planet threatens to sever her connection to reality.
“Only by solving the mysteries of this strange world can Ro hope to make peace with the demons of her past, boldly going into the heart of darkness like never before. “
The trailer immediately sets a very different tone from what fans typically associate with Star Trek. It leans into mystery, isolation, and psychological tension, making it one of the most unusual projects the franchise has attempted in gaming.
If Shadow Frontier explores the darker corners of the galaxy, the second game takes players in the opposite direction.
Star Trek: Outposts Unknown comes from publisher Playstack and developer Magic Fuel Games, and it blends narrative-driven storytelling with large-scale colony management. Imagine a Star Trek adventure mixed with the city-building mechanics of SimCity.
Rather than simply constructing bases in a sandbox environment, Outposts Unknown features an original story set during the 23rd century, the same era featured in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Players will venture into the X’Lehari System, explore new worlds, meet original characters, and use familiar Starfleet technology to help a vulnerable civilization facing a looming disaster.
The game already has a playable demo available, giving fans an early taste of the story. Players will encounter the mysterious anomaly at the center of the narrative before traveling to the planet Daegus, where the colony-building mechanics begin to take shape.
Outposts Unknown is scheduled to launch in 2026, while Shadow Frontier is targeting a 2027 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
It's a fascinating one-two punch for the franchise. One game embraces survival horror and psychological storytelling, while the other focuses on exploration, diplomacy, and building a future among the stars. Together, they showcase just how much creative ground Star Trek can still cover.
Check out both trailers and let us know which game has your attention.