ActionFit check
Is Project AETHER: First Contact worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- Arcade shooter fans who want tactical weapon choices
- Players seeking a compact sci-fi campaign with boss encounters
- PC players who want user-created missions alongside built-in modes
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players seeking a long campaign may find the nine-level structure concise
- Those wanting character progression or exploration beyond shooter combat may find the format focused
- Players uninterested in boss fights, survival challenges, or leaderboard play may have fewer reasons to revisit it
Our take on Project AETHER: First Contact
The defining mechanic is the EMP chain reaction: damaging enemies primes them for a blast that can destroy nearby ships, turning enemy positioning into part of each encounter.
What is Project AETHER: First Contact?
Project AETHER: First Contact is a rhythmic, tactical space shooter set against an alien threat in the solar system.
Players control the AETHER mech through 9 levels, each ending with a boss encounter. Combat supports ranged weapons such as an assault rifle, railgun, and particle beam, as well as close-range sword attacks. Damaged enemies can become primed for an EMP blast that destroys them and nearby ships. The mech's weapon loadout can be customized for different combat approaches. Beyond the main campaign, boss rush and survival modes add structured challenges with leaderboards. Players can also build and upload custom missions through Steam Workshop, then play community-created levels. Multiple difficulty options provide different challenge levels.
How Project AETHER: First Contact plays
- 01Custom Mech Loadouts
- Weapon choices include rapid-fire, high-impact, concentrated-beam, and close-range options.
- 02EMP Chain Blasts
- Primed enemies can trigger explosions that also destroy nearby ships.
- 03Additional Challenge Modes
- Boss rush and survival modes include leaderboard competition.
- 04Community Missions
- Players can create, upload, and play missions through Steam Workshop.
- 05Variable Difficulty
- Several settings cover more forgiving play and higher challenge levels.
Games like Project AETHER: First Contact
Action
ActionKebab it Up!
Bidoniera GamesFor:Action players who want obstacle-based level challengesSkip if:Players seeking exploration across varied environments may find the street-chase structure narrow.
ActionStar Hunter DX
Chorus Worldwide GamesFor:Bullet-hell fans who want high-risk scoring decisionsSkip if:Players seeking a relaxed shooter may find the old-school difficulty and dense enemy fire demanding
ActionRetaliate
Romans I XVI GamingFor:Fans of retro space shooters who want to collect enemy weapons during playSkip if:Players seeking ammunition and a full arsenal from the beginning may dislike the starting constraintPicked by overlapping fit notes and genres, not an editorial comparison.
Project AETHER: First Contact: platforms & release
Is Project AETHER: First Contact worth it?
It is worth it if: arcade shooter fans who want tactical weapon choices. Skip it if: players seeking a long campaign may find the nine-level structure concise.
Where can I download Project AETHER: First Contact?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens Project AETHER: First Contact's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is Project AETHER: First Contact on?
Windows only.
