The game's plot revolves around Isaac Clarke, a space engineer who works for the Concordance Extraction Corporation (C.E.C), a company that repairs "giant mining ships". His company receives a distress call from the USG Ishimura, a “Planet Cracker” class ship that takes dead planets, and destroys them to extract valuable ore for the company. In the assumption that the ship has had a mechanical failure, Isaac gathers coworkers Lt. Zach Hammond, security officer, and Kendra Daniels, local Tech specialist. As they set out to meet with the ship upon the cruiser class Kellion, they soon realize that this is no ordinary distress call. The team soon finds that the ship has been overrun by a mysterious alien race. After boarding the ship, the Isaac Clarke is separated from his party and this routine check becomes a race for his life

Gameplay:
During the game, the player is trying to learn what went wrong on the mission, perhaps to come to grips with their own fate. The alien infestation factor becomes clear early on when the player sees a hovering yellow space slug barf white puss into the mouth of a screaming soldier who melts under the corrosive fluid into a deformed, deranged alien beast. Then, when the melted, slimy ex-man shambles towards the player, quivering with tentacles and cannibalistic intent, the survival half of the horror then kicks into the game. As the player unloads his weapons on the enemy, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary nemesis. Taking off it's head, it's arm or it's leg is not going to stop it. The player's only hope, as he makes his way about repairing the ship, is to cut the creatures up completely before they make you one of them.

Weapons,armor, and abilities
Plasma Cutter: One of the mining tools that Clarke uses. Works great on most enemies for severing heads, arms, legs and the like. However, dismembering certain villains will cause interesting results. Like cutting the leg off of one creature may disable it, while doing the same to another, will cause it to adapt, running on all three toward you. In some cases, by cutting off the head, instead of getting an instant kill, an alien like figure pops out of the neck and latches on to Isaac. Another enemy the "pregnant," will let loose a horde of bat-like creatures from its belly to attack you if hit. The Plasma Cutter has a laser sight, which is three blue lines. It also has a hologram panel with the remaining ammo.

Stasis Gun: Can slow time, but only for the object you have targeted, not the whole game

Isaac's suit: Clarke's suit is rather interesting, because it's more than just a futuristic space suit. It ties itself into the ship's network and automatically updates him with surrounding information, such as item details, holographic video transmissions and computer stations. It also tracks Isaac's health with a highlighted energy bar that runs along his spine, keeping players in the action of the game without having to pause and access a menu screen. The suit also comes with its own air supply, which will be key for sections of the ship that have decompressed, and gravity boots, which will keep Clarke attached to the hull or other sections of the ship.

Item Modification: Clarke will also be able to take his engineering skill and modify his acquired arsenal with extra equipment to be more powerful in battle. For instance, he will modify items to create a kinetic movement gun as well as an item that places an opponent in a temporary stasis field.

Kinesis: Kinesis is another unique feature that allows you to pick up and or throw objects in your surroundings. When running low on ammo, it is a great power to have as you can pick up fallen foe and use them as weapons towards the oncoming enemies.