Predator: Hunting Grounds (XSX) Review

If it bleeds…you know the rest.

As a big fan of the Alien and Predator franchises I am always over the moon when either get a new video game announced. And finally, the game Predator: Hunting Grounds is coming to the Xbox and PS5 that pits a team of four players against a Predator in a variety of intense missions. Originally released on PC and PS4, the game has now been upgraded and released for Xbox Series X and PS5, offering enhanced visuals, improved performance, and new features that make it a standout title on these next-gen consoles.

The core gameplay loop in Predator: Hunting Grounds remains just as thrilling and engaging as I recall; I have over 100 hours of hunting time on the PS4 game. Players can choose to be part of the Fireteam, who will be tasked with completing objectives in random areas across the map. Some of these objectives will see the team need to take out a terrorist group, or gather samples of contaminated water; before each match the team will be briefed by their handler who acts as the announcer as well. Each of these missions become more complicated by the arrival of the Predator, whose job it is to hunt down the team and claim their skulls as trophies. The asymmetrical nature of the game creates a unique and dynamic experience, with each match feeling different and unpredictable; which I love about this game.

MSRP: $19.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $19.99

The Fireteam members all play similarly to most FPS games on the market. Players will create loadouts that consist of a primary and secondary weapon. Players will find some assault, snipers and the like but don’t expect a selection anywhere near as deep as a CoD game but its more than enough to deal with less-than smart AI soldiers or the human-controlled Predator. In addition to their weapons the fireteam members can select various perks that will aid them in survival, as they level up more will become availability. These can include traits like cutting down ADS time, or making the player stay muddy longer; thus, being able to hide their body temperature from the Predator.

The Predator players will also be able to set up loadouts before each hunt. Of course, their selection of weaponry is all super advanced and in most cases nods to the films. The Predator has its plasma cannon shoulder blaster replete with its triangular targeting beam as well as the spear like weapon, the smart disc from Predator 2 and a host of other weapons from the other films. Not only that, there are a TON of Predator versions to choose from, if you have seen them in a movie they are here; including the Feral predator from the latest film Prey.

Look, I’m gonna level with you all, we joke on the ZTGD Podcast a lot about these times of games and the life cycle of them. Being exclusive is going to limit ANY audience for a game that requires other players to actually be played. But 4 years later and Predator is being ported with cross-play; which should help it last longer. Sadly, there isn’t any cross-progression so I wasn’t able to use my account from my PS4. I mentioned above about all of the various Predators, well there are also DLC versions that players can buy. But whats missing from this version is the Fireteam skins; on the Sony version of the game players can purchase a Dutch 2025 skin as well as an Isabelle skin.

Fans of the films will recognize those names as Dutch is the main character who was famously portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Isabelle, was played by actress Alice Braga in the 2010 Predators film. Both skins in the game are voiced and modeled by each actor, in Dutch’s case they even have gone as far as to have audio tapes going back to the 80’s where he is chronicling his new found job in Predator hunting. The issue is that for some reason these skins aren’t available outside of the Sony versions. So as of this writing I don’t know if these will ever come to the other consoles but Dutch’s tapes ARE available to listen too as players level up; which is something, I guess.

I already loved this game on PS4 and now that IllFonic has been freed from the Sony exclusivity; Predator: Hunting Grounds for the Series X and PS5 feels like such an improvement over the original. With its upgraded visuals, enhanced performance and engaging gameplay, it offers an exciting experience to the asymmetrical genre. If you are a fan of the Predator franchise then this should already be on your list, but even if you just want a thrilling multiplayer shooter, Predator: Hunting Grounds is worth checking out.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Great use of the Predator license
  • Playing as the Predator or the Fireteam is fun
  • Upgrades with the next-gen versions are great
Bad
  • No Fireteam skins outside of Sony
  • No single player mode at all
8
Great
Written by
Terrence spends his time going where no one has gone before mostly. But when not planning to take over the galaxy, he spends his time raising Chocobo and trying to figure out just how the sarlaac could pull Boba Fett’s ship with its engines firing FULL BLAST into it’s maw with relative ease; yet it struggled with Han Solo who was gripping *checks notes* SAND!