Star Trek has explored far more than traditional science fiction across its six-decade history, moving through romance, mystery, courtroom drama, comedy and occasional horror. The franchise’s newer series have also shown a greater willingness to experiment with tone.
That experimentation will continue in 2027 with Star Trek: Shadow Frontier, a psychological horror game from Bloober Team and Paramount Games Studio. The project will draw on the unsettling science fiction of Alien, Resident Evil and Dead Space, while bringing back a familiar face from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Ro Laren returns in Star Trek: Shadow Frontier
Developed by Silent Hill 2 and Cronos: The New Dawn studio Bloober Team, Shadow Frontier is described as a new science fiction psychological thriller set on a mysterious, uncharted planet.
The game stars Ro Laren, the Bajoran officer known to TNG viewers for her frequent clashes with Starfleet. Michelle Forbes will reprise the role she originated.
Ro reaches the planet after crash-landing while responding to a distress call. The world is presented as a vast spaceship graveyard where appearances cannot be trusted. As Ro investigates its corrupted surface and encounters other survivors, she will face twisted creatures, an aggressive ecosystem and an entity intent on consuming both her body and mind.
A darker direction for the Star Trek game universe
The announcement teaser keeps many details hidden, but it establishes a stark change of pace for Star Trek. Bloober Team’s previous work on psychological horror, including Observer and Cronos: The New Dawn, makes the studio a logical fit for this more threatening interpretation of the franchise.
Paramount Games Studio’s head of creative and production, Shawn Kittelsen, said the team admired Bloober’s atmospheric and immersive approach. He said the partnership was intended to respect Star Trek while moving it into bold new territory.
Bloober Team CEO Piotr Babieno described the developer as a lifelong science fiction fan and said the project would combine that passion with the studio’s horror expertise. The aim, he said, is an adventure that honours Star Trek while adding a distinct dark psychological-thriller layer.
For readers interested in the wider arcade and gaming news, the project is a notable example of a major science fiction property taking inspiration from modern horror games rather than conventional action-adventure design.
Release platforms and other Bloober Team projects
Star Trek: Shadow Frontier is scheduled for release in 2027 on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC and Xbox Series X.
Bloober Team is also working on an asymmetric multiplayer horror game based on the Saw franchise, a remake of the original Silent Hill and Layers of Fear 3.
The game’s focus on atmosphere and psychological tension may also appeal to players who enjoy dedicated arcade shooting games, although Shadow Frontier is being positioned as a story-driven horror experience rather than a traditional arcade shooter. Those planning a home gaming setup can compare options in RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide or browse arcade cabinets.
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