Prey (2017) is an immersive sim set aboard Talos I, a space station orbiting the Moon that's been overrun by shape-shifting alien organisms called Typhon. As Morgan Yu, you choose between human abilities and alien Typhon powers via Neuromods, fundamentally changing how you approach every encounter and puzzle. The entire station is an interconnected open world you can explore in any order, with multiple solutions to every obstacle. The GLOO Cannon alone enables dozens of creative approaches by creating platforms, blocking hazards, and immobilizing enemies.
Starting Prey can feel overwhelming. This guide tells you exactly what to focus on during your first hours so you don't waste time on things that don't matter yet.
What Kind of Game Is This?
Prey is a fps game built around Neuromod skill trees and GLOO Cannon physics. The core loop involves mastering these systems to progress through increasingly challenging content.
What to expect: Time investment in learning mechanics, experimentation, and gradual mastery. The game rewards patience and knowledge.
Choosing Your First Role
| Role | Beginner Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Human Only Build | Good (but demanding) | Hack every terminal, repair broken turrets as allies, throw objects and use conventional weapons. |
| Typhon Psionics Build | Good (but demanding) | Obliterate enemies with Typhon powers, manage Psi resource carefully, avoid turrets. |
| Engineer Build | Excellent for beginners | Repair and deploy turrets everywhere, hack systems, let automated defenses do the fighting. |
| Stealth Build | Excellent for beginners | Sneak past what you can, ambush what you can't, use Mimic Matter for creative bypasses. |
| Combat Hybrid | Excellent for beginners | Mix conventional weapons with Typhon powers, adapt approach based on enemy type. |
Our recommendation: Start with Typhon Psionics Build. Goes deep into Typhon powers for devastating combat abilities. Kinetic Blast one-shots most enemies, Psychoshock disables Typhon powers, and Mindjack turns enemies into allies. The cost: turrets attack you on sight and the ending is affected.
Avoid Combat Hybrid as your first pick. Takes select Typhon powers (Kinetic Blast, Psychoshock) while investing in Human combat skills.
First Session Step-by-Step
Step 1: Learn Neuromod skill trees
Neuromods split into Human (Scientist, Engineer, Security) and Typhon (Energy, Morph, Telepathy) trees. Human skills improve hacking, repair, combat, and stealth. Typhon skills grant alien powers like Kinetic Blast, Mimic Matter, and Mind Jack. Installing too many Typhon mods triggers turret hostility and affects the ending.
This is the foundation. Spend your first 15-30 minutes getting comfortable with how Neuromod skill trees works before worrying about anything else.
Step 2: Head to Talos I Lobby
The central hub connecting most station areas. Contains the first Fabricator and Recycler you'll access. Multiple locked areas reward return visits with better hacking skills. The volunteer quarters above contain Neuromods and lore.
Clear the main content here before moving on. Everything teaches fundamentals you'll need later.
Step 3: Get Your First Upgrade
Look for Q-Beam — it's the most accessible early upgrade. Directed energy weapon that deals continuous damage in a beam. Deals increasing damage the longer it stays on target, eventually causing enemies to explode. Uses Q-Beam Cells (3 shots per cell). Exceptional against Telepaths and Technopaths.
Step 4: Understand GLOO Cannon physics
The GLOO Cannon fires expanding foam that sticks to any surface. It immobilizes enemies, plugs fire hazards, blocks gas leaks, and most importantly creates climbable platforms. You can GLOO a path up any wall or across any gap, making it the ultimate exploration tool.
This is the system most new players overlook. Invest time here early — it pays off throughout the entire game.
Step 5: Push to Psychotronics
The Typhon research lab where experiments on captured aliens took place. The Psychoscope is found here, unlocking Typhon Neuromod access. Contains containment cells with live Typhon specimens and the first Telepath encounter.
Essential Mechanics Explained
Neuromod skill trees
Neuromods split into Human (Scientist, Engineer, Security) and Typhon (Energy, Morph, Telepathy) trees. Human skills improve hacking, repair, combat, and stealth. Typhon skills grant alien powers like Kinetic Blast, Mimic Matter, and Mind Jack. Installing too many Typhon mods triggers turret hostility and affects the ending.
GLOO Cannon physics
The GLOO Cannon fires expanding foam that sticks to any surface. It immobilizes enemies, plugs fire hazards, blocks gas leaks, and most importantly creates climbable platforms. You can GLOO a path up any wall or across any gap, making it the ultimate exploration tool.
Typhon mimicry
Mimic Typhon disguise themselves as everyday objects — cups, chairs, boxes. Any object that moves or seems out of place might be a Mimic. The Psychoscope reveals hidden Mimics with a scan pulse. Later, you can gain this power yourself to become any small object.
recycler economy
The Recycler machine breaks down any item into raw materials (Mineral, Synthetic, Exotic, Organic). Recycler Charges are portable versions that create a mini black hole consuming everything nearby. Fabricators then use materials to craft ammo, Neuromods, and equipment.
station exploration
Talos I is a fully connected space station with multiple paths between areas. Locked doors can be bypassed with hacking, keycards, GLOO platforming, alternate vents, or Mimic Matter (shrink into a coffee cup and roll through gaps). No obstacle has only one solution.
Common Beginner Mistakes
1. Ignoring the GLOO Cannon because it doesn't deal damage directly — it's arguably the most powerful tool in the game for both combat and exploration
2. Installing Typhon Neuromods without understanding the turret hostility threshold at 4+ Typhon mods, suddenly turning every turret against you
3. Recycling unique items or keycards — some items are needed for quests or access and can't be re-obtained
Only recycle clearly marked junk.
4. Fighting the Nightmare Typhon early instead of running — it's a massive bullet sponge that wastes resources
Hide for 3 minutes and it despawns.
5. Not exploring thoroughly and missing Neuromods hidden in offices, corpses, and safes — there are over 100 Neuromods in the environment
First 5 Hours Checklist
- Understand Neuromod skill trees and GLOO Cannon physics
- Choose Typhon Psionics Build as starting role
- Clear Talos I Lobby main content
- Acquire Q-Beam or equivalent upgrade
- Reach Psychotronics
- Scan every new Typhon type to 100% with the Psychoscope before killing it — you only unlock their Neuromod abilities through complete scans.
- The GLOO Cannon creates permanent platforms. GLOO the outside of Talos I during spacewalks to reach any airlock, bypassing entire sections of the station.
Tips for New Players
- Scan every new Typhon type to 100% with the Psychoscope before killing it — you only unlock their Neuromod abilities through complete scans.
- The GLOO Cannon creates permanent platforms. GLOO the outside of Talos I during spacewalks to reach any airlock, bypassing entire sections of the station.
- Recycler Charges create a mini black hole that consumes EVERYTHING nearby — items, enemies, and you. Throw them, don't place them at your feet.
- Leverage 3 lets you throw heavy objects dealing 100+ damage. Oxygen tanks thrown at Phantoms are more ammo-efficient than most weapons.
- Turrets become hostile at Typhon Neuromod thresholds: 1-3 Typhon mods is safe, 4+ triggers hostility. Plan your build around this cutoff.
- Mimic Matter lets you become a coffee cup and roll through tiny gaps — this bypasses almost every locked door in the game if there's a vent or gap nearby.
- The Huntress Boltcaster (toy crossbow) triggers computer buttons and environmental switches from a distance. It costs zero resources and unlocks multiple shortcuts.
- Fabricate Neuromods early and often — they cost 1 Exotic, 1 Mineral, 1 Synthetic each. Recycling junk from offices produces enough materials for 2-3 per area.
- Combat Focus (Human skill) slows time by 60% for 8 seconds. Combined with the shotgun, you can kill a Phantom before it finishes its attack animation.
- Save before installing your 4th Typhon Neuromod. After this point, every turret on the station becomes your enemy — make sure you're ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Prey (2017) related to the original Prey (2006)?
No. Despite sharing the name, they are completely different games by different studios. Prey 2017 by Arkane Studios is an immersive sim set on a space station, while the 2006 game was a linear FPS with a different setting and story.
Does Prey have multiple endings?
Yes, multiple endings based on your choices, which NPCs survived, and how many Typhon Neuromods you installed. The final choice is binary, but the post-credits scene varies based on your cumulative decisions throughout the game.
Is the Mooncrash DLC worth it?
Absolutely. Mooncrash is a roguelite mode set on a lunar base with 5 characters to escape. It adds 15-20 hours of content with randomized runs and permanent upgrades. Many consider it better than the base game.
How long is Prey?
A thorough first playthrough exploring most of the station takes 20-30 hours. Speedrunners complete it in under 10 minutes using GLOO platforming. Multiple playthroughs with different Neuromod builds are encouraged.
What to Read Next
- Prey Builds — Optimize your role once you've learned the basics
- Prey Walkthrough — Full progression path
- Prey Tips — Advanced strategies for when you're ready
