Area 51 is a popular rail shooter (a specialized form of a first-person shooter) arcade game issued by Atari Games in 1995. It takes its name from the Area 51 military facility. The plot of the game involves the player taking part in a military excursion to prevent aliens and alien-created zombies from taking over the Area 51 military facility. The game allows for one of two endings, depending on whether or not the player successfully destroys the aliens' starship during the endgame. A sequel, Area 51: Site 4, also exists.

The game is notable for its use of digitized video, and the bizarrely contrasting unrealistic gibs into which every enemy blows apart when shot.

Another interesting note about the game is its several "backdoors"; by shooting certain objects in the correct sequence players can unlock shooting exercises, weapon stashes, and gain bonus items that are not available in the main game plot.

Unlike other first person shooters, Area 51 allows the players to start at the beginning of the game, or warp ahead to the middle of the game.

On August 31, 2004, Paramount Pictures announced that it had bought the world-wide film rights for the series. [1]

In 2005 a First Person console version of the game will be released for the PS2 and X-Box. It will feature a more sophisticated storyline and the main characters will be voiced by David Duchovny, Marilyn Manson and Powers Boothe.