XCOM Series Alternatives and Similar Games
If XCOM Series left a mark on your gamer's heart and you're looking for more games like XCOM, our list will help you out.
Games Like XCOM Series
The X-COM franchise started off way back in 1994 with the highly successful X-COM: UFO Defense by MicroProse, which became a cult classic and has inspired many other turn-based games like XCOM Series to this day, such as Xenonauts. After a few more releases in the 90’s, the series is back with a critically-acclaimed reboot in 2012 as XCOM: Enemy Unknown by Firaxis Games, developers of the popular Sid Meier’s Civilization series.
The XCOM Series continues to be the best in its tactical turn-based genre with a fantastic expansion to XCOM 2 called War of the Chosen, which has won PC Gamer’s Best Expansion of 2017 award and is so packed with new content that it almost became XCOM 3. If you’ve already immersed yourself in great XCOM games and are looking to find similar turn-based games to dive into, then try out some of the games from this list down below, as you never know when you’ll find your next favorite title.
Wasteland 2
Unlike the XCOM series where you send squads of soldiers to tactically fight aliens with advanced technology, Wasteland 2 puts you in a post-apocalyptic world where you start off with a variety of customizable characters known as Desert Rangers. As you explore the desert and complete well-designed quests, you are given the freedom to make tons of choices, be it for a current situation or something that has a huge impact on the narrative as a whole. It’s truly a great sequel to the original Wasteland and if you’re a fan of the first two Fallout games then you’re certainly going to enjoy this excellent turn-based RPG.
Xenonauts
Xenonauts is heavily inspired by the original X-COM games, taking the base mechanics and improving them with new content. Destructible environments, non-scripted missions, tons of technology to research and great turn-based combat where your brave soldiers progress through diverse missions while attempting to keep them in one piece makes Xenonauts a great game for fans of old-school strategy and newcomers alike.
The Banner Saga Series
These games take you in a totally different setting while letting you make choices that impact your story and affect your journey in the whole trilogy. Survive and travel with your caravan in this beautiful Viking world as you make allies willing to help you take down a dangerous evil. Listen to an immersive soundtrack as you engage in fun turn-based combat featuring great 2D animations.
Invisible, Inc.
Get ready to hack your way through security and infiltrate huge organizations in turn-based gameplay where stealth is crucial to completing missions. Everything is randomly generated each time you start a new game, so you never know what to expect in the next mission. Control your stealthy agents carefully, taking down guards and using various programs to break through the security systems. Tons of options to customize random generation and 5 different game modes make Invisible, Inc. a game that you can play the way you like.
Massive Chalice
Massive Chalice changes things up a bit by including the Bloodline system, a system that lets you marry heroes together. The game puts you in a 300-year long war, and your randomized starting heroes won’t be able to live forever. They will, however, raise children that will become your next warriors to lead into battle. Because of this, you never know with what kind of skills your heroes you will end up. They could have the best, or the worst abilities from their parents, making the game interesting and different each time you play.
Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
Fallout Tactics puts large focus on great combat. It features three modes of combat, two of which are your standard turn-based gameplay. One of them, however, lets you basically play the game in real-time, while you wait for action points to regenerate in order for your squad member to perform the desired action. It allows for much more fast-paced action, but you can still enjoy carefully laying out a strategy to take down the enemy in a few turns.
Hard West
Hard West features turn-based gameplay like the XCOM series, but is set in a Wild West world combined with a creepy supernatural atmosphere. Make various tough choices that will lead to one of the multiple endings of your adventure as you use western-like special abilities in turn-based combat. Defend yourself using many historically-inspired weapons and make use of ricochets to take out foes beyond the line of sight.
Shadowrun Series
The Shadowrun Series takes you to a world where technology is mixed with magic. Fantasy creatures roam the lands of a cyberpunk world, and these story-driven RPGs take you to various cities where you lead a team of mercenaries known as the shadowrunners in a fun, tactical turn-based action. With hundreds of different spells and weapons and plenty of unique skills to strengthen your characters with as you progress, the Shadowrun games give you the freedom to create the kind of powerful shadowrunner that you want.
UnderRail
UnderRail takes you underground in a large metro network where factions fight each other for control of the stations. You don’t get to control a squad of soldiers here like in the XCOM series. Instead, you control a single character which you customize at the start using a similar system as Fallout’s S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Side with one of the warring factions as you explore underground environments and make use of the game’s neat crafting system to craft various useful items.
Silent Storm
Get ready to tactically lead a heroic squad through intense missions in WW2. Silent Storm features 2 campaigns for you to make your way through, one for the Allies and one for the Axis. Use tons of different realistic weapons in tactical turn-based battles where the environment is completely destructible. Choose a variety of soldiers with their own special abilities as you progress through missions that feature unexpected, random events.
Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon takes on an interesting twist to the turn-based genre. This roguelike RPG makes your heroes suffer various psychological stresses as they fight monsters through haunting locations. It’s certainly an interesting take on turn-based strategy, with tons of different hero classes and the Affliction system that makes your emotional heroes deal with terrors such as paranoia, selfishness, fear and more.
Some Facts About XCOM Series
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Take control of XCOM, a paramilitary organization whose goal is to defend Earth from an alien invasion. Research alien technologies, recruit soldiers and lead them into intense turn-based missions in this reimagining of the original XCOM. XCOM: Enemy Unknown lets you expand your headquarters as you customize and develop your favorite soldiers that may not make it through every mission.
About the Game
- Released: 12 Oct, 2012
- Genre: Strategy
- Platforms: PC, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox 360
- Developer: Firaxis Games, Feral Interactive (Mac & Linux)
- Publisher: 2K Games, Feral Interactive (Mac & Linux)
- Official Website:
System Requirements
- OS: Windows Vista
- Processor: Core 2 Duo E6540 2.33 GHz or Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5000+
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT / ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT or greater
- Storage: 20 GB
How Long to Beat
- Main Story 26 Hours
- Hours Main + Extra 34 Hours
- Completionist 55 Hours
- All Styles 31 Hours
- Learn more
XCOM 2
XCOM 2 puts you in an alien-controlled Earth, where you must rise from the ashes and lead the last XCOM forces through difficult challenges to stop the aliens and give humanity a new hope. This sequel continues to offer great turn-based strategic gameplay as you recruit soldiers ready to fight against all odds and command the Avenger, your mobile headquarters.
About the Game
- Released: 5 Feb, 2016
- Genre: Strategy
- Platforms: PC, MacOS, Linux, PS4, Xbox One
- Developer: Firaxis Games, Feral Interactive (Mac & Linux)
- Publisher: 2K Games, Feral Interactive (Mac & Linux)
System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7 (64-bit)
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E4700 2.6 GHz or AMD Phenom 9950 Quad Core 2.6 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: 1 GB VRAM ATI Radeon HD 5770, 1 GB VRAM NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 or better
- Storage: 45 GB
How Long to Beat
- Main Story 31 Hours
- Hours Main + Extra 42 Hours
- Completionist 72 Hours
- All Styles 40 Hours
- Learn more
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