Top 10 Best Games Like Xcom

XCOM is a series of science fiction video games, the first of which was XCOM: Enemy Unknown, released in 2012. It’s a pretty decent strategy game, but here are 10 more games that are like XCOM!

Best Games Like Xcom

Space Hulk Tactics

One of the two Warhammer 40,000 games on our list, Space Hulk Tactics is another turn-based game. Turn-based games require a lot of thought before the player makes a decision, which is why so many gamers who prefer tactical games enjoy them.

The video game is a direct adaption of the board game Space Hulk, where players can engage in battles, test their skills against other players in a competitive online setting, and design their own original maps.

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Forged of Blood

Forged of Blood is another game that’s all about tactics and strategy. Past that, there are pretty few other similarities between Forged of Blood and XCOM. Forged of Blood would be a great game for anyone who enjoys playing tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons.

It seems to be most popular for the support that players receive from the development team, as well as the well thought out features of the game. Some consider the game to be a great middle-ground between XCOM and Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

Platform: Microsoft Windows.

UFO: Afterlight

For a game that takes a combat system full of squad tactics and combines them with an overlying set of strategic elements, UFO: Afterlight is perfect. Despite being released back in 2007, the similarity that it has to the XCOM game series is uncanny.

If you liked XCOM, but you’re looking for a more challenging system to play, UFO: Afterlight should be on your list. It’s a bit more complex, and yet the tutorial makes the features of the game seem extremely simple. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another game in the sci-fi genre that’s so alike XCOM and still fun to play.

Platform: Microsoft Windows.

Xenonauts 2

Battling an alien invasion is hard work, but we know you’ve got what it takes to hold humanity together and get the job done. Xenonauts 2 gives players the opportunity to take control of an organization that is attempting to end an alien threat, while also completing several other side actions.

Tactical combat and strategy are huge parts of this game; that’s for sure. But there’s quite a number of other elements that make Xenonauts 2 worth playing. For example, the research tree that enables the player to unlock new equipment while looking into the intentions that the aliens have and why they decided to attack the planet.

Platform: Microsoft Windows.

Invisible Inc.

Of the games we’ve listed so far, Invisible Inc. certainly has a unique style of art and graphics. If you’ve ever played the Shadowrun games, you may feel like you’re looking at a cleaner art style of the characters portrayed there. As a more recent example, Into the Spiderverse also shares a similar art style at times.

In terms of gameplay, Invisible Inc. isn’t exactly like XCOM. The game moves into the territory of the dungeon game Roguelike. You can gain gear through your missions and by leveling up, and the way you play through those missions will affect the playthrough of your game.

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4, and iOS.

Phantom Doctrine

A newer game in the strategy genre, Phantom Doctrine, was released in the summer of 2018. Unlike the other games on this list, Phantom Doctrine is a spy game that has a wonderful mix of XCOM gameplay and a storyline that seems like it came straight out of a Bond film. The game is set during the Cold War.

Players take on the role of an agent whose mission is to take down a local group. The story’s plot isn’t too in-depth, which makes it an easy game for anyone to play, even if conspiracies and spy games aren’t their usual cup of tea. There are also minigames that add to the gameplay.

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Battletech

Play as the commander of a unit and view tactics in a way that affects more than just your squad. BATTLETECH is a game adapted from the BattleTech tabletop RPG, which is also known as MechWarrior. The aim is to stay alive while your character plays through a civil war that stretches across worlds.

The game commences in the year 3025 when the galaxy is caught in a cycle of war. Your job is to take command of your squad and use BattleMechs to fight against the opposition. You might struggle to stay on your feet at times, but if you keep upgrading and negotiate well, you may come out on top.

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Gears Tactics

Gears Tactics has a more aggressive playstyle than other games in the same genre. Find and take down the lair of the monsters that are wreaking havoc on cities! But you will have to go through several lesser minions to reach the final mission.

This game won’t be released until April 2020, but it was showcased at the 2019 Game Awards. The game is considered to be a combination of XCOM and Gears of War.

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, and Xbox One.

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus

A dark story run in the Warhammer universe, Mechanicus blendsturn-based play, hand-crafted missions, and player-led storylines. Your choices will heavily affect where you and your troops will end up.

There are numerous items and weapons for you to assemble and collect, as well as customizable characters with a range of disciplines that you can cast them into. Players can easily create a squad full of troops that specialize in every class.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Atom Rpg

An indie RPG with a turn-based system, ATOM’s story follows a set of nuclear bombings that effected both the Soviet Union and the Western Bloc. It’s a game full of graphic violence and harsh topics, which makes it somewhat inappropriate for the feint-of-heart.

Your mission is to explore the wasteland that is left of the Soviet Union and earn your place among the great people that came before you. On the way, you’ll need to stop those who plan to destroy the remaining life on earth.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux.

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