Updated at: 10-05-2022 - By: Leo Hall

Since its inception, the XCOM video game series has been a staple in the gaming industry. If you’re a fan, you’ll like our roundup of the top XCOM alternatives available at the moment.

Starting with XCOM: UFO Defense in 1994 and ending with XCOM: Chimera Squad releasing in April 2020, XCOM is one of the longest-running strategy game franchises on PC.

Others have expressed concern about what they see as the series’ declining quality and shifting basic principles in later installments.

As a result, gamers have turned to other turn-based tactics games to satisfy their itch for XCOM or at the very least to fill the hole left by its absence.

The best strategy and turn-based games like XCOM will be highlighted in this list, as well as the top XCOM clones.

In the future, we’ll add more games like XCOM to this list, so be sure to come back often and let us know if we’ve missed any of your favorites!

Phoenix Point

Available on Windows, PS4, Xbox One, and Mac

As a fan of the XCOM series, you’ve probably heard of Phoenix Point, a spiritual sequel that was developed by XCOM co-creator Julian Gollop.

Phoenix Point: Year One Edition trên Steam

The game takes place in the year 2047, where the human population is scrambling to save the planet from invading aliens.

As in XCOM, you’ll use turn-based tactics to fight hordes of aliens all around the planet.

Phoenix Point has boss battles against overpowered foes that can be a big threat to your team, in addition to smaller skirmishes.

BattleTech

Windows, Linux, and Macintosh

XCOM fans may also appreciate BattleTech, a turn-based tactics game that places you in the role of a mercenary leader with access to powerful mechs.

Taking place in the year 3025, you play as a noble house commander tasked with maintaining peace in a world torn apart by civil strife.

BattleTech, like XCOM, has a complex customization system that allows you to change the appearance and equipment of your mechs.

It’s important to use the surroundings, placement, weapon selection, and special abilities to get an advantage over your opponents in battles.

Gears Tactics

Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows

Turn-based strategy and tactics aspects evocative of XCOM is what Gears Tactics brings to the long-running Xbox shooter.

For a series that is known for its fast-paced action, the smoothness of the translation can be attributed in part to Gears of War’s wide variety of enemies and weapons.

As a result, battles become more dynamic and interesting, which is something that is badly lacking in a large number of strategy games.

While not as good as XCOM 2 or Enemy Within, it’s still a solid tactics game.

Phantom Doctrine

Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch are all supported platforms.

The Phantom Doctrine is a tactical espionage game in the vein of XCOM that you can play for free.

The Cabal is a secret group that tries to stop a global conspiracy that threatens peace between the East and West during the height of the Cold War in 1983.

This is done by conducting covert missions, analyzing confidential documents, and interviewing competing operatives for information to expose the dark plot before it’s too late.

Customization options for agents’ fighting abilities and physical appearance are available in Phantom Doctrine, just like in XCOM.

Invisible, Inc.

PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Linux/Mac OS X, and iOS/Android

As a spy-themed strategy game, Invisible, Inc. is similar to the XCOM series, except it focuses on a spy agency that is under attack by one of its rivals.

To save the agency, you’ll have to direct operatives through a series of stealth-based missions while collecting resources and intelligence.

In order to prepare for the ultimate assignment, players are given three days to complete lesser tasks around the world and acquire the essential equipment.

You’ll frequently find yourself having to improvise and plan ahead because the mission details and map layouts change with each playtime.

Wasteland 3

Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, and Mac are all supported platforms.

They may not be as popular as XCOM, but the Wasteland games manage just fine because of their unique blend of RPG and tactical gameplay.

Wasteland 3 takes place in a post-apocalyptic Colorado where twisted cults and other groups are at battle with one another.

The Desert Rangers are a bunch of charismatic gunslingers battling their way through this post-apocalyptic world. You manage a squad of Desert Rangers heroes.

When it comes to making high-risk high-reward judgments, XCOM is right up there with the best in the business.

Warhammer 40K: Mechanicus

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and iOS/Android are all supported platforms.

Warhammer has dabbled in nearly every type of strategy game, including turn-based tactics, over the years.

A standout entry in the Warhammer 40K series is Warhammer 40K: Mechanicus, which does a fantastic job of utilizing the bleak future backdrop of the genre to create an engaging tactical gaming experience akin to XCOM.

This time, you’ll be battling an army of zombie robots in the name of the powerful Omnissiah, rather than aliens!

It takes between 17 and 20 hours to complete the main campaign. The campaign builds off of the enormous narrative and world-building of the series.

Into the Breach

Windows, Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Macintosh are all supported.

Because it’s developed by the same company as FTL: Faster Than Light, strategy aficionados are likely to have heard of the game Into the Breach.

It’s a far-future battle between humanity and an army of alien monsters called the Vek, just like in XCOM.

It is a tactical turn-based game where you fight with soldier-operated mechs, each of which can be armed and armored to your liking.

With dynamically generated combat scenarios and environments, Into the Breach’s material is organized into missions, just like its forebear.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden

Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch are all supported platforms.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden got out to a shaky start, but it has steadied itself thanks to a steady stream of updates, much like Chimera Squad.

A major selling feature of the game is its XCOM-like combat system that emphasizes stealth over brute force.

By now many engagements might be avoided entirely by skillfully navigating around the opponent while your charismatic party members converse.

As an XCOM fan, you’ll be able to identify with Road to Eden’s cast of anthropomorphic survivors in no time at all.

Chroma Squad

Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Linux, Mac OS X, iOS, and Android are all supported.

Chroma Squad is a tactical RPG about a group of stunt actors who decide to form their own company and create their own action sequences based on the shows Super Sentai and Power Rangers.

Chroma Squad đón bản cập nhật miễn phí "Director's Cut" - Tin Game

Meta and lighthearted, the game yet manages to pack a lot of depth into traditional RPG components like skill trees, equipment creation and branching narratives.

Just like playing XCOM, tactical combat is satisfying and allows you to choose your own route by combining the talents and playstyles of your heroes.

You can also customize your studio name, team name, individual character names and most significantly, your squad’s catchphrase in this game.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

The Nintendo Switch is the platform of choice.

For an XCOM-like tactics game, you may think that combining Nintendo’s Super Mario and Ubisoft’s Raving Rabbits is a bad idea.

Kingdom Battle: Mario and Rabbids Battle is a tactical RPG set in a chaotic Mushroom Kingdom that succeeds in capturing the essence of the genre.

Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Yoshi form a three-person team, together with one of four Rabbids dressed in their likeness.

The introduction of the Rabbids helps to lighten the mood in a surprisingly difficult strategy game that requires careful calculation of every move.

Darkest Dungeon

Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch are all supported platforms.

In XCOM’s gameplay cycle, there is a significant amount of suffering, at least up until a certain point; RNG doesn’t always work in your favor, and shots can miss entirely, leading to long and drawn-out conflicts or even unfair deaths.

But overcoming these difficulties and foreseeing them is an important part of the adventure; another game that does an excellent job of conveying this idea is Darkest Dungeon, a Lovecraftian dungeon crawler.

As a turn-based RPG, you’ll be leading a crew of imperfect heroes through horrific environments that are full of danger.

Like in XCOM, each character has a unique set of abilities and attributes that may be combined in a variety of interesting ways, with frequently disastrous repercussions for the opposing side.

Urtuk: The Desolation

Windows, Linux, and Macintosh

“Urtuk: The Desolation” is one of the more recently released games on this list, and it is a turn-based strategy game that shares a lot of its visual style with Darkest Dungeon.

If you’ve ever played Heroes of Might and Magic or XCOM, you’ll recognize many of the gameplay mechanics here.

When you play it, your goal is to lead an expedition through the ruins of a long-gone civilization, enlisting new comrades, robbing your foes, and doing whatever it takes to stay alive.

Enormous areas filled with environmental dangers and a well developed class/skill system allow players to fine-tune their playstyles with unlimited freedom.

Battle Brothers

Windows and Nintendo Switch are supported.

In Battle Brothers, RPG mechanics and strategic turn-based combat are well balanced to create a wonderful XCOM-like game.

As a mercenary captain in a grim medieval fantasy world, you’re tasked with finding and training new troops and completing contracts.

Management of your Battle Brothers delivers the same depth and customization as recent XCOM games in terms of sheer enjoyment.

To ensure that no two open-world missions are ever the same, the game uses a procedural generation system to ensure that no two open-world campaigns are ever the same.

Xenonauts

Windows, Linux, and Macintosh

We couldn’t leave Xenonauts out of our list because it serves as an updated take on the classic XCOM formula.

Even with Firaxis Games’ larger development staff (and more money), Goldhawk Interactive had a longer development cycle and older graphics.

Xenonauts was unable to compete with Firaxis’ XCOM relaunch, which dominated the debate among fans of the genre.

Despite this, the game has a cult following and is worth a look for those who prefer XCOM’s more punitive gameplay features.

Marvel Midnight Suns

platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.

Another next Firaxis game will be a superhero-themed tactics game set in the Marvel universe, for those who keep up with the studio’s work.

Marvel cho ra mắt tựa game 'Midnight Suns' với cốt truyện đầy tăm tối | ONE Esports Vietnam

With a card-based combat system that limits heroes’ skills to those featured in randomized decks, Marvel’s Midnight Suns hopes to set itself apart from the studio’s prior efforts.

Cthulhu-like dark lord Lillith is awakened by the demonic queen Lillith in this game, and you take on the role of The Hunter to stop it from happening.

You can form relationships with your party members in the game’s central area, which can have a significant impact on combat, such as allowing you to unleash unique team combo attacks.

Civilization 6

Since the first Civilization game was released in September 1991, the turn-based strategy genre has been dominated by the Civilization series. After the critically praised Civilization 5, which is widely considered one of the greatest turn-based strategy games ever made, comes Civilization 6, the most recent installment in the series.

While the 4X series differs significantly from the XCOM series, it’s difficult to overlook Civilization 6 as a wonderful turn-based strategy game to play.

Humankind

If you’re a lover of turn-based strategy games, you’ve probably previously played one of the Civilization games. If you’re looking for a strategy game that satisfies the same craving as 4X but isn’t part of the same series, Humankind by Amplitude Studios is the answer.

Humankind is unapologetically similar to Civilization, with a large portion of the main gameplay being quite similar to that of Civilization. The Fame system dictates who wins the game, but Humankind does add a few fascinating aspects that seek to provide a more well-rounded experience than Civilization.

Game Pass customers can play Humankind at no additional cost while the strategy game is included in Microsoft’s value-for-money subscription service.

Valkyria Chronicles

Three main series games have followed since 2008, as well as the spin-offs Valkyria Revolution and Valkyria Chronicles D, which is a Japanese-exclusive smartphone game.

Sega’s series began with Valkyria Chronicles, which many consider the series’ apogee. An innovative battle system called BLiTZ, short for Battle of Live Tactical Zones, is used in this tactical role-playing title. It combines overhead tactical views called Command Mode with third-person perspectives called Action Mode to create a unique gaming experience.

In 2016, Valkyria Chronicles received a PlayStation 4 remaster, and it has recently made its way to the Nintendo Switch.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

After its release in July 2019, Fire Emblem: Three Houses has been hailed as one of the greatest tactical RPGs ever created.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses was a critical and audience favorite, as seen by its 89 Metascore and other accolades, including Best Strategy Game at The Game Awards 2019 and the Game, Strategy award at the NAVGTR Awards. It also received rave reviews from fans.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the sixteenth installment in the long-running series and has been instrumental in reviving the franchise’s popularity in the game industry.

Final Fantasy: Tactics

Final Fantasy: Tactics is another tactical RPG on our list, as its name suggests. Final Fantasy Tactics A1: Grimoire of the Rift was the first game in the Tactics series, which also contains Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.

Despite its cult following, Final Fantasy: Tactics was a critical flop in the late 1990s but has since gained accolades as one of the best tactical role-playing games of all time for its turn-based strategy gameplay and engaging plot.

Following a series of leaks, there are suggestions that Final Fantasy: Tactics may be getting a remaster.

Phoenix Point

Snapshot Games, the company behind Chaos Reborn, launched Phoenix Point in 2019. The game takes place in the year 2047, and players are up against an alien invasion army.

XCOM’s co-creator, Julian Gollop, is working on the 2019 release of Phoenix Point, making it an obvious option for this list. As a result, there are numerous parallels between Phoenix Point and XCOM, particularly the identical turn-based tactical gameplay features.

BattleTech

Players in BattleTech 2018 take command of massive mechs, a novel twist on the turn-based tactics paradigm. Players can personalize their mechs’ models, weapons, talents, and more before a battle, which adds an interesting element to the game’s warfare.

PC Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards went to Subnautica, an underwater survival game developed by Harebrained Schemes.

Warhammer 40,000 Mechanicus

Warhammer 40,000 Mechanicus is one of numerous Warhammer 40,000 video games based on the well-known miniature wargame Warhammer 40,000.

Säästä 67% kun ostat Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus Steamistä.

World of Warhammer 40k This is exactly what Warhammer fans are looking for in a video game: Mechanicus makes good use of the license but does not over-emphasize it. Mechanicus is a fantastic turn-based strategy game in and of itself, with a well-developed plot, interesting lore, and engaging fights.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

With the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe last year, Nintendo’s most famous figure joined on the turn-based tactics bandwagon along with his rabbit friends, the Raving Rabbids, who had become weary of their limbless friend Rayman.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle doesn’t have some of the most complicated tactical or strategic features in the genre. The vibrant aesthetics and wholesome character models make it a welcome change of pace, and the main story provides an engaging 20+ hour strategic experience.

Gears Tactics

Gears of War, a popular gaming series, took its hand at turn-based tactics in 2020, joining Mario and the Raving Rabbids in the genre’s history.

As a natural fit for the genre, the Gears of War series has a wide array of opponents and weapons from the series’ inception. Even if it falls short of the high standards set by other titles in this genre, Gears Tactics may be the finest option for Gears enthusiasts.

Xenonauts

There is no denying that Xenonauts, developed by Goldhawk Interactive, is heavily influenced by the first-generation XCOM games, particularly X-COM: UFO Defense. Project leader Chris England stated in an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun that X-COM: UFO Defense (UFO: Enemy Unknown) was one of the “formative games” in his life and that he wanted to “stay faithful to the original game mechanics” while also “translating those game mechanics into the modern age.”

A great game for lovers of the original Xenonauts release, Xenonauts succeeds admirably in its goal of reimagining the classic.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden

First published in 2018 for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden was released on Nintendo Switch in 2019. While The Bearded Ladies built the game, they gave players control of a party composed of Selma, Bormin, and Dux, each with their own set of powers and weaponry.

Skulls of the Shogun

A samurai-themed version of XCOM. For those looking for a break from XCOM, Skulls of the Shogun’s short, crisp fights might be just what the doctor ordered. Despite the fact that each team is limited to five actions every turn, the stunning visuals make every slice of your sword feel weightier.

You will, however, be capturing resources, avoiding environmental hazards, and safeguarding your general at all costs: if they die, you lose, no matter what is occurring elsewhere. No grid means you can move whatever you want and no two bouts will be the same. Despite its age, it is still relevant today.

Skulls of the Shogun: Bone-A-Fide Edition | Nintendo Switch download software | Games | Nintendo

FAQS:

Is wasteland similar to XCOM?

This time around, the action in Wasteland 3 is more closely aligned with that of the XCOM series than in prior installments.

What makes XCOM so good?

There are a lot of options in this game, but they don’t add up until you’ve played it for a while and gotten a handle on what’s going on in the world. The game’s fighting is fantastic, but my favorites are the level of randomness and customizability.

Are Stellar tactics good?

Definitely worth it. Stellar Tactics is one of those rare finds (as was Kenshi in 2011-12), a game with enormous potential that is already playable and fun even in its earliest stages of development.