The long-running XCOM series began in 1994 with X-COM: UFO Defense (also known as UFO: Enemy Unknown) and started to receive mainstream attention in 2012 thanks to the critically acclaimed XCOM: Enemy Unknown, which acted as a reboot for the series. The franchise's newfound mainstream attention hasn't been due to the game changing its core values, however, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, along with its sequels, have kept the series' punishing difficulty intact.
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The latest entry in the franchise, XCOM: Chimera Squad, struggled to impress fans of the series, exemplified by its brutal 4.7 User Score on Metacritic. Consequently, many fans will be looking for other, similar games to play. For anyone looking for their next XCOM-like experience, here are ten great options.
10 Phoenix Point
Phoenix Point was released in 2019 by Snapshot Games, the same company that released Chaos Reborn. The game takes players to the year 2047 and pits them against alien forces who have invaded Earth.
Phoenix Point is an obvious choice for this list, as it's considered a spiritual successor to XCOM due to Julian Gollop, XCOM's co-creator, working on the 2019 release. Consequently, Phoenix Point has many similarities to XCOM, in particular the similar turn-based tactics game mechanics.
9 BattleTech
2018's BattleTech puts an interesting spin on the turn-based tactics formula by putting players in control of enormous mechs. These mechs add an interesting dynamic to the game's combat and provide tons of pre-battle strategy, as players can customize their mechs' models, weapons, skills, and more.
Harebrained Schemes' BattleTech was nominated for the Golden Joystick Awards' PC Game of the Year accolade but ultimately lost out to the underwater survival game Subnutica.
8 Wasteland 3
Wasteland 3 was developed by inXile Entertainment and released on August 28, 2020. The game puts players in a post-apocalyptic iteration of Colorado and tasks them with surviving turn-based combat battles while also making key narrative decisions that can heavily affect the game's story.
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Any PC or Xbox players who like the sound of Wasteland 3 are in luck, as the game is currently available on Game Pass, along with Wasteland 2: Director's Cut and Wasteland Remastered.
7 Warhammer 40,000 Mechanicus
The iconic miniature wargame Warhammer has dabbled in its fair share of video game releases, with Warhammer 40,000 Mechanicus being one of the brand's many Warhammer 40,000 gaming titles.
Warhammer 40,000 Mechanicus provides what many Warhammer fans want in a video game; it makes good use of the license but doesn't make it the game's sole selling point. Mechanicus is a great turn-based tactics game in its own right, providing a main story that is a good length, has well-constructed lore, and offers engrossing battles.
6 Battle Brothers
Battle Brothers differentiates itself from the majority of entries on this list with its plethora of RPG elements and procedurally generated open-world. Despite its wide range of mechanics and features, the indie game finds an excellent balance with its combat, exploration, and storytelling that does a great job of engaging players and encouraging them to push forward with their journey.
Battle Brothers is the first major release from Overhype Studios, an independent studio from Hamburg, Germany.
5 Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Not all of the games on this list are filled with alien invasions or bloody battles, as Nintendo's flagship character Mario jumped aboard the turn-based tactics hype train in 2017, along with the Raving Rabbids who have apparently grown tired of their limbless friend, Rayman.
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As one would expect, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle doesn't provide some of the most complex tactical or strategy mechanics in the genre. However, it deserves a spot on this list as its bright visuals and wholesome character models provide a nice change of pace, and the main story provides an enjoyable 20+ hour strategy experience.
4 Gears Tactics
Mario and the Raving Rabbids aren't the only notable franchises that have tried their hand at the turn-based tactics genre, as the Gears of War series gave the style of game a try in 2020.
The Gears of War franchise is a natural choice for the genre, as the impressive range of enemies and weapons that already existed in the series makes for a great variety to the battles. Gears Tactics falls short of reaching the quality of some of the genre's best releases, but the Gears branding can make it the best choice on this list for fans of the franchise.
3 Invisible, Inc.
Invisible, Inc. was originally released in 2015 on PC and Mac, before coming to PlayStation 4, iOS, and Nintendo Switch in the years that followed. The game was developed by Klei Entertainment, who are best known for their work on Oxygen Not Included and Don't Starve.
The game's fundamental mechanics are similar to that of the XCOM series, but the game differentiates itself with its focus on espionage. In keeping with its espionage themes, the majority of the game's missions consist of sneaking into a building or area and retrieving an object or person.
2 Xenonauts
Goldhawk Interactive's Xenonauts doesn't hide its influences from the early XCOM games, particularly the aforementioned X-COM: UFO Defense. Chris England, the game's project lead, said 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."
Xenonauts does an excellent job in accomplishing its goal of reinventing the classic game and is consequently an excellent choice for fans of the 1994 release.
1 Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden
Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden was originally released in 2018 on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 before coming to Nintendo Switch the following year. The game was developed by The Bearded Ladies, who put players in control of a party of three characters, Selma, Bormin, and Dux, who all have their own unique sets of abilities and weapons, offering great depth to the game's combat.
Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden was well received by fans and critics, exemplified by its 80 Metascore and 8.1 User Score.