The thrill of strategy, the rush of combat, and the satisfaction of saving humanity – XCOM has captured the hearts (and minds) of gamers worldwide! If you’re craving more tactical goodness in a sci-fi setting, we’ve got just the thing for you. Dive into this article to discover games like XCOM that will challenge your wits, test your nerves, and leave you begging for more.
Tactical Terrors: Similarities and Must-Plays
Before diving into our recommendations, let’s explore what makes XCOM tick:
- Turn-based strategy: Players command a team of units in a turn-based setting, making careful decisions between combat turns.
- Resource management: Gather and allocate resources to fund research, recruit unique soldiers, or construct vital structures.
- Combat realism: Engage with hostile forces in intense firefights while respecting unit capabilities, terrain features, and environmental factors.
These core elements define XCOM’s unique charm. Games that share these traits will likely satisfy your cravings for a similar experience:
- Wasteland 2 (2014): A classic CRPG revival from the developers of Planescape: Torment. Explore the post-apocalyptic Wasteland, commanding companions in turn-based battles while managing supplies.
- Phoenix Point (2019): Another project by XCOM’s original creator, Julian Gollop. Lead your faction through a procedurally generated world against an alien threat, making tough decisions and facing strategic combat.
- Frozen Synapse 2 (2020): A sequel to the critically acclaimed Frozen Synapse (2011), this game amplifies turn-based strategy with advanced AI opponents.
These titles share XCOM’s essence while offering fresh twists:
- Tyranny of Steel: Develop a totalitarian regime by balancing combat, diplomacy, and resource management. Defend your stronghold against hordes of rebels.
- BattleTech (2018): Command giant mechs in turn-based battles on various planets. Manage resources for maintenance, upgrades, or new recruits.
Each game presents its unique spin:
- Divinity: Original Sin 2 (2017): Explore the world and characters from a tactical perspective, utilizing elemental combinations to dominate enemies.
- Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun (2016): Engage in turn-based stealth-action combat with feudal Japan-inspired factions.
- Into the Breach: Strategically deploy mechs against an alien threat, rescuing civilians while managing resources and team synergy.
Beyond XCOM: New Horizons
The games listed above might scratch that strategic itch, but let’s venture further:
- Rise of Nations: Command a civilization through conquest, diplomacy, or research in this turn-based strategy game.
- Total War series: Explore the intersection of strategy and combat with ancient civilizations at war (300BC to 500AD).
- Xenonauts (2014): Another retro-inspired turn-based strategic experience set during World War II against an alien menace.
These titles may not be direct analogues, but they share elements of resource management, tactical decision-making, and world-saving heroics:
- Hearts of Iron IV: Balance military conquest with diplomacy in a WW2 setting.
- Field of Glory: Empires Lost (2020): Guide ancient empires through expansion and warfare.
- Battleplan: The Card Game (2018): Play card-based battles, managing resources to crush opponents.
This diverse collection will test your skills:
- Thronebreaker: Throne of the Elder Scrolls: Master cards in this turn-based RPG set within the Elder Scrolls universe.
- Wolcen: A dark fantasy world demands strategy and action from its heroes.
Conclusion
The search for games like XCOM often leads to strategic masterpieces that challenge, surprise, or thrill you:
- Engage in tactical battles with unique units and abilities.
- Manage resources to balance growth and defense.
- Confront hostile forces, solve puzzles, or explore procedurally generated worlds.
These recommendations should provide a solid starting point for your next adventure. Whether it’s turn-based strategy combat or resource management challenges, these games promise hours of entertianment for fans of XCOM. Explore new horizons, gather your allies (and enemies), and save the world – just as you would in an XCOM game!