Summary
Despite the success of the modernXCOMrevival with titles likeXCOM: Enemy Unknownand the award-winningXCOM 2, it appears that (for now, at least) the series is in a bit of a holding pattern. The departure of series lead Jake Solomon from Firaxis following the highly-publicized shortcomings ofMidnight Sunsleaves the potential for a third turn-based tacticsXCOMgame up in the air. Thankfully, games likeClassified France ‘44,Phantom Brigade, andXenonauts 2fill the gap left by the absence of anXCOM 3, with each of them bringing something new to the turn-based tactics genre despite their obviousXCOM 2influence.
XCOM 2’s success paved the way for theChimera Squadexpansion, in which the game’s already robust tactical systems received almost a complete overhaul thanks to the addition of new enemies and unit types. The modernXCOMformula that Solomon spearheaded got a further evolution and a novel twist inMarvel’s Midnight Suns’ deck-building tactics.Still, this new generation of turn-based tactics indie titles errs more on the side of tradition in paying homage toEnemy UnknownandXCOM 2. As a result, each of these titles amounts to a bit of genre “comfort food.”
Indie Tactics Titles Carrying the Torch for the XCOM Franchise
In addition to the titles below, there are also several upcoming games in the turn-based tactics genre that fans will want to keep an eye out for later on in 2024. However, these titles are all currently available and scratch the same itch that a newXCOMgame would reach. It’s also worth noting that late last year saw the release ofJagged Alliance 3.While thethirdJagged Alliancegameisn’t an indie title, it is a highly-anticipated follow-up to the legendary turn-based tactics gameJagged Alliance 2more than 20 years in the making.
Classified France ‘44
In terms of games that owe a debt of gratitude toXCOM 2, specifically,Classified France ‘44wears its inspiration directly on its sleeve but translates the turn-based tactics gameplay to a realistic World War 2 setting.Classified France ‘44is also more focused on stealth, with players able to silently take out enemies during battles before eventually switching to an all-out assault on Axis troops. Though the game’s difficulty skews toward being more forgiving, there are some missions whereClassified France ‘44’s challenge spikes to levels that either match or surpass thetoughest parts ofXCOM 2’s challenging campaign.
Phantom Brigade
After an initial launch into Early Access, mech-themed RTS and turn-based tactics hybridPhantom Brigadelaunched into 1.0 last year and has more recently received the sizable 1.2 update that adds in boss battles, rebalances difficulty, and much more. If one were to imagine the turn-based battles ofXCOMmixed with the loadouts andmech customization of anArmored Coregame, they wouldn’t be too far off from whatPhantom Brigadebrings to the table.
The game’s unique twist on the genre is that players have control over chunks of time rather than taking turns, getting to precognitively predict the enemy’s actions and plan out the squad’s response accordingly before watching the pieces unfold in real-time.
Xenonauts 2
Xenonauts 2takes a purist approach to theXCOMformula by adhering closely to a true blending ofclassicXCOMand the modern Firaxis turn-based tactics games in the series. As such,Xenonauts 2is every bit as difficult and hardcore as the originalXCOMtitles on PC and is not for the faint of heart. One of the more challenging aspects of gameplay is the use of randomly generated maps in battles, which completely remove the ability of the player to save scum and restart battles after learning enemy placements and behaviors.
XCOM 2
WHERE TO PLAY
XCOM 2is the sequel toXCOM: Enemy Unknown, the 2012 award-winning strategy game of the year.Earth has changed. Twenty years have passed since world leaders offered an unconditional surrender to alien forces.XCOM, the planet’s last line of defense, was left decimated and scattered. Now, inXCOM 2, the aliens rule Earth, building shining cities that promise a brilliant future for humanity on the surface, while concealing a sinister agenda and eliminating all who dissent from their new order.Only those who live at the edges of the world have a margin of freedom. Here, a force gathers once again to stand up for humanity. Always on the run, and facing impossible odds, the remnantXCOMforces must find a way to ignite a global resistance, and eliminate the alien threat once and for all.
