XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Jun 19, 2014 12 years ago
XCOM: Enemy Unknown will place you in control of a secret paramilitary organization called XCOM. As the XCOM commander, you will defend against a terrifying global alien invasion by managing resources, advancing technologies, and overseeing combat strategies and individual unit tactics. The original XCOM is widely regarded as one of the best games ever made and has now been re-imagined by the strategy experts at Firaxis Games. XCOM: Enemy Unknown will expand on that legacy with an entirely new invasion story, enemies and technologies to fight aliens and defend Earth. You will control the fate of the human race through researching alien technologies, creating and managing a fully operational base, planning combat missions and controlling soldier movement in battle.
What it’s like
XCOM: Enemy Unknown delivers a tense, high-stakes experience where you command humanity’s last hope against an alien invasion. The core loop balances strategic base management with brutal, turn-based tactical combat. As the commander, you oversee resource allocation, technology research, and soldier training, creating a deeply personal connection to your squad. Each soldier is unique; their permanent death creates lasting emotional weight and drives replayability through procedural generation. The gameplay emphasizes careful positioning, cover usage, and risk assessment, where every shot has a calculated probability of success. The tone is grim and urgent, underscored by a dynamic soundtrack that shifts with the tension of battle. While the narrative serves as a backdrop for your strategic decisions, the true story emerges from the lives of your soldiers and the consequences of your commands. It is a masterclass in systemic design, offering immense depth and satisfaction through mastery rather than scripted events.
Strong in Atmosphere / MoodCombatDifficulty / ChallengeGameplay / MechanicsProgression / ReplayabilitySystems Depth / Build VarietyAudio / MusicCharactersPacingPolish / PerformanceSimulation / ManagementWriting / Dialogue
Keep in mind The permadeath mechanic can be emotionally punishing and frustrating for players who prefer forgiving progression systems. · The base management layer may feel slow or repetitive to those seeking pure action-focused tactical gameplay.
AI-generated from catalog data, informed by reviews from strategyandwargaming.com, metacritic.com, pcgamer.com, ign.com, pcmag.com.
Screenshots
Releases
| Platform | Region | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC (Microsoft Windows) | Worldwide | Full release | Oct 09, 201214 years ago |
| Xbox 360 | Worldwide | Full release | Oct 09, 201214 years ago |
| PlayStation 3 | Worldwide | Full release | Oct 12, 201214 years ago |
| Mac | Worldwide | Full release | Apr 25, 201313 years ago |
| iOS | Worldwide | Full release | Jun 20, 201313 years ago |
| Android | Worldwide | Full release | Apr 23, 201412 years ago |
| Linux | Worldwide | Full release | Jun 19, 201412 years ago |
