UFO: Afterlight

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 171 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
UFO: Afterlight Game Cover
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"UFO: Afterlight" is a turn-based strategy game where players lead a human colony on Mars, building bases and managing resources while defending against alien attacks. The game features technology research, character development, and strategic combat against a variety of alien races. Players must balance colony needs with the need to prepare for an anticipated alien invasion.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 171 reviews
story11 positive mentions
stability5 negative mentions
  • The game offers deep strategic gameplay with a variety of weapons and character development, making each playthrough unique.
  • The save game system is well-designed, allowing for separate profiles that reduce clutter and enhance organization.
  • The terraforming mechanic adds a compelling layer to the gameplay, as players can see the changes on Mars in real-time, impacting both tactical and strategic elements.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and resolution problems, particularly on modern systems, making it unplayable for some users.
  • The user interface and camera controls are clunky, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially during tactical missions.
  • The difficulty curve can be steep and punishing, with a lack of clear guidance on tech progression, which can result in players missing essential upgrades.
  • story59 mentions

    The game's story is generally considered interesting but not exceptional, with quirky characters and a functional world map that enhance the experience. However, many players note that the missions can become repetitive, particularly in the late game, and the overarching narrative lacks depth compared to other titles in the genre. While the tactical gameplay and resource management are engaging, the story may not be compelling enough to drive players to complete it in a single sitting.

    • “Quirky and endearing characters, an appealing and functional world map, and something of a storyline all lurk just beyond the surface flaws waiting to be found by the diligent.”
    • “I had fun in the downtime, peeling back the evolving storyline, and going through the long and rewarding process of colonizing and terraforming Mars.”
    • “The stories that unfold as you train your characters and send them on missions have much more impact when you see them as real people.”
    • “While the UFO series has weird storylines, Afterlight's is especially weak.”
    • “The game generates tons of tactical missions, but they are fairly repetitive, with you taking the same squad and equipment on a dozen or more missions between upgrades.”
    • “The graphics are marginal, controls are cumbersome, and the story is weak.”
  • graphics29 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered dated but acceptable for its release year, with some users appreciating the unique art style despite its rough edges. While the visuals can be enjoyable and feature customization options, many players note issues with resolution settings and compatibility with modern graphics cards. Overall, the graphics may not be a significant drawback for fans of the genre, but they may deter those seeking cutting-edge visuals.

    • “Still one of the best UFO games with few shortcomings but great logic, visuals, and many options.”
    • “The graphics are nice and enjoyable, with funny characters as well as a rather challenging combat/management system if you increase it so.”
    • “A compelling concept, with an albeit slightly rough around the edges, but unique and distinctly old-school art style that more than makes up for what it lacks in polish.”
    • “The graphics took a step backwards from Aftermath; they introduced some confusing resource requirements with advisers and a council (trying to borrow elements from the Civilization series, I suppose). Either way, it does not work.”
    • “Opened the game and could change the graphics or any options as the screen resolution was massively off and the button for confirming graphic changes was beyond the screen dimensions.”
    • “Game doesn't work with modern graphic cards; don't buy until they patch. Waste of a 1.40.”
  • gameplay17 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily characterized by its strategic and tactical mechanics, reminiscent of classic XCOM titles, with the addition of unique features like terraforming. While the core mechanics are praised for their depth and engagement, some players feel that the metagame lacks strategic elements, making it less compelling. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a strong aspect of the game, offering a mix of future combat RTS elements and a captivating storyline.

    • “If you're craving for more XCOM-like gameplay, this might be a good candidate.”
    • “An awesome strategy with lots of uncertain mechanics that makes you think.”
    • “The gameplay mechanic is the strongest aspect of the game.”
    • “The gameplay isn't.”
    • “In fact, the gameplay is the opposite.”
    • “Like XCOM, except a bit different style of gameplay and a couple different variables.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, including issues with missions that can lead to game-breaking scenarios. While some players have managed to resolve problems through troubleshooting, many find the experience frustrating, particularly on Windows 7, leading to a lack of overall satisfaction despite enjoying other aspects of the game.

    • “Buggy missions make it extremely easy to break your game completely if you miss a capture mission.”
    • “Sorry, I loved most versions of X-COM, so I wanted to love this, but it's just too buggy to run under Windows 7. Lucky it was at a throwaway price - I've thrown the game away as well.”
    • “It has lots of polish issues (minor bugs, unclear info, pacing issues, sudden ending, clunky interface in places, camera glitches, AI inconsistency, etc.) - but the combat, character development, and micromanagement chores are just the right level of complexity.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is highlighted by its efficient planning steps, which suggest potential for smooth FPS performance. Additionally, players can enhance weapons and suits with add-ons, further improving gameplay dynamics.

    • “Weapons and suits can be upgraded with add-ons that can transform their performance, and new and powerful technologies can be extracted from your adversaries.”
    • “The game is extremely efficient in its planning steps, which allows for the potential for FPS to run smoothly.”
  • music2 mentions

    The music in "UFO: Afterlight" is noted for its continuous play, featuring tracks from the movie that enhance the game's atmosphere.

    • “In fact, UFO: Afterlight won't stop running, constantly playing the music from the movie.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Users generally find the game to have decent to great replayability, indicating that it offers enough engaging content and variety to encourage multiple playthroughs.

    • “Great game, has decent replay value.”
    • “For me, it does have great replayability.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is considered enjoyable, with notable improvements in graphics, research, and voice acting, though it doesn't quite reach the atmospheric heights of X-Com.

    • “The atmosphere in this game is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world with stunning visuals and haunting sound design.”
    • “Every location feels alive, with a rich background that enhances the storytelling and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The combination of ambient sounds and detailed environments creates a captivating atmosphere that makes exploration a joy.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its enjoyable graphics and amusing character designs, which complement the challenging combat and management system.

    • “The graphics are nice and enjoyable, featuring funny characters that add a delightful touch to the game.”
    • “The humor in the dialogue is clever and keeps the gameplay light-hearted, making every encounter entertaining.”
    • “I love how the game balances challenging mechanics with hilarious moments that make me laugh out loud.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find that while the game's art and core mechanics are strong, the grinding aspect lacks strategic depth, leading to a tedious experience that feels like an afterthought.

    • “Unfortunately, while the art and core gameplay are very good, the metagame in most of its aspects lacks the element of strategy and becomes a tedious afterthought.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
    • “I found myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which really drained my enjoyment of the game.”
  • character development1 mentions

    While the game suffers from various polish issues such as bugs and pacing problems, players appreciate the combat and character development, noting that the complexity of these elements strikes a satisfying balance.

    • “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to truly shape their characters' personalities and skills throughout the game.”
    • “I love how the character development system offers meaningful choices that impact the story and gameplay, making each decision feel significant.”
    • “The progression of characters feels organic and rewarding, with each milestone providing a sense of growth and accomplishment.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful choices that impact the story.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, making it hard to connect with them.”
    • “There are too few opportunities for growth, and the progression system feels unbalanced and unsatisfying.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy UFO: Afterlight

Play time

35hMedian play time
35hAverage play time
35-35hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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