UFO2: Extraterrestrials

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UFO2: Extraterrestrials is a single player tactical role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Chaos Concept and was released on June 15, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

UFO2Extraterrestrials: Battle for Mercury A fully 3D game combining real-time global strategy & air combat with turn-based tactical missions A turn-based “I-Go-You-Go“ tactical squad-based game system Interactive environments with destructible terrain A large number of technologies, weapons, and combat units to develop A large number of aliens to interrogate Strong RPG elements …

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Single-Player

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63%

Audience ScoreBased on 81 reviews

humor3 positive mentions

story8 negative mentions

Faithful to the original classic X-COM gameplay with nostalgic turn-based tactical combat that appeals to fans of the genre.
Good strategic depth featuring base building, research, and squad customization including player-controlled soldier development.
Unique features like aircraft carrier bases, mortars as area weapons, and dynamic difficulty adjustment via mods enhance gameplay variety.

Numerous bugs and stability issues including crashes, mouse lag, and game freezes detract significantly from the experience.
Outdated graphics and clunky, unintuitive user interface with poor tutorial and lack of quality-of-life improvements frustrate new and modern players.
Limited weapon variety and restrictive tech tree lead to repetitive combat and grind-heavy progression, diminishing tactical options and long-term engagement.

graphics
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The graphics are generally considered dated and reminiscent of late 1990s to early 2000s styles, with some bugs and visual quirks noted. While they lack modern polish and realism, many players appreciate the nostalgic, old-school charm and find them adequate for the gameplay experience. Those seeking cutting-edge visuals may be disappointed, but fans of classic tactical games often recommend looking past the simple graphics to enjoy the game's depth.
- “Ufo2 feels and plays exactly like X-COM, but with better graphics and support for modern displays and resolution.”
- “The second part feels more polished out of the box with improved graphics.”
- “It is better optimized and has better graphics than UFO: Extraterrestrials Gold.”
- “The graphics look like they are from 1998.”
- “This game has poor graphics, poor UI, and unpredictable bugs and crashes.”
- “The graphics look like from a game 20 years ago.”
story
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
70%
22%
The game lacks a traditional story, plot, or setting, offering little narrative guidance or character development, which some players find disappointing. However, this absence is embraced by others who feel the game’s core tactical and strategic gameplay allows them to create their own story. Overall, the story aspect is minimal and may feel empty or unpolished to those expecting a more structured narrative.
- “Explains the story of what happened nicely.”
- “Love it, UFO 2 is true to the old school XCOM (DOS), and UFO 1 Extraterrestrial, with better graphics, new stuff and aliens to research, and with a little faster pace on missions.”
- “You make the story.”
- “The most glaring flaw is the complete and utter lack of story, plot, or setting.”
- “There is no story or explanation of what happened or what to do when you start the game.”
- “For the money they are charging this game needs to offer a lot more than it currently does. I may be a bit spoilt by XCOM but just sitting there waiting for something to happen with no story and no characters of note, it just feels so empty.”
gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The gameplay retains much of the original X-COM's mechanics and pace, offering a nostalgic and engaging experience despite dated graphics and some clunky controls. However, users note it feels unfinished with bugs, simplified mechanics, and occasional unclear game elements, which detracts from overall enjoyment. Nonetheless, the core gameplay remains fun and captivating for fans of the series.
- “If you can get past the old looking graphics, the gameplay and game mechanics are quite enjoyable.”
- “Gameplay is very fun so far: feels just like the very first X-COM (aka UFO: Enemy Unknown) from 1994, which I loved playing when I was a child.”
- “True - it lacks polish and has rough edges, but the core game mechanics will keep you glued to the screen until you forget such silliness as 'story' or 'voiceovers'.”
- “Terrible gameplay mechanics and graphics.”
- “After a long wait I am disappointed, unfinished game, lots of bugs, capitalized from the previous game, I stopped playing until some gameplay is improved if it will ever be, very tempted to ask for a refund.”
- “Would you like it re-skinned, with a clunky interface, and little explanation of game mechanics?”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is notably poor, with frequent bugs affecting AI behavior, controls, and gameplay mechanics, including unregistered inputs and visual/audio glitches. Despite years of development, these persistent issues significantly impact the overall experience.
- “Numerous bugs: from mild issues like the raven moving or turning on its own on the first turn, or sound glitches, to enemies having x-ray vision and firing through base walls.”
- “Buggy gameplay where input commands do not always register.”
- “Years of development to achieve the same old buggy mess.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The music in the game is largely recycled or reminiscent of previous titles, including some tracks seemingly borrowed from X-COM: UFO Defense, which may appeal to nostalgic players. While the soundtrack is generally considered decent, some users feel it lacks the immersion and quality expected from modern games, with sound effects often regarded as mediocre. Overall, the music is adequate but leaves room for improvement.
- “+ nostalgic music”
- “Graphics wise, this game looks like it was made in 2001 but gets the job done perfectly fine.. music is pretty good, sound effects are kinda meh but suffice.”
- “Also, there's some outright stolen material from X-COM UFO Defense in the form of several music tracks, and even some product placement that I'm pretty sure the real company did not agree to.”
- “I am, however, annoyed by the sound and the background music; I feel it could have been better!”
- “Sounds are very similar and music is partially recycled from the first game - but that's fine for nostalgia purposes.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as quirky and amusing, with characters and unexpected gameplay moments providing laughs. However, some unintended bugs and frustrating technical issues detract from the overall comedic experience.
- “Just look at those nh'teols: they look like some weird funny math people from the math dimension from a TV program that helps kids learn math.”
- “Others can be quite hilarious, such as completing the first map in an end mission with a single shot by destroying the alien generator with a mortar and bypassing the need to get keys altogether.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The original UFO Defense and XCOM games are praised for superior optimization, offering smoother performance and better graphics compared to UFO: Extraterrestrials Gold.
- “It is better optimized and has better graphics than UFO: Extraterrestrials Gold.”
- “I feel the original UFO Defense and XCOM games are way better when it comes to gameplay and performance.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game’s leveling system is heavily reliant on grinding, making progression tedious without exploiting certain mechanics.
- “The entire leveling system without this exploit is extremely grindy.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers limited replayability, as most players are unlikely to revisit it after completing the main experience, unless additional content such as mods becomes available.
- “I do feel that I probably wouldn't replay this game after finishing it, hence little replayability unless they come out with mods later.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

UFO2: Extraterrestrials is a tactical role playing game with science fiction theme.

UFO2: Extraterrestrials is available on PC and Windows.

UFO2: Extraterrestrials was released on June 15, 2021.

UFO2: Extraterrestrials was developed by Chaos Concept.

UFO2: Extraterrestrials has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its humor but disliked it for its graphics.

UFO2: Extraterrestrials is a single player game.

Similar games include Xenonauts, Xenonauts 2, Phoenix Point, X-COM: UFO Defense, X-COM: Apocalypse and others.

UFO2: Extraterrestrials

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