X-COM: Terror From the Deep

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X-COM: Terror From the Deep is a single player tactical turn-based strategy game with horror, warfare and science fiction themes. It was developed by MicroProse Software, Inc and was released on May 4, 2007. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

In "X-COM: Terror from the Deep," the alien invasion continues beneath the ocean's surface as dormant sea creatures awaken. As the leader of X-COM, you must utilize advanced undersea military technology and navigate multilevel tactical maps to defend Earth from this new aquatic threat. This sequel to "X-COM: UFO Defense" offers undersea geoscape mapping and rich graphics, immersing you in the battle for Earth's survival.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 586 reviews

graphics19 positive mentions

story15 negative mentions

The game offers a challenging and atmospheric experience, immersing players in a Lovecraftian underwater setting.
Terror from the Deep retains the core mechanics of its predecessor while introducing new elements like underwater combat and unique alien designs.
The sense of consequence in decision-making and the satisfaction of overcoming its brutal difficulty create a rewarding gameplay experience.

The game can be punishingly difficult, with many players finding it frustrating due to the steep learning curve and the potential for game-breaking bugs in the research tree.
Missions can be excessively long, especially the two-part terror missions and alien base assaults, leading to tedious gameplay.
The interface and graphics feel dated, which may deter new players from fully enjoying the experience.

story
205 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
88%
7%
The story of "Terror from the Deep" continues the narrative of humanity's struggle against an alien invasion, this time focusing on underwater threats and introducing new mission types, including lengthy two-part terror missions and alien base assaults. While the game retains the strategic elements of its predecessor, it is noted for its increased difficulty and the often tedious nature of its missions, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. Despite these challenges, the game is praised for its atmospheric tone and engaging lore, drawing inspiration from Lovecraftian themes.
- “The research tree, in tandem with random alien activity and few truly guaranteed events mean that each new game, the story can play out differently.”
- “The story is fun as you learn about these new aqua-type aliens.”
- “The plot is that Earth is being invaded by aliens from the sea who aren't hesitant to kill anyone preventing them from their main goal: taking over the entire planet.”
- “The cruise missions and base missions are unnecessarily tedious and long, and the levels themselves are unnecessarily large.”
- “The ending itself is a lot more confusing as well, where the first game left you with a more conclusive and well-explained story; this one is more focused on teasing the third one instead of giving a better-explained ending sequence.”
- “One terror mission took me about two hours to complete, compared to maybe 30 minutes in the first game, and about half of that time I spent just running around an empty ship looking through each cabin after the lone hiding alien.”
graphics
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
66%
7%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated and simplistic, often described as low-resolution pixel art that may deter newcomers but still holds a nostalgic charm for retro fans. While some players appreciate the haunting beauty and artistic direction, particularly in the context of its Lovecraftian themes, others find the visuals lacking compared to modern standards. Overall, the graphics may not impress by today's criteria, but they contribute to the game's unique atmosphere and are often overlooked in favor of its engaging gameplay and strategic depth.
- “The artwork and enemy designs enhance this feeling, blending Lovecraftian influences with biomechanical nightmares that look right at home in the deep.”
- “The art direction and music are creepy and oppressive in all the right ways, particularly for night missions, and the graphics have a grim and realistic edge that was lacking from the bright and often cartoony graphics in XCOM 1.”
- “Graphics are sprite-based but they are well done and still hold up to this day; at worst, you'll get used to them.”
- “The graphics have a crappy resolution.”
- “Low res graphics, controls which appear clunky, and the Steam DOSBox port is buggy and unstable.”
- “It's hard to play nowadays with the dated graphics and controls.”
gameplay
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
64%
4%
The gameplay retains the core mechanics of the original X-COM, blending high-level strategy with turn-based tactical combat, but introduces increased difficulty and complexity that can be punishing. While the game excels in atmosphere and challenge, many players find it frustratingly rigid and clunky, with some minor improvements overshadowed by a lack of innovation and a steep learning curve. Overall, it offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the original, though it may not appeal to newcomers due to its demanding nature.
- “The gameplay structure remains faithful to the original X-COM’s dual-layer design, balancing high-level strategic management with turn-based tactical combat.”
- “While it may not innovate drastically in mechanics, it excels in tone and challenge, embodying the spirit of old-school design where every choice matters and every mission could be your last.”
- “The gameplay is challenging and rewarding, although it is very clunky.”
- “Microprose, under pressure to deliver a sequel quickly, reused much of the original game’s engine and systems, which ensures a strong sense of mechanical depth but also makes the game feel punishingly rigid.”
- “It's a reskin with more glitches than the first game and more frustrating mechanics which culminate in a horrid endgame.”
- “Unfortunately, TFTD just brings everything to frustration, ruining the perfect balance and gameplay (which was already difficult to be honest) of its predecessor.”
music
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
72%
7%
The music in the game is a polarizing aspect, with many praising its eerie and atmospheric qualities that enhance the sense of unease, particularly during tense moments. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm of the soundtrack, others criticize its repetitiveness and limited variety, suggesting it can become tiresome over time. Overall, the soundtrack effectively contributes to the game's dark and oppressive atmosphere, though opinions vary on its execution and impact compared to previous titles.
- “The soundtrack sets a dark and creeping contrast to the shining pixels.”
- “The music is more melancholy this time, I have to admit, but it suits the atmosphere quite well.”
- “The eerie soundtrack, punctuated by ambient tension rather than melodic themes, adds to the sense of unease that defines the game’s identity.”
- “I don't care for the OST of this game, and mute it while playing other, more horror ambient music in the background.”
- “In this game, the music sounds like a 1950s low-budget horror film.”
atmosphere
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
41%
8%
The atmosphere of "X-COM: Terror from the Deep" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the game's strategic complexity. Set in a Lovecraftian underwater world, it combines eerie visuals, a captivating soundtrack, and a sense of dread that keeps players engaged, despite some dated graphics. While it retains much of the original's gameplay, the atmospheric depth and tension elevate it to a unique experience that resonates with fans of the genre.
- “X-COM: Terror from the Deep stands as one of the most demanding and atmospheric tactical strategy games of its era, a sequel that took the original formula of X-COM: UFO Defense and submerged it into a world of deep-sea dread.”
- “Seriously, the atmosphere in this game is incredible and there's nothing quite like being two hours into a terror mission at 3:00 AM on a seemingly empty cargo ship to really freak you out.”
- “Its aged visuals and interface can deter newcomers, but those who persist will discover a game that combines haunting atmosphere with uncompromising strategic complexity.”
- “The atmosphere is strong, creating a sense of dread, bordering on survival horror.”
- “Lingering in the deepest seas, the atmosphere is based on mystery and the uncomfortable feeling that something is with one's crew in these waters.”
stability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs well on newer machines, many players report significant game-breaking glitches and bugs that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, particularly in the endgame. Issues such as unresponsive controls, crashes, and problematic mechanics are prevalent, although some users have managed to avoid these problems. Overall, the game is considered unstable, especially in its current version, with many recommending community fixes to address the numerous glitches.
- “Runs great even on newer machines (running Windows 11).”
- “It's a reskin with more glitches than the first game and more frustrating mechanics which culminate in a horrid endgame.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is full of game-breaking glitches, or at least I've read a lot about them; luckily, I managed not to encounter any.”
- “This version is very buggy and you'll likely pull out your hair from the amount of times you've had a Windows notice pop up and been unable to get rid of it until you Ctrl+Alt+Delete, only for it to crash to desktop or inexplicably dust off from the mission automatically.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many missions feeling unnecessarily long and challenging. While some enjoy the progression and the eventual payoff of mastering alien technology, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration with the excessive grinding required to advance. Despite these criticisms, some players still return to the game, indicating a level of engagement that transcends the grind.
- “This gets very tedious very fast, since you'll play dozens of battles in the course of your game.”
- “The cruise missions and base missions are unnecessarily tedious and long, and the levels themselves are unnecessarily large.”
- “A tedious grind.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
Overall, the game boasts exceptional replayability, with players noting that no two sessions are alike due to familiar yet varied situations and landmarks. The inclusion of features like the TFTD extender enhances playability, while the challenging AI adds to the game's addictive nature, making it appealing for casual and dedicated gamers alike.
- “Replayability is through the roof.”
- “The cruelty of the AI (on all difficulties) makes this game addicting and with high replay value, just like Dark Souls.”
- “No two games are the same, just familiar situations and landmarks, so the replay value is very high in my opinion.”
- “None of them are vital to your research, and they add an additional sense of replayability.”
- “With little need for powerful hardware and a save feature available at any time, there's huge casual replay value.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its clever and quirky premise, such as aliens causing the extinction of dinosaurs, and is complemented by a humorous atmosphere filled with amusing B-movie elements. Players find the comedic aspects both entertaining and occasionally distracting, contributing to the game's charm and complexity. Overall, it is celebrated as a classic that remains hilariously fun even today.
- “Just a funny little bit about the aliens - their spaceship crashed into the Earth and it killed off the dinosaurs, and that's why these aliens were dormant on Earth for so long.”
- “This is one of the great classics of the pre-Windows era and even today it is still a challenging, funny, and quite complex game to enjoy. Love it!”
- “Second of all, by God, this is hilariously fun.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express a strong negative emotional response to the game, indicating that engaging with it would be a waste of their emotional and mental resources. One reviewer specifically states they would prefer to replay a different game instead, highlighting a significant lack of emotional investment in this title.

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72%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

X-COM: Terror From the Deep Review
Gamespot.com
72%

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524h Median play time

353h Average play time

9-696h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

X-COM: Terror From the Deep is a tactical turn-based strategy game with horror, warfare and science fiction themes.

X-COM: Terror From the Deep is available on PC, Windows, PlayStation and Ms Dos.

On average players spend around 353 hours playing X-COM: Terror From the Deep.

X-COM: Terror From the Deep was released on May 4, 2007.

X-COM: Terror From the Deep was developed by MicroProse Software, Inc.

X-COM: Terror From the Deep has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its story.

X-COM: Terror From the Deep is a single player game.

Similar games include X-COM: UFO Defense, Xenonauts, X-COM: Apocalypse, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Xenonauts 2 and others.

X-COM: Terror From the Deep

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