XCOM: Chimera Squad

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 14,027 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • stability
XCOM: Chimera Squad Game Cover
Mixing elements of the old and new games in the series, this game also mixes the humans and the aliens to create a Chimera Squad to tackle the ongoing threat/s to Earth.
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In XCOM: Chimera Squad, humans and aliens work together in a post-invasion world to maintain order in City 31. As the leader of this diverse squad, you'll manage agents with unique abilities and personalities, and use strategic turn-based combat to complete missions. The game introduces new tactical elements, including breaching, disruptable environments, and a reworked weapon system, providing a fresh take on the XCOM series.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 14,027 reviews
story1,282 positive mentions
stability1,091 negative mentions
  • story8,968 mentions

    The story of "XCOM: Chimera Squad" is set in a post-XCOM 2 world where humans and aliens coexist in City 31, focusing on a police-like special forces unit tasked with maintaining order amidst rising tensions. While the narrative attempts to explore themes of integration and cooperation, many players find it lacking depth and coherence, often describing it as simplistic and repetitive, with a reliance on comic-style storytelling that detracts from the overall experience. The character-driven approach, featuring predefined agents with unique backstories, adds some charm, but the overall plot and dialogue have been criticized for being uninspired and filled with clichés.

    • “I did really enjoy that the squad members were true individuals and had their own stories to be discovered as you brought them on more missions.”
    • “The story revolves around a squad of police-like special forces, made up of a mix of human and alien characters, as they tackle a crime filled with mystery.”
    • “The story is actually interesting, and the XCOM 2 cinematics are movie quality.”
    • “The story is contrived and lacks any real depth as it's very clear that there is a message they want to push.”
    • “The story is paper-thin, serving exclusively as an excuse to move from one mission to another, but I can forgive that because the gameplay is where this game shines.”
    • “The story is disconnected from the gameplay, consisting of repetitive missions and summarized in a few sentences every few hours.”
  • gameplay5,079 mentions

    The gameplay of *XCOM: Chimera Squad* introduces several new mechanics, most notably the "breach" system, which allows players to initiate combat with a tactical advantage by choosing how to enter each encounter. While the game retains the core turn-based tactical gameplay familiar to *XCOM* fans, it simplifies many elements, such as character customization and strategic depth, resulting in a more streamlined but less challenging experience. Overall, the game is seen as a fun, if repetitive, spin-off that offers a fresh take on the series, though it suffers from bugs and a lack of narrative cohesion.

    • “After two campaign playthroughs, the TL;DR is that Chimera Squad delivers on having an addictive core gameplay loop with enough depth to make a normal twenty-hour playthrough enjoyable.”
    • “The breach mechanic is fun and it is definitely one of the game's best selling points given that it's an exclusive mechanic to this game alone and not the other XCOM games.”
    • “XCOM games are really the pinnacle of turn-based strategy, while the gameplay for this one is different, it's fun and it brings plenty to the table for any XCOM fan or any new player that likes turn-based XCOM-style games.”
    • “The game is nonsense from the ground up and lacks any kind of mechanical or narrative cohesion.”
    • “Awful millennial dialogue that doesn't even seem coherent, worse mechanics, a confusing base UI, retconned lore, terrible redesigns, and a weird difficulty spike.”
    • “The gameplay is not fun.”
  • stability1,107 mentions

    The stability of "XCOM: Chimera Squad" has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the gameplay experience. Common issues include frequent freezes, game-breaking bugs, and visual glitches, particularly during critical moments like enemy reinforcements. While some players have managed to enjoy the game despite these problems, the overall consensus is that it remains a buggy and unpolished title, making it difficult to recommend, especially for those considering playing in Ironman mode.

    • “While this game had its bugs, it wasn't as buggy as the main series, and never in late game became prone to the same code breakdowns XCOM and XCOM 2 had late game (they patched it since).”
    • “As someone with a relatively bug-free playthrough, this game has been quite enjoyable. The gameplay is a simplified version of the previous two XCOM installments, focusing on smaller battles and character development of a set squad, rather than random troopers that can be lost at any given time.”
    • “Overall, a very enjoyable game, very solid, runs great and really scratches that XCOM itch.”
    • “Most notably, the game is still filled with glitches and bugs, ranging from minor animation or camera angle issues to straight-up game-breaking problems.”
    • “The game is a broken, buggy mess.”
    • “However, it must be said that the game is very buggy and rather unpolished; it is clear that the current XCOM game engine is not made for what this game is trying to achieve.”
  • graphics926 mentions

    The graphics of *Chimera Squad* have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are largely recycled from *XCOM 2*, leading to a sense of datedness. While some appreciate the comic book art style and vibrant aesthetics, others criticize the numerous graphical glitches, poor optimization, and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as a step down from previous titles in the series, with a significant divide in player opinions regarding the artistic direction and technical execution.

    • “The art style accentuates the lighthearted theme of the game, with cutscenes being rendered in a luscious cartoon style.”
    • “The graphics are good, and the game has never crashed for no reason like the first two.”
    • “The graphics are nice, with a lot fewer glitches than in xcom 2, but at the same time it feels damp and cold as your units are fixed.”
    • “Graphically, Chimera Squad looks like it's a game from a decade ago and despite being an offshoot of XCOM 2, it doesn't seem to want to use the strengths your characters have.”
    • “The graphics are worse, gameplay is clunky, and strategy is a lot simpler.”
    • “The graphics are of noticeably lower quality than XCOM 2 - for example, when you use a 'destroy cover' ability, the cover graphic just disappears - no explosion, no nothing.”
  • replayability370 mentions

    The replayability of the game is a mixed bag among reviewers. While some players appreciate the potential for varied team compositions and mission orders, leading to multiple playthroughs, many criticize the limited customization options and fixed story elements, which significantly reduce replay value compared to previous XCOM titles. Overall, it seems that while there is some replayability due to different character choices and mission paths, it falls short of the depth and variability found in earlier entries in the series.

    • “Combined with the fact that the team members you are able to recruit (and the order they appear) shuffle every time, the campaign structure creates a lot of replayability.”
    • “The replayability is extremely high and I fully intend to explore all the available options.”
    • “You can't get every character in your squad at the same time; I think there are about 12 characters and only 8 open slots, which really ups the replayability as you can pick up the agents you missed in your first playthrough to see how they function.”
    • “The lack of replay value is its most significant drawback.”
    • “A few interesting characters and a decent setting cannot offset the shallow gameplay, repetitive missions, rigid structure, and zero replayability.”
    • “However, the game severely lacks in replayability and challenging gameplay.”
  • humor318 mentions

    The humor in the game is highly polarizing, with many players finding it forced, juvenile, and often cringe-worthy, detracting from the serious themes of the XCOM franchise. While some appreciate the lighthearted banter and comedic elements, others feel it clashes with the game's darker atmosphere and undermines character depth. Overall, the humor is described as inconsistent, with moments of genuine amusement overshadowed by attempts at quippy dialogue that frequently miss the mark.

    • “The banter between characters is often funny, sarcastic, hilarious, and/or entertaining.”
    • “I had a blast discovering each character's unique abilities and traits, and the banter between them is both hilarious and heartwarming.”
    • “The characters are quirky and funny.”
    • “Unfunny 'witty' humor, terrible voice acting.”
    • “Stupid story, comic cutscenes, unfunny jokes ... got bored really quick.”
    • “Which leads to another issue, communication, your squad won’t shut up with unfunny remarks, pedantic corrections, cringeworthy jokes, jabs and swipes at each other. It’s like listening to a bunch of teenagers trying to outsmart one another; I wish writers would stop doing this. Not every character needs to reply to everything with a wise-ass remark; it doesn’t make them interesting, it makes me want to leave them behind to be killed.”
  • music204 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its fitting atmosphere and enjoyable tracks, while others find it unremarkable or forgettable compared to previous titles in the XCOM series. Many appreciate the unique sound design and character themes, but a significant number of players feel that the soundtrack lacks the memorability and excitement of earlier games. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, it does not consistently stand out as a highlight.

    • “I love the unique take on XCOM, the vibrant colors, the unique music, and the banter between the characters.”
    • “The music is amazing and the little dialogue between characters in battle, between battles, and back at HQ are insightful and hilarious.”
    • “The soundtrack is solid, the main theme and base themes are very atmospheric and really capture the new world pretty well, and some of the combat themes are pretty nice as well.”
    • “I found the OST unremarkable, but after XCOM legacy OST on 2, anything is unremarkable.”
    • “The soundtrack is unremarkable and the voice acting is sort of bad.”
    • “The music is absolutely forgettable; the new elements at play are functional at best.”
  • optimization162 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including lag, crashes, and poor frame rates, particularly on lower-end systems. While some users noted improvements over previous titles like XCOM 2, others experienced severe bugs and inconsistent performance, leading to frustration. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be a major concern, with many players hoping for future patches to address these issues.

    • “The game is actually really well optimized and has lower system requirements than XCOM 2, despite being 4 years older.”
    • “Performance-wise, it runs very well for me, and loading times are absolutely lightning.”
    • “Overall, great game, nice story, optimization is lacking, but the performance is much better than XCOM 2.”
    • “This game has very terrible optimization.”
    • “But the optimization is horrendous: everything is laggy even on minimal graphic settings and occasionally the game just freezes outright making my computer unresponsive.”
    • “Chimera Squad is game-breakingly buggy, poorly designed and optimized, and frequently fails to explain vital information to the player.”
  • grinding139 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the overuse of the breach mechanic and the lack of engaging mission variety. While some appreciate the streamlined gameplay that reduces the slow, methodical pacing of previous XCOM titles, others feel that this has led to a less satisfying experience, with missions becoming monotonous and lacking depth. Overall, players note that while the game attempts to cut out tedious elements, it often falls into a grindy rhythm that detracts from the enjoyment.

    • “Can be fairly repetitive, but with the short 10-15 minute missions it isn't too grinding.”
    • “There is no farming experience here; agents level up via completed missions, so don't waste missions on ineffective agents. Plan your game.”
    • “It's not hard, at least not as hard as XCOM 2, but it is tedious, boring, and it feels like an XCOM fan game more so than a true XCOM title.”
    • “The core game loop is confusing and just tedious.”
    • “The entire atmosphere of the game is way too 'haha quirky' and the gameplay runs on the engine of XCOM 2, so everything is buggy, slow, and tedious.”
  • atmosphere115 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant departure from the dark, tense ambiance characteristic of previous XCOM titles. Instead, the game presents a lighter, more cartoonish tone that some find charming, while others feel it undermines the serious themes of the franchise. Overall, the shift to a more comedic and vibrant atmosphere has polarized players, with some appreciating the new direction and others lamenting the loss of the original's gritty and immersive experience.

    • “The atmosphere is nice, the graphics are good, and the strategic layer has quite a bit of depth.”
    • “I really enjoyed its energy and atmosphere.”
    • “The music is wonderful, the graphic-novel-style artwork and over-the-top dialogue are very atmospheric and I think set a fun tone.”
    • “The atmosphere is so far removed from what I'd expect that it feels like candy-coated garbage.”
    • “The atmosphere was a lot less serious, which my girlfriend enjoyed.”
    • “The entire atmosphere of the game is way too 'haha quirky' and the gameplay runs on the engine of XCOM 2, so everything is buggy, slow, and tedious.”
  • character development104 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the unique personalities and backstories of squad members, while others criticize the overall lack of depth and meaningful growth. Many reviews highlight that character interactions and banter are entertaining, but the development feels shallow and linear, often failing to impact the main story or player choices. Additionally, character design has received significant criticism, with some finding it uninspired or poorly executed, detracting from the potential for deeper engagement with the characters.

    • “I really appreciate the character development on the squad side; I wish the enemy factions got as much exposition (maybe some extra dossier type information, an ability to interrogate some of the folks you capture, just some mechanism to learn more about them).”
    • “All these little details: interesting audio hits between missions, meaningful choices everywhere, character development that tied me to the different members of my squad.”
    • “It has a more in-depth story with character development for your soldiers, which is awesome.”
    • “Character development is more or less thrown out the window, while the soldiers you control are either annoying or childish.”
    • “They lack strong character development; it just falls flat here.”
    • “But if you're looking for something a bit more complex and deep, don't buy this, especially if you want a story with some real character development.”
  • monetization83 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" that relies heavily on intrusive advertisements and a mobile game-like experience. While some appreciate the humor and world-building elements tied to the ads, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game feels unpolished and exploitative, detracting from the overall experience. Despite a few positive notes on character interactions and creativity, the consensus leans towards disappointment in how the monetization strategy undermines the legacy of the XCOM franchise.

    • “Microtransactions make the game easier.”
    • “Microtransactions are needed to have any fun.”
    • “Xsolla -> monetization, analytics and payments; Google LLC -> big data, advertisement, analytics; Firaxis Games, Inc.”
    • “Very much a cash grab when cinematics are replaced by comic book stills.”
    • “Instead I get spammed with advertisements 90% in between the missions (no it does not add to the atmosphere, it's annoying like in real life).”
    • “Overall a very unpolished experience, looks more like an indie cash grab than an XCOM successor.”
  • emotional69 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing a lack of attachment to characters due to a boring storyline and the absence of permanent character deaths, which diminishes the stakes. While some appreciated the light-hearted banter and humorous interactions among characters, others found the overall narrative uninspiring and felt that it failed to evoke genuine emotional investment. Overall, the game struggles to create the emotional depth and connection that fans expect from the XCOM series.

    • “The game lets you pimp and preen and feel attached to these characters, which opens you up for a great emotional moment when your beloved sexy snek gets beaned in the head by a blast of plasma, killing them forever; a staple of the series.”
    • “The story is such a fun and heartfelt about a hurt-yet-hopeful future with an intersectional cast of characters.”
    • “Beyond that, the gameplay is solid compared to the previous two XCOM games, the characters aren't throwaway random humans; they have good character, and it makes it difficult emotionally to lose them if you're easily attached.”
    • “How the hell do you introduce a game with aliens and then proceed to come up with the least scary, wholly boring storyline?”
    • “Great gameplay, well-functioning and innovative new systems, but a boring storyline full of clichés and overused tropes.”
    • “A pretty boring storyline with an even worse ending, a squad of 11 characters which were mostly two-dimensional, and dialogue between them was rarely enjoyable with the odd witty banter.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy XCOM: Chimera Squad

Play time

17hMedian play time
44hAverage play time
8-29hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 190 analyzed playthroughs

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