XCOM: Chimera Squad

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XCOM: Chimera Squad is a single player tactical turn-based strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Firaxis Games and was released on April 22, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

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.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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75%

Audience ScoreBased on 24,640 reviews

story2.3k positive mentions

stability1.9k negative mentions

story
15,728 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
81%
5%
The story of "XCOM: Chimera Squad" is set in a post-XCOM 2 world where humans and aliens coexist, focusing on a police-like squad tasked with maintaining order in City 31. While the narrative attempts to explore themes of integration and cooperation, many players find it shallow and predictable, often feeling like a series of repetitive missions rather than a compelling storyline. The character interactions and comic book-style storytelling add some charm, but the overall plot lacks depth and fails to engage players as effectively as previous entries in the series.
- “I'm also a fan of the comic book style art and storytelling in the cut scenes/dialogue between characters.”
- “One of my favorite parts of this game were the world-building quips in between missions.”
- “The story is light but fits in the post-narrative of XCOM 2.”
- “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 bad, the voice acting is terrible, and the aliens wear human clothes... what the hell?”
gameplay
8,957 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The gameplay of *XCOM: Chimera Squad* has been described as a streamlined and more accessible version of the traditional XCOM experience, featuring a new "breach" mechanic that allows players to initiate combat with a tactical advantage. While many players appreciate the faster-paced, bite-sized missions and the introduction of unique characters with distinct abilities, some criticize the game for its lack of depth, repetitive mechanics, and the absence of character customization and permadeath. Overall, the game is seen as a fun, albeit simplified, spin-off that retains the core tactical gameplay of the series while experimenting with new mechanics.
- “I really like the focus on characters that are mechanically (and thematically) different from each other.”
- “The gameplay is good, games are shorter, decision making is more relaxed and you can afford to be aggressive on tactical.”
- “The new breach mechanic is a fun addition and has plenty of potential in an x-com 3 for entering interior areas, I particularly like the level of risk attached to certain entrances and whether you have the right consumable or not, as well as different enemies either getting a debuff or a reactionary attack.”
- “If you are a fan of the XCOM games, do not expect the same level of either gameplay or engagement.”
- “The new breaching mechanic also makes positioning barely matter most of the time and mostly down to just luck.”
- “The gameplay is pretty bad as well, static breach points into the next room all the time.”
stability
1,973 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
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. Many users have experienced game-breaking issues, such as freezing during missions, disappearing equipment, and unresponsive mechanics, making it difficult to recommend the game in its current state. While some players find enjoyment in the core mechanics, the overwhelming consensus is that the game is plagued by instability and requires substantial patches to address its myriad technical problems.
- “I found the game to be mostly bug free, although there were times when I would have expected abilities to activate/trigger and they just didn't.”
- “It's £10, it's extremely solid gameplay that is bug free, and all the ideas work.”
- “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 shit.”
- “The game is a broken buggy mess.”
- “However, what I dislike the most about this game is how buggy it still is.”
graphics
1,635 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
71%
6%
The graphics of "Chimera Squad" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant shift to a cartoonish, comic-book art style that contrasts sharply with the more realistic visuals of previous XCOM titles. While some appreciate the vibrant aesthetics and find them fitting for the game's lighthearted tone, others criticize the graphics as feeling cheap or poorly executed, often citing issues like graphical glitches and a lack of polish. Overall, the game is seen as visually decent but not groundbreaking, with many players expressing disappointment in the art direction compared to earlier entries in the series.
- “The art style accentuates the lighthearted theme of the game, with cutscenes being rendered in a luscious cartoon style.”
- “Graphics - good for their period (2017ish?) they still hold up today!”
- “The game features a unique art style, with bright colors and stylized character designs that help set it apart from other XCOM games.”
- “The graphics are terrible and the game is broken and unpolished.”
- “Everything about this game is lazy and crappy and the graphics look worse than XCOM 2.”
- “The artwork is terrible.”
replayability
666 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
65%
10%
The replayability of "XCOM: Chimera Squad" is a mixed bag among players. While some appreciate the variety offered by different squad compositions and mission orders, many criticize the game for its limited replay value due to fixed storylines, lack of customization, and repetitive gameplay. Overall, it seems to provide some replayability through character selection and mission choices, but it falls short compared to previous entries in the XCOM series.
- “There are tons of enemies and agents with useful abilities that allow you to create interesting strategies, which keeps the replayability very high.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
humor
556 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the dialogue and character interactions genuinely funny and charming, while others criticize it as forced, juvenile, and often cringe-worthy. Many reviews highlight the contrast between the lighthearted tone and the serious themes of the XCOM universe, leading to a jarring experience for some. Overall, while there are moments of humor that resonate well, the execution often falls flat, leaving a divided reception among players.
- “The overall tone is lighter and more humorous, while the voices are a small disaster - it's my first time when I've heard a talking snake that doesn't do anything with an 's' consonant, but sounds like an angsty teenage girl.”
- “I had a blast discovering each character's unique abilities and traits, and the banter between them is both hilarious and heartwarming.”
- “The characters frequently interact with each other, joking and bantering, which adds charm and humor to the game.”
- “Stupid story, comic cutscenes, unfunny jokes... got bored really quick.”
- “Which leads to another issue, communication: your squad won’t stop 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.”
- “The characters are easily the worst part about this game, and their banter is unfunny for the most part.”
music
358 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising it as a fitting and enjoyable soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere, while others find it unremarkable or forgettable compared to previous titles in the XCOM series. Many noted that while certain tracks stand out, the overall composition lacks the memorability and impact of earlier soundtracks, leading to a general consensus that it serves well as background music but may not leave a lasting impression. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as solid but not exceptional, with some players expressing a desire for more memorable themes.
- “The music is awesome - probably my favorite XCOM OSTs which adds some synths to the orchestral take.”
- “The music is fantastic.”
- “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.”
- “Sadly, the propaganda element also comes with a side of poorly written story and lackluster music, but the voice acting is good, some of the sound assets are great, the graphics are good, the game mechanics are good and the game has few perceptible bugs.”
- “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.”
optimization
281 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
60%
28%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including crashes, lag, and long load times. While some users noted improvements over previous titles like XCOM 2, others experienced severe bugs and inconsistent performance, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be a major concern, with calls for further patches to address these issues.
- “The game is actually better optimized than XCOM 2 itself was - less lag and glitches - and so many creative ways to employ the skills of your team.”
- “Excellent job and big thumbs up to the dev team abolishing the abysmal game engine performance of XCOM and XCOM 2, the game now runs as it should, smooth sailing all the way with absolutely no framerate drops below the screen refresh rates.”
- “Performance wise it runs very well for me, and loading times are absolutely lightning.”
- “This game has very terrible optimization.”
- “Such terrible optimization... I'm very disappointed...”
- “The optimization is horrendous: everything is laggy even on minimal graphic settings and occasionally the game just freezes outright making my computer unresponsive.”
grinding
256 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
6%
93%
The reviews indicate that while "Chimera Squad" attempts to streamline gameplay by reducing some of the tedious elements found in previous XCOM titles, many players still find aspects of grinding and repetition to be prevalent. The breach mechanic, initially engaging, becomes monotonous over time, and missions can feel repetitive and unchallenging, leading to a sense of grind as players progress. Overall, while some appreciate the faster pace and reduced micromanagement, others feel that the game ultimately lacks depth and becomes tedious as it progresses.
- “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 via completed missions, so don't waste missions on ineffective agents. Plan your game.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “I wanted to like this game, but the breach mechanic is really annoying, boring, slow, and tedious, making the game feel stilted and linear.”
- “Almost everything that has made XCOM great for decades is removed in favor of a totally streamlined, bare-bones, and ultimately very lackluster experience that rapidly becomes a tedious slog to finish.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
65%
9%
The atmosphere of the game has been widely criticized for its departure from the serious and tense tone of previous XCOM titles, leaning instead towards a lighter, almost comedic vibe that some players find unappealing. While the vibrant and colorful world offers a more relaxed setting, many feel it lacks the depth and intrigue that characterized earlier installments, resulting in a disjointed experience that feels more like a quirky police drama than a gripping sci-fi narrative. Overall, the game's atmosphere is seen as inconsistent, with some enjoying its charm while others lament the loss of the franchise's iconic tension and storytelling.
- “The new turn system mixes things up a bit and feels fitting for evoking a more hectic atmosphere of the smaller mostly indoor battles.”
- “The music is wonderful, the graphic-novel-style artwork and over-the-top dialogue are very atmospheric and I think set a fun tone.”
- “Chimera Squad has an oddly charming atmosphere to it, and the banter between the different agents usually makes me chortle.”
- “The atmosphere is so far removed from what I'd expect that it feels like candy-coated garbage.”
- “It completely lost the atmosphere that was part of what made XCOM games so great.”
- “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 development
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
64%
14%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while some characters have engaging backstories, others feel underdeveloped or annoying. The overall consensus is that character interactions and growth are minimal, often overshadowed by a repetitive gameplay loop and uninspired character design. While there are moments of personality and banter, the lack of meaningful development leaves many players feeling disconnected from the characters and their stories.
- “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).”
- “The character development for the individual operatives is excellent.”
- “All these little details: interesting audio hits between missions, meaningful choices everywhere, character development that tied me to the different members of my squad.”
- “Character development is more or less thrown out the window, while the soldiers you control are either annoying or childish.”
- “But don't expect any character development or for your choices to impact the main story, which is interesting enough but rather lightweight, probably in part due to the flexibility with the order you complete the three story chapters in and the agents you recruit (you can't get them all in one playthrough).”
- “Also, there is no character development at all which you'd expect from a game like this, with actual story arcs or something coming out of spending the whole game with the cast.”
monetization
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
8%
89%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" due to its reliance on excessive in-game advertisements and a launcher that requires online connectivity for ad delivery. While some players appreciate the humor in the ads and the effort put into world-building, the overwhelming presence of promotional content detracts from the overall experience, leading to concerns about the game's integrity and value. Despite some positive remarks about gameplay mechanics, the consensus leans towards disappointment regarding the monetization strategy, with many suggesting it feels more like a mobile game than a true successor to 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.”
- “It's obviously meant to be a cash grab, but I can't bring myself to hate it for all its flaws.”
- “Overall a very unpolished experience, looks more like an indie cash grab than an XCOM successor.”
- “This game feels like a mobile game cash grab for the lockdown.”
emotional
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
89%
11%
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players feeling a lack of attachment to characters due to the absence of permadeath and deep customization, which diminishes the stakes and emotional weight of their actions. While some appreciate the light-hearted banter and unique traits of characters, others criticize the repetitive missions and a forgettable storyline that fail to create meaningful emotional connections. Overall, the game struggles to evoke the same level of emotional investment as its predecessors, leaving many players feeling indifferent.
- “I had a blast discovering each character's unique abilities and traits, and the banter between them is both hilarious and heartwarming.”
- “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 2 XCOM games (modern), the characters aren't throwaway random humans, they have good character, and make 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, most of whom were two-dimensional. Dialogue between them was rarely enjoyable, with only the odd witty banter.”

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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

XCOM: Chimera Squad
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18h Median play time

47h Average play time

9-30h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 352 analyzed playthroughs

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XCOM: Chimera Squad is a tactical turn-based strategy game with science fiction theme.

XCOM: Chimera Squad is available on PC, Windows, Tablet, Cloud and others.

On average players spend around 47 hours playing XCOM: Chimera Squad.

XCOM: Chimera Squad was released on April 22, 2020.

XCOM: Chimera Squad was developed by Firaxis Games.

XCOM: Chimera Squad has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

XCOM: Chimera Squad is a single player game.

Similar games include Phoenix Point, Gears Tactics, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, XCOM 2, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters and others.

XCOM: Chimera Squad

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