Xenonauts

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Xenonauts is a single-player, turn-based strategy game set in a 1960s Earth defended against alien invasion. Players manage a military organization, completing ground missions with persistent soldiers and intercepting UFOs. With good game mechanics, graphics, and soundtrack, Xenonauts offers a wholesome and replayable experience, although some bugs and grinding may be present. Based on classic X-Com games, it aims to modernize and introduce the genre to new players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,069 reviews

story96 positive mentions

stability126 negative mentions

Faithful recreation of the original X-COM with modern graphics and improved mechanics.
Engaging tactical gameplay that requires strategic planning and resource management.
Strong modding community and support, enhancing replayability and overall experience.

Frequent crashes and bugs that can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration.
Unbalanced mechanics, particularly in ground combat, where soldiers often miss shots and suffer from poor AI behavior.
Limited variety in mission types and maps, leading to repetitive gameplay over time.

story
994 mentions
10 % positive mentions
84 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story of "Xenonauts" is set against a backdrop of a Cold War-era alien invasion, drawing comparisons to the classic "XCOM" series while attempting to carve out its own narrative identity. Players engage in a series of tactical missions that often feel repetitive, with a focus on capturing or eliminating alien threats, but the writing and lore are generally well-received, providing a sense of immersion despite some criticisms of predictability and lack of variety. While the game offers a compelling atmosphere and tension during missions, the overall narrative may not deliver significant new twists, leaving some players wanting more depth and originality in the storytelling.
- “I like the writing and story far more than X-COM; it just feels more real.”
- “The main story arc of Xenonauts was brilliant, although it's another version of what has gone before, in my opinion it's a story which is more believable than those that have gone before it.”
- “The story is explained in and alongside the research documents, instead of Firaxis' mid-mission exposition.”
- “They could have put more effort into the story and could have tried to not make it a super obvious cheaply made XCOM knockoff.”
- “If you played just about any of the XCOM games you'll be underwhelmed by the story.”
- “The final mission is weak, and the fights with subsequent UFOs are simply tiring.”
graphics
986 mentions
23 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of Xenonauts have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they resemble outdated 90s visuals, which can detract from immersion. While some appreciate the retro aesthetic and find it charming, others criticize the graphics as bland or lacking detail, especially in comparison to modern titles like XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Overall, the game prioritizes gameplay over graphical fidelity, appealing primarily to fans of the original XCOM series who value strategic depth over visual polish.
- “The game's art style and sound design effectively create a tense and immersive atmosphere, and the alien designs are varied and interesting.”
- “It captures the feel of the original x-com games, with updated graphics.”
- “The graphics are modern and pleasing but most resemble higher-resolution versions of apocalypse's sprites, maintaining a mildly retro feeling.”
- “The visuals are just bad across the board and the game feels completely soulless.”
- “I honestly found it more ugly than the pixelated graphics of its spiritual predecessor.”
- “The graphics aren't updated enough compared to XCOM that it is a direct improvement either.”
gameplay
940 mentions
20 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Xenonauts is a blend of strategic depth and tactical challenge, heavily inspired by the classic X-COM series, featuring turn-based combat and resource management. While many players appreciate its faithful recreation of the original mechanics, some criticize the unpolished execution, frustrating AI, and poorly explained mechanics that can lead to a steep learning curve. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre, though it may feel punishing and tedious for newcomers.
- “The blend of strategy, resource management, and combat keeps the gameplay engaging and offers plenty of room for tactical planning.”
- “Utterly absorbing gameplay, easy to pick up and play.”
- “The gameplay is improved in many ways, and even if the core game was already robust enough to get 1000+ hours of entertainment out of me the new flairs and fancies are good.”
- “The gameplay is slow and exhausting; I only play a couple of missions before quitting since you have to slowly clear each possible position, despite the low chance, since being ambushed early game is certain death for your unreasonably unarmored troops.”
- “The game does not have true line of sight mechanics, which makes the whole experience just bad.”
- “The ground combat line of sight and cover mechanics ruin this game for me.”
music
156 mentions
47 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric qualities that enhance the sense of tension and immersion during gameplay. While some players appreciate the eerie and suspenseful soundtrack reminiscent of the original XCOM, others feel it lacks the same impact and variety, with a few even opting to replace it with music from the classic titles. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, though some users noted issues with sound balance and the effectiveness of sound effects.
- “The music is perfect and really sets the mood for the tactical fights.”
- “The ambient soundtrack is awesome, and makes for an uneasy feeling throughout the missions.”
- “The soundtrack totally enhances the threatening atmosphere and truly immerses yourself into the game.”
- “Graphics are serviceable, music and sound effects are very subpar; I usually listen to Spotify while playing.”
- “Music is very downbeat and almost puts me to sleep.”
- “Only negative is the music which makes me sleepy for some reason.”
stability
146 mentions
12 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and buggy AI behavior. Many players have experienced game freezes during critical moments, such as mission completions and enemy turns, leading to frustration. While some users noted improvements with community mods, the overall consensus is that the game remains a "buggy mess" that detracts from the gameplay experience.
- “I have had no freezes at all during the entire 335 hours I have played the game so far and I have used several computers to play the game.”
- “Now the game is complete and bug free; it is one of the best strategy games you can get out there filled with a huge amount of content.”
- “Xenonauts also runs great on my Linux (Linux Mint 17.3), Windows 10, and Windows 7 computers.”
- “Full of bugs and weird glitches, and the game crashes frequently.”
- “Unfortunately it's just a buggy, frustrating, repetitive, tedious mess with low replay value.”
- “This game is broken do not buy frequent crashes and game breaking glitches.”
atmosphere
132 mentions
52 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and tense qualities, effectively capturing the paranoia and anxiety reminiscent of the original XCOM series. Players appreciate the combination of art design, soundtracks, and thematic elements that evoke a gritty, Cold War-era setting, enhancing the overall experience. While some critiques mention a slight decline in atmospheric depth compared to the original, the game still succeeds in creating a compelling and engaging environment that keeps players on edge.
- “The game's art style and sound design effectively create a tense and immersive atmosphere, and the alien designs are varied and interesting.”
- “The ambience and music are wonderful, and the atmosphere can get pretty terrifying (the night terror missions, oh god).”
- “The soundtrack totally enhances the threatening atmosphere and truly immerses yourself into the game.”
- “The worst thing is that the game is simply a poor imitation of X-COM and has a worse atmosphere, worse quality of life, and generally, as I like to replay old X-COM games, Xenonauts irritated and tired me.”
- “Xenonauts does a great job of capturing what we all loved about UFO defense and TFTD, but like every UFO defense clone, it has missed the mark a little on atmosphere and setting.”
- “I like that the strategic layer and overall atmosphere of the game are so much deeper and more intricate than the new X-COM, but the tactical gameplay is so painfully backward that it drains any real fun from the experience.”
grinding
122 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a significant issue, with many players finding missions and combat repetitive and tedious, particularly in the later stages. While some appreciate the strategic depth and occasional fun, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration due to the slow pace, overwhelming mechanics, and a lack of rewarding progression, making the experience feel like a chore rather than an engaging challenge.
- “Tedious, unrewarding, and it's already been done far better.”
- “Unfortunately it's just a buggy, frustrating, repetitive, tedious mess with low replay value.”
- “I would have loved to spend more time with the game, but the very long and tedious battles just wore me out.”
replayability
68 mentions
56 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits a mixed reception regarding replayability. While many players praise its depth, strategic options, and mod support, which contribute to high replay value, others criticize its short campaign and lack of alternative game modes, leading to limited replayability for some. The general consensus leans towards a positive outlook, highlighting that the game offers significant replayability through its mechanics and challenges.
- “The "alternate history" backstory is thoughtfully done (including a background novella), the art has character and consistency, the structure of the tech tree adds lots of replay value, and the random nature of the encounters means that every attempt represents a new challenge.”
- “It's fun, challenging, and highly replayable, with more emphasis on strategy and tactics, more room for creativity and variation in how you tackle the challenges, and has more of the goodness that made the original X-COM so special.”
- “Exceptional game with both depth and replayability.”
- “The biggest problem is that the campaign is fairly short, and with no alternative game option or Steam achievements, there is zero replay value.”
- “Unfortunately, it's just a buggy, frustrating, repetitive, tedious mess with low replay value.”
- “I can't really see any replay value after such a long playthrough, so I probably won't play this game again anytime soon.”
humor
50 mentions
92 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the comedic elements of soldier deaths, funny scientist reports, and the ability to rename soldiers after friends and family, which adds a layer of tragic humor. Many reviews note that the game successfully balances absurdity and difficulty, leading to hilarious situations and shenanigans, even if some mechanics can be frustrating. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke laughter amidst chaos, making it a worthy successor to the original X-COM.
- “Not sure why, but unlike XCOM, the deaths are humorous rather than rage-inducing.”
- “I must say, it can be downright hilarious at times, especially when the scientist mentions the engineers.”
- “And the thing that makes a real XCOM game: absolutely hilarious and dramatic soldier deaths, situations that escalate quickly, missions that end up in absolute disasters and horror.”
- “But soldiers who are unable to throw grenades 6 meters away or throw them against a 1-meter high fence so you kill yourself is not funny.”
- “Not funny.”
- “Not funny.”
emotional
24 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players report a deeply emotional experience while engaging with the game, often feeling intense connections to their squad and experiencing highs and lows throughout the campaign. The gameplay fosters significant emotional investment, with moments of joy and heartbreak tied to the outcomes of missions and the fate of characters. Despite some graphical limitations and gameplay inconsistencies, the emotional depth and decision-making challenges resonate strongly with players, making it a memorable experience.
- “This game makes you want to cry in joy every time you successfully finish a mission without losing too many troops.”
- “It was really quite heartbreaking.”
- “Make no mistake, dear cynic, this game is one of those borderline simulation type of ordeals, where the gameplay makes deep emotional sways and moves the player in a similar fashion.”
optimization
14 mentions
14 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The optimization of Xenonauts is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous issues such as shooting through walls, invisible enemies, and significant performance degradation, particularly in late-game scenarios. Many users have resorted to installing mods like OpenXcom to address these bugs and improve performance, highlighting the game's overall lack of polish and reliability. Overall, the game's optimization is considered subpar, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- “I downloaded UFO Defense, read the manual while it was downloading, and went through the long process of installing OpenXcom in order to fix all the bugs and performance issues.”
- “This means that in order to get a new base, you need to raid about 15 UFOs with near-perfect performance, and that is not considering the cost of buildings, staff, and maintenance.”
- “Unfortunately, the optimization of Xenonauts leaves much to be desired.”
- “The game's performance is frankly embarrassing at times.”
- “Late-game sentinel armor causes cumulative performance degradation, owing to its 360-degree vision, for some reason.”
monetization
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as exploitative, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" that relies on microtransactions and DLC, detracting from the overall quality and experience. Players express a desire for a more authentic gaming experience without these monetization tactics, reminiscent of the beloved XCOM franchise.
- “Like an actually good quality game with no monetization (microtransactions, DLC, gambling, etc.)”
- “This game is a scummy cash grab by the developers to copycat the beloved XCOM franchise.”
- “I think Squad needs to drop KSP, give the community the code, and move on to a KSP2 that has the DLC options and microtransactions that Squad's overlord Take-Two desires.”