Xenopurge

About

Xenopurge is a single player survival real-time strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Traptics and was released on November 20, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Xenopurge is a single-player science fiction real-time strategy game where you command an elite squad remotely through multiple screens, directing tactical auto-battles against relentless alien forces. Emphasizing anticipation and planning over direct control, it features wonderful game mechanics and an exceptional atmosphere as you manage gear, strategies, and sacrifices to purge the Xeno threat.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 185 reviews

story5 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The retro-futurism aesthetic and atmosphere effectively evoke the tension of classic sci-fi horror, reminiscent of the Aliens franchise.
The gameplay offers a unique blend of strategy and real-time decision-making, where players must manage resources and issue commands under pressure, creating a satisfying challenge.
The game features a rewarding progression system with various squads, equipment, and commands that encourage experimentation and replayability.

The user interface can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to issue commands quickly during intense moments.
The game lacks visual variety, with many environments feeling repetitive and the graphics being overly simplistic, which may detract from immersion.
Some players find the reliance on RNG and the limited AI behavior frustrating, especially in higher difficulty levels where micromanagement becomes essential.

story
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
92%
3%
The game's story unfolds through a series of procedurally generated missions, where players command a squad of soldiers navigating tense scenarios, with narrative elements revealed via emails and exploration. While the plot is present and adds depth, some players feel it lacks consistency and depth, often overshadowed by the gameplay mechanics and mission structure. Overall, the story enhances the tactical experience, but may leave those seeking a more structured narrative wanting more.
- “It's a good game, and it has more of a story going on than you might expect—one clearly in the tradition of the inspirations this draws from.”
- “The game has an excellent way of telling its story, combining many elements that interact with game mechanisms in different ways.”
- “The core loop of deploying on missions, upgrading your squad, finishing runs, and getting new commands and items is very satisfying.”
- “I haven't even spoken about the 'story' of sorts that gets revealed as you progress further into the game.”
- “There is some kind of plot going on with the notes and occasional quest, but man, it's been a while since any of that popped up for me.”
- “After completing the story (the ending really killed the vibe unfortunately), I started the higher levels.”
gameplay
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
67%
6%
The gameplay in this title is characterized by its simplicity and tension, evolving into a strategic experience as players manage squads through procedurally generated missions. While the core mechanics are straightforward, the game offers a unique and addictive loop that encourages experimentation and replayability, despite some criticisms regarding certain mechanics and the potential for reduced tension in later runs. Overall, it combines tactical combat with a compelling atmosphere, making for an engaging experience that appeals to fans of real-time strategy and roguelikes.
- “The gameplay is great if you like tactical combat and the story behind it (that you access through reading emails and exploring your ship) makes it meaningful.”
- “The core gameplay loop is both tense and chaotic.”
- “Xenopurge is a tense and taxing experience with clever mechanics and lots of choices to make (and things to get wrong).”
- “That is all the 'gameplay' this 'game' has to offer.”
- “It does not take long to see what the game has to offer; you'll unlock higher difficulty, different squads, equipment, and commands, but the core gameplay does not change much.”
- “Once players learn optimal squad configurations and behavioral commands, later runs may lose some tension, making success feel more mechanical than dramatic.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
75%
9%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro-futuristic aesthetic, primarily featuring simple visuals such as dots and wireframe designs that evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of DOS-era games. While some players appreciate the minimalist approach for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, others find the lack of detailed graphics frustrating, suggesting that the visuals could benefit from more depth. Overall, the game's unique aesthetic and sound design effectively create tension and engagement, compensating for its basic graphical presentation.
- “The retro-futuristic vibes of the game are especially great, since everything is presented as wireframe graphics on low-resolution CRT monitors.”
- “The graphics are simple yet compelling, with the screen transitions being a very nice touch.”
- “The aesthetics of the game are really well done and feed into a really atmospheric game.”
- “This game has effectively no graphics.”
- “The absolute most you will see 99% of the time in terms of visuals are dots moving around on a screen.”
- “Atmosphere and sound design simply cannot compensate for a total lack of any visuals.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, effectively combining sound design and visuals to create a tense and engaging experience reminiscent of classic sci-fi films. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a sense of urgency and dread, with unique gameplay elements that enhance the overall ambiance. However, some suggest that the atmosphere could be further enriched with additional horror elements to deepen the tension.
- “Great atmosphere and very refreshingly different gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere is thick, the enemy is relentless, and every squad plays differently enough to keep things fresh.”
- “The developers have managed to create the kind of atmosphere I imagined to be if I were a member of the Nostromo watching red dots and trying my best to survive.”
- “Atmosphere and sound design simply cannot compensate for a total lack of any visuals.”
- “Someone will appreciate this game; it certainly has atmosphere, but for me, it fell flat.”
- “Atmosphere could go even deeper with more horror elements: power outages, map events, locked doors would enhance tension.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Overall, the game's replayability is highlighted by its procedural design and varied gameplay mechanics, which provide a fresh experience with each run. However, some players note that repetitive elements can diminish long-term engagement, suggesting that while there is potential for replay value, further development is needed to enhance its longevity.
- “Great time waster with lots of replayability.”
- “But the core gameplay loop works really well, and it's quite replayable -- every run feels different, and there's a lot of strategies that I haven't tried out yet.”
- “ Strong replay value with randomized maps, unique squads, challenges, and upgrade paths.”
- “Procedural design ensures replayability, but after many runs some environments, enemy encounters, and mission structures begin to repeat, reducing early unpredictability.”
- “While I like the gameplay, it is very basic and doesn't have nearly the same replayability as Duskers.”
- “The core loop works, but it still needs a lot of work to offer lasting replay value or long-term engagement.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
While the game's performance does not completely detract from the overall experience, many users express a desire for better optimization, citing significant performance issues. This has led to frustration, particularly for those weary of waiting for improvements in game content and optimization.
- “Nothing that truly ruins the experience, but I do hope for better optimization.”
- “I almost didn't buy based on that statement alone, as I am fatigued from waiting months or years for games to have finished content or optimization.”
- “However, the main reason I am negative about this game is the abysmal performance.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The music and voice acting are standout elements, enhancing the game's atmosphere with a tense and eerie sci-fi theme that complements the gameplay. While the music may not be enjoyable outside of the game, it effectively fits the setting and evokes a sense of urgency. Overall, it contributes significantly to the immersive experience.
- “The music and voice acting are what stand out the most.”
- “I love the music and how it fits the gameplay feel; it's not something I would listen to outside of the game, but it fits the setting perfectly.”
- “The sci-fi theme is great; the music fits perfectly and gives an overall eerie feeling with a sense of urgency.”
- “The music is tense, the graphics are a mix of really basic and a little fancy outside of the menus.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that grinding in the game involves managing four distinct squads, each with unique strategies that influence gameplay. While the differences are intriguing, they don't significantly alter the core experience, as players primarily engage in repetitive tasks like farming aliens to enhance their soldiers, who remain visually abstracted as blue dots.
- “You have 4 different squads, with some interesting yet not game-breaking differences: one is built around controlling the junctions with stationary turrets, another rewards fast expansion by giving you the power to delay the aliens, and one encourages you to turn the tables by going on the hunt, farming aliens in order to turn your soldiers into horrifying mutations (or that's what you're told, since you only see your soldiers as little blue dots, and occasionally hear them on the radio).”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
- “I spent hours farming for resources, but it felt more like a chore than an enjoyable part of the game.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a unique dynamic where successes are rewarding due to strategic planning, while failures resonate deeply as they stem from earlier decisions. Players appreciate the innovative keyboard commands and the tension of limited intervention, yet some feel that the emotional impact ultimately falls short.
- “This indirect approach builds a unique emotional dynamic: successes feel earned through planning and anticipation, while failures sting because they are rooted in earlier strategic decisions rather than mechanical mistakes.”
- “The keyboard commands are a really cool way of making it feel unique, and watching situations fall apart while you've got limited ability to intervene is heartbreaking!”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting the inclusion of amusing facts that enhance the overall experience. The comedic elements contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere, making the gameplay more enjoyable.
- “The game is filled with hilarious moments that had me laughing out loud.”
- “I love the witty dialogue and clever puns sprinkled throughout the gameplay.”
- “The humor is perfectly timed, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”