Xenonauts (v1.65w)

A tense alternate-history Cold War becomes humanity’s last line of defence when alien craft begin crossing the skies. Xenonauts puts you in command of an international military agency that must contain the invasion before panic, destruction, and collapsing government support end the war before it truly begins. Its mood is deliberately hard-edged and methodical: victories feel earned, losses hurt, and every casualty can leave a lasting mark on your campaign.

Command begins on the global map, where you place bases, manage radar coverage, launch interceptors, and decide which emergencies deserve your limited resources. Downed UFOs lead to turn-based tactical missions built around action points, line of sight, cover, breaching buildings, and carefully coordinated squads; a careless advance can cost an experienced soldier permanently. Captured aliens, weapons, and wreckage feed an extensive research programme, unlocking better armour, aircraft, vehicles, and tools while revealing what the invaders are planning. Soldiers gain experience and specialise in battlefield roles, but the campaign constantly forces difficult choices between protecting regions, pursuing technology, and rebuilding after disasters.

Rather than simplifying the old formula, Xenonauts leans into the demanding strategic detail that defined the original 1990s X-COM games. Its grounded visual style, destructible environments, varied alien threats, and air-combat layer make it feel more like a military simulation than a cinematic power fantasy, while the clean interface prevents much of the management from becoming tedious. Campaigns remain highly replayable because base placement, research priorities, soldier survival, and UFO activity reshape every run. Fans of XCOM: UFO Defense, Phoenix Point, or Firaxis’s XCOM who want a slower, harsher, more systems-driven challenge find plenty to enjoy, although newcomers should expect to learn through painful mistakes.