There’s still no sign of a new XCOM sequel, but this fan made homage is the next best thing, in what is a de facto remake of the original UFO: Enemy Unknown game.
We don’t think there’s ever going to be another XCOM game. You should never say never, because all manner of obscure franchises have had unexpected second chances recently, but it does seem as if XCOM’s moment as a mainstream franchise is over. The turn-based tactics series has always been one of our favourites and 2016’s XCOM 2 is one of the very few games we’ve given 10/10 to, but it was never a big seller.
What hope there was for a new game evaporated when Marvel’s Midnight Suns, also by developer Firaxis, proved a major flop. Despite being a great game, and having the Marvel licence, it was such a failure the studio head left, along with many top staff. They founded their own studio but not only did that shut down after just two years but their plan was to make a game similar to The Sims, not XCOM.
As an alternative, we’re very much looking forward to Star Wars: Zero Company, which is a surprise to see from EA, but, as ever, it’s indie developers that are the most reliable means to fill the vacuum created by a genre or franchise that is no longer economically viable. So while Zero Company is merely inspired by XCOM, you’ll find Xenonauts 2 is as similar as it can be without offending Take-Two’s lawyers.
When we say Xenonauts 2 is similar to XCOM we don’t mean the modern games but the original one from 1994, back when it was a British game called UFO: Enemy Unknown (and later X-COM with a dash, so we’ll call it that for simplicity’s sake).
X-COM was heavily influenced by the Gerry Anderson TV show UFO – hence the original name – and shares the same general concept of a secret alien invasion being opposed by an equally secret multinational force, with its own military. Xenonauts 2 also has the same set-up, with the slight wrinkle that while it’s set in 2009 the Cold War is still going on and human technological advancement is a few decades behind where it should be.
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Nevertheless, the structure of the game is the same as always and split between tactical battles on randomised maps and strategic maintenance of your bases and resources. Between missions you have to research any captured aliens or equipment, manufacture new weapons and equipment, and ensure your soldiers are healthy and properly equipped.
A game of Xenonauts 2 can last dozens of hours and there is absolutely no guarantee you’ll win (unless you cheat by going back to an early save). Not only is the aliens’ technology superior but they can pop up anywhere in the world, at any time, and not only must you rush to intercept them but you have to bear in mind the politics of the situation, where countries will start to withdraw funding if you don’t help them out when they need it.
It’s a tense and difficult game within a game, as you never have enough resources and the aliens always seem one step ahead of you. Especially when they decide to attack one of your bases or you have to deal with imposters or human allies, euphemistically called cleaners, instead of the aliens themselves.
As engaging as the strategy level gameplay is, it’s the turn-based battles which are the heart of the game, and they are as wonderfully tense as ever. Your goals vary slightly depending on whether you’ve just downed a UFO or are investigating an area for other reasons but either way you arrive with your squad (starting with eight and working your way up to 12) and have no idea what’s going on or where anyone is.
A thick fog of war covers the map, so unless you have a direct line of sight on something (other than the basic landscape around you) it just doesn’t appear on-screen. That’s where the tension comes from, as you slowly creep across the map, making sure you end each soldier’s turn in cover and ideally with enough action points left to take an overwatch shot when an alien moves during their turn.
Most of the aliens are directly inspired by ones from X-COM, in terms of abilities if not appearance, but there are small differences in terms of the equipment and weapons you acquire. However, the biggest change is simply how difficult it all is. X-COM games have never been easy, but Xenonauts 2 has clearly been made with existing fans in mind and it is punishing. Soldiers can be taken out from across the map, by aliens you never even see, and some are so dangerous they can wipe out half your squad in a single attack.
Xenonauts 2 isn’t any less accessible than the official games, it’s just considerably less forgiving. In fact, it has a very good tutorial and layers of tooltips, so you rarely get into trouble because you don’t know what to do or how something works. The problem is that that you’re constantly outgunned and outflanked by a superior force. Although what can be most upsetting is that the accuracy of weapons, and the damage you take, is determined by a random element that you can influence but not fully control.
Where the modern games tried to limit that aspect, Xenonauts 2 revels in it. Overcoming the game’s savage difficulty is satisfying in much the same way as Dark Souls et al., but what is a shame is that Xenonauts 2 isn’t interested in doing anything new… it just wants to do the same thing, while being more hardcore about it.
That’s unfortunate, because some of the aliens that are entirely originally, rather than just being copies of existing ones, are interesting and well designed. Although one of the few entirely new mechanics, where you get to control interceptors directly, while shooting down UFOs, is uncharacteristically shallow.
Xenonauts 2 isn’t even that different to the original Xenonauts, although the graphics are certainly better and the ability to rotate the camera – one of the few times it mimics the modern games rather than the older ones – is welcome. We love XCOM and so we loved this but while it’s an excellent homage its eyes are fixed firmly on the past, and if there is to be a future for the concept there’s no sign of it here.
Xenonauts 2 review summary
In Short: A loving homage to the original X-COM, that’s far more interested in turning up the difficulty than coming up with any new ideas.
Pros: The developers understand the appeal and structure of the original game perfectly, with intense turn-based battles and compelling strategy. Surprisingly good tutorial and notably improved graphics from Xenonauts 1.
Cons: Very few new elements of its own and the few there are, most notably aerial combat, are not very good. Random element can be infuriating and the copycat aliens are a homage too far.
Score: 8/10
Formats: PC
Price: £34.99
Publisher: Hooded Horse
Developer: Goldhawk Interactive
Release Date: 2nd April 2026
Age Rating: N/A
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