XCOM is probably best known for its tactical layer, where a single shot can drop your best soldier, and nothing is assured. The management layer, though, is arguably the real meat of the game.
You need to fend off an alien invasion with just a small squad of elite soldiers, and that takes a lot of planning!
Today, I’ve put together a selection of some of the most recent titles that not only feature the now-iconic tactical combat system with cover and half-cover but also include a strategic layer of varying depth, bringing their gameplay even closer to XCOM.
So, if you’re looking for games with smart tactical combat but also deep strategy and management between battles, there are tons of XCOM-inspired options that let you live that dream. They aren’t all alien invasions, either, whether you’re fighting a civil war against humans or drawing swords in a medieval fantasy world, there’s an option for everyone who wants to fight against overwhelming odds.
Xenonauts 2
- Developer: Goldhawk Interactive
- Release Date: 2 April, 2026
- Platform: Windows
- Steam Page
Of all the games on this list, Xenonauts 2 is probably closest to the core XCOM experience. Set in 2009 during a timeline where the Cold War never ended, you’ll be tasked with bringing humanity’s best military hardware and top operatives to bear against an alien invasion.
As you can expect, the enemy has vastly superior technology, so you’ll need to carefully manage your hidden bases, fighter squadrons, and other assets to have any hope of victory.
Xenonauts has gained a bit of a cult following over the years, and now is a great time to see why. Steam has the Xenonauts 2 priced at 50% off until 23 July, letting you start your campaign for just $19.99 rather than the usual price of $39.99.
Phoenix Point
- Developer: Snapshot Games
- Release Date: 3 December, 2020
- Platform: Windows, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox
- Steam Page
This tense strategy game comes from the original creator of X-COM, so its war against a horrifying species of mutants feels at once familiar and innovative.
The world is already overrun, so you’ll need to decide when to come to the rescue of survivor colonies, and when other priorities have to take precedence. Managing your relationship with strange and compelling post-apocalyptic factions can offer new gear and soldiers, but also obligations to your tenuous allies.
Phoenix Point got a major overhaul late last year, speeding up the campaign to make it less grindy and adding a host of quality-of-life improvements after years of fan feedback. There’s never been a better time to try it out!
Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters
- Developer: Complex Games
- Release Date: 5 May, 2022
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox
- Steam Page
From strategy to action, there’s a Warhammer 40k video game for nearly every genre. Luckily for fans of XCOM-likes, Chaos Gate: Daemonhunters is a fantastic use of the setting, putting you in command of the legendary Grey Knights.
Your task is to protect a sector from the Daemons of Nurgle, upgrading your squad and your ship as you choose which planets to defend and which to sacrifice in the name of victory.
Even if you aren’t a Warhammer fan, Chaos Gate offers excellent gameplay on both the strategic and tactical layers, letting you feel like you’re managing a galactic war effort.
Jagged Alliance 3
- Developer: Haemimont Games
- Release Date: 14 July, 2023
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox
- Steam Page
If you’re looking for something a little more down-to-earth, Jagged Alliance 3 lets you wage a guerrilla war in a country whose government has collapsed. Following a coup in the fictional nation of Grand Chien, your small band of mercenaries is tasked with finding and rescuing the democratically elected President.
Not only do you need to recruit and equip soldiers between battles, but you’ll also need to manage their unique personalities, putting their traits to the best possible use in the field, and conquer and defend territories. Your choices will determine the fate of the entire nation, so no pressure!
BATTLETECH
- Developer: Harebrained Schemes
- Release Date: 24 April, 2018
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox
- Steam Page
Based on the fan-favorite tabletop game of the same name, Battletech brings the famous setting to life like never before. As the commander of a mercenary squadron, you’ll find yourself drawn into an interstellar war as you recruit and train pilots for your towering mechs.
Not only do you need to keep your mechs in working order, but you’ll also have to decide which contracts are worth taking. Do you take a dangerous mission for a big payout, or play it safe so as not to endanger your expensive mechs? It’s up to you!
Cyber Knights: Flashpoint
- Developer: Trese Brothers
- Release Date: 2 June, 2025
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Steam Page
Cyber Knights: Flashpoint is like XCOM meets Shadowrun, frankly a perfect combination. With your crack team of experts, you’ll pull off daring heists, evading security until it’s time to go loud and blast your way out.
The gridless tactical combat is more than enough to satisfy even the most hardcore TRPG fan, but there’s so much more to immerse yourself in with Cyber Knights.
Each crew member has their own unique backstory, and it’s more than just some fun lore; a character’s past can influence how they get along with others, lead to opportunities on a mission, or cause complications that make them a liability. The management layer isn’t just gear and cash; it’s personal as well.
Phantom Doctrine
- Developer: CreativeForge Games
- Release Date: 14 August, 2018
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
- Steam Page
Phantom Doctrine is a rare treat among XCOM-likes in that the management layer is arguably more important than the tactical combat.
As the head of a hidden organization dedicated to stopping a global conspiracy, you’ll recruit top-secret agents from around the world and gain access to the very best Cold War technology.
This is an espionage game, though, and you can never truly know if your agents are loyal. You can turn enemy agents into assets of your own, sending them back to sabotage their operations… but they can do the same to you. The result is a tense nail-biter of a game where anything can go wrong, and you need to adapt if you want to stay ahead.
MENACE
- Developer: Overhype Studios
- Release Date: 5 February, 2026 (Early Access)
- Platform: Windows
- Steam Page
If you’re an XCOM fan, you probably don’t mind a bit of challenge in your games. Are you prepared, though, for an XCOM-like from the creators of the notoriously-difficult Battle Brothers?
Menace lets you command a squad of space soldiers, Starship Troopers-style, but all the rifles, armor, tanks, and mechs in the galaxy might not be enough to save them from the alien dangers they’ll face.
Menace is still in Early Access, and will probably stay there until at least 2027, but it’s already proving to be a fun, immersive tactical sci-fi game. Steam has it discounted 25% to $29.99 (down from $39.99) until 21 July, so now is a great time to give it a try!
Mars Tactics
- Developer: Takibi Games
- Release Date: 2026
- Platform: Windows
- Steam Page
We’re still waiting for the full launch of Mars Tactics, but it should be sometime this year. We’ve had our eyes on this one for a while, and it should have some very compelling battles when it finally lands.
With fully-destructible environments, you’ll be able to breach and clear fortified settlements while planning and building your own base between engagements.
Mars Tactics lets you command one of two factions; ruthless Capital, beholden to shareholders on Earth in exchange for nearly-limitless resources, or the uprising of Labor, who have seized the means of production and can customize and create their own gear without waiting for shipments to arrive. The fate of the Red Planet is yours to decide!
Classified: France ’44
- Developer: Absolutely Games
- Release Date: 5 March, 2024
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox
- Steam Page
Managing a small resistance force is ultimately the core of XCOM-like gameplay, making the Resistance in occupied France during the Second World War a perfect fit.
In Classified: France ’44, a team of operatives from across the Allied nations are tasked with preparing the ground for D-Day, sabotaging German operations whenever and however they can.
It’s up to you to keep your squad alive while deciding which risks are worth taking, but if you don’t disrupt the enemy enough by the time the Allies arrive, the invasion at Normandy could fail. The fate of the world rests with you.
Slaves of Magic
- Developer: Amethyst Dreamers
- Release Date: 3 November, 2025
- Platform: Windows
- Steam Page
Finally, Slaves of Magic takes the normally modern XCOM formula and applies it to a dark fantasy setting.
Whether they’re aliens or gods, otherworldly beings with magical powers have forced the surrender of the world’s kingdoms in a matter of months, leaving only your secret order to resist their complete domination.
Slaves of Magic challenges you to deploy small squads of heroes to intercept and stymie the enemy armies wherever you can. It’s an uphill battle against an overwhelming foe… but if it was any other way, it wouldn’t be an XCOM-like, would it?
