The Spiritual Successors: Who Truly Carries the XCOM Torch?

The question of XCOM’s successor isn’t a simple one. It’s less about a direct, numbered sequel from a different studio and more about which games have captured the essence of what made the original X-COM and the Firaxis XCOM reboot so compelling: strategic depth, tactical combat, a global threat, and the ever-present feeling of being on the brink of disaster. While Firaxis continues to produce XCOM titles, the “successor” mantle is shared by games that expand on or iterate the core formula, offering fresh takes on the alien invasion scenario. Key contenders include Phoenix Point, Xenonauts 2, and even titles like Gears Tactics and Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden which, although different in setting, employ similar strategic and tactical mechanics. Ultimately, the ‘true’ successor depends on what aspects of XCOM resonate most with the player.

Diving Deep: Defining the XCOM Legacy

Before identifying successors, we need to understand the pillars of the XCOM experience:

• Global Strategic Layer: Managing resources, building bases, researching technologies, and responding to emerging threats across the globe. This strategic management is fundamental to the overall experience.
• Tactical Combat: Turn-based battles against alien forces, requiring careful positioning, skillful use of abilities, and a healthy dose of luck (or calculated risk). Each battle is a tense affair.
• Permadeath: The unforgiving reality that soldiers can die permanently, creating a strong emotional connection to your squad and emphasizing the importance of tactical decisions. This keeps players engaged.
• Asymmetric Warfare: Facing off against enemies with superior technology and numbers, forcing players to rely on cunning, adaptability, and innovative strategies. The player is always at a disadvantage.
• Research and Development: Unlocking new weapons, armor, and technologies to keep pace with the evolving alien threat, providing a constant sense of progression. This gives a sense of accomplishment.

The Contenders: Examining the Key Successors

Several games have attempted to capture the spirit of XCOM, each with varying degrees of success:

Phoenix Point: A Gollopian Return

Developed by Snapshot Games, led by Julian Gollop, the creator of the original X-COM, Phoenix Point is perhaps the most direct spiritual successor. It takes the core XCOM formula and adds its own unique twists, including:

• Mutating Alien Threat: The Pandoravirus creates increasingly bizarre and dangerous creatures, forcing players to adapt their strategies constantly.
• Factions: Navigating the complex relationships between different human factions, each with their own ideologies and agendas, adds a layer of political intrigue.
• Precise Aiming System: Allows for targeting specific body parts of enemies, offering greater tactical flexibility but also demanding more precise aiming.
• Unbalanced Classes: The game is known for its unbalanced classes with some clearly better options, however, this can be overcome with the many tactical options available to the player.

Phoenix Point’s greater depth and complexity come at a cost, however. It’s a more challenging and less forgiving game than Firaxis’s XCOM titles.

Xenonauts 2: A Cold War Throwback

Xenonauts 2 aims to be a more faithful recreation of the original X-COM, with a Cold War setting and a focus on realism and strategic depth. Key features include:

• Geoscape Management: A detailed global map where players intercept UFOs, manage bases, and conduct research.
• Squad Customization: Extensive options for equipping and training soldiers, allowing for highly specialized squads.
• Tactical Realism: A more unforgiving combat system that emphasizes cover, line of sight, and realistic weapon behavior.
• Early Access: Being in Early Access allows for constant updates and the community to voice their needs to the developers.

Xenonauts 2 prioritizes strategic depth and tactical realism over accessibility, appealing to fans of the original X-COM’s challenging gameplay.

Gears Tactics: A Streamlined Approach

While not a direct successor in terms of setting, Gears Tactics captures the essence of XCOM’s tactical combat with its own unique spin:

• Aggressive Gameplay: Encourages aggressive tactics and close-quarters combat, fitting the Gears of War universe.
• Hero Characters: Features a cast of memorable characters with unique abilities and backstories.
• Skill Trees: Extensive skill trees for customizing soldiers, allowing for diverse combat roles.
• Linear Campaign: A more linear campaign structure compared to XCOM’s open-ended world map.

Gears Tactics offers a more streamlined and action-packed experience than XCOM, focusing on intense tactical battles.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden: Stealth and Story

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden blends XCOM-style tactical combat with stealth and exploration elements:

• Stealth Focus: Allows for scouting and ambushing enemies, encouraging a more cautious approach to combat.
• Mutant Characters: Features a unique cast of mutant characters with distinct abilities and personalities.
• Narrative Emphasis: A strong narrative focus with a post-apocalyptic setting and a compelling story.
• Small Squad Sizes: Smaller squad sizes emphasize individual character strengths and weaknesses.

Mutant Year Zero offers a unique blend of tactical combat, stealth, and narrative, creating a distinct experience.

The Future of Tactical Strategy

The XCOM formula has proven incredibly resilient, inspiring a new wave of tactical strategy games. As developers continue to iterate on the core mechanics, we can expect to see even more innovative and engaging experiences in the future. The spirit of XCOM lives on, not just in direct sequels, but in the many games that dare to challenge players with difficult choices, strategic depth, and the ever-present threat of alien invasion. If you are interested in the research behind games, consider looking at the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Phoenix Point a direct sequel to XCOM?

No, Phoenix Point is not a direct sequel to XCOM. It’s a spiritual successor, meaning it’s designed to capture the essence of the original X-COM games while offering its own unique gameplay mechanics and setting.

2. Is XCOM 3 confirmed?

Yes, as of June 11, 2022, Firaxis confirmed that XCOM 3 is still happening. However, there’s no release date or concrete details about the game yet.

3. What is XCOM: Chimera Squad?

XCOM: Chimera Squad is a standalone title set in the XCOM universe, taking place five years after the events of XCOM 2: War of the Chosen. It focuses on a squad of human and alien agents working together to maintain peace in City 31.

4. Which game is more difficult, XCOM 2 or Phoenix Point?

Generally, Phoenix Point is considered more difficult than XCOM 2. Its combat is harsher, less balanced, and requires a deeper understanding of the game’s mechanics.

5. Can you befriend all factions in Phoenix Point?

Yes, in Phoenix Point, it is possible to become allied with all factions simultaneously by completing their respective diplomacy missions.

6. Is XCOM 2 truly random, or is the hit chance manipulated?

XCOM 2‘s hit percentages can be misleading. While the game uses a random number generator, the outcome for a given situation is predetermined based on a seed number. Some claim the displayed percentages aren’t always accurate reflections of true hit chances.

7. What happens if the Avatar Project completes in XCOM 2?

If the Avatar Project completes in XCOM 2, it’s game over. The aliens achieve their ultimate goal, and humanity is doomed.

8. Does XCOM 2 have a time limit?

XCOM 2 does have a theoretical time limit through the Avatar Project, but it’s less restrictive than in XCOM: Enemy Unknown. You can delay the Avatar Project by destroying alien facilities.

9. Can you play XCOM 2 forever?

Yes, you can play XCOM 2 indefinitely. After completing the main story, you can continue playing side missions and managing your base until you decide to start a new game.

10. What is the difference between XCOM 2 and XCOM 2: War of the Chosen?

XCOM 2: War of the Chosen is an expansion that significantly expands the base game with new enemies, factions, hero characters, and campaign mechanics, making it a more comprehensive and challenging experience.

11. Is XCOM: Enemy Within worth playing after XCOM 2?

Yes, XCOM: Enemy Within is still worth playing even after XCOM 2. It offers unique mechanics and a different campaign structure that provides a distinct experience.

12. What does the Long War mod add to XCOM?

The Long War mod for XCOM (particularly XCOM: Enemy Within) adds a vast amount of new content, including new soldier classes, abilities, weapons, armors, and alien units, significantly extending and deepening the gameplay experience.

13. What are some games similar to XCOM?

Besides Phoenix Point and Xenonauts 2, other games similar to XCOM include:

• Gears Tactics
• Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden
• Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (for a lighter, more accessible take)
• Invisible, Inc. (focuses on stealth)

14. What is the ADVENT Coalition in XCOM?

The ADVENT Coalition is the alien-led puppet government that ruled Earth for 20 years following an alien invasion in the XCOM universe. They are the main antagonists in XCOM 2.

15. Is XCOM 1 better than XCOM 2?

While both are excellent games, XCOM 2 is generally considered the better game due to its greater variety in enemies, playstyles, and overall improved gameplay mechanics. However, some players prefer the more streamlined experience of XCOM: Enemy Unknown.