Highlights

• XCOM: Enemy Unknown and its sequels maintain punishing difficulty, appealing to fans of the series.
• For tactical fans seeking similar games, Advance Wars 1+2: Reboot offers classic strategy.
• Divinity: Original Sin 2 provides deep RPG storytelling and tactical combat, appealing to XCOM fans.

The long-running XCOM series began in 1994 with X-COM: UFO Defense (also known as UFO: Enemy Unknown) and started to receive mainstream attention in 2012 thanks to the critically acclaimed XCOM: Enemy Unknown, which acted as a reboot for the series. The newfound mainstream attention has not been due to changing in its core values; however, XCOM: Enemy Unknown and its sequels have kept the punishing difficulty intact.

XCOM: Chimera Squad struggled to impress fans of the series, exemplified by its brutal User Score on Metacritic. Consequently, many fans will want similar games to the originals to play. So, for tactical fans looking for some excellent turn-based strategy games like the XCOM series, this list is for them.

Updated April 10, 2024, by Michael Llewellyn: Fending off an invading alien force while managing a home base in preparation for the next wave of attacks provides tension that few games match. The idea of losing soldiers that players have invested time and resources in adds an almost survival-horror feel, as the loss of soldiers and fighters is costly. Players also love the chess-like turn-based battles that are strategic and similarly challenging ways. This list is updated to include more games fans of XCOM and turn-based strategy games will enjoy.

25 Advance Wars 1+2: Reboot

Two Remastered Classics In One

Advance Wars 1+2: Reboot is a remake of the first two Advance Wars titles on the Game Boy Advance, allowing a new generation of Nintendo fans to experience two of the best strategy games ever made. Intelligent Systems, the creators of the Fire Emblem series, developed the original Advance Wars games, but unlike Fire Emblem, Advance Wars doesn't feature deep storytelling or characters.

The developers Wayforward handled the remake and the team has done a terrific job modernizing two classics loaded with content. The remakes include quality-of-life features like being able to fast-forward through animations and more importantly, retaking turns to try a new strategy. The simplistic visuals hide a deep strategic set of games welcoming to newcomers.

24 Kartia: The Word Of Fate

Accessible Strategy RPG With Great Art Design

Kartia: Word of Fate, also known as The Legend of Kartia in European territories, is a turn-based strategy RPG developed by Atlus. The art design was collaborated by famed Final Fantasy illustrator Yoshitaka Amano and Shigenori Soejima, best known for his work on the Persona series and Catherine.

Kartia is a grid-based strategy game set in a fantasy universe. There is a lot of dialogue and character development, so fans of the genre who appreciate good stories will get a lot out of Kartia. Players summon Phantoms into battle with the aid of Kartia cards; the team can create new Phantoms by merging specific cards to change their stats in battle. The combat is challenging, but the rock, paper, and scissors-style gameplay will click after a few rounds.

23 Divinity: Original Sin 2

Deep And Rich RPG Storytelling With Terrific Turn-Based Combat

For fans looking for large-scale open RPG elements with their tactical turn-based combat, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is one of the most epic experiences available. As a title that plays like a spiritual successor to classic CRPGs like Baldur's Gate, the world evolves and develops based on the player's choices, and many fights will depend on the protagonist's choices and actions.

The turn-based tactical combat implements terrain, positioning, and elemental environmental advantages. All of which will appeal to fans of the fighting in XCOM. For fans who love losing hours in a tactical with deep RPG mechanics, Divinity: Original Sin 2 would make a solid addition to their collection.

22 Baldur's Gate 3

An Incredible RPG With Deep Terrain-Based Tactical Combat

Baldur's Gate 3 is one of 2023's most celebrated RPGs on consoles and the PC. The Dungeons & Dragons-themed RPG takes players on a journey in a fantasy world where choices matter and can change the protagonist's relationship with his comrades.

However, the turn-based combat implements weather, terrain, and the character's abilities. The high-stakes battles and the risk of losing companions will resonate with fans of the XCOM series. The excellent character development and the fantastic story are the icing on the cake.

21 Gladius

Build A Gladiator School And Take On Rivals In This LucasArts Classic

Developed by Lucasarts, Gladius is a turn-based tactical adventure set in a fantasy-themed Ancient Rome. The base building and training fighters will appeal to fans of XCOM's planning and building phases. Players can choose their gladiator school and its region to take on rival schools until the plot builds toward something more grand.

Players can customize and outfit their warriors and work on their stats RPG-style to improve their abilities in the arena and the battlefield. Gladius has depth, but it's one of the most accessible but in-depth tactical RPG experiences from the PS2, GameCube, and Xbox generations.

20 Front Mission 1st

A Remastered Classic With Turn-Based Combat To Challenge XCOM Fans

Front Mission 1st is a faithful remake of the 1995 classic from the SNES and the PS1. The PS1 and SNES versions never made it outside Japan in the 90s. A Nintendo DS remaster in 2007 that only made it to the US. Thanks to the quality of life improvements and updates to the visuals, Front Mission 1st is the definitive version. Moreover, it's a global release that fans in all territories can get their hands on before playing the rest of the series.

It is a grid-based tactical RPG similar to Final Fantasy Tactics. Only players take control of giant mechs named Wanzers. Front Mission 1st can be played from two perspectives. The opposing OCU and USC forces are Royd and Kevin, respectively. The environment and terrain play a part in the success of defensive tactics like utilizing cover. There are multiple difficulty levels to choose from once they are unlocked. General mode offers a challenge that even the most seasoned XCOM players will struggle with.

19 Triangle Strategy

XCOM Fans Will Love Deep Narrative And Critical Decisions That Change The Story

2022 was a good year for strategy fans. The already mentioned Front Mission 1st is another quality offering with Triangle Strategy. For those wanting a game with political intrigue and mature storytelling, this love letter to classics like Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre will scratch that itch.

With its stunning HD-2D visuals, Triangle Strategy is the perfect mix of old and new. It is an accessible title that gradually gets more in-depth and more challenging. There is replay value, thanks to its branching storyline and multiple endings. XCOM fans will appreciate the complexities of the grid-based combat system. Attacks and elemental magic can be used in conjunction with the terrain and the environment to enhance or weaken attacks.

18 Fire Emblem: Engage

Tactics And Base Building For XCOM Fans

Fire Emblem: Engage is another critically acclaimed title in one of the longest-running tactical RPG series on consoles. Leaning toward a more anime style than anything in the XCOM series, Fire Emblem: Engage is just as deep and engaging. It dials back the social sim aspects of its predecessors but focuses more on strategy and combat elements.

Although not as technical as the headquarters in XCOM, the home base in Fire Emblem: Engage is known as Somniel. Here, players can develop their characters, ready them for combat, manage funding to unlock new weapons, and more. Hanging around at the floating fortress Somniel has surprising depth, but most of it is optional, and fans can focus on the gameplay and the narrative instead.

17 Tactics Ogre: Reborn

Hardcore Turn-Based Tactical RPG With High Stakes Like The XCOM Series

Before - and after - Final Fantasy Tactics launched, Tactics Ogre was considered the gold standard for the strategy JRPG subgenre. Thanks to its remastered debut on the PSP, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together was more accessible to fans outside of Japan.

However, the updated and remastered version titled Tactics Ogre: Reborn is the definitive way to play the classic SRPG. The quality-of-life improvements, gameplay rewinds, and polish make the game less of a chore to level up and change classes. Combat is challenging and in-depth, the world-building is extraordinary, and the old-school character designs hide a dark tale of civil war, genocide, and loss that is ageless and affecting.

16 Marvel's Midnight Suns

Tactical Super Hero RPG From The XCOM Developers

As a title developed by the team that created the latest XCOM, Midnight Suns is an easy recommendation for fans. However, one should not expect Midnight Suns to play like a superhero version of XCOM. Midnight Suns is its own game. However, the quality, depth, and gameplay fans would expect from Firaxis are present in this title. The combat is card-based but more tactical and involving than it sounds.

The battles are more accessible than in XCOM. There are no Overwatch or aiming systems to fiddle with, and players can focus on movement, attacks, and positioning. Midnight Suns' base of operations takes place at the Abbey. At the headquarters, players can explore, unlock side quests, interact with the other heroes, build friendships, and unlock combo attacks like in the Fire Emblem series.

15 Civilization 6

A Grand Strategy Game From The Current Developers Of The XCOM Series

The Civilization series has been a staple of the turn-based strategy genre since the first game was released in September 1991. Civilization 6 is the latest entry in the series; it builds upon the critically acclaimed Civilization 5 and is considered one of the greatest turn-based strategy games ever.

The 4X series has significant differences from XCOM, but when looking for a superb turn-based strategy game, players should not look past Civilization 6. Just like XCOM, Civ 6 comfortably ports from PC to console. So gamers who prefer to become a world power from the comfort of their couch can do so without many drawbacks.

14 Humankind

A Deep Strategy Game For Fans Of XCOM's Planning Phases

Realistically, most turn-based strategy fans will have already played one of the entries in the Civilization series. So, for anyone looking for a 4X strategy game that scratches the same itch but not from the same series, Humankind from Amplitude Studios provides the perfect alternative.

Humankind is unapologetic in how comparable it is to Civilization, with much of the core gameplay being remarkably similar. However, Humankind does implement a few interesting mechanics, such as the Fame system that determines who wins the game and attempts to offer a more rounded experience than Civilization.

13 Valkyria Chronicles

An Alternative Universe First World War Tactics Game With Incredible Writing And Characters

The Valkyria Chronicles series began in 2008, and there have been a further three main series games since along with the spin-off Valkyria Revolution and Japanese-exclusive mobile game Valkyria Chronicles D. Valkyria Chronicles is the first entry in the Sega series and is believed to be the pinnacle.

The tactical role-playing game implements a turn-based combat system known as BLiTZ, which stands for Battle of Live Tactical Zones. It offers a unique combination of overhead tactical views known as Command Mode and a third-person perspective called Action Mode. A remaster of Valkyria Chronicles was released on the PlayStation 4 in 2016, and the game has since come to Nintendo Switch as well.

12 Fire Emblem: Three Houses

A Top Notch Entry In Nintendo's Premier Turn-Based Tactics Game

Fire Emblem: Three Houses was released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch in July 2019 and is already regarded by some as one of the greatest tactical RPGs ever. Along with its excellent fan reception, Fire Emblem: Three Houses was a hit with critics, exemplified by its handful of award wins, including Best Strategy Game at The Game Awards 2019 and the Game, Strategy accolade at the NAVGTR Awards.

Three Houses is the sixteenth entry in the long-running Fire Emblem series and has been pivotal in firing the franchise back into the attention of mainstream fans. Many fans loved the social sim aspect of the gameplay and the way it contributed to character development and their relationships. So, for fans looking for something with more dialogue and drama with their SRPG, Three Houses will tick all the right boxes.

11 Final Fantasy: Tactics

Deep And Mature Storytelling In Polished A Turn-Based Tactics Title

As the name suggests, Final Fantasy: Tactics is another entry on this list from the tactical RPG genre. It was the first entry in the Tactics series, which includes other critically acclaimed games like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.

Final Fantasy: Tactics scored well with critics in the late 90s, and its PSP remaster titled Final Fantasy: Tactics War of the Lions scored even better. FFT is often regarded as the best tactical RPG of all time, with its turn-based strategy gameplay and storyline being two of its most praised features.

10 Phoenix Point

Tactics Games From The Original Creators Of The XCOM Series

Phoenix Point was released in 2019 by Snapshot Games, the same company that released Chaos Reborn. The game takes players to 2047 and pits them against alien forces who have invaded Earth.

Phoenix Point is an obvious choice for this list, as it is considered a spiritual successor to XCOM due to the involvement of Julian Gollop, the co-creator of the original XCOM series, working on the 2019 release. From its presentation to the challenging gameplay, Phoenix Point has many similarities to XCOM.

9 BattleTech

Deep Tactics Game With Mechs

BattleTech puts a mechanized spin on the turn-based tactics formula by putting players in control of enormous mechs. These mechs add a fascinating dynamic to the combat and provide tons of pre-battle strategy, as players can customize their mechs, models, weapons, skills, and more.

Developed by Harebrained Schemes, BattleTech was nominated for the PC's Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards. The developer's experience with turn-based combat also translated nicely to the Shadowrun Trilogy, another set of games that fans of tactical combat should try.

8 Wasteland 3

Narratively Driven Post-Apocalyptic RPG With Tactical Combat

Wasteland 3 was developed by inXile Entertainment and released on August 28, 2020. The game puts players in a post-apocalyptic iteration of Colorado and turn-based combat battles while making narrative decisions that can heavily affect the story.

The Wasteland series is hailed as an influence on the original Fallout games. As properties owned by Microsoft, the Wasteland series are permanent fixtures in the Xbox library. The strategic elements of all three titles in the series will appeal to fans of XCOM if they love the draw of exploring a post-apocalyptic world.

7 Warhammer 40,000 Mechanicus

Lengthy Tactics Game Set In The Warhammer 40K Universe

The iconic miniature wargame Warhammer has dabbled in its fair share of video game releases, with Warhammer 40,000 Mechanicus being one of the many Warhammer 40,000 gaming titles.

Warhammer 40,000 Mechanicus provides what many fans of Warhammer want in a video game.

It is faithful to the license as the main selling point and a bonus for fans, but Mechanicus is a terrific turn-based tactics game in its own right. It has a lengthy main story with well-constructed lore and engaging battles.

6 Battle Brothers

Engaging Tactics And RPG Mechanics

Battle Brothers differentiates itself from several entries on this list with its plethora of RPG elements and procedurally generated open-world. Despite its wide range of mechanics and features, it has an excellent balance of combat, exploration, and storytelling.

Battle Brothers is a tactical RPG that will engage players and encourage them to push forward with their journey. Battle Brothers is the first major release from Overhype Studios, an independent studio from Hamburg, Germany.