XCOM: Enemy Unknown
A turn-based tactics reimagining of the 1994 classic.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown, a turn-based tactics game from 2012, was developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K. It reimagines the 1994 strategy title UFO: Enemy Unknown (also known as X-COM: UFO Defense). The story unfolds in an alternate 2015 where aliens invade Earth. Players command an elite, multinational paramilitary group called XCOM, leading troops through turn-based tactical missions. Between battles, they oversee research and development using recovered alien tech and captured prisoners, expand their base, manage finances, and monitor alien activity.
Firaxis had attempted to reboot the franchise in 2003, but no product reached the market. Development for this game started in 2008 and took four-and-a-half years. Initially planned as an exact remake of the 1994 game, the team later introduced gameplay improvements and modernized the series. The development cycle was longer than typical for Firaxis because the project was retooled several times. Jake Solomon led development, with studio head Sid Meier offering input and support. Aliens from the original game return, though many were redesigned. While enemy placement uses procedural generation, all maps were handcrafted. Michael McCann composed the music.
Announced in January 2012, XCOM: Enemy Unknown launched for Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in October 2012. Handheld and mobile versions, co-developed by 2K China, followed later. Critics generally praised the turn-based combat, presentation, emergent gameplay, difficulty, and replayability, though they criticized the multiplayer component. It has since been considered one of the greatest games ever made. Commercially successful, it earned multiple Game of the Year nominations. An expansion, XCOM: Enemy Within, arrived in November 2013, and a sequel, XCOM 2, in 2016. The game is often credited with reviving interest in the turn-based tactics genre during the 2010s.
In combat missions, players act as the commander of an elite military organization, directing squads of one to six soldiers or robotic units through levels. Most campaign missions use randomly selected maps from a handcrafted set, with enemies placed procedurally. Fog of war hides aliens until soldiers have line of sight. Most missions require eliminating all threats, though some involve rescuing civilians or extracting a target. Players can retreat if a mission goes badly.
Quick Facts
- Title
- XCOM: Enemy Unknown
- Developer
- Firaxis Games
- Publisher
- 2K
- Producer
- Garth DeAngelis
- Designer
- Jake Solomon · Ananda Gupta
- Programmer
- Casey O'Toole
- Artist
- Gregory Foertsch
- Writer
- Scott Wittbecker · Liam Collins
- Composer
- Michael McCann
- Series
- XCOM
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 3
- Genre
- Turn-based tactics
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
XCOM: Enemy Unknown was announced in January 2012 and released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in October 2012. Development began in 2008 and lasted four-and-a-half years, longer than other Firaxis games because it was retooled several times. The game was initially envisioned as an exact remake of the 1994 game, but the developers introduced improvements to gameplay mechanics and modernized the franchise. Studio head Sid Meier provided input and assisted the team. Aliens from the original game return, though many were redesigned. All maps in the game were handcrafted, while enemy placement uses procedural generation.
The game casts the player as the commander of XCOM, directing soldiers in turn-based combat missions against invading aliens. The player controls a squad of one to six human soldiers or robotic units. Most missions require eliminating all threats, though some involve rescuing civilians or extracting a target. Soldiers earn experience and promotions, allowing specialization into four classes: Assault, Support, Heavy, and Sniper. Some soldiers may access psychic powers. Between missions, the player manages base construction, research, manufacturing, and monitors alien activity via a Geoscape view. The game features a multiplayer mode for one-on-one tactical battles with up to six units.
The campaign begins in early 2015 as a global alien invasion starts. The Council of Nations has created XCOM to defend against the extraterrestrial threat. The player assumes the role of XCOM's commander and engages in a war against an enemy with overwhelming technological superiority.
Reader's Guide
XCOM: Enemy Unknown received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its turn-based combat, presentation, emergent gameplay, difficulty and replayability, though its multiplayer component was criticized. It has since been considered one of the greatest games of all time. The game was a commercial success for 2K and received several Game of the Year nominations from gaming publications. Firaxis released an expansion pack called XCOM: Enemy Within in November 2013 and a sequel, XCOM 2, in 2016. The game is often credited with renewing interest in the turn-based-tactics genre in the 2010s. Handheld and mobile versions were later co-developed by 2K China.
Did You Know?
- All maps in the game were handcrafted, though enemy placement uses procedural generation.
- The game features an 'ironman mode' that limits the player to one save file.
- Soldiers can permanently die if their health reaches zero and they are not saved in time.
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