Players Like...

❤ Turn-Based Tactical Combat

You control small squads of persistent soldiers equipped with a variety of human and alien-derived weapons and equipment. The combat system features a detailed action point system, allowing you to move, shoot, and perform other actions all within the same turn. This depth enhances with mechanics like overwatch, suppression fire, and varied terrain features that provide cover and line-of-sight considerations. You must carefully navigate the battlefield, using your soldiers' abilities and the environment to your advantage against a diverse array of alien threats, each with their own unique strengths, weaknesses, and behavioral patterns. The lack of scripted encounters means missions play out differently each time, with the unpredictable alien AI and fog of war creating a tense and challenging experience.

❤ Managing the Strategic Layer

Alongside the tactical combat, you must coordinate the deployment of interceptor aircraft to shoot down UFOs, establish additional bases around the world, and research captured alien technology to unlock new equipment and capabilities for your ground forces. The strategic systems require careful balancing, as you must allocate limited resources between expanding your geographical coverage, upgrading your military hardware, and maintaining funding from the nations you represent. Failing to keep pace with the escalating alien threat can quickly lead to disaster, making each decision on the strategic layer a high-stakes endeavor.

❤ Persistent Soldiers and Perma-Death

The game uses persistent soldier characters, where soldiers improve their statistics and unlock new abilities as they gain combat experience. However, a single mistake can result in permanent death, creating a constant tension and the need for cautious, strategic play. You must weigh the risks and rewards of each combat encounter, deciding whether to push forward aggressively or hold back and play defensively. The permanence of soldier losses adds significant weight to these decisions, as the death of a veteran soldier can severely cripple your overall capabilities.

❤ Variety and Emergent Gameplay

The game features a diverse array of alien species and equipment, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. The lack of scripted missions means no two playthroughs are exactly the same, with the emergent nature of the invasion and the varying compositions of alien forces creating a dynamic and unpredictable experience. The destructible environments and the wide range of tactics and equipment, from grenades and smoke grenades to tanks and airstrikes, allow for a high degree of player creativity and experimentation. This encourages you to constantly adapt your strategies and try new approaches to overcome the challenges presented by the alien threat.