Xenonauts 2 Review Summary

Faithful to original UFO/XCOM: The game is praised for capturing the spirit and essence of the original UFO: Enemy Unknown and XCOM series. It is seen as a perfect recreation and a worthy continuation of the classic games, bringing back memories and maintaining the heritage of the originals.

Deep combat mechanics: Reviewers enjoy the combat mechanics, including shooting, melee, and the cover system. The game is noted for its tactical combat, strategic elements, and the effectiveness of using various equipment and weapons.

Fun and engaging gameplay: Players consistently describe the gameplay as fun, enjoyable, and challenging. The game offers a satisfying and dynamic experience with a good replayability factor, making it more entertaining than other similar games.

Improvements over predecessor: Players note significant improvements over the first game in the series, including technical enhancements and overall gameplay improvements. It is seen as a clear step up from its predecessor.

High customization: The game provides customizable mechanics and difficulty settings, allowing players to tailor their experience to their preferences.

Repetitive missions: Players have found the missions to be highly repetitive, lacking variety and diversity in both missions and maps.

Inaccurate shooting mechanics: Players have reported issues with the accuracy of shots, both from their own soldiers and enemies, leading to frustration and high difficulty.

Ineffective cover system: The cover system in the game is criticized for being ineffective and misleading, providing little protection and causing issues during gameplay.

Poor AI intelligence: Many players have noted that the AI behavior in the game is basic and often stupid, leading to a lack of challenge and immersion.

Downgraded graphics: The graphics are criticized for being less beautiful and a downgrade compared to other games like XCOM 2.

Turn-based tactical combat: The game features a strategic turn-based combat system similar to classic XCOM games, involving tactical squad movements and probability-based mechanics.

Classic XCOM gameplay style: The game is often compared to the original XCOM series, with updated mechanics and a similar tactical combat experience.

Base management and defense: Players can build and manage bases, including defending them from alien attacks, adding a strategic layer to the gameplay.

Diverse mission types: The game offers a variety of missions, including campaign missions, UFO missions, and time-based missions with different objectives.

Tactical depth and strategies: The game offers deep tactical engagements with various strategies, including flanking, using grenades, and managing soldier actions.

Stable and smooth performance: Some players note that the game has a smooth and stable build, with light system requirements and smooth performance.

Crashing and freezing issues: Several players experience crashing issues, screen freezing, and save file problems, although some report no crashes.

Mixed feedback on loading times: Players have varying experiences with loading times; some report long loading times and poor optimization, while others find the loading speeds acceptable or even fast.

High memory and resource usage: Players report issues with RAM consumption and memory leaks, indicating high graphics and system requirements.

Positive Steam Deck performance: The game is reported to play great on Steam Deck, with many players noting it works well and runs perfectly on this platform.

Recommended for XCOM fans: The game is highly recommended for fans of the XCOM series and similar turn-based strategy games. It offers a deeper strategic layer that will appeal to those who enjoyed the original XCOM games.

Specific gameplay suggestions: Reviews include specific suggestions for improving the game, such as adding a memorial wall for fallen soldiers, changing civilian behavior during terror missions, and adjusting the Doomsday clock.

Game needs polish and updates: The game is recommended with the caveat that it needs some polish and future updates. Players are looking forward to additional content and improvements.

Wait for sale or discount: Several reviews suggest waiting for a sale or discount before purchasing the game. This indicates that while the game is worth playing, it may not be worth the full price for some players.

Niche recommendations: The game is recommended for specific niche audiences, such as fans of the original game looking for a fix from the past or Gen Z players seeking a new XCOM experience.

Community fair range: $20.00 - $30.00.

Game completion: 50.0h.

Story completion: 40.0h.

Xenonauts 2 has a challenging early game with a steep learning curve, but once players overcome these initial hurdles, the game becomes enjoyable and addictive with improved pacing and engaging missions.

Reported time to anchor: 1h.

Friction: Steep learning curve; Challenging early game; Repetitive missions; Boring downtime between missions.

Unlock drivers: Effective tutorial; Progressing to mid-game; Improved pacing with more human-like enemies.

Franchise Veteran: Strategic and methodical, with high expectations for gameplay depth and mechanics. Motivation: Seeking a modernized classic experience. Stance: sale.

Modern Classic Enthusiast: Strategic and tactical, appreciating both old-school and modern mechanics. Motivation: Enjoying a blend of classic and modern gameplay. Stance: buy.

Critical Newcomer: Cautious and critical, preferring well-developed and bug-free games. Motivation: Seeking a polished and stable gaming experience. Stance: no buy.

Steam Deck: The game generally provides a stable and enjoyable experience on the Steam Deck, with positive feedback on controls and stability. However, there are notable performance issues, particularly on larger maps or with more combatants, which detract from the overall experience. Users also express a desire for the game to meet higher quality standards specific to the Steam Deck.

Linux and Proton: The game generally runs well on Linux with no crashes reported, but there are some performance issues such as slowdowns and stutters on larger maps. The game is also compatible with Steam Deck, providing a good experience on that platform.

External guides: The primary user complaints revolve around the game's steep learning curve and the need for external research to understand complex mechanics. Additionally, there are concerns about game mechanics, particularly regarding weapon design and tooltips. These issues significantly impact the user experience, making it challenging for new players to get into the game without extensive external research.

Game in early access: The game is currently in early access, which means it is still under development and may not have all features fully implemented or polished.

Font size settings needed: There is a request for adjustable font size settings, which would improve accessibility and readability for players.

Workshop feature anticipated: Players are looking forward to the addition of a workshop feature, which typically allows for user-generated content and mods.

Comparisons to UFO Alien Invasion: Some players are drawing comparisons between this game and UFO: Alien Invasion, likely in terms of gameplay mechanics or theme.