XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Overview

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a 2012 turn-based tactics video game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K. It is a "reimagining" of the 1994 strategy game UFO: Enemy Unknown (also known as X-COM: UFO Defense). XCOM: Enemy Unknown is set during an alien invasion of Earth in an alternative version of 2015; the player controls an elite, multinational, paramilitary organization called XCOM and commands troops in a series of turn-based tactical missions. Between missions, the player directs the research and development of technologies from recovered alien technology and captured prisoners, expands XCOM's base of operations, manages finances, and monitors and responds to alien activity.

Firaxis attempted to reboot the franchise in 2003 but no product was marketed. Development of the game began in 2008 and lasted for four-and-a-half years. 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. The development cycle was longer than those of other Firaxis games because it was retooled several times during production. Jake Solomon led development of the game, and studio head Sid Meier provided input and assisted the team. Aliens from the original game return in Enemy Unknown, though Firaxis redesigned many of them. While the game uses procedural generation for enemy placement, all maps in the game were handcrafted by Firaxis. Michael McCann composed the game's music.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown was announced in January 2012, and was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in October 2012. Handheld and mobile versions of the game, co-developed by 2K China, were later released. The game received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the turn-based combat, presentation, emergent gameplay, difficulty and replayability but criticized its multiplayer component. It has since been considered as one of the greatest games of all time. It was a commercial success for the publisher and several gaming publications nominated it for year-end accolades, including Game of the Year. Firaxis released an expansion pack called XCOM: Enemy Within in November 2013 and a sequel called XCOM 2 in 2016. XCOM: Enemy Unknown was often credited for renewing interest in the turn-based-tactics genre in the 2010s.

Official trailer

Last Stand Trailer. Watch on YouTube

Screenshots

Game details

Genres

Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical

Developer

Firaxis Games

Publisher

2K Games, Feral Interactive

Series

XCOM

Engine

Unreal Engine 3

Platforms

PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360

Age rating

ESRB M

Modes

Single player

Yes

Local multiplayer

No

Online multiplayer

Yes

Co op

No

Age ratings

ESRB

M

USK

16

ACB

MA 15+

GRAC

15+

PEGI

18

Release dates

Subscription history

Trophies

Trophies56

Platinum possibleYes

Platinum

1

Gold

3

Silver

12

Bronze

40

Total

56

Points

1530

• You Win Gain all trophies. Platinum 1.83% of players
• No Looking Back Beat the game in Ironman mode on Classic or Impossible difficulty. Gold 2.07% of players
• Meet New People. Then Kill Them. Win a multiplayer match. Bronze 5.4% of players
• Xavier Mind Control an Ethereal. Single player only. Silver 3.66% of players
• Humanity's Savior Beat the game on any difficulty. Bronze 5.95% of players
• Earth First Beat the game on Classic difficulty. Silver 2.35% of players
• Our Finest Hour Beat the game on Impossible difficulty. Gold 1.98% of players
• Lone Wolf Clear a UFO crash site with one soldier on Classic or Impossible difficulty. Silver 2.55% of players
• Bada Boom Kill 50 aliens with explosive weapons. Bronze 5.64% of players
• Welcoming Committee Kill 150 aliens. Bronze 8.89% of players
• Pale Horse Kill 500 aliens. Silver 5.25% of players
• Shooting Stars Shoot down 40 UFOs. Silver 2.81% of players
• Ain't No Cavalry Comin' Have a soldier survive every mission in a full game. Silver 3.13% of players
• As A Scalpel Earn the "Excellent" rating in every performance category on a terror mission. Bronze 7.34% of players
• Edison In a single game, complete every Research Project. Bronze 3.54% of players
• Angel of Death Kill an alien while flying. Single player only. Bronze 5.44% of players
• All Employees Must Wash Hands... In a single game, complete every Autopsy. Bronze 6.53% of players
• Beyond the Veil Find a soldier with the Gift. Bronze 6.87% of players
• Prisoner of War Capture a live alien. Bronze 10.73% of players
• The Gatekeeper Stun an Outsider. Bronze 9.66% of players
• X Marks the Spot Uncover the alien base's location. Bronze 9.35% of players
• See All, Know All Build the Hyperwave Relay. Bronze 7.12% of players
• On the Shoulders of Giants Build the Gollop Chamber. Bronze 6.41% of players
• Ride the Lightning Build a Firestorm. Bronze 7.44% of players
• Eye in the Sky Launch a Satellite. Bronze 13.87% of players
• All Together Now Get satellite coverage over every country on one continent. Bronze 8.5% of players
• Hunter/Killer In a single game, shoot down one of each alien craft. Bronze 4.61% of players
• Man No More Build a suit of powered armor. Bronze 7.69% of players
• Poison Control Cure poison on five soldiers in a single mission. Single player only. Bronze 2.87% of players
• We Happy Few Complete a mission without losing a soldier. Bronze 15.17% of players
• The Hardest Road Advance one of your soldiers to Colonel rank. Silver 8.58% of players
• Worth Every Penny Acquire 1000 credits in one month. Bronze 7.75% of players
• Oppenheimer Staff the Research Labs with 80 scientists. Bronze 6.12% of players
• One Gun at a Time Staff the Engineering Department with 80 engineers. Bronze 6.27% of players
• Skunkworks In a single game, complete every Foundry project. Bronze 4.83% of players
• You Have 5 Seconds to Comply Build a S.H.I.V Bronze 7.52% of players
• Theory... Build a Laboratory. Bronze 10.56% of players
• ...and Practice Build a Workshop. Bronze 10.58% of players
• Wet Work Complete a Very Difficult abduction mission in five turns or less on Classic or Impossible difficulty. Silver 2.39% of players
• A Continental Fellow Win the game from each of the 5 starting locations. Silver 1.88% of players
• What Wonders Await Complete a Research Project. Bronze 15.07% of players
• Up and Running Build a base facility. Bronze 13.22% of players
• Combat Ready Build an item. Bronze 15.09% of players
• Drums in the Deep Gain access to the lowest level in your base. Bronze 8.78% of players
• Happy to Oblige Fulfill a Council request. Bronze 11.44% of players
• And Hell's Coming With Me Successfully assault an Overseer UFO. Bronze 6.59% of players
• Off My Planet Recover the Hyperwave Beacon. Silver 7.73% of players
• Tables Turned Shoot down a UFO. Bronze 13.8% of players
• And So It Begins... Complete the tutorial mission. Bronze 17.17% of players
• The Volunteer Make contact with the Ethereal hive mind. Bronze 6.14% of players
• Flight of the Valkyries Win a mission with an all-female squad. Single player only. Bronze 5.47% of players
• New Friend Complete Friends in Low Places. Bronze 1.77% of players
• Bait the Hook Complete Confounding Light. Bronze 1.7% of players
• The Bigger They Are Complete Gangplank. Silver 1.62% of players
• Rising Dragon Take your new ally into the final challenge. Gold 1.38% of players
• All Aboard Complete Confounding Light with more than 3 turns left on the timer. Silver 1.5% of players

Playable today

Credits

Publisher

2K Games, Feral Interactive

Developer

Firaxis Games

Released

2012-10-09

Age rating

ESRB M

Region

US

Time to beat

about 30.6 hours