What is the best game similar to X-COM: UFO Defense?

The closest game to X-COM: UFO Defense is Balatro, scoring 91/100 on our similarity scale. They share 7 gameplay attributes, including roguelike runs, turn-based strategy and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.

What are the top games like X-COM: UFO Defense?

The three closest games to X-COM: UFO Defense are: 1. Balatro (91/100, 7 shared attributes) 2. XCOM: Chimera Squad (95/100, 4 shared attributes) 3. Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (87/100, 5 shared attributes). All share X-COM: UFO Defense's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 47 candidates across 12 dimensions.

Is XCOM: Chimera Squad similar to X-COM: UFO Defense?

Yes, very much so — XCOM: Chimera Squad scores 95/100 similarity to X-COM: UFO Defense. They share 4 attributes, including turn-based strategy and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.

What Turn-Based Strategy games are similar to X-COM: UFO Defense?

The best Turn-Based Strategy games similar to X-COM: UFO Defense are Balatro, XCOM: Chimera Squad, Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising and Lara Croft Go. All share the Turn-Based Strategy genre alongside other key X-COM: UFO Defense attributes like roguelike runs, turn-based strategy and single-player focus.

How is similarity to X-COM: UFO Defense calculated?

We compare X-COM: UFO Defense against every game in our catalog using 12 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the X-COM: UFO Defense experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.

47 Games like X-COM: UFO Defense that you should try

Games like X-COM: UFO Defense · Find similar →

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X-COM: UFO Defense is hard to replace: few games combine turn-based strategy, dark, oppressive atmosphere and procedural generation in quite the same way. We compared X-COM: UFO Defense against over 6,700 titles across 12 gameplay attributes and found 47 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Balatro, XCOM: Chimera Squad and Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising lead the list, with Balatro reaching a 91/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes X-COM: UFO Defense special.

iRank84/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

Top games similar to X-COM: UFO Defense

47 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to X-COM: UFO Defense. Each one has been evaluated across 12 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Balatro

iRank93

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloHardcoreProceduralPixel ArtIsometric

Steam👍 98%· 191KRAWG👍 86%· 263IGDB91· 5OC92· 64

Year 2024Dev LocalThunk · PlayStackPlaytime ~14hOn PC · PS · iOS

✓ Both are turn-based strategy games — sharing roguelike runs, turn-based strategy and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: card game strategy, vibe casual and strong narrative focus, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Details →

Steam

#2XCOM: Chimera Squad

iRank75

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloTacticalSci-FiThird Person

Steam👍 71%· 23KIGDB78· 9OC78· 75

Year 2020Dev Firaxis Games · 2KOn PC

✓ Same family of turn-based strategy games: turn-based strategy, combat tactical and setting scifi

≠ Where it differs: brings visual third person, while skipping roguelike runs

Details →

Steam GOG

#3Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising

iRank91

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloTacticalSci-FiIsometricMultiplayer

IGDB91· 2

Year 2003Dev Intelligent Systems · Nintendo

✓ Same family of turn-based strategy games: turn-based strategy, combat tactical and setting scifi

≠ Its own twist: multiplayer gameplay, while skipping roguelike runs

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloHorrorIsometricCasualNarrative

Steam👍 93%· 4.0KIGDB86· 5OC83· 19

Year 2015Dev Square Enix Montréal · Square EnixOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are turn-based strategy games — sharing turn-based strategy, horror setting and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, adventure storytelling and card game strategy, while skipping roguelike runs

Details →

Steam PS

#5Poker Night at the Inventory

iRank77

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloTacticalCasualFirst Person

Steam👍 90%· 9.7KRAWG👍 59%· 249MC71OC80· 12

Year 2010Dev Telltale GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of turn-based strategy games: turn-based strategy, combat tactical and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings card game strategy, sports simulation and vibe casual, while skipping roguelike runs

Details →

Steam

#6Duelyst

iRank76

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloTacticalIsometricPixel ArtMultiplayer

Steam👍 82%· 4.7KRAWG👍 55%· 102MC82IGDB82· 7OC80· 16

Year 2016Dev Counterplay Games · BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment USPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of turn-based strategy games: turn-based strategy, combat tactical and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with card game strategy, multiplayer gameplay and free to play, while skipping roguelike runs

Details →

Steam

#7Worms

iRank82

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloTacticalPixel ArtMultiplayerMelee

Steam👍 83%· 694IGDB80· 2

Year 1995Dev Team17 · TelegamesOn PC · Mac

✓ Same family of turn-based strategy games: turn-based strategy, combat tactical and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings melee combat, multiplayer gameplay and visual 2d, while skipping roguelike runs

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloCasualNarrativeFirst Person

Steam👍 88%· 7.4KRAWG👍 68%· 220MC75IGDB65· 3

Year 2013Dev Telltale GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the turn-based strategy games cluster, with turn-based strategy and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: card game strategy, sports simulation and puzzle design, while skipping roguelike runs

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloSci-FiIsometricMultiplayerSpace

Steam👍 96%· 1.7KRAWG👍 75%· 65

Year 1996Dev SimTex · WargamingPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of turn-based strategy games: turn-based strategy, setting scifi and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: setting space and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping roguelike runs

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloSci-FiIsometricPixel ArtMultiplayer

Steam👍 90%· 441IGDB84· 2OC79· 19

Year 1993Dev Simtex · Wargaming.netOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Both are turn-based strategy games — sharing turn-based strategy, setting scifi and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings setting space, multiplayer gameplay and exploration and discovery, while skipping roguelike runs

Details →

Steam GOG

#11Triple Town

iRank82

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloIsometricCasualCozyFantasy

Steam👍 92%· 820RAWG👍 67%· 27

Year 2012Dev Spry FoxPlaytime ~4hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ Both are turn-based strategy games — sharing turn-based strategy, single-player focus and visual isometric

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, vibe casual and cozy, relaxing feel, while skipping roguelike runs

Details →

Steam GOG

#12Sid Meier's Civilization II

iRank83

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloIsometricMultiplayer

IGDB83· 1

Year 1996Dev MicroProse Software, Inc.On PC · Mac

✓ Fits the turn-based strategy games cluster, with turn-based strategy, single-player focus and visual isometric

≠ Where it differs: brings multiplayer gameplay, while skipping roguelike runs

Details →

#13Legends of Runeterra

iRank86

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloIsometricMultiplayerFantasyFree to Play

IGDB83· 3OC88· 12

Year 2020Dev Riot GamesOn Android · PC · iOS

✓ Both are turn-based strategy games — sharing turn-based strategy, single-player focus and visual isometric

≠ Where it differs: brings card game strategy, fantasy world and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping roguelike runs

Details →

Epic

#14Sid Meier's Civilization

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloIsometricHistorical

Year 1991Dev MPS Labs · MicroProse Software, Inc.On PC · Mac

✓ Same family of turn-based strategy games: turn-based strategy, single-player focus and visual isometric

≠ Its own twist: historical setting, while skipping roguelike runs

Details →

#15Hitman Go

iRank75

GenreStrategySubgenreTurn-Based Strategy

SoloIsometricStealth

IGDB75· 8

Year 2014Dev Square Enix Montréal · Square EnixOn PC · Android · iOS

✓ Fits the turn-based strategy games cluster, with turn-based strategy, single-player focus and visual isometric

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design and stealth mechanics, while skipping roguelike runs

Details →

Complete list of X-COM: UFO Defense alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with X-COM: UFO Defense, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Worms Armageddon

Platformer · Turn-Based Strat

Endless Space 2

Turn-Based Strat

Battle Chess

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

Guardians of Graxia

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

Governor of Poker 2

Adventure · Simulation

Abalone

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

Dead Man's Draw

Deck Builder · Turn-Based Strat

Endless Space

Turn-Based Strat

Card City Nights

Deck Builder · Adventure

Disciples II: Dark Prophecy

Turn-Based Strat

Telltale Texas Hold ‘Em

Deck Builder · Puzzle

The Elder Scrolls: Legends

Deck Builder · Turn-Based Strat

Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013

Deck Builder · Turn-Based Strat

Sentinels of the Multiverse

Deck Builder · Turn-Based Strat

Worms 3D

Turn-Based Strat

Ascension: Deckbuilding Game

Deck Builder · Turn-Based Strat

Teamfight Tactics

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

Magic 2014 — Duels of the Planeswalkers

Deck Builder · Turn-Based Strat

Cards and Castles

Deck Builder · Turn-Based Strat

The Jackbox Party Pack 3

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

Egyptian Senet

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

Ticket to Ride: Classic Edition

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers

Deck Builder · Turn-Based Strat

G.I.R.L.S. will be Girls

Deck Builder · Turn-Based Strat

Mario Party DS

Puzzle · Turn-Based Strat

100% Orange Juice

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

7 Grand Steps: What Ancients Begat

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

UNO

Deck Builder · Turn-Based Strat

Infinity Wars: Animated Trading Card Game

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

Pokémon Trading Card Game Online

Turn-Based Strat · Deck Builder

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Rankings in the same genre

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to X-COM: UFO Defense?: The closest game to X-COM: UFO Defense is Balatro, scoring 91/100 on our similarity scale. They share 7 gameplay attributes, including roguelike runs, turn-based strategy and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like X-COM: UFO Defense?: The three closest games to X-COM: UFO Defense are: 1. Balatro (91/100, 7 shared attributes) 2. XCOM: Chimera Squad (95/100, 4 shared attributes) 3. Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (87/100, 5 shared attributes). All share X-COM: UFO Defense's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 47 candidates across 12 dimensions.
Is XCOM: Chimera Squad similar to X-COM: UFO Defense?: Yes, very much so — XCOM: Chimera Squad scores 95/100 similarity to X-COM: UFO Defense. They share 4 attributes, including turn-based strategy and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Turn-Based Strategy games are similar to X-COM: UFO Defense?: The best Turn-Based Strategy games similar to X-COM: UFO Defense are Balatro, XCOM: Chimera Squad, Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising and Lara Croft Go. All share the Turn-Based Strategy genre alongside other key X-COM: UFO Defense attributes like roguelike runs, turn-based strategy and single-player focus.
How is similarity to X-COM: UFO Defense calculated?: We compare X-COM: UFO Defense against every game in our catalog using 12 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the X-COM: UFO Defense experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.