XCOM: Enemy Unknown

46 Games like XCOM: Enemy Unknown that you should try

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XCOM: Enemy Unknown is hard to replace: few games combine deep RPG systems, punishing difficulty and procedural generation in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 13 gameplay attributes and found 46 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, Into the Breach and Shogun Showdown lead the list, with Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon reaching a 94/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes XCOM: Enemy Unknown special.

iRank89/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

Tags

HardcoreSoloMultiplayer

Year 2012Dev Firaxis Games

Stores

Steam ↗Xbox ↗

Quick answer

The closest game to XCOM: Enemy Unknown is Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon — scoring 94/100 on our similarity scale. Into the Breach and Shogun Showdown follow close behind.

#1Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon94 #2Into the Breach92 #3Shogun Showdown92 #4Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest92 #5Fire Emblem Heroes92

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Games like XCOM: Enemy Unknown

46 similar games found

#1Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

94

iRank83

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloMultiplayerTacticalIsometricFantasy

IGDB83· 3

Year 2008Dev Nintendo SPD Production Group No. 2 · Nintendo

✓ Fits the turn-based CRPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

#2Into the Breach

92

iRank92

Into the Breach

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalProceduralSci-FiIsometric

Steam👍 94%· 22KIGDB90· 10OC88· 73

Year 2018Dev Subset GamesOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Both are turn-based CRPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and deep simulation

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design and visual pixel, while skipping punishing difficulty

#3Shogun Showdown

92

iRank92

Shogun Showdown

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalHardcoreProcedural2D

Steam👍 95%· 6.7KIGDB90· 2OC87· 20

Year 2023Dev Roboatino · Goblinz PublishingPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of turn-based CRPGs: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and roguelike runs

≠ Stands apart with card game strategy, visual 2d and visual pixel, while skipping deep simulation

#4Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest

92

iRank88

Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloMultiplayerTacticalHardcoreBase BuildingSkill TreeIsometric

IGDB90· 2OC86· 65

Year 2015Dev Nintendo SPD · Nintendo

✓ Fits the turn-based CRPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and roguelike runs

≠ Its own twist: strong narrative focus and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

#5Fire Emblem Heroes

92

iRank75

Fire Emblem Heroes

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloMultiplayerTacticalIsometricRanged

IGDB75· 8

Year 2017Dev Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development · NintendoOn Android · iOS

✓ Fits the turn-based CRPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, deep simulation and turn-based strategy

≠ Its own twist: ranged combat, fantasy world and historical setting, while skipping roguelike runs

87

iRank91

Caves of Qud

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalHardcoreProceduralSci-FiSkill TreeIsometric

Steam👍 95%· 12KRAWG👍 83%· 46IGDB94· 1OC90· 11

Year 2015Dev Freehold Games · Kitfox GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are turn-based CRPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, survival mechanics and strong narrative focus, while skipping multiplayer gameplay

88

iRank85

XCOM® 2

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloMultiplayerTacticalProceduralSci-FiSkill TreeIsometric

Steam👍 85%· 108KRAWG👍 83%· 1.3KMC88IGDB85· 29OC87· 126

Year 2016Dev Feral Interactive · 2K GamesPlaytime ~15hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of turn-based CRPGs: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and roguelike runs

≠ Stands apart with melee combat, post-apocalyptic world and historical setting, while skipping punishing difficulty

#8Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright

88

iRank88

Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloMultiplayerTacticalBase BuildingSkill TreeIsometric

IGDB90· 2OC85· 64

Year 2015Dev Nintendo SPD · Nintendo

✓ Same family of turn-based CRPGs: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and roguelike runs

≠ Where it differs: brings strong narrative focus and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

94

iRank58

Etherlords

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloMultiplayerTacticalIsometricFantasy

Steam👍 42%· 233RAWG👍 74%· 71MC77IGDB50· 1

Year 2001Dev Nival Interactive · NivalPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of turn-based CRPGs: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Where it differs: brings card game strategy and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

#10Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

86

iRank90

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalIsometricFantasy

IGDB90· 1

Year 1996Dev Square · Nintendo

✓ Both are turn-based CRPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

87

iRank88

RimWorld

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalProceduralSci-FiBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 98%· 239KRAWG👍 87%· 620MC87IGDB75· 2OC86· 11

Year 2016Dev Ludeon StudiosPlaytime ~19hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Fits the turn-based CRPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, deep simulation and turn-based strategy

≠ Stands apart with survival mechanics, real-time strategy and sandbox freedom, while skipping roguelike runs

#12Fire Emblem: Three Houses

86

iRank91

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalIsometricFantasyThird Person

IGDB93· 9OC89· 122

Year 2019Dev Intelligent Systems · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Fits the turn-based CRPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, fantasy world and visual third person, while skipping deep simulation

#13Might & Magic: Heroes VI

94

iRank58

Might & Magic: Heroes VI

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloMultiplayerTacticalBase BuildingIsometric

Steam👍 48%· 9.2KIGDB78· 3

Year 2011Dev Black Hole Entertainment · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PC

✓ Fits the turn-based CRPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with fantasy world, historical setting and setting medieval, while skipping deep simulation

#14Super Mario RPG

86

iRank85

Super Mario RPG

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalIsometricFantasy

IGDB85· 6OC84· 112

Year 2023Dev ArtePiazza · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Same family of turn-based CRPGs: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

#15Etherlords II

87

iRank79

Etherlords II

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloMultiplayerTacticalNarrativeFantasy

Steam👍 83%· 493RAWG👍 79%· 90MC78IGDB70· 1

Year 2003Dev Nival Interactive · Strategy FirstPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Fits the turn-based CRPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with card game strategy, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus, while skipping deep simulation

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to XCOM: Enemy Unknown?: The closest game to XCOM: Enemy Unknown is Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, scoring 94/100 on our similarity scale. They share 6 gameplay attributes, including deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like XCOM: Enemy Unknown?: The three closest games to XCOM: Enemy Unknown are: 1. Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (94/100, 6 shared attributes) 2. Into the Breach (92/100, 9 shared attributes) 3. Shogun Showdown (92/100, 7 shared attributes). All share XCOM: Enemy Unknown's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 46 candidates across 13 dimensions.
Is Into the Breach similar to XCOM: Enemy Unknown?: Yes, very much so — Into the Breach scores 92/100 similarity to XCOM: Enemy Unknown. They share 9 attributes, including deep RPG systems and turn-based strategy. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What RPG games are similar to XCOM: Enemy Unknown?: The best RPG games similar to XCOM: Enemy Unknown are Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, Into the Breach, Shogun Showdown and Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest. All share the RPG genre alongside other key XCOM: Enemy Unknown attributes like deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and single-player focus.
How is similarity to XCOM: Enemy Unknown calculated?: We compare XCOM: Enemy Unknown against every game in our catalog using 13 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 XCOM: Enemy Unknown experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.
Are there free games similar to XCOM: Enemy Unknown?: Yes — Dota Underlords is free and scores well on similarity to XCOM: Enemy Unknown. It's a great way to test whether the play style clicks before investing in other paid titles.