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Xenonauts 2

12 Games with a sci-fi setting like Xenonauts 2 that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentHow this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

We filtered the 42 games similar to Xenonauts 2 down to the 12 that fit the “Sci-Fi” category. Sid Meier's Civilization® V, Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth and Advance Wars: Dual Strike top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Xenonauts 2.

iRank83/ 100

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GenreStrategySubgenreGrand Strategy
Tags
Solo
Year 2026Dev Goldhawk Interactive

Quick answer

Within the “Sci-Fi” category, the closest game to Xenonauts 2 is Sid Meier's Civilization® V — scoring 58/100 on our similarity scale. Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth and Advance Wars: Dual Strike follow close behind.

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The best games with a sci-fi setting like Xenonauts 2

12 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Xenonauts 2. Each one has been evaluated across 13 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.

#1Sid Meier's Civilization® V
Sid Meier's Civilization® V
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloTacticalHistoricalSci-FiSkill TreeIsometric
Steam👍 96%· 209KRAWG👍 91%· 2.0KMC90IGDB87· 5
Year 2010Dev Aspyr Media · 2K GamesPlaytime ~27hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ If you enjoyed Xenonauts 2, expect turn-based strategy, deep simulation and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: ranged combat, fantasy world and setting medieval, while skipping deep RPG systems

Real-time strategy genre has always been about domination over your opponent, and Civilization in general expanded on the concept. Civilization 5 allows players to pick one of the 43 civilizations available in, including DLCs and the expansions.

Where it drifts furthest from Xenonauts 2: progression and game mode.

It predates Xenonauts 2 by 16 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Visuals100Combat79Setting76Game mode49Progression34
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloTacticalSci-FiSkill TreeIsometric
Steam👍 60%· 23KIGDB83· 11OC81· 67
Year 2014Dev Firaxis Games · 2K GamesOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Shared with Xenonauts 2: turn-based strategy, deep simulation and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and setting space, while skipping deep RPG systems

Civ V's systems relocated to an alien planet, with affinity paths that visibly change your units as you commit to one. The alien wildlife adds early pressure Civ never had. It was criticised for feeling like a reskin — the diplomacy is shallow, the victory conditions blur together, and the planet never develops the character Alpha Centauri had.

Where it drifts furthest from Xenonauts 2: progression and setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against very positive for Xenonauts 2.

It predates Xenonauts 2 by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode54Setting45Progression34
Advance Wars: Dual Strike
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloTacticalSci-FiIsometricMultiplayer
IGDB91· 3
Year 2005Dev Intelligent Systems · Nintendo

✓ Like Xenonauts 2, it's known for deep simulation, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with multiplayer gameplay and visual 2d, while skipping deep RPG systems

The dual-screen entry: two COs per army with tag powers, plus a much longer campaign than its predecessors. More systems on the board than any other entry. Those systems are also the criticism — tag powers can swing a map decisively, and the balance between COs is looser than in the earlier, tighter games.

It predates Xenonauts 2 by 21 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Visuals69Setting57Game mode55
Advance Wars
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloTacticalSci-FiIsometricMultiplayer
IGDB100· 1
Year 2001Dev Intelligent Systems · Nintendo

✓ Shared with Xenonauts 2: deep simulation, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: multiplayer gameplay, visual 2d and visual pixel, while skipping deep RPG systems

Turn-based tactics stripped to essentials: unit triangle, terrain bonuses, capture points, and COs whose powers meaningfully change how you play. Readable within one mission. The campaign difficulty spikes sharply in its later maps, and there is no undo — a misread on turn three can cost a map you then replay from the start.

It predates Xenonauts 2 by 25 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Setting57Visuals56Game mode55
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloSci-FiIsometricMultiplayerSpace
Steam👍 91%· 581IGDB91· 1
Year 1999Dev Firaxis Games · Electronic ArtsOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Like Xenonauts 2, it's known for turn-based strategy, deep simulation and setting scifi

≠ Its own twist: setting space, post-apocalyptic world and multiplayer gameplay, while skipping deep RPG systems

The most thematically ambitious 4X ever made: factions built on ideology rather than nationality, terraforming that reshapes the planet, and a unit designer that lets you build exactly what your doctrine implies. The writing is exceptional. The interface is genuinely archaic, and running it on modern hardware usually requires community patches.

Where it drifts furthest from Xenonauts 2: setting.

It predates Xenonauts 2 by 27 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Visuals67Game mode54Setting35
Pokémon Stadium 2
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloSci-FiMultiplayerThird Person
IGDB60· 1
Year 2000Dev HAL Laboratory · Gradiente

✓ Like Xenonauts 2, it's known for deep simulation, turn-based strategy and setting scifi

≠ Where it differs: brings multiplayer gameplay and visual third person, while skipping deep RPG systems

Where it drifts furthest from Xenonauts 2: visuals.

It predates Xenonauts 2 by 26 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Setting57Game mode55Visuals0
#7X-COM: Terror From the Deep
X-COM: Terror From the Deep
StrategyCity Builder
SoloTacticalSci-FiManagementIsometric
Steam👍 91%· 925RAWG👍 62%· 128
Year 1995Dev MicroProse Software · 2K GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS

✓ Shared with Xenonauts 2: turn-based strategy, deep simulation and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: roguelike runs, horror tension and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping deep RPG systems

X-COM: Terror From the Deep is a strategy game, the second installment in the X-COM series and a sequel to X-COM: UFO Defense that moves action from the outer space into the Earth’s oceans. The story unexpectedly references to Lovecraft’s novels, as you fight aliens that want to reawaken their unstoppable leader who slept under the sea for hundreds of years.

Where it drifts furthest from Xenonauts 2: setting and progression.

It predates Xenonauts 2 by 31 years, with what that implies technically.

Game mode100Combat88Visuals76Genre50Progression49Setting46
#8Rusty's Retirement
Rusty's Retirement
StrategyCity Builder
SoloSandbox WorldSci-FiManagementIsometric
Steam👍 97%· 15K
Year 2024Dev Mister Morris GamesPlaytime ~18hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ If you enjoyed Xenonauts 2, expect deep simulation, sandbox freedom and sandbox world

≠ Stands apart with cozy, relaxing feel, vibe casual and vibe relaxing, while skipping turn-based strategy

Rusty's Retirement is an idle-farming simulator designed to sit at the bottom of your screen allowing you to work on other tasks while caring for your farm! Grow crops: Plant crops and watch Rusty get to work as he waters, nurtures, and harvests.

Where it drifts furthest from Xenonauts 2: setting and visuals.

Game mode100World100Progression59Genre50Visuals46Setting38
Defense Grid: The Awakening
StrategyTower Defense
SoloTacticalSci-FiIsometric
Steam👍 96%· 5.3KRAWG👍 59%· 106MC81IGDB86· 2
Year 2008Dev Hidden Path EntertainmentPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ If you enjoyed Xenonauts 2, expect deep simulation, combat tactical and setting scifi

≠ Stands apart with tower defense planning and real-time strategy, while skipping turn-based strategy

###Microsoft’s tower defence The game is one in the genre of tower defense, developed by Hidden Path Entertainment for PC and Xbox 360. Later it was ported to the Mac, and for other consoles in 2013.

It predates Xenonauts 2 by 18 years, with what that implies technically.

Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting58Genre50
Plague Inc.
StrategyRTS
SoloTacticalSci-FiIsometricDark
IGDB80· 1
Year 2012Dev Ndemic CreationsOn PC · Android · iOS

✓ Like Xenonauts 2, it's known for deep simulation, combat tactical and setting scifi

≠ Where it differs: brings real-time strategy, dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting, while skipping turn-based strategy

Where it drifts furthest from Xenonauts 2: setting.

It predates Xenonauts 2 by 14 years, with what that implies technically.

Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Genre50Setting46
XCOM: Chimera Squad
StrategyTurn-Based Strategy
SoloTacticalSci-FiThird Person
Steam👍 71%· 23KIGDB78· 9OC78· 75
Year 2020Dev Firaxis Games · 2KOn PC

✓ Like Xenonauts 2, it's known for turn-based strategy, combat tactical and setting scifi

≠ Where it differs: brings visual third person, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Xenonauts 2: visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Xenonauts 2.

Combat100Game mode100Setting58Genre50Visuals0
Infested Planet
StrategyTower Defense
SoloTacticalSci-FiIsometricMelee
Steam👍 94%· 3.0KRAWG👍 59%· 44MC75OC77· 10
Year 2013Dev Rocket Bear GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ If you enjoyed Xenonauts 2, expect combat tactical, setting scifi and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with real-time strategy, tower defense planning and melee combat, while skipping deep simulation

Command a team of 5 elite soldiers against an alien horde of 100,000. Surrounded on all sides, you must outmaneuver and outsmart the enemy. The enemy is closing in around you. Your soldiers are being flanked and the perimeter is slowly collapsing under a vicious alien assault.

It predates Xenonauts 2 by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Game mode100Combat81Setting58Visuals56Genre50

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