OpenXcom Extended

About OpenXcom Extended: A Modern Adaptation of the Legendary X-COM

OpenXcom Extended brings the legendary X-COM — the game credited with starting the whole series — to modern players. Many fans consider the first entry the strongest of the lot, and this adaptation preserves what made it special: graphics that hold up well even without allowances for age, and gameplay that remains genuinely compelling. Several scenes show a pixelated Earth rotating against a purple-hued nebula background. In one scene, a white jet aircraft with orange circles on its wings and tail flies above white clouds. Another moment places a green-skinned humanoid figure inside a grey metallic-walled room, with several others lying prone on the floor.

The game also supports mod installation, opening the door to new maps, weapon types, combat units, and more. If X-COM has passed you by until now, OpenXcom Extended is a direct way in.

How to Play OpenXcom Extended: Two-Part Strategic and Tactical Combat

The experience divides into two distinct parts that feed into each other.

Strategic Management

The first part puts the player in charge of X-Com bases. This means assigning research and production tasks and making decisions to counteract the alien invaders at a global level.

Tactical Ground Combat

The second part begins when a ground battle is initiated — either by the player attempting to impose one on the aliens, or by a reverse attempt from the alien side. Combat runs in turn-based mode, with the player controlling soldiers directly. Objectives include blowing up the alien base, capturing prisoners, and securing UFOs and artifacts.

Games You Might Like

Fans of turn-based strategy will find a natural companion in H.O.G.S., which shares OpenXcom Extended's turn-based structure and demands careful tactical thinking across destructible battlefields. For broader strategy games that test long-term planning and resource decisions, the category has plenty to explore.

If managing bases and assets appeals to you, Idle Airport Tycoon offers a lighter take on building and upgrading from the ground up. Those drawn to the conflict and command side of OpenXcom Extended can also browse war games for more titles in that vein. Strategy players who enjoy layered progression and combat will find AOD - Art Of Defense worth a look, blending tower defense with RPG elements in a post-apocalyptic setting.