Incredible XCOM-Inspired Strategy Game from Manor Lords Brand Reaches New Heights

When it comes to XCOM enthusiasts, you’ll find two main groups: those who lean towards Firaxis’s modern adaptations and those who have a soft spot for the nostalgic 1990s vibe of the original X-COM games by MicroProse. If you happen to belong to the latter group — and let’s not kid ourselves, you’re not sitting on the fence here — then Xenonauts 2 should definitely catch your interest, especially with its latest significant update.

In Xenonauts 2, you lead an international unit tasked with thwarting an alien invasion. You’ll have strategic command over ground missions, repelling extraterrestrial threats, and strategically placing bases worldwide for global defense. Set in an alternate 2009 where the Cold War remains a pivotal backdrop, the geopolitical atmosphere adds yet another layer to consider as you play.

Since its debut on Steam Early Access in July 2023, developer Goldhawk Interactive has meticulously enhanced the gameplay experience. With a series of updates, both large and incremental, Xenonauts 2 has become more robust and fun. The latest update offers an enticing invitation for newcomers and provides a fresh reason for veteran players to jump back in.

This Milestone 5.8.0 introduces a new challenge: Mind Control. Certain alien soldiers with enough Psi-Strength can temporarily commandeer your troops. The effectiveness of this mind meddling hinges on distance and your soldier’s Bravery and Morale, adding more risk to close encounters.

Allies now come with varying protection levels—normal, high, or low—which in turn affect recruitment costs or the costs involved if they’re eliminated. Furthermore, Strategic Operations gain a slight daily boost when not in use, resetting with each deployment.

You’ll notice numerous gameplay refinements, categorized under strategy, air combat, and tactical modifications. Some of the more narrative-driven moments have been clarified for better understanding, and Phase 1 of the game now spans a third month, featuring Destroyer UFOs.

Among the notable changes, explosive damage now scales from 100% to 50% based on proximity to the blast. Plus, Xenonaut aircraft won’t consume fuel during air combat anymore, addressing a minor frustration that sporadically arose.

For more details—including a comprehensive list of bug fixes—you can check out the full patch notes. Keep in mind that if you’re restarting Xenonauts 2 to enjoy these updates, you’ll need to begin a new campaign, as saves from version 5.7.0 won’t transfer over. However, you can still access previous versions through the Experimental Legacy branch if you wish.

Xenonauts 2 is up for grabs on Steam Early Access. And if you’re keen on exploring additional avenues to safeguard humanity, take a peek at our recommendations for the best space games and robot games.

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