Rank 01Why this
Also Base-Building and Turn-Based, like Xenonauts.
- $4.99 (Price checked Nov 4)
- 2008
Games like Xenonauts
- 29 games
- Updated May 4, 2026
Players who liked Xenonauts also play
The closest matches to Xenonauts: X-COM: UFO Defense, Xenonauts 2, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Phoenix Point, and X-COM: Apocalypse. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.
- Rank 01
Rank 02Why this
Also Grand Strategy and Turn-Based, like Xenonauts.
- $39.99 (Price checked Nov 3)
- Deck Playable
- 2026
Rank 03- $14.99 (Price checked Nov 4)
- Deck Playable
- 2012
Rank 04 
Phoenix Point
Why this: Also Grand Strategy and Aliens, like Xenonauts.
Rank 05 
Rank 06 
Jagged Alliance 3
Why this: Also Turn-Based and Isometric, like Xenonauts.
Rank 07 
UFO: Extraterrestrials Gold
Why this: Shares tech tree research with Xenonauts.
Rank 08 
The full ranked list: top 24 games like Xenonauts
Best match first, as plain text. The same list for AI assistants:
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- 14Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut
Shares turn based tactical combat with Xenonauts.
- 90% of 4,127 reviews
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- 16Future War Tactics: SOF vs Alien Invasion – Turn-Based Strategy
Genres: Strategy, Indie, Adventure
- 75% of 60 reviews
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- Released: 2014
- Developer: Goldhawk Interactive
- Price: $24.99checked Nov 4
- 86% of 2,658 reviews
- Genres: Strategy, Indie, Simulation
- Metacritic 77
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Players highlight
- Cold war aesthetic feels authentic
- Freedom to choose unconventional tactics
- Grounded militaristic tone
- Atmospheric
- Immersive
- Retro
More games like Xenonauts, sliced differently
Reviewers mention these as similar to Xenonauts
Surfaced from review text: when other players write 'if you liked X, try Y', we catch the name and resolve it back to a Steam game.
Silent Storm Gold Edition
Why this: Same atmospheric mood as Xenonauts.
Phantom Doctrine
Why this: Same immersive mood as Xenonauts.
XCOM® 2
Why this: Also Turn-Based and Isometric, like Xenonauts.
UFO2: Extraterrestrials
Why this: Also Aliens and Turn-Based Combat, like Xenonauts.
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified
Why this: Also Aliens and Tactical, like Xenonauts.
Jagged Alliance 1: Gold Edition
Why this: Shares turn based tactical combat with Xenonauts.
Cheaper alternatives
Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below Xenonauts at current Steam store prices.
ENDLESS™ Space - Definitive Edition
Why this: Also Grand Strategy and Turn-Based, like Xenonauts.
Star Hammer: The Vanguard Prophecy
Why this: Also Turn-Based and Aliens, like Xenonauts.
Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander
Why this: Also Base-Building and Turn-Based, like Xenonauts.
Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut
Why this: Shares turn based tactical combat with Xenonauts.
UFO: Afterlight
Why this: Shares tech tree research with Xenonauts.
Free alternatives
Free games the recommender matches to Xenonauts, limited to titles with at least 500 Steam reviews and 80% positive.
Battle for Wesnoth
Why this: Same atmospheric mood as Xenonauts.
Sunrider: Mask of Arcadius
Why this: Shares turn based tactical combat with Xenonauts.
Phobies
Why this: Also Turn-Based Tactics and Turn-Based Strategy, like Xenonauts.
SOVL: Fantasy Warfare
Why this: Also Turn-Based Combat and Turn-Based Tactics, like Xenonauts.
Die in the Dungeon: Origins
Why this: Same retro mood as Xenonauts.
About Xenonauts
The closest matches to Xenonauts: X-COM: UFO Defense, Xenonauts 2, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Phoenix Point, and X-COM: Apocalypse. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.
If Xenonauts is your kind of game, the closest matches are X-COM: UFO Defense, Xenonauts 2 and XCOM: Enemy Unknown — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers describe it as atmospheric, immersive and retro, and single out its alien tech analysis and cover based positioning. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.
Xenonauts is a turn-based strategy game released in 2014 by Goldhawk Interactive, set during an alternate Cold War where Earth faces an alien invasion. Players command a multinational military organisation, managing global operations while leading squads of soldiers across tactical combat missions. The game combines base-building, technology research, and cover-based positioning on a hex grid. Reviewers highlight its cold war aesthetic as authentic, and players describe the experience as immersive and tense, with a grounded militaristic tone. The absence of cutscenes keeps focus firmly on strategic depth. Available at $24.99 USD, the game supports modding to extend its longevity. It received an 86% positive rating from 2,658 Steam reviews and is not currently supported on Steam Deck.
About Xenonauts: Xenonauts is a strategy game in which you control a multi-national military organisation defending a Cold War-era Earth from alien invasion, using small squads of persistent soldiers to eliminate the extraterrestrials and recover their technology in turn-based ground combat.
Is Xenonauts worth buying?
Players recommend it
A summary of what players say, not a promise you'll like it. Every signal is listed below.
- 86% of 2,658 Steam reviews are positive.
- We don't track this game's daily reviews yet, so this is the all-time picture.
- Price: $24.99 (checked Nov 8).
- People who recommend it had played a median of 78 h when they wrote their review.
- Critics had played a median of 24 h before turning negative, so complaints are about the long run, not the first hours.
- Not supported on Steam Deck.
What fans praise · Themes mined from positive reviews
- Cold war aesthetic feels authentic
- Freedom to choose unconventional tactics
- Grounded militaristic tone
- Mod support extends longevity
Top critical reviews
The most up-voted negative English reviews in our sample, quoted as written.
“I just can’t enjoy this game. The RNG is too strong both on the global map and in tactical battles, and that’s all on normal difficulty. There’s absolute disregard for players’ time when you’re forced to replay a successful campaign…”
“Xenonauts attempts to capture the magic of the original but often ends up feeling like a sterile military spreadsheet rather than a tense tactical thriller. While the Cold War aesthetic is solid, the gameplay is defined by peak…”
People who play it also play: X-COM: UFO Defense, Xenonauts 2, XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Frequently asked about Xenonauts
Can I run it?
Does Xenonauts work on Steam Deck?
Xenonauts is currently rated Unsupported on Steam Deck. It may not launch or may have significant issues that block normal play.
How much does Xenonauts cost?
Xenonauts is listed on Steam at 24.99 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
What games are most similar to Xenonauts?
Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside Xenonauts are X-COM: UFO Defense, Xenonauts 2, XCOM: Enemy Unknown.
Who developed Xenonauts?
Xenonauts was developed by Goldhawk Interactive.