Choose XCOM® 2
Choose XCOM® 2 if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 44,276 Steam reviews back the pick.
XCOM® 2 vs SHAFTED
XCOM® 2 and SHAFTED both land in Strategy on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Strategy games on Steam. XCOM® 2 (2016) is 6 years older than SHAFTED (2022). SHAFTED scores higher on Steam reviews (90% positive) than XCOM® 2 (85.8% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose SHAFTED
Choose SHAFTED if you want a Simulation and Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. SHAFTED launched in 2022.
Both XCOM® 2 and SHAFTED sit in Strategy on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 XCOM® 2 |  SHAFTED | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2022 |
| Genres | Strategy | Strategy, Simulation, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 2.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 85.8% positive (44,276 reviews) | 90% positive (10 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Firaxis Games, Feral Interactive (Mac), Feral Interactive (Linux) | Looch Labs |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- XCOM® 2 (2016) is 6 years older than SHAFTED (2022).
- SHAFTED scores higher on Steam reviews (90% positive) than XCOM® 2 (85.8% positive).
- SHAFTED is free; XCOM® 2 is paid (2.99 USD).
- XCOM® 2 is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; SHAFTED has no Deck rating yet.
XCOM® 2 vs SHAFTED — FAQ
- Should I play XCOM® 2 or SHAFTED first?
- If you want chronology, XCOM® 2 (2016) came out before SHAFTED (2022). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are XCOM® 2 and SHAFTED similar?
- They overlap on Strategy on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Is SHAFTED free?
- Yes — SHAFTED is a free-to-play Steam title. XCOM® 2 is paid (2.99 USD).
- Does XCOM® 2 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — XCOM® 2 is rated Deck Playable by Valve. SHAFTED doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.