--Please keep in mind that this is an updated early access review from 11/28/24 and will be updated when the game comes out. --

If you are disappointed with the direction that the "new" versions of Xcom went, Xenonauts 2 i is a good choice. Xenonauts 2 has a really good atmosphere that makes the game world feel real. The real feeling along with the music gives the game a sense of dread and importance. Graphics in Xenonauts 2 are a huge step up from the original Xenoauts. One of the nice things is graphics effects are not overly done which makes for a more startling feeling when weapons are fired or alien events occur. Things glow or move for a reason, not just to "look cool". In addition Xenonauts 2 provides you with more freedom to make more complex decisions and actions. It is very much like the old 90s Xcom games used to have before the new versions took over and made everything too simple. I am going to list some of the things that Xenonauts 2 allows you to do that the new xcom versions have removed or simplified to oblivion.

Want to do a mission with 1 guy, or fill your drop ship to its brim from 9 to 24 depending on drop ship? -The game says Sure. Do you want light tanks with that at early game? - Yes please. Want to run into the map and just grab equipment and leave when you decide without killing everything? -Sure. Want to just blow everything up? - Sure. Want to overload your guys so you have more equipment at start? -Game says Sure. Want to make some odd knife or grenade only class? -Sure. Want overwatch to make sense? -Yes please. Want cover to actually make sense? -Sure. Want brick walls to not just blow up randomly for no reason just because of a fire? -Yes please. Want to level every building to the ground? -Sure. Want to ignore missions? -Sure. Want to manage your base inventory? -Sure. Want multiple bases? -Sure. Do you want to worry about base attacks more? -Sure. Want to make your own soldier specialty types and decide that weapon they will use? The game says Sure. Want your troops to have actual stats? -Sure. Want to sneak your troops through the map and know how many movement points you have left? - Sure. Do you want to rotate your troops to the direction you want? -Sure. Want to decide how many grenades and other equipment your troops have? - Sure. Want to shoot down UFOs with 1 or 3 aircraft, or just let it wander the map? -Sure. Want to be able to use fallen units equipment on the battlefield? - Yes please. Want a story that is engaging?- Sure. Want to stockpile lots of stuff for no reason? - Sure.

I could go on, but a lot of the more complex options you might miss or want from the "New" Xcom games are here. It's also only going to get better with more because it's still under development. This is the way to go if you want a better tactical game.

It's disappointing that this game still doesn't have an actual ending yet, despite being out for a year and a half. I know it's still in "early access" or whatever, but come on with that. That being said, it is good to see they're still putting out updates and working on it.

I did like Xenonauts 1's way of dropping you into the game and immediately going "Okay, so you get the basic idea - aliens are attacking and it's up to you to defend Earth. There's notes you can read if you want. Everything's pretty intuitive and we're not going to treat you like an idiot. Here's some starting resources. Now go get 'em!", so I was a little skeptical of the sequel holding your hand for the first few missions and trying for a more story-driven game as opposed to just doing whatever the heck you want. I feel like if you wanted something more story-driven, that's what xcom was for. That being said, the story here isn't half-bad.

I do really like the better feel to resource management in this game as opposed to the original. It feels like there's constantly something game-changing to research and unlock, and there's a lot of cool new items and gear. Also, having idle engineers/scientists gain passive income to offset their costs so you don't feel like you have to use them 24/7 just to justify having them there is also a nice touch. Also, I LOVE that you can passively train soldiers so they can slowly gain skill when they aren't in a mission. It actually justifies having soldiers at more than one base - something I never found myself able to do in Xenonauts 1. Which is great because ships are more aggressive towards bases this time around.

Really looking forward to coming back to this in a few months/years and seeing this game at its full potential. I just really wish companies weren't so comfortable with releasing unfinished games. I would have been fine waiting a year or two to play this game in its full glory.

I recommend this game. Similar to the old XCOM style. Robust enough to play even now. A couple of problems observed, like research-engineering sequence is broken sometimes (e.g. you have fusion weapon before gauss weapon so make no sense to develop that) or weird equipment operation of soldiers stationed on a base just to defence it (equipment gray out and number of weapon in the store does not reflect the correct number).
But all in all, good game and close to release -I hope :)