XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a turn-based tactical video game, developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K Games. The game is a “reimagined” remake of the 1994 cult classic strategy game UFO: Enemy Unknown (also known as X-COM: UFO Defense) and a reboot of MicroProse’s 1990s X-COM series.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown was released on October 9, 2012 in North America and three days later in Europe and Australia for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. An “Elite Edition”, containing all previously released downloadable content, was released as a Mac OS X exclusive by Feral Interactive in April 2013. In June 2014, Feral released both XCOM: Enemy Unknown and its expansion pack XCOM: Enemy Within for Linux. A port for iOS was released in June 2013 and an Android conversion was released in May 2014. An expansion pack titled XCOM: Enemy Within was released in November 2013.
Set in the near future during an alien invasion of Earth, the game puts the player in control of an elite multinational paramilitary organization called XCOM and tasked with defending the Earth. The player commands troops in the field in a series of turn-based tactical missions; between missions, the player directs the research and development of new technologies from recovered alien technology and captured prisoners, expands XCOM’s base of operations, manages XCOM’s finances, and monitors and responds to alien activity.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown was critically acclaimed, with averaged ratings of close to 90% for all versions at both GameRankings and Metacritic. Several reviewers also commented on the game’s very high levels of difficulty, replayability, and addictiveness. A number of publications, including GameSpy, GameTrailers and Giant Bomb, named it Game of the Year. A sequel to the game, titled XCOM 2, is set to be released in November 2015 for Microsoft Windows, OS X and Linux.
