2015 · Real-time

XCOM: The Board Game

Players assume the roles of leaders of an international defense organization trying to halt an alien invasion. The game pairs cooperative tabletop play with a digital app that runs invasion plans, manages fog-of-war information, and enforces a dynamic, real-time turn structure. Players allocate resources to launch interceptors against UFOs, assign soldiers to missions, research alien technology, and defend the base while managing global panic levels. The app handles scenario setup, difficulty scaling, rule teaching, and resolves consequences as players feed back mission results, creating shifting priorities and timed pressure throughout the campaign.

groupPlayers

1–4 best 4

schedulePlaying time

60–120 min

cakeAge

14+

psychologyComplexity

2.9 / 5