Skip to content

Tom's Gaming Vault

A Site Dedicated to PC & Video Games

  • Home
  • About & Contact
  • Index
  • Interviews
    • Aleksandrs Cernavskis [Atom Team] (Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy)
    • Alexandre “Galdred” Boureau [Studio Draconis] (Zodiac Legion)
    • Andrew & Cory Trese [Trese Brothers Games] (Cyber Knights: Flashpoint)
    • Brotherhood, The (Stasis, Beautiful Desolation)
    • Chris England [Goldhawk Interactive] (Xenonauts)
    • Fernando Pereira [Ularis Badler] (Archrebel Tactics)
    • Kevin Zhang [Dead Monarchy Studios] (Dead Monarchy)
    • Realms Beyond: Ashes of the Fallen – Interview with the lead writer
    • White Pond Games (Urban Strife)
  • The X-com Command
    • Cyber Knights: Flashpoint – Impressions
    • Forgotten but Unbroken – The Revenge of Martin
    • Lamplighters League, The – Kitchen Sink Adventures
    • Phoenix Point – It Came From the Sea
    • Ultimate X-com Experience, The
    • XCOM: Chimera Squad – Prepare for Anarchy
    • Xenonauts – Illegal Aliens
    • Xenonauts 2 – Early Access Impressions
      • Xenonauts 2 [Early Access] – Round Two
      • Xenonauts 2 [Early Access] – Round Three
      • Xenonauts 2 [Early Access] – Round Four
      • Xenonauts 2 [Early Access] – Round Five
      • Xenonauts 2 [Early Access] – Round Six (concerns)
      • Xenonauts 2 [Early Access] – Round Seven
      • Xenonauts 2 [Early Access] – Round Eight (THE END)
    • Extras!
      • Brutal AI for OpenXcom Extended
      • 2024, the year of X-com-likes
      • Xenonauts 2 with a PS4 controller [Steam]
  • Cosmic Horror Zone
    • Abscission – Deworming Time
    • Alpha Polaris – The Crevasse of Madness
    • Alone in the Dark – Black Goat Country
    • Call of Cthulhu – Prepare for Madness
    • Dark Rites of Arkham – The Swearing Detective
    • Dreams in the Witch House – Rat Trouble
    • Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
    • Excavation of Hob’s Barrow, The – Cave Doom
    • Phoenix Point – It Came From the Sea
    • SKALD: Against the Black Priory – Tentacle Island
    • Stasis: Bone Totem – Atlantean Rumble
    • Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones – Cosmic Snorer
  • Star Trek Quadrant
    • Star Trek – Redshirt Genocide
    • Star Trek: Away Team – Vulcan nerve Pinch
    • Star Trek: Hidden Evil – Set Phasers to Good
    • Star Trek: Resurgence – Alien Diplomacy R Us
    • Star Trek: Infinite – Resistance Is Futile
    • Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force – Attack of the Scrimps
    • Star Trek: Elite Force II – Vengeance of the Xenos
  • Star Wars Cantina
    • Star Wars Battlefront II – Return to Mission Area!
    • Star Wars: Bounty Hunter – Jango’s Adventures
    • Star Wars – Episode III – Revenge of the Sith – It’s Anakin Time
    • Star Wars Jedi Survivor – Master of Parkour
      • Star Wars Jedi Survivor – Quick Impressions
    • Star Wars: Lethal Alliance – Twi’lek Adventures
    • Star Wars Outlaws – The Friendly Bandit Life
    • Star Wars: Republic Commando – Are you clone enough?
    • Star Wars: Starfighter – Aces of Naboo
    • Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter – Extermination Geonosis
  • The Film Box
    • Gaming History
      • History of Dungeon – Master Clones 1987-2012
    • Gaming Lore
      • Command & Conquer
        • Occam’s Sponge: Mapping the Timelines of the Command and Conquer Canon
        • What is Tiberium?
      • Complete Project Zomboid Lore Story, The
      • Resident Evil: The Lost City of America
    • Animations & Films
      • Fallout
        • Fallout: Invasion Of New Vegas [Film]
        • Fallout Operation: Sunburst [Film]
        • Fallout – The Revenant Series [Machinima]
      • Half-Life
        • LZ – Sparrow (Half-life animation)
        • AFTER WAR & PATIENT ZERO (more Half-life videos)
      • Resident Evil
        • Biohazard 4D-Executer (Resident Evil CGI Movie)
        • Resident Evil: Requiem – Evil Has Always Had A Name [Short movie]
      • Command & Conquer: The Motion Comic [Animated Comic]
      • Halo: Truth and Reconciliation [Animation]
      • Dead Space [Animated Comic]
      • Deus Ex: Gunther Vs Paul – A DX Fan Film + More [Animations]
      • SCP: First Contact [Film]
      • Star Wars: Republic Commando Intro Remake [Animation]
      • Wimpy simp Leon vs. Chad Leon [Video]
    • TV shows
      • Fallout TV show – Episode 1 & 2
        • Fallout TV show – Episode 3
        • Fallout TV show – Episode 4 & 5
        • Fallout TV show – Episode 6
        • Fallout TV show – Episode 7 & 8 (Season 1 final)
        • Fallout TV show – The real villains
      • Halo – Episode 1 impressions
      • Halo TV show season 2 – some thoughts
        • Halo TV show: Episode 3, season 2
        • Halo TV show: Episode 4, season 2 – Burning Reach
        • Halo TV show: Episode 5, season 2 – Paintball time
        • Halo TV show: Episode 6, season 2 – Women!
      • Rings of Power [Season 1, Episode 1 & 2 – This cost 1 billion]
      • Rings of Power [Season 2, Episode 1-4 – Back to dullness]
        • Rings of Power [Season 2, Episode 5 – We got rings!]
        • Rings of Power [Season 2, Episode 6 – The Kraken]
        • Rings of Power [Season 2, Episode 7 – The Siege of Weird]
        • Rings of Power [Season 2, Episode 8 – The End]
  • The Book Bank
    • Command & Conquer: Tiberium Wars by Keith R.A. DeCandido
    • Crysis: Legion by Peter Watts
    • Crysis: Escalation by Gavin Smith
    • Deus Ex: Icarus Effect by James Swallow
    • Deus Ex: Black Light by James Swallow
    • Homefront: The Voice of Freedom by John Milius & Raymond Benson
    • Kraken Wakes, The by John Wyndham
    • Resident Evil
      • Resident Evil: The Umbrella Conspiracy by S.D. Perry [Book 1]
      • Resident Evil: Caliban Cove by S.D. Perry [Book 2]
    • Xcom 2: Resurrection by Greg Keyes
  • Tom’s Top Tens
    • Top 10 RPGs with Custom Parties on PC
    • Top 10 RPGs with Fixed Parties on PC
    • Top 10 Solo RPGs on PC
    • Top 10 Tactical Games (X-com-likes) on PC
    • Top 10 ZOMBIE games on PC
    • Top 10 Saddest Game Cancellations
  • Tip-Jar

Tag: X-com-like

Xenonauts 2 [Early Access] – Round Six (concerns)

This might come off as skitzo, considering I praised Xenonauts 2 in a recent update post about the game. After the patch fixed my issue (the wraith bug), I was allowed to continue playing the campaign. At first, everything was hunky-dory, but after a while, I started to notice some concerns. Xenonauts 2 seems way too easy now, specifically when you hit the next stage of weaponry, both for ground and air combat. I know I’m a bit of a veteran of the game by now, so that plays into it. However, the new weapon tiers, laser, and gauss trivialize the alien encounters. That alone wouldn’t be such a major problem if the aliens wear you down through attrition, yet, they don’t. The campaign has become way too passive, with very few UFOs and other missions between the research unlocking.

Continue reading “Xenonauts 2 [Early Access] – Round Six (concerns)” →
Posted on 01 June 202417 July 2024 by ThomasPosted in PC, Strategy, Turn-BasedTagged Aliens, Impressions, Sci-fi, Strategy, Turn-Based, X-com-like, Xenonauts. Leave a comment

Xenonauts 2 [Early Access] – Round Five

Yup, I’m back to it. You can say that I’m a tad Xenonauts 2 addicted. I dream of one day in the far-off future playing the full game before I wither away of old age and die (and probably be repurposed as food). To be fair, while the release takes its sweet time, we are closing in on that date with the latest release. Version 4.0.0 (prototype edition) was recently published in the experimental branch and I just had to give it a go. However, there is one problem. I didn’t get very far, because one bug kept popping up, annoying the hell out of me. Sometimes the wraiths bug out with a permanent t-pose. You can target and kill them by pressing down CTRL and using the free-fire mode. But any action they do beyond moving, and if they trigger any form of overwatch from you, the game/turn locks up, forcing a shutdown of the game. So, you can see why this is aggravating and is a snag on the general enjoyment.

Continue reading “Xenonauts 2 [Early Access] – Round Five” →
Posted on 28 May 202430 May 2024 by ThomasPosted in PC, Strategy, Turn-BasedTagged Aliens, Early Access, Impressions, Sci-fi, Strategy, Turn-Based, X-com-like, Xenonauts. Leave a comment

King Arthur: Legion IX – Pax Romana

It’s time to once again adventure in Avalon. However, this time around we are ditching the knights of the Round Table in favor of a long-lost Roman legion. Seeing as King Arthur: Legion IX is an expansion for King Arthur: Knight’s Tale made stand-alone, you will not be getting the same amount of game as the original. That is all fine and dandy considering it being a DLC with a lower price point, but what I didn’t expect going in, was the much more streamlined experience. Many of the cool “Xcom” aspects of King Arthur: Knight’s Tale have been cut, like for example tending to wounds, building up your colony, and maintaining a team in the form of picking and choosing whom to take on missions.

Continue reading “King Arthur: Legion IX – Pax Romana” →
Posted on 13 May 202407 March 2026 by ThomasPosted in PC, RPG, Turn-BasedTagged Arthurian Legend, Fantasy, Rating: 2/5, Release year: 2024, Review, RPG, Turn-Based, X-com-like. Leave a comment

Xenonauts – Illegal Aliens

I decided to replay Xenonauts in the wait for Xenonauts 2, and I can’t say I regret my time spent. The game, which I think copies a little too much from X-com to a fault, still provides a grand old time for X-com aficionados like me. The main standout is the time period. The 80s iron curtain setting is a phenomenal pick for the backdrop and makes the game ooze with atmosphere. It just feels right, story, setting, and weapons/tech. And with the provided prequel novel Crimson Dagger that set the stakes, you just can’t go wrong here. Xenonauts is made by Goldhawk Interactive, and currently, they are busily working on a sequel.

Continue reading “Xenonauts – Illegal Aliens” →
Posted on 27 November 202207 March 2026 by ThomasPosted in PC, Turn-BasedTagged Aliens, Rating: 4/5, Release year: 2014, Review, Sci-fi, Turn-Based, X-com-like, Xenonauts. Leave a comment

Phoenix Point – It Came From the Sea

When Julian Gollop announced he would be making a spiritual sequel to X-com, there was much rejoicing. Unfortunately, the game that followed was lined with controversies like – changing the art style from gritty post-apocalypse to nuXcom-inspired science-fiction with oversized shoulder pauldrons. Dumping the open platform release for EPIC store exclusivity, while simultaneously insulting the Kickstarter base that their investment meant nothing now with EPIC backing them financially. Yeah, it was not a great start, that even had me cancel my pledge…

Continue reading “Phoenix Point – It Came From the Sea” →
Posted on 16 April 202207 March 2026 by ThomasPosted in PC, Turn-BasedTagged Aliens, Horror, Lovecraftian, Rating: 2/5, Release year: 2020, Review, Sci-fi, Turn-Based, X-com-like. Leave a comment

Posts navigation

Newer posts

Neat Gaming Links

  • Collection Chamber
  • CRPG Addict
  • Digital Antiquarian
  • DungeonCrawlers.org
  • GamesNostalgia
  • KeeperFX
  • Lilura's RPG Blog
  • MobyGames
  • My Abandonware
  • Notra's Gate
  • OpenXcom
  • PCGamingWiki
  • RPG Codex
  • RPG HQ
  • SteamGridDB
  • Tally-Ho Corner
  • Turn Based Lovers
  • Unseen64
  • Vimm's Lair

Categories

  • Consoles (19)
    • Emulation (15)
    • GameCube (1)
    • PlayStation 1 (1)
    • PlayStation 2 (9)
    • PlayStation 3 (1)
    • PlayStation 4 (2)
    • PlayStation Portable (1)
    • Super Nintendo (1)
    • Xbox 360 (2)
  • PC (359)
    • Action (96)
    • Point & Click Adventure (37)
    • RPG (99)
    • Simulator (24)
    • Strategy (63)
    • Turn-Based (108)
  • The Pantry (142)
    • Book Bank (10)
    • Film Box (19)
    • Interviews (9)
    • Musings (24)
    • Tom’s Top Tens (6)
March 2026
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Feb    

Archives

  • 2026 (33)
  • 2025 (134)
  • 2024 (138)
  • 2023 (87)
  • 2022 (91)
  • 2012 (2)
  • 2011 (9)
  • 2010 (7)
  • 2009 (28)

Latest Comments

  1. Thomas's avatar
    Thomas on NORSE: Oath of Blood – Viking Retribution [Review]04 March 2026

    Yeah, I was hoping for something more open form, but instead it's entirely linear, with what I believe not a…

  2. Tipa's avatar
    Tipa on NORSE: Oath of Blood – Viking Retribution [Review]04 March 2026

    I saw this in the Steam Next Fest, and was initially pretty excited for it, same reasons you were talking…

  3. lightdeliciously5639c626cc's avatar
    lightdeliciously5639c626cc on Galactic Space Guard – Demo Impressions01 March 2026

    Hi Thomas, thank you, also for your valuable feedback! Shooting enemies will affect the morale when hitting your units, also…

  4. Thomas's avatar
    Thomas on Galactic Space Guard – Demo Impressions01 March 2026

    Hi Martin. Thanks for posting here, and I'm glad you liked the article. Nice to see kneeling will make it…

Starving artist Stats

  • 142,195 have laid eyes on the gaming vagabond

Tags of Doom

Action Adventure Aliens Apocalyptic Atmospheric Conspiracy Demo DLC Dystopia Early Access Fantasy Film FPS Futuristic Games Gaming Gaming Industry Historical setting Horror Impressions Lovecraftian Musings News PC games Point & Click Adventure Rating: 2/5 Rating: 3/5 Rating: 4/5 Release year: 2021 Release year: 2022 Release year: 2023 Release year: 2024 Review RPG RTS Sci-fi Simulator Stealth Strategy Survival Horror Sword & Sorcery Tactical Third-Person Trailer Turn-Based TV show Upcoming War X-com-like Zombies

Top Posts & Pages

  • My Top 10 ZOMBIE games on PC
  • My Top 10 Solo RPGs on PC
  • My Top 10 Tactical Games (X-com-likes) on PC
  • My Top 10 RPGs with Custom Parties on PC
  • Xenonauts 2 - Release date set!
  • Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown - Demo Impressions
  • Arma Reforger: Operation Omega - Back to 1989, baby! [Review]
  • Xenonauts 2 with a PS4 controller [Steam]
  • Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy - Side-quests or Die! [Review]
  • King Arthur: Legion IX - Pax Romana

Subscribe for news!

Website Built with WordPress.com.
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Tom's Gaming Vault
    • Join 40 other subscribers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Tom's Gaming Vault
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...