X-COM: UFO Defense

X-COM: UFO Defense, released in 1994 by MicroProse, is a groundbreaking strategy game that blends tactical combat with deep resource management. Known as UFO: Enemy Unknown in Europe, the game tasks players with leading X-COM, an elite international organization formed to defend Earth from an alien invasion.

The gameplay is divided into two core elements. Players manage resources, research alien technology, and expand their bases in a strategic global view, while the turn-based tactical missions require commanding squads of soldiers to intercept UFOs, recover alien artifacts, and engage in intense ground battles. Each decision—whether in combat or at the base—can determine the fate of humanity.

X-COM: UFO Defense is praised for its challenging gameplay, strategic depth, and emergent storytelling driven by player choices. Its combination of tense tactical battles and complex management systems made it a landmark in the strategy genre. The game's influence can still be felt today, as it inspired numerous sequels and reboots, solidifying its place as one of the most iconic and enduring strategy games ever made.