X-COM: UFO Defense

X-COM: UFO Defense (originally known as UFO: Enemy Unknown in Europe) was developed by Mythos Games and published by MicroProse in 1994. The game was masterminded by Julian Gollop, who designed it as a deep simulation of alien technology and military defense. It laid the foundational mechanics for the entire tactical strategy genre.

The game puts the player in charge of X-COM, a multinational, elite paramilitary organization tasked with defending Earth from an escalating extraterrestrial threat. Players must manage their global bases, research alien technology, and shoot down UFOs using interceptor jets. When a craft crashes, the player commands squads of soldiers in brutal, turn-based tactical combat against the alien invaders.

The game features a deep simulation mechanic where players must capture live aliens and recover crashed UFO debris. Your research scientists study this alien technology to unlock advanced weapons, armor, and psychic abilities for your soldiers. Meanwhile, your engineering team manufactures these advanced items to outfit your troops, as the basic starting weapons quickly become obsolete.

The Geoscape serves as the game's global strategic view, displaying a real-time 3D map of the Earth from space. From this screen, players track and intercept detected UFOs, manage their underground bases, and monitor alien activity across the globe. It provides the overarching strategic simulation layer that connects the individual turn-based tactical missions.