7 – XCOM: Chimera Squad
Wrongfully considered by many to be a bad game, I’ll argue that XCOM: Chimera Squad is exactly what a spinoff should be. It takes the base formula of XCOM and XCOM 2, gives it a spin (hence the name) by adding a ton more tactical elements, and making the game a lot closer to something like police-level/SWAT-level operations against criminal enterprises, rather than a full war. The narrative is extremely linear, and the mission progression as well. Despite having a ton of cringe dialogue (this looks like it was written by theatre kids). However, its tactical side is so great, and the breach mechanic is so excellent, that it’s well worth trudging through that.
6 – XCOM: Enemy Unknown
The game that’s single-handedly responsible for the revival of turn-based strategy might have come out in 2012, but XCOM: Enemy Unknown is still worth playing in 2026, and I seriously doubt I’ll change my opinion on it any time soon. In fact, I have played it recently for a review and loved it so much that I went back to play it again! It’s a classic, and as cheap as it is, with the base game and its expansions for 10 dollars, this is a no-brainer.
5 – Shadowrun Trilogy
Cyberpunk meets high fantasy in Harebrained Schemes’ magnificent isometric trilogy, containing Shadowrun Returns, Shadowrun: Dragonfall, and Shadowrun: Hong Kong. Combining tight turn-based tactical combat with rich CRPG storytelling, you play as a mercenary Shadowrunner navigating gritty future metropolises filled with deckers, corporate conspiracies, magic, and elves. Shadowrun Returns was a massive hit when it came out in 2013, and it felt like a breath of fresh air in the stale turn-based and CRPG genre. 10 bucks for the whole trilogy is a steal.
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