Xenonauts 2 is a strategy game where you lead an international military organization against an alien threat. Operating covertly, eliminate unwanted visitors, expand your network of military bases, and conduct research to close the technological gap. Train your troops, equip them with cutting-edge weapons, and engage in battles against extraterrestrial invaders.

It's 2009. The Cold War continues, and the Berlin Wall still divides one country. A secret organization, unconcerned with political boundaries, gathers intelligence on a terrifying threat to humanity. Unidentified flying objects and mysterious beings appear across the globe, all amidst escalating international conflicts. Those who report UFO sightings mysteriously vanish. It seems the aliens are becoming more confident on Earth, leaving no time to waste.

Knowledge is power, and right now, you need that power: when you take command, very little is known about the aliens. Participate in combat operations worldwide to learn more about your foes. Destroy aliens in tactical battles, collect samples for research, and send them to your scientists to develop more advanced weaponry and ultimately gain insight into the alien invasion.

The variety of enemy types ensures you won’t have an easy time; each battle requires you to adapt to their strengths and weaknesses, adjusting your gameplay style for victory. Capture alien bodies after battles to conduct autopsies and study the invaders.

Your enemies are not only aliens. Members of a secret organization known as the Cleaners collaborate with the extraterrestrials, leading to more complex and varied battles in diverse environments. The Cleaners assist the aliens in achieving their goals, completely submitting to them, so each victory over these agents is also a victory over their alien masters. Infiltrate their bases to gather intelligence on the seriousness of their plans.

Every battle is an opportunity to better understand your enemies and how to defeat them. The question is, are you ready to take risks? You can quickly eliminate foes with long-range missiles, explosives, or grenades, or you can act more cautiously to retrieve their bodies and equipment for your base. Alternatively, you might focus on air combat, taking down UFOs to investigate their crash sites. The enemy surpasses humanity in technology and weaponry—be prepared and make thoughtful decisions.

The war against the alien invaders has escalated globally: new attacks can occur anywhere, so your forces must always be ready to deploy anywhere in the world. Develop a network of bases where troops can rest and resupply, and store captured alien bodies and equipment. Every action you take will have far-reaching consequences, so each playthrough will unfold differently.

A small radar station in Alaska detects an anomaly in the Bering Strait. Interceptors from Air Force bases in Kamchatka and Yukon scramble to intercept and shoot down unidentified objects. Thousands of kilometers away, electronic warfare engineers from Italy, along with colleagues from Algeria and fighters based in France, discover alien activity on the Iberian Peninsula. Meanwhile, your specialists are constructing a new base in Southeast Asia, where aliens have repeatedly breached defenses and caused panic among civilians. Design and build military bases worldwide, equipping them with interceptors and air transport, long-range radars, and search teams. Remember, your transport’s fuel supply is limited, so your bases must cover the globe without significant gaps—only then can you hold back the alien invasion. Each base can have its own purpose: some detect enemies, others host interceptors, and some serve as barracks for your combat teams.

Conduct research across various fields to equip your organization with the latest fighters, transport, weapons, and armor. Battlefield tactics depend on the terrain and the equipment your soldiers have, so make sure they are well-armed. Combat vehicles can tip the scales in your favor: they easily breach enemy fortifications and wreak havoc, but they are costly to develop and maintain, requiring you to collect samples of alien bodies and technology. You’ll have access to an extensive technology tree, with over a hundred projects. Choose what suits you best, and you’ll be able to fend off the alien threat.

Don’t hesitate to use alien technology against them: autonomous combat machines and turrets can facilitate attacks and aid in base defense. Invest in your engineers, and they will create many advanced weapons for you. But always carefully choose where to allocate your resources: funds, materials, and research time are limited. Perhaps you should focus on automated combat platforms to save your personnel? Or build more landing ships to deploy additional squads? You could also develop more advanced weaponry for interceptors to increase their effectiveness against enemy UFOs.

Bases can host training centers where soldiers can refine their combat skills during downtime, but real combat experience can never be fully replaced. Each mission is an opportunity for your agents to improve and potentially earn rewards for their combat successes.

In both air and ground battles, you’ll need to demonstrate your tactical acumen. The aliens are cunning foes, and to defeat them, you must monitor your soldiers' positions, control their lines of fire, order them to take cover, and equip them for combat. Your troops will suffer injuries during missions, and many will fall, but those who survive will gain valuable experience and become even deadlier and more professional.

Command interceptors to engage enemy UFOs in real-time tactical battles. Direct your pilots to perform maneuvers, specify targets, and monitor fuel levels and the distance to the nearest base. Avoid unnecessary heroics: in a one-on-one battle, your fighters will always lose to UFOs due to technological disadvantages, so attack enemy ships with entire squadrons. Strategic planning and air combat are closely intertwined: the effectiveness of your base placements determines your success in intercepting alien UFOs.

Ground operations are essential. Send agents on various missions, but be wary: the enemy won’t sit idly by while you hunt them down. Aliens constantly move to engage you on their terms, preferring to attack in ways that limit your response. Alien soldiers will take cover and occupy tactical heights to gain advantages. Conduct reconnaissance to increase your chances of success, and set ambushes to strike the enemy unexpectedly.

In the war against aliens, losses are inevitable: miracles don’t happen, and there are no squads that achieve victory after victory without losses. War brings pain, death, and suffering, and many of your soldiers will die fighting the alien invaders. Be prepared for this. Value veterans with solid combat experience, but don’t overlook the recruits; with the right approach, they can also secure victories. It’s entirely up to you whether yesterday’s rookie becomes tomorrow’s battle-hardened veteran.

Xenonauts 2 is a standalone game that doesn’t require playing the first part. You can enjoy the gameplay and follow the story without prior knowledge of the original. Expect complex battles that require deep strategic thinking and challenging tasks that will engage both veterans and newcomers to the series.