XCOM: Chimera Squad, of course, did not repeat the trick of Apex Legends, which appeared on the same day when it was first talked about, but they did not delay the release either. From the announcement to the release, only ten days passed – by today’s standards, this is almost lightning fast. In my case, the wait was even shorter: while everyone was just getting ready to meet the new product, I was already immersed in it with my head in order to have time to prepare a review of this unexpected work of Firaxis Games and 2K just in time for the release of the new chapter of the legendary series.

XCOM: Chimera Squad Free Steam Account

XCOM: Chimera Squad takes place five years after the finale of XCOM 2. Humanity has survived the war with the alien invaders, but the price of this victory was high. ADVENT has fallen, but the wounds left by the occupation are still fresh. Earth is not the same – now among its inhabitants are not only humans. The soldiers of the invading army, deprived of the support of their fleet, remained on the planet and are forced to learn to live side by side with their former enemies. And, surprisingly, somehow, but it works. When there is no struggle for resources and power, and interracial hostility has become the lot of fanatics, a fragile balance reigns on the planet. Viper can easily work in the same team with a person, and a sectoid can even take up a political post.

One of the symbols of this new reality is City-31 – a megalopolis where a variety of inhabitants live shoulder to shoulder. But the end of the war did not bring complete peace: gangs, radicals, terrorists and those who did not accept the new order still threaten the residents. The local police are the first to fight them, but when the situation gets out of control, a special squad “Chimera” comes on the scene – the elite, which the player will have to control.

The composition of “Chimera” itself is a reflection of the changes in the world. There are both people and aliens, and some of the fighters once fought for “Advent”, while others were its victims or resistance activists. And these are not just lines in biographies. Life is in full swing inside the team: friendly jibes and jokes are interspersed with fleeting but difficult memories of the war. This shift from a global story about saving the world to the everyday life of a police special forces makes the plot closer and warmer. The heroes here are not flawless supermen, but ordinary people and former enemies who, despite the past, are ready to risk themselves for the safety of the city.

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XCOM: Chimera Squad Gameplay

There are 11 operatives in the Chimera squad, but you won’t see all of them at the start of the campaign. The minimum you can’t do without is four fighters. That’s how many fit in the APC that delivers the team to a new mission. The same four always participate in battles, but those who remain at the base are not idle either. They can help develop new equipment, work with city services, bringing resources, undergo training or recover from injuries. At first, there is a catastrophic shortage of free hands, and only by the end of the game is this problem solved. To level up faster, it is better to keep a stable composition, changing fighters only in case of injuries. For example, two of my operatives spent almost the entire campaign at the base, going into battle only a couple of times. And, frankly speaking, there is no point in fiddling with the cumbersome strategic interface once again – let the “duty” ones show themselves in the next playthrough.

But the lack of people is only one of the problems. Another, familiar to fans of the series, is the constant time pressure. Here the player is driven by the level of anarchy in the city. If it rises too high, and the overall indicator reaches the maximum, the mission is failed. To avoid this, you will have to complete tasks in nine districts of City-31, choosing where to go first. In addition to side operations, which are needed to reduce anarchy and replenish supplies, there are story missions related to the investigation. They cannot be missed, and it is worth preparing for them especially carefully – the enemies there are stronger, and their numbers are higher than on ordinary sorties.

As for the opponents, now they are not just aliens or ADVENT forces, but three completely different criminal groups. “Descendants” are psionics capable of performing real miracles of the mind in battle. The Cult of the Sacred Spiral are religious fanatics for whom the mission is more important than life. “Grey Phoenix” are hunters of alien technology, who do not disdain any methods. Each faction has its own separate investigation, and completing them all is the only way to restore order in the city. Although the word “investigation” is perhaps too loud here: in Chimera Squad, all issues are resolved by force of arms. The goals may change – rescuing hostages, protecting a VIP, clearing an area or defending a key point – but the essence remains the same. This is still a tactical strategy, not a detective quest.

Features of the combat system in XCOM: Chimera Squad

The game’s combat scheme is very similar to the classic XCOM: turn-based gameplay, a cover system, two phases of action, special skills and the usual point-blank misses with a 90% chance of hitting – don’t expect a revolution here. But the developers have added several interesting details that organically fit into the atmosphere of a police special operation. The main feature is the assault mechanics used at the beginning of each battle. The Chimera squad is an elite special forces unit, and their methods of entering a building are appropriate: break down a door, fly in through a window, open a gate with a special key or simply break through a wall with a directed explosion.

Missions usually consist of several tactical skirmishes that go in a row without a pause. You won’t be able to catch your breath between them, the most you can do is reload your weapon. Sometimes you have to deliberately prolong the battle in order to treat the wounded before the next stage. Each battle starts with an assault phase, where you can choose one or more entry points. Each has its own pros and cons: somewhere the enemies will be caught off guard, and somewhere, on the contrary, your fighters will find themselves in a disadvantageous position. Sometimes there is no choice, and to open additional paths, you need the right equipment – for example, you can’t make a hole in the wall without an explosive pack.

The assault looks impressive, but only at first. Gradually, it turns into a routine, although it remains a useful way to eliminate as many enemies as possible before the main firefight begins. True, not all details work to create an atmosphere: the characters calmly pass through objects, and the camera, which cannot be moved at this stage, is sometimes installed in the most inconvenient angle. The changes also affected the order of turns. Now special forces and enemies take turns within the initiative system, and the order of actions can be influenced with the help of certain abilities. The enemy ronin is especially “pleasing”, who tries to get in front of the queue when the life of one of your fighters hangs by a thread.

Your operatives cannot die: the death of even one means the mission has failed. At first glance, this is too harsh, because the enemy can knock out a character before your turn. But there is a mitigating factor here – death does not occur immediately. The wounded bleed for several turns, and he can be stabilized. In the worst case, he will go to the infirmary to get rid of scars that reduce his characteristics. However, you will have to continue the mission without him, and in the next phase, an android will take his place. Robots can be bought in advance and customized, but unlike living fighters, they do not have a second chance: if an android is destroyed, he disappears forever. And yet, emotionally, it is much easier to lose a faceless machine than one of the eleven unique Chimera operatives.

Pros and Cons of XCOM Chimera Squad

The game’s main advantage remains its unique style – colorful characters and a plot that intertwines a police detective story and science fiction. This combination looks fresh and gives the story a special charm, even if the game itself does not feel like a full-fledged continuation of the series. Chimera Squad is also not up to the role of a “testing ground” for new ideas before the third part – there are no drastic changes here.

Several new mechanics, such as assault and turn order, look interesting, but they are clearly not enough, and the improvements in the strategic part are rather cosmetic. But the atmosphere of a police action movie in an unusual sci-fi setting was a great success – the scriptwriters did everything to immerse the player in this world. It’s a pity that Firaxis preferred the path of simplification in terms of gameplay.

Pros:

• The atmosphere of a police detective story in a sci-fi setting.
• Vivid images and characters.

Cons:

• Simplified gameplay compared to previous parts.
• Lack of new mechanics.
• Presence of bugs.

XCOM: Chimera Squad System Requirements

How to play XCOM: Chimera Squad for free on Steam via VpeSports

XCOM: Chimera Squad isn’t just another turn-based strategy — it’s a story about trust, tension, and the thin line between order and chaos. The war between humans and aliens may be over, but City 31 is still a powder keg waiting for a spark. You step into the boots of the commander of an experimental squad made up of both species, each agent bringing not only a unique set of combat skills but also a personality and past that shape how they fight — and how they get along.

Every mission is a nerve-wracking dance between planning and improvisation. You might carefully line up a breach into a hostile den, only to have the plan thrown off by an unexpected enemy ability, forcing you to think three steps ahead under pressure. It’s the kind of game where one well-timed move can turn a hopeless battle into a flawless victory, and one mistake can cost you the mission.

We’ve made it so you can start playing without drowning in technical setup. Just register on our site, log in, and XCOM: Chimera Squad will be waiting for you — with easy instructions, even if you’re using a free steam account. You won’t waste time on tedious downloads or complicated configs; instead, you’ll be right in the middle of the action, making split-second calls that could save the city.

When the mission dust settles, your story doesn’t end. Share your experience — whether it’s the thrill of pulling off a perfect breach or the heartbreak of losing a favorite agent — and once your review is approved, we’ll send all your access details straight to your inbox.

Want to stay plugged into the latest? Our Telegram channel is your hub for fresh accounts, new patches, insider news, and heated community debates about tactics and strategies. And if you hit a wall or need a tip, our “How to play for free – Complete guide” and live chat support are there to keep you in the fight. After all, in Chimera Squad, every commander knows — you never win a war alone.