Invasion from an alien perspective: Strategy-shooter hybrid for $2 in Steam Sale – 3,800 reviews, 91% positive

At the heart of X-Morph: Defense is a classic alien invasion. The X-Morphs descend on Earth to harvest its resources, deploying massive extractors around the globe as the first step toward total domination. Humanity, of course, fights back with everything it has. The twist? Players aren’t defending the planet – they’re leading the invasion.

X-Morph: Defense combines fast-paced twin-stick shooting with strategic tower-defense gameplay. The objective is to protect alien extractors from relentless waves of human forces. Enemy routes are clearly marked but can be altered by placing laser barriers or demolishing buildings, forcing units onto longer paths and giving you more time to thin them out. Along these routes, players can deploy turrets such as lasers and artillery to deliver constant damage. Careful planning from the start makes each mission far more manageable.

Players also pilot an alien fighter ship with two distinct modes. In Ghost mode, the ship becomes invisible, moves quickly and lets you place defenses. Combat mode, on the other hand, throws you straight into the action. There are four different ships to choose from, each equipped with unique weapons and special abilities – from rapid plasma fire to devastating laser beams. The game employs classic twin-stick controls: one stick to maneuver the ship across the battlefield, the other to aim and shoot. Epic boss battles against massive mechs and tanks add an extra layer of intensity.

In its review, German gaming outlet 4Players praised X-Morph: Defense for its seamless genre fusion, calling it a fresh and engaging experience. The editors highlighted the intuitive planning tools, dynamic map design and precise controls, noting that the game runs smoothly with both a gamepad and mouse-and-keyboard setup. Criticism focused on the limited variety of defense towers, a shallow upgrade system and an occasionally uneven difficulty curve. According to the review, unpredictable spikes in challenge between missions can be frustrating. Even so, 4Players awarded the game a strong 8.5 out of 10.

On Metacritic, X-Morph: Defense holds a Metascore of 75 and a user score of 7.9. Reception on Steam has been even more positive, with roughly 3,800 reviews resulting in a 91% approval rating. The game is rated “Playable” on the Steam Deck (available for around $480 on Amazon) and should run smoothly on the go with only minor adjustments.

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