About
OpenXcom is an open-source reimplementation of X-COM: UFO Defense, the 1994 turn-based tactics and strategic base-management game that became one of the most influential strategy games ever made. Players manage XCOM, a multinational organization defending Earth from an alien invasion, alternating between strategic base management (research, manufacturing, base defense, Skyranger intercept missions) and squad-level tactical combat in destructible tile-based environments. OpenXcom rebuilds the engine from scratch to run on modern hardware while remaining fully compatible with the original game data. It also supports X-COM: Terror from the Deep. The OpenXcom Extended (OXCE) fork extends the engine further with modding infrastructure and gameplay options.
Identity
Launch
- Binary
- openxcom
- Needs files
-
- X-COM: UFO Defense game files (cheap on GOG or Steam as 'X-COM: Enemy Unknown')
Runtime
- Runs as
- Native Linux
- Proton
- not needed
⚙ Setup notes
Engine: OpenXcom is an open-source reimplementation of the original X-COM: UFO Defense (known in Europe as UFO: Enemy Unknown), the 1994 turn-based tactics and base management classic developed by Mythos Games and published by MicroProse. The project was founded by SupSuper and has been in active community development since 2011.
Proton: No Proton layer is involved — this is a fully native Linux binary. Native Linux builds are available from openxcom.org/downloads/; for the Deck the easiest path is the Linux AppImage from openxcom.org/git-builds/ — mark it executable (right-click → Properties → Permissions → Is executable) and run it. The executable is named openxcom.
Data files: OpenXcom requires the X-COM: UFO Defense data files, which are available very cheaply on GOG (sold under the name 'X-COM: Enemy Unknown') and also on Steam. On Deck, GOG via Heroic Games Launcher is the recommended purchase and download path.
Install: After downloading OpenXcom, copy your vanilla X-COM data subfolders (GEODATA, GEOGRAPH, MAPS, ROUTES, SOUND, TERRAIN, UFOGRAPH, UFOINTRO, UNITS) into a UFO subfolder inside OpenXcom's data or user directory, then launch. Use unmodified data — XcomUtil/modded copies can cause crashes. OpenXcom also supports X-COM: Terror from the Deep: copy its data into a TFTD subfolder using the same process.
OXCE: A popular fork called OpenXcom Extended (OXCE) adds significant additional features: expanded modding support, extended gameplay options, new tactical AI behaviors, many quality-of-life improvements, and a broader base of mods. OXCE is available at openxcom.org/forum and is worth considering as the primary install over base OpenXcom for most players.
Controller: Add as a non-Steam shortcut to access from Game Mode.
The one thing to know
Supply your own copy: Requires X-COM: UFO Defense data files — GOG sells it cheaply as 'X-COM: Enemy Unknown'; use Heroic Games Launcher on Deck to download from GOG. Also supports Terror from the Deep data files for the TFTD campaign.
OXCE: Consider OpenXcom Extended (OXCE) over base OpenXcom — it has more features and the same compatibility.
Controller: OpenXcom uses a mouse-driven UI; set up a Steam Input gamepad layout with right trackpad as mouse for comfortable play.
Community guides
Write-ups and threads from people who got this (or a similar) game running. deckport links to them — it doesn't reproduce them.
Get the artwork
deckport never hosts game images. Open this game on SteamGridDB, pick
the cover / hero / logo / icon you like, and drop them into the
game folder under .deckport-art/ before you push it to the
Deck. The importer files them under the right names automatically.
Run it on your Deck
Two files: the one-time importer (deckport.py) in your
Deck's home folder, and this game's install helper. Copy the game
into ~/Games and run the helper with Steam closed — it
writes the recipe (binary, launch options)
and registers the shortcut with artwork.