Having originally launched in 2019, Phoenix Point made a name for itself in several different ways. We'll talk about these in due time, but the important bit right this instant is that they're, generally, unimportant now that Phoenix Point's final update is released. Indeed, the game's long-tailed production is now fully wrapped up, and the turn-based, tactical combat, acclaimed strategy game genre is one game richer at this point in time. As well as the Phoenix Project having saved the human race from alien threat!

Phoenix Point was effectively kickstarted thanks to the fact that it was produced by Jullian Gollop, the founder of Snapshot Games, and the original designer of 1994's X-Com. And whereas Firaxis' take on this franchise's legacy went into one direction, Gollop's project held steady. In more ways than not, this is a modernization of the 1994 title. In fact, one could claim that it's closer to the original X-Com than modern XCOM could ever hope to be, just rethinking combat with an action point system and the ability to free aim.

Whereas Firaxis felt that XCOM needed to streamlined and simplified, in a way, Gollop decided to go the other way. Phoenix Point is, therefore, complex and micromanagementy like few other games dare to be. This, we believe, is one of its strengths. It won't be for everyone, however. This article is, therefore, a bit of a victory lap for the game. If you haven't yet had the chance to play Phoenix Point on PC and are interested in doing so, this is the featurette for you.

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What's in the Final Update of Phoenix Point?

The so-called "Hastur" content update represents the very pinnacle of everything the Phoenix Project and Phoenix Point stand for. It is the final iteration of the game and, though it doesn't actually perfect much of anything, it certainly brings out the game's immense potential in the best way possible.

There are two key features to Phoenix Point: Hastur, aside from all the bugfixing and optimizations. The first is, obviously, its introduction of the venerable Steam Workshop to the mix. Indeed, modders can now take things into their own hands and turn the game into anything they want. We expect that there'll be a wealth of options to choose from in just a few weeks' time, as the selection of tools is already remarkably promising, mere days after Hastur had come out.

The second feature, on the other hand, is the bundling of content. Whereas there used to be a variety of platform-exclusive goodies available in Phoenix Point, those are now available across the board. Character skins and customizations for the venerable Pheonix Project are interesting for sure, but DLCs are the big, crucial get.

Phoenix Point: Complete Edition Content Summary

To go into a bit more detail on what "Complete Edition" entails, there were six major expansion packs released for Phoenix Point:

• Kaos Engines
• Corrupted Horizons
• Festering Skies
• Legacy of the Ancients
• Blood and Titanium
• Living Weapons

These add a veritable wealth of new content to an already impressively content-heavy game. Festering Skies, for example, introduces an entirely new sub-faction of the main alien threat with a mobile organic titan that the faction uses to harrass your own forces.

Note that, while Complete Edition does include all of these goodies by default, owners of the baseline Phoenix Point can also purchase the three big DLCs as additional extras. Specifically, Kaos Engines, Festering Skies, and Corrupted Horizons. The remainder is available at no additional charge for all owners of any edition of Phoenix Point.

5 Key Reasons to Give Phoenix Point a Shot

Now, if you're even remotely interested in turn-based strategy games, odds are good that Snapshot Games Phoenix Point was already on your docket. Well, we'd like to make an argument for you to push it to the very top of your backlog, because boy does this game hit hard. Now, make no mistake - this is not an AAA production. Depending on your definition of the term, it's either an AA or an indie title, and it shows.

Namely, it's nowhere near as polished as, say, XCOM 2. There's a slight bit of jank to how it plays, but much as is the case with most Eurojank titles, this arguably works in Phoenix's favor. There's a character to this game, really. A backbone that adds that special zest to the experience. And, true enough, it's about as far from perfect as an average game can get, but it's going to stick with you. Especially if you start looking into the game's admittedly solid lore.

#5: It's a Veritable XCOM Competitor

Think about it: when was the last time we got a fully fledged XCOM competitor? Xenonauts 2, for one, is still in stealthy production with no release date in mind, and the niche has been all but entirely devoid of anything resembling its flagship example. So, if you're yearning for something like X-Com and don't mind a bit of jankiness to the experience, Phoenix Point is pretty much as good as it gets in 2022. That's not a knock against it, mind. We quite love what Gollop and his team accomplished with this project!

#4: Paradise for Micromanagers

Phoenix Point rolled back a number of things Firaxis streamlined with its own XCOM titles. Make no mistake here: Pheonix takes its systems and mechanics very seriously. This then ends up leading to situations where it really is easy to get overwhelmed with stats, numbers, and options. This, however, is by design. In this game, you cannot win on every front. Losses are part of the experience, and the game's strategic layer is incredibly deep and engaging to keep players coming back for more. The aiming system alone, for one, technically doesn't add anything revolutionary to the formula. It sure is fun, however, and serves as a solid representation of what to expect elsewhere.

#3: Fascinating New Twists of the Classic X-Com Formula

This builds on the previous section, really. By opening up the game for truly impressive amounts of micromanagement, Gollop effectively mutated the X-Com core into something new. There's just a wealth of fiddling to enjoy wherever you turn, and such an array of options necessitated new developments. Vehicles, faction relations, social standing, and even religion all come into play in Phoenix Point. To say nothing of the actual mutant threat, which actually changes and evolves as time goes on.

#2: Ridiculous Amount of Content

Look, Phoenix Point is a massive, chunky game. There's no other way to put it. It takes roughly 35 hours for players to rush through the game, and over 120 hours for an average completionist to get it all done. You're constantly developing new technologies, mixing and matching old ones, maintaining relations with various survivor factions, putting out fires, and dealing with behemoth boss encounters. It's quite simple: if you're in need of a game to keep you busy for weeks or even months on end, this is the ticket.

#1: Steam Workshop Support

Finally, the crux of the topic is the Steam Workshop. Albeit moddable, XCOM 2 isn't the world's most customizable game, to say the least. This is due to the way Pheonix Point is developed, and thanks to Unreal Engine 4's notably closed-down inner workings. With Pheonix Point, the developers are effectively opening the game's guts up for the community to tinker with. Already, there are tools available for entirely new campaigns, progression systems, and more, and though it may take a while before anything revolutionary comes of it, it's just a matter of time before the community begins to pick up the pieces.

What's Next for Phoenix Point?

So, it should be clear by now that there doesn't actually seem to be a next step for Snapshot Games Phoenix Point. After years of production, it's done - a complete package. Those who are looking for a live service title needn't apply, that's for sure! However, there is a very prominent, very promising flip side to this development: modding.

With the Steam Workshop now ready to go, Phoenix Point has more room to grow than ever before. Sure, its official production is good and done, but that just means the modders don't need to worry about hotfixes and future updates. The game is now in the community's hands. It's been proven time and again that, sometimes, this really is the best way to go about things.

Besides, not everyone's in the market for an ever-evolving, permanently changing title. Phoenix Point is a lovely foil to Firaxis' XCOM games. It is also their only true competitor. Really, this game is closer to classic X-Com than Firaxis' recent outings have been, and that's a very important niche to cover.

Remember, only the Phoenix Project can repel the alien invasion and save humankind. Good luck!

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