The Bureau: XCOM Declassified

Released

Release Date: August 20, 2013

Action, TPP, Science Fiction, Tactics, TPS, 60s and 70s, Singleplayer

Tactical third-person shooter (TPS) that came out as a spin-off to the XCOM strategy series. The game was developed by 2K Marin, best known for making BioShock 2. The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is set in 1960s, showing the early stages of the war between XCOM and aliens who invaded the Earth. The main hero – agent William Carter – gets sent to places where aliens have been spotted in order to wipe out the invaders.

7.0

Steam

7.6

Users

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[3:36] Graphics comparison Xbox 360 vs PS3

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The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is a bit different look at the popular franchise of strategy games, where players would command an elite alien-fighting squad. This time we get a third-person tactical shooter. This way the developers tried to move the player from a chair of an omniscient commander in the shoes of a single soldier. The game was developed by game 2K Marin Studio, who also created Bioshock 2.

The story offers a look at the origins of XCOM organization that originally was called The Bureau. It was set up by the U.S. government in 1962, when the whole world trembled in fear of an outbreak of a nuclear war. The main task of the XCOM prototype was to protect the citizens of the USA from harmful information coming from the Soviet Union. This objective changed when an extraterrestrial civilization has become the number one threat.

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The main enemy of XCOM, and of the whole humanity, is an alien race called Zudjari. To survive, they feed on different planets - finally, their attention was caught by the Earth. Since Zudjari are close to extinction, they use an enslaved alien race, known from XCOM: Enemy Unknown, to fight with humans, however, they themselves also appear on the battlefield as elite units.

Player tries to rescue the humanity as William Carter, who personally leads a three-person team into action. His mission is to reach the places where enemy has been spotted and get rid of the threat by means of force. Although the gameplay mostly consists of shooting aliens, it is important to choose the right tactics. Helpful in this is the third person perspective, a command system, and environmental covers. It is always worth looking out for advanced alien weapons, which can be easily used against their former owners. Usually, the effects such guns have are far different from human weapons and provide invaluable help in battle.

Before going on a mission, you get to choose two team members from characters divided into four classes: the Recon focuses on dealing damage, the Engineer takes care of combat equipment (such as turrets or mines), the Support improves his teammates’ defensive statistics , and the Commando draws the enemy attention to himself. While in combat, you can slow down time and give your companions detailed orders regarding movement, attack, or use of special abilities. It is important to remember that the virtual companions are not immortal. When they get knocked down, you have to help them quickly, otherwise they will die permanently. This is a painful loss, because the team members gain experience levels along with new abilities.

After each mission, you go back to the XCOM headquarters. There you can talk to the staff and choose missions you want to head on. Operations are divided into story-based, minor missions, and dispatch missions performed by your team members. During main missions there are situations when Carter must decide of someone's fate or make other difficult choices.

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified runs on Unreal Engine 3.0. A lot features characteristic of the 60s of last century are visible in the background, while contrasting with science fiction elements.

Contrary to popular trends, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified focuses entirely on the single player, and does not offer any form of multiplayer or co-op play.

Platforms:

PC Windows

Xbox 360

PlayStation 3

Developer: 2K Marin

Publisher: 2K Games

Similar Games:

Call of Duty: World at War

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas

Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway

Game Series

14GAMES

XCOM Game Series

Tactical science-fiction strategies. The brand was created by Mythos Games and MicroProse studios. Currently the IP belongs to Take-Two Interactive and is developed by subordinate studios (including Firaxis Games, 2K Marin and Irrational Games).

XCOM Game Series

Features

Guide

Last update: August 27, 2013

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Game Guide & Walkthrough

A guide to The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is a complete solution, which contains a description of all major and operation missions including localization of all collectibles.

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Game Guide & Walkthrough

Downloads

Top downloads for The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Video Game:

All Downloads

System Requirements

System Requirements for The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Video Game:

PC / Windows

Recommended System Requirements:
Core i5 2.8 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB (GeForce GTX 560 or better), 12 GB HDD, Windows Vista/7.

Add-Ons and DLCs

List of Game Add-Ons and DLCs for Video Game:

DLC Hangar 6 R&D November 19, 2013
DLC Light Plasma Pistol October 15, 2013
DLC Code Breakers October 15, 2013

Ratings

Game Ratings for The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Video Game.

70%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Mostly Positive (11,927)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Unique Setting and Atmosphere: The game effectively captures the Cold War era ambiance, with a strong aesthetic that includes period-specific details, contributing to an immersive experience.
Tactical Elements: The game incorporates tactical gameplay mechanics, allowing players to issue commands to AI companions, which can lead to satisfying combat scenarios once characters are leveled up.
Interesting Story Premise: Many players appreciated the narrative's ambition, exploring themes of alien invasion and human resilience, even if the execution was flawed.
Gameplay Variety: The inclusion of different classes and abilities for squad members adds some tactical depth to combat, especially in the later stages of the game.

The main cons of the game

AI Issues: The AI for both allies and enemies has been criticized for being inconsistent and often underwhelming, making some encounters frustrating rather than engaging.
Repetitive Gameplay: Many players noted that missions can become monotonous, with a lack of variety in enemy types and combat scenarios leading to a stale gameplay loop.
Weak Character Development: The main character and supporting cast are often seen as underdeveloped, leading to a lack of emotional investment in the story.
Technical Problems: There are numerous reports of crashes, particularly on modern systems, and issues with performance that detract from the overall experience.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Depth of Strategy: Many players felt that the game lacked the strategic depth and emergent storytelling that is characteristic of the mainline XCOM games, missing features like base management and research.
Enhanced AI and Tactical Mechanics: Users expressed a desire for more refined AI behavior and a better tactical system that would allow for more strategic control during combat, such as a pause feature for issuing commands.
Character Customization and Development: The absence of meaningful character progression and customization options, which are hallmarks of the main XCOM games, was noted as a significant shortfall.
Replayability: The game lacks features like randomly generated missions or a new game plus mode, which could have added to its longevity and replay value.

Summary

Overall, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is seen as a flawed but intriguing attempt to blend tactical gameplay with a third-person shooter format, set in a rich narrative environment. However, it struggles with execution in several key areas, leading to mixed reviews from players.

Summary generated on: October 28, 2025

7.6

USERS Score

Average score from votes.

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