Play OpenXcom Online | X-COM in Your Browser

3 min read Original article ↗

// BROWSER EDITION

MicroProse's 1994 masterpiece X-COM: UFO Defense, lovingly rebuilt for the modern era by the OpenXcom community, now running natively in your browser. No downloads. No installs. Just pure tactical alien combat 👽

PLAY NOW

HOW IT WORKS

🌐

Runs in your browser, even offline

Compiled to WebAssembly. No plugins, no install. Works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. Cached locally after first visit for full offline play.

🔒

Your data stays local

Game files live in your browser's IndexedDB. Nothing is uploaded to any server. Your data and saves never leave your machine. You are in full control.

💾

Persistent saves

Save your game and come back later. Progress persists across browser sessions. Export and import .sav files to move games between devices.

GETTING STARTED

  1. Get the game data. You need a legitimate copy of X-COM: UFO Defense. It's available on Steam or GOG for under $2. Upload your files once and play forever.
  2. Click "Play Now" and upload your XCOM data folder when prompted. Common locations (yours may vary):

    Steam
    Windows: C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\XCom UFO Defense\XCOM\
    macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common/XCom UFO Defense/XCOM/
    Linux: ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/XCom UFO Defense/XCOM/

    GOG
    Windows: C:\GOG Games\X-COM UFO Defense\
    Or check GOG Galaxy → game properties → installation folder

  3. Play! Your data is cached in the browser. You only need to upload once.
  4. Manage your data. Once in-game, look for the gear icon (⚙) in the top-right corner. From there you can export your saves as a .zip backup, import saves from another session or device, or reset all stored data to start fresh.

GET THE GAME DATA

X-COM: UFO Defense is available for just a few dollars from these stores:

Already own a copy? You can use data files from Steam, GOG, a CD, or any other legitimate source. Look for the folder containing subfolders like GEODATA, GEOGRAPH, MAPS, SOUND, etc. The OpenXcom project may also support demo data for a limited experience. See the OpenXcom wiki for details.

CREDITS

This project would not exist without the incredible work of the OpenXcom team. OpenXcom is an open-source reimplementation of the original X-COM game engine, built with love by a dedicated community of developers and X-COM fans since 2010.

The Browser Edition is a WebAssembly port of OpenXcom, bringing their work to the web so anyone can play in a browser tab. All credit for the engine, game logic, UI, mod support, and countless improvements goes to the OpenXcom contributors.

X-COM: UFO Defense was created by Julian Gollop and Mythos Games, published by MicroProse. All game assets and trademarks belong to their respective owners.

FAQ

  • Is this legal? Yes. OpenXcom is open-source (GPL v3). You provide your own legally-purchased game data. No copyrighted assets are distributed by this site.
  • Where is my data stored? Everything stays in your browser's local IndexedDB storage. No data is sent to any server. Clearing your browser data will remove it.
  • Can I transfer saves between devices? Yes! Use the gear menu (top-right corner) during gameplay to export saves as a .zip file. Import them on another device using the same menu.
  • Does it work on mobile? The engine runs, but X-COM was designed for mouse input. A desktop or laptop browser is recommended for the best experience.