History VideoGame / Xenonauts

* BreakOutTheMuseumPiece: Despite it being the early 21st century, the Xenonauts are still using upgraded MiG-25s. Justified since its revealed that most modern aircraft and weapons prove to be ineffective against the aliens, as well as the Xenonauts being short on resources and having to cut costs wherever possible.

* CoolPlane: The two current planes that the Xenonauts can operate in the second game are the old but heavily upgraded X-25 Angel (a variant of the MiG 25 whose older systems prove more resistant to alien EMP weaponry) and the X-55 Phantom, which is a heavily upgraded F-22 Raptor like craft.

* CoolPlane: The two current planes that the Xenonauts can operate in the second game are the old but heavily upgraded X-25 Angel (a variant of the MiG-25 whose older systems prove more resistant to alien EMP weaponry) and the X-55 Phantom, which is a heavily upgraded F-22 Raptor like craft.

* EarlyGameHell: Early game can be quite hard even having 9 soldiers for each mission.

* {{Expy}}: The Cleaners are reminiscent of [[VideoGame/XComEnemyUnknown EXALT]] in their role as LesCollaborateurs, while their covert MO calls to mind [[VideoGame/MetalGear XOF/Cipher]].

* MutuallyAssuredDestruction: What the aliens aim to bring about, with the expectation that humanity would be too busy panicking about the AlienInvasion and pointing blame that the Americans and Soviets will nuke each other amidst the chaos. [[spoiler:The Eternals also hope to bring this about as it would make settling this version of Earth much easier.]]

''Xenonauts 2'' finally left Steam's Early Access [[[https://store.steampowered.com/app/538030/Xenonauts_2/ on July 18, 2023]].

Goldhawk have stated that there are [[http://www.pcgamesn.com/the-chances-of-xenonauts-2-happening-are-better-than-even-say-goldhawk-interactive better than even chances of a sequel happening.]] On 4th February 2016, ''Xenonauts 2'' was confirmed to be underway, [[https://twitter.com/GoldhawkInt/status/694936227636711424 aiming for a 2017 release]] but later [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/538030/Xenonauts_2/ delayed to 2023]].

* RubberForeheadAliens: Your scientists quickly note how oddly similar the aliens are to Earth life. [[spoiler:Justified; the aliens' homeworlds are actually all dimensional forks of Earth, so they are actually sentient species from the same tree of life that produced humans, just grown differently - it makes sense that convergent evolution produces similar bipedal structures, as those Earths have similar enough environs to the Xenonauts'.]]

* MultiversalConquerer: [[spoiler:The alien empire is actually a collection of alternate Earths that developed life useful to the dimension-traveling Eternals.]]
* MutuallyAssuredDestruction: What the enemy also hopes to bring about, with the expectation that humanity would be too busy panicking about the AlienInvasion and pointing blame that the Americans and Soviets will nuke each other amidst the chaos.

* RubberForeheadAlien: Your scientists quickly note how oddly similar the aliens are to Earth life. [[spoiler:Justified; the aliens' homeworlds are actually all dimensional forks of Earth, so they are actually sentient species from the same tree of life that produced humans, just grown differently - it makes sense that convergent evolution produces similar bipedal structures, as those Earths have similar enough environs to the Xenonauts'.]]

* {{Ultraterrestrials}}: [[spoiler:The aliens are actually inhabitants of alternate versions of Earth, conquered and put to work by the Eternals, who are themselves inhabitants of a different Earth..]]

* TheMenInBlack: When not donning military gear or hazmat suits, the Cleaners are usually shown with nondescript business=wear.

* {{Unobtainium}}: Played straight then subverted. Alien alloy and elerium are needed to make higher-tier equipment but you can only get them from the aliens. However, later on you can research methods to synthesize these material yourself. However, while it is possible to make them yourself, they are still very expensive and slow to manufacture manually.

* {{Expy}}: The Cleaners are reminiscent of [[VideoGame/XComEnemyUnknown EXALT]] in their role as LesCollaborateurs, while their covert MO calls to mind [[VideoGame/MetalGear XOF/Cipher]].