Star Wars: Zero Company Review – XCOM With Lightsabers Is a Sweet Deal

Ever dreamed of commanding a squad of Rebel commandos in a tactical firefight, only to have a TIE fighter strafing run ruin your perfect flanking maneuver? If so, Star Wars: Zero Company is about to become your new obsession. It’s exactly what it sounds like: XCOM, but set in a galaxy far, far away.

From the moment you drop into your first mission, the familiarity is comforting. You’ve got your grid-based movement, your cover system, your overwatch traps, and your percentage-based shots that will inevitably miss when you need them most. But here’s the kicker—it’s all wrapped in the iconic Star Wars aesthetic. Blasters hiss, lightsabers hum, and the Force crackles with potential.

Zero Company doesn’t try to reinvent the tactics wheel, and honestly, it doesn’t need to. The core loop is solid: plan your approach, execute with precision, and pray to the RNG gods that your sniper doesn’t choke. What it does add is a layer of Star Wars flavor that makes every encounter feel like a scene from the films. You’ll be suppressing Stormtroopers with heavy blaster fire, then sending in a Jedi to deflect bolts and slice through the opposition.

The campaign throws you into a series of missions that escalate in difficulty and stakes. You’ll recruit a roster of unique characters, each with their own abilities and backstories, and you’ll grow attached to them—right up until a critical hit takes one out permanently. The permadeath is real, and it stings. But that’s part of the charm, isn’t it? The tension of losing a veteran trooper or a promising Padawan keeps every decision weighty.

Visually, the game nails the gritty, lived-in look of the original trilogy. Think muddy trenches, dimly lit corridors, and the occasional sweeping vista of a desert planet. The sound design is top-notch too, with blaster fire that cracks and hums, and the iconic John Williams score woven into the background. It’s a treat for the ears and eyes.

If you’re a tactics fan who’s ever wished your XCOM squad could wield the Force, this is a no-brainer. It’s not going to change the genre, but it doesn’t have to. It’s a polished, faithful take on a beloved formula, and it respects both its inspirations and its source material. The missions are varied, the difficulty curve is fair (if unforgiving at times), and the Star Wars dressing is never just a skin—it’s integrated into the mechanics, from Force powers to droid companions.

There are minor gripes, of course. The camera can be finicky in tight spaces, and the AI occasionally does something dumb. But these are small blemishes on an otherwise great experience. If you’re looking for a tactical fix with a side of nostalgia, Star Wars: Zero Company is well worth your credits.

So, will you be assembling your squad and taking on the Empire? Or are you still nursing your wounds from that last permadeath? Let us know in the comments below—the Force is strong with this one.