# XCOM® vs Total War

The clearest difference is price: XCOM® at $4.99 against Total War's $14.99. XCOM® also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). Total War's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (77% vs 62%). On ratings volume, ads, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

XCOM® costs $4.99 and Total War $14.99 up front. Total War sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. XCOM® asks for nothing beyond the download.

Total War holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.6K and 7.4K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of XCOM®'s written reviews are positive against 77% of Total War's.

XCOM® ships an update monthly, Total War every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | XCOM® | Total War |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$4.99** | $14.99 |
| Rating | [4.3 (5.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xcom-enemy-within/id881270303/reviews) | **[4.9 (7.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/total-war-medieval-ii/id1477203766/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5.6K | **7.4K** |
| Positive reviews | 61.9% of reviews | **77.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | #84 | **#62** |
| Size | 3.3 GB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [2K](https://appshunter.io/developer/324563547) | [Feral Interactive Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/402470125) |

## What reviewers say

### XCOM®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xcom-enemy-within/id881270303)

**Currently charting:** #84 Top Paid · Strategy, #86 Top Paid · Action (US App Store)

This is a standalone expansion to a critically acclaimed strategy game, offering new soldiers, abilities, enemies, maps, and a multiplayer mode. Players can upgrade their soldiers with genetic modifications and cybersuits, research new weapons, and counter new alien threats.

**Highlights:** New soldier abilities (genetics & cybersuits), New weapons and equipment, New enemy types and organization, New strategic resource (Meld), New story missions, New multiplayer maps, units, and abilities

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent port of the PC game
- 👍 Great gameplay and strategy
- 💎 Addictive and replayable
- 🎮 Faithful to the XCOM franchise
- 🔝 Best strategy game on iOS

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Difficult to control on small screens
- 🔋 Battery draining
- 🗺️ Limited map selection compared to PC
- 🔇 Sound issues and lack of audio options

**Reported bugs**

- Tutorial getting stuck
- Crashes when returning to base
- Inability to move soldiers to elevated positions
- Unresponsive menus and UI
- Progression-blocking bugs

**Requested features**

- Controller support
- Improved camera controls
- Full screen support for newer devices
- Update to fix compatibility issues
- More customization options


### Total War

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/total-war-medieval-ii/id1477203766)

**Currently charting:** #62 Top Paid · Strategy (US App Store)

Experience grand strategy and massive real-time battles set in the Middle Ages. Lead one of 17 playable factions to conquer continents through diplomacy, trade, or warfare. An expansion adds more factions and campaigns across diverse regions.

**Highlights:** Massive real-time battles, Intricate turn-based strategy, 17 playable factions, Diplomacy, trade, and subterfuge, Kingdoms expansion with new campaigns, Asynchronous multiplayer campaigns

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kingdoms Expansion | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best Total War Game
- 👍 Wonderful game!
- 👍 Creative Assembly's Masterpiece Goes Mobile
- 👍 Top tier mobile game
- 👍 Brilliant game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes every other battle on IPad Pro
- 🐛 Glitchy
- 🐛 Crashes often
- 🐛 Naw it needs mad fixing
- 🐛 Troop placement bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes every other battle on IPad Pro
- Glitchy
- Crashes often
- Naw it needs mad fixing
- Troop placement bugs

**Requested features**

- Bring back titles
- New Feature : Civil War
- DLC
- Expansion
- Need more units


## Frequently asked questions

### Is XCOM® free?

XCOM® costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Total War free?

Total War costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, XCOM® or Total War?

Total War is rated higher. XCOM® averages 4.3 out of 5 from 5.6K ratings, while Total War averages 4.9 from 7.4K ratings.

### Do XCOM® or Total War have ads?

Neither XCOM® nor Total War shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, XCOM® or Total War?

XCOM® ships an update monthly, and Total War every 2 months. Most recently, XCOM® was updated on October 27, 2026 and Total War on October 27, 2026.

### Which is more popular, XCOM® or Total War?

XCOM® currently peaks at #84 in the App Store charts, and Total War at #62. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*