Star Wars Zero Company, developed by Bit Reactor for Electronic Arts, has drawn comparisons to XCOM so consistently that players have nicknamed it 'ZCOM,' according to PC Gamer. The game is a turn-based tactics title set in the Clone Wars era, where players lead a customizable player character named Hawks alongside a squad of companions including Clone Trooper Trick, Mandalorian Cly Kullervo, baroness Jae Mordant, and Jedi Padawan Tel-Rea, as described by Polygon.
PC Gamer highlighted a gameplay option worth knowing about: the default radial ability menu, which spreads a character's actions out in a circle, can be swapped for a more traditional linear layout via the Gameplay section of the options menu, under Ability Selection Style. There's also a Hybrid option for players who want elements of both. According to PC Gamer, the Linear setting felt better when playing with a mouse and keyboard, since it avoids the back-and-forth of panning between an enemy and the radial menu.
Polygon's coverage focused on a mid-game mission featuring Anakin Skywalker, who joins Hawks and another ally after a prisoner transfer between the Republic and Separatists goes wrong. Unlike the Padawan Tel-Rea, whose lightsaber and deflection abilities are limited by the game's three Action Points per turn system, Anakin is depicted as far more powerful, able to one-shot enemies, reliably deflect blaster fire, and use a lightsaber throw attack unrestricted by distance. Polygon noted that this brief but effective sequence made the game feel much easier for its duration, and argued that keeping Tel-Rea comparatively weaker as a still-learning Padawan was a deliberate design choice that preserves the challenge and stakes of the game's permadeath system.
GamesRadar+ described Zero Company as appealing both to turn-based strategy fans and to those seeking a cinematic Star Wars story, comparing it to XCOM and Fire Emblem. The outlet said the game balances managing squad members, facilities, resources, and relationships between missions, and praised Bit Reactor for making the mechanics approachable for newcomers while still offering depth for experienced strategy players. GamesRadar+ estimated the full adventure could take around 40 hours to complete, depending on how thoroughly players approach missions.
GamesRadar+ also noted design flexibility around difficulty and risk: permadeath is on by default but can be toggled off, and an optional Iron Man mode restricts saves for a tougher experience. The outlet pointed to an early encounter with cultists of the Infinite Coil as a standout, more difficult moment compared to earlier fights against droids and gangsters. Citing its own prior review, GamesRadar+ said the game 'might not reinvent the format' but called it 'a rare treat to see the tactics genre given this kind of big-budget treatment,' adding that Bit Reactor succeeded in appealing to both casual strategy fans and XCOM veterans by prioritizing its original story.
Star Wars Zero Company is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the EA app, according to GamesRadar+.