Infinity vs XCOM The Miniatures Game: Sci-Fi Skirmish Compared

Quick answer

Choose Infinity if you want a deep, reactive skirmish ruleset where every model has a detailed profile and you enjoy list-building and hidden-information play. Choose XCOM: The Miniatures Game if you want a faster, scenario-driven tabletop adaptation of the video games that plays well with a small collection and less rules overhead. Neither is strictly better; they solve different evenings.

Infinity and XCOM: The Miniatures Game both put sci-fi squads on a table, but they ask different things of you. One rewards system mastery and deliberate order management; the other leans on scenario pressure and recognizable XCOM beats. This comparison uses the supplied catalog facts and the published scope of each game, and it flags where information is limited so you can judge the trade-off yourself.

If you are weighing Infinity vs XCOM The Miniatures Game for a first purchase, the deciding factors are usually model count, rules density, and how much hobby time you want between games. The sections below break those down, then give explicit best-for and not-for guidance.

Rules density and decision space

Infinity is built around orders, reactions, and a face-to-face roll system that keeps both players engaged during a turn. That produces a high decision ceiling, but it also means you will reference profiles and special skills often. XCOM: The Miniatures Game streamlines its rules to keep the focus on squad positioning and timed objectives, so a new player can be functional sooner.

The trade-off is straightforward: Infinity gives you more tactical texture per model, while XCOM gives you a faster path to a complete game. If your group enjoys learning a system together over several sessions, Infinity rewards that investment. If your group rotates games often, XCOM is easier to bring back to the table after a break.

• Count how many rules lookups your group tolerates per turn before choosing.
• If you already play a crunchy skirmish game, Infinity will feel like a natural next step.

Model count, scale, and collection size

Infinity is a true skirmish game, so you need a modest number of models to start, but each one carries a lot of rules weight. XCOM: The Miniatures Game is also squad-scale, and its boxed forces are designed to be playable without expanding immediately. In both cases, the practical limit is how many distinct profiles you want to track.

The supplied catalog does not list a starter contents breakdown for either game, so treat any claim about exact model counts as unverified. What the catalog does support is that Modiphius US carries both lines, which means you can compare the physical products side by side before committing.

• Start with one faction or one core box, then expand only after five games.
• Do not buy a second force until you have painted the first.

Hobby time and assembly expectations

Both games use multipart miniatures, so assembly and painting are part of the cost. The catalog facts for related Modiphius miniatures show a range of formats, from physical multipart kits to print-at-home STL sets, and that variety matters when you plan a project. If you want to test a paint scheme before committing to a full force, digital options can reduce risk.

For example, the Star Trek Adventures Print at Home range lets you print single characters or small teams at 32mm scale, with files pre-hollowed where possible. That is a different game line, but it demonstrates the kind of low-commitment entry point that can inform how you approach any skirmish project. If you prefer physical kits only, plan for more assembly evenings.

• Batch-paint a test model before assembling a full squad.
• If you lack a printer, skip print-at-home options and buy physical kits.

Scenario structure and campaign feel

XCOM: The Miniatures Game leans into mission objectives and escalating pressure, which mirrors the video games' rhythm of risk and extraction. Infinity supports scenario play too, but its core identity is the reactive order exchange, so the drama comes from the duel of activations rather than a scripted mission arc.

That difference shapes your campaign options. If you want linked missions with a strong narrative spine, XCOM's structure is easier to run out of the box. If you want to build your own scenarios around faction identities and hidden objectives, Infinity gives you more raw material to work with.

• Pick XCOM if your group meets irregularly and wants a self-contained mission.
• Pick Infinity if your group enjoys writing its own scenarios.

Trade-offs at a glance

• Rules depth vs. teaching speed: Infinity offers more reactive decision points per turn, but it takes longer to teach. XCOM: The Miniatures Game is quicker to get to the table, with less profile tracking. If your group learns together over several sessions, Infinity pays off; if you need a game night that starts fast, XCOM is safer.
• Collection size vs. hobby time: Both games are squad-scale, but multipart miniatures mean assembly and painting time. The supplied catalog does not list exact model counts for either game, so verify box contents before buying. Budget two to three evenings for assembly and priming before your first full game.
• Scenario identity vs. sandbox freedom: XCOM: The Miniatures Game is built around mission objectives that echo the video games. Infinity gives you a broader toolkit for custom scenarios and faction play. Choose XCOM for guided missions; choose Infinity if you want to design your own.

Catalog facts that affect your choice

• Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook: This core rulebook is priced at USD 25.00, with a catalog comparison price of USD 50.00, and it presents a post-nuclear setting where players shape a new civilization. If your group is deciding between sci-fi skirmish games and a sci-fi RPG, this shows the entry price for a full RPG can be lower than a miniatures force, which is a useful budget benchmark.
• Fallout: Miniatures - Cryptids - Snallygasters: This miniatures set is part of THE WILDS OF APPALACHIA wave for Fallout: Miniatures and is priced at USD 22.50, with a catalog comparison price of USD 45.00. It illustrates the typical cost of a themed miniatures set at Modiphius US, so you can compare that spend against an Infinity or XCOM starter before buying.
• Star Trek Adventures - Print at Home - Miniatures TNG Romulan Strike Team Set: This 3D print product lets you print 6 highly detailed, 32mm scale multipart miniatures of a TNG Romulan Strike Team, priced at USD 7.00 with a catalog comparison price of USD 14.00. It shows a low-cost way to add a full squad to a sci-fi miniatures collection, which is relevant if you want to test scale and painting before investing in a larger skirmish force.

Which should you buy?

Best for

• Players who want a deep, reactive skirmish system with hidden information and order management.
• Groups that enjoy list-building and are comfortable looking up rules during early games.
• Hobbyists who want a long-term project with room to expand a single faction.

Not for

• Players who want a fast, low-overhead game they can teach in one evening; XCOM: The Miniatures Game fits that better.
• Groups that prefer guided mission arcs over sandbox scenario design; XCOM's structure is more direct.
• Anyone who dislikes assembly and painting; both games require it, so consider a print-at-home or pre-assembled alternative only if the catalog supports it.

Infinity and XCOM: The Miniatures Game are both strong sci-fi skirmish options, but they reward different priorities. Pick Infinity for rules depth and long-term system mastery, and XCOM for faster, mission-driven games with less overhead. Check the exact box contents at Modiphius US before you buy, and start with one force.