Xenonauts 2 Cheats and Console Commands

Xenonauts 2 is a hardcore turn-based tactics game where every mission can end in a squad wipe if you are not careful with positioning, time units, and line of sight. For players who want to experiment with god-like soldiers, skip impossible missions, or remove the economic pressure of funding a global defense force, the game includes a hidden cheat mode activated through launch parameters. Once enabled, a full suite of Xenonauts 2 console commands becomes available through simple hotkeys. This guide covers every confirmed command, explains how to enable cheats on Steam and GOG, and includes the save file method for infinite money.

How to Enable Cheat Mode in Xenonauts 2

Before any Xenonauts 2 cheat codes will function, you must add a special launch parameter to the game executable. The process differs slightly depending on your platform.

Step-by-Step: Enabling Cheats on Steam

1. Open your Steam Library and locate Xenonauts 2.
2. Right-click the game title and select Properties.
3. In the General tab, find the Launch Options text box.
4. Type -cheatmode exactly as shown, including the hyphen.
5. Close the Properties window and launch the game.
6. Once in a tactical mission, the hotkey commands listed below will be active.

Step-by-Step: Enabling Cheats on GOG and Other Platforms

1. Locate the desktop shortcut for Xenonauts 2 or navigate to the installation folder.
2. Right-click the shortcut and select Properties.
3. In the Target field, add a space after the closing quotation mark of the file path.
4. Type -cheatmode and click OK.
5. Launch the game through this modified shortcut.

All Xenonauts 2 Console Commands and Hotkeys

The following Xenonauts 2 console commands work exclusively during tactical ground missions once cheat mode is enabled. Select a unit before pressing the key to ensure the effect applies to the correct soldier.

Hotkey	Effect	Notes
Ctrl + Alt + V	Auto-Win Mission	Instantly ends the current mission with a victory. All surviving aliens are counted as defeated.
Ctrl + Shift + M	Kill All Enemies	Eliminates every hostile unit on the tactical map in one command.
T	Replenish TU	Restores the selected soldier's Time Units to their maximum value for the current turn.
Shift + T	+1,000 TU	Grants 1,000 Time Units to the selected unit, allowing them to move across the entire map and fire repeatedly.
Y	Teleport to Cursor	Instantly moves the selected soldier to the tile under your mouse cursor.
K	Destroy at Cursor	Destroys or kills whatever is under your mouse cursor, including terrain, objects, or enemies.
U	Heal Soldier	Restores the selected soldier to full health. If used on a dead soldier, they will be resurrected and available for the next mission.
Shift + U	+1,000 HP	Grants 1,000 hit points to the selected unit. The soldier will appear fully healed and will not need infirmary time. Excess HP may persist in the base view.
R	Free Reload	Reloads the selected soldier's weapon without consuming any magazines from inventory.

Xenonauts 2 Money Cheat: Save File Editing

There is no in-game console command for funding, but you can edit your save file directly to gain infinite money. This works on all platforms and does not require enabling cheat mode.

Step-by-Step: Editing Save Files for Cash

1. Navigate to your save folder: C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents\My Games\Xenonauts 2\Saves.
2. Locate your desired save file and open it with any text editor such as Notepad or Notepad++.
3. Use Ctrl + F to search for your current money value.
4. Replace the number with your desired amount, for example 99999999.
5. Save the file and reload it in Xenonauts 2.
6. Your funding will reflect the new value immediately.

Important Note on Large Values

If you set a money value with 9 or more digits, the game may display it in exponential notation (for example, 9.915E+8). If you want to edit the value again later, search for the exponential format rather than the full integer.

How Each Cheat Changes Your Gameplay

Understanding the mechanics behind each Xenonauts 2 cheat command helps you decide which ones to use for your preferred experience.

Auto-Win and Mass Kill

Ctrl + Alt + V and Ctrl + Shift + M are the fastest ways to clear a mission. Auto-win is ideal when you are outmatched and want to preserve your squad, while mass kill lets you loot the battlefield without risking soldiers. Both commands bypass the mission report casualty list, meaning any soldiers who died before activation will still be counted as lost unless you healed them first.

Immortal Soldiers Combo

By combining Shift + U for 1,000 HP, U for full heals, T for infinite Time Units, and R for free reloads, you can create a single super-soldier capable of clearing an entire map in one turn. This is useful for farming soldier stats or testing weapon effectiveness against alien types.

Teleportation and Map Control

The Y key lets you reposition snipers on high ground instantly or extract wounded soldiers from the front line. Combined with Shift + T, you can scout the entire map in a single turn without triggering alien reaction fire.

Resurrection Mechanic

The U heal command has a hidden feature: if used on a soldier whose portrait shows zero HP, it will revive them for the next mission. They will not stand up during the current tactical phase, but the post-mission report will not list them as dead. This is a lifesaver for preserving veteran troops with high stats.

Best Cheat Strategies for Different Playstyles

Using Xenonauts 2 cheats strategically can turn a brutal campaign into a sandbox experiment.

Casual Story Run

1. Add -cheatmode to your launch options.
2. Use Ctrl + Alt + V on any mission where you are outnumbered or outgunned.
3. Edit your save file for infinite money to build bases and aircraft without funding stress.

Super-Soldier Experiment

1. Enter a tactical mission with a single soldier.
2. Press Shift + U and Shift + T to create a 1,000 HP, 1,000 TU super-unit.
3. Press R before every shot to maintain infinite ammo.
4. Use Y to teleport across the map and eliminate every alien personally.

Recovery After Squad Wipe

1. If a mission goes wrong, press U on every downed soldier before the last alien dies.
2. Use Ctrl + Alt + V to end the mission safely.
3. Check the base after the mission: resurrected soldiers will retain their stats and experience.

FAQ: Xenonauts 2 Cheats

Why are my cheat hotkeys not working?

The most common reason is that -cheatmode was not added correctly to the launch options. Double-check that the hyphen is included and that there are no extra spaces. Another possibility is that you are pressing the keys outside of a tactical ground mission; cheats do not function on the geoscape or in base management screens.

Do cheat codes disable achievements or progress?

No. Using Xenonauts 2 console commands does not lock you out of campaign progress, research, or any in-game systems. The game treats cheat mode as a sandbox tool rather than a flagged state.

Can I use cheat codes in the tutorial?

Cheat hotkeys function in any tactical mission, including the tutorial, as long as -cheatmode is active. However, auto-winning the tutorial may skip important mechanics explanations for new players.

Is there a cheat for infinite resources like Alloys and Alenium?

There is no built-in hotkey for resources. The only method is save file editing. Open your save in a text editor, search for your current alloy or alenium values, and modify them the same way you edit money. Note that changing production-related values can occasionally cause crashes, so make a backup before editing.

Do cheats affect the enemy AI?

Most hotkeys like T, U, and Y only affect your selected soldier. However, be cautious with third-party trainers that claim to modify Time Units globally, as some have been reported to grant aliens the same benefits, resulting in enemies firing endlessly.

Can I remove cheat mode after enabling it?

Yes. Simply remove -cheatmode from your Steam launch options or desktop shortcut target. The next time you launch the game, all hotkeys will be disabled and the campaign will play normally. Save files created with cheats active remain fully functional.

What is the best cheat for beginners?

New players struggling with the difficulty curve should start with Ctrl + Alt + V for auto-win on impossible missions, combined with save file money editing to remove the base-building funding bottleneck. This lets you learn mechanics without the punishing early-game economy.

Will resurrected soldiers keep their experience?

Yes. Soldiers revived with the U command retain all stats, experience, and ranks. They will be available for the next mission as if they had never died. The only caveat is that they must be healed before the mission ends; otherwise they still appear in the casualty report.

Can I use cheats to test weapons and armor?

Absolutely. The K destroy command and Shift + T infinite movement make Xenonauts 2 an excellent sandbox for testing weapon ranges, armor penetration values, and explosion radii without risking your campaign squad.

Conclusion

From instant mission victories with Ctrl + Alt + V to immortal super-soldiers built through Shift + U and Shift + T, Xenonauts 2 cheats and console commands transform the game from a brutal survival simulator into a tactical sandbox. Whether you are recovering from a squad wipe, testing new gear, or simply tired of losing funding, enabling -cheatmode puts total control in your hands. Remember to add the launch parameter correctly, select your unit before pressing hotkeys, and always back up save files before editing money or resources. Now activate cheat mode and show the aliens who really owns the planet.