UFO: ET is a strategy turn based game. The player controls a squad of soldiers,light and heavy support combat vehicles, robots and air units located in a base on the planet Esperanza that had been colonized by the spaceship Magalhaes in the year 2023. This squad was brought together by the Esperanza government to face a threat that comes from deep space. In case the player succeeds in averting an alien impact on Esperanza,the story will continue on the planet Earth that had been subdued by alien forces.