hidden dock
I'm not a gamer gamer, but I do like strategy games, so here are my 2 cents.
I think I like the 3rd thumbnail the most, but the title feels a bit clunky. You already said it's a new game, so that doesn't add anything. Maybe something like "A Weird Blend of XCOM & Civilisation | Heart of the Machine"? Obviously you could also say an unconventional mix or whatever floats your boat. This might be the most intriguing for a broader audience.
I like the title of Pair 1, but don't really know what XCOM means, so I probably wouldn't click on the thumbnail. I could see this being more clickable for people who are deeper into the topic & know what XCOM is.
Pair 2 has too much text on the thumbnail and the title isn't really creating a curiosity gap for me.
I hope that helps 😊
twilit iron