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XCOM 2

XCOM 2 is more tense and thrilling than a turn-based strategy has any right to be. There are some great additions to the original gameplay, but the port to console is an imperfect one.
XCOM 2 Game Cover
84%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
optimization, stability
85% User Score Based on 59,932 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

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XCOM 2 Game Cover

About

XCOM 2 is a single player and multiplayer tactical role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Firaxis Games and was released on February 4, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

In XCOM 2, players lead the resistance against an alien occupation on Earth, commanding a force of soldiers in turn-based combat missions. The game features strategy layers including base building, research, and global tactics to manage, with procedurally generated levels ensuring unique challenges. As the commander of XCOM, players must make difficult decisions and plan carefully to make every soldier count in the fight for humanity's survival.

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85%
Audience ScoreBased on 59,932 reviews
story3.2k positive mentions
optimization801 negative mentions
  • XCOM 2 offers deep tactical gameplay with engaging mechanics, providing a rich experience that combines turn-based combat with resource management and character customization.
  • The graphics and atmosphere are widely praised for their impressive detail and aesthetic appeal, effectively complementing the narrative of a resistance fighting against alien occupation.
  • The game boasts exceptional replayability due to its procedural map generation, diverse strategies, and a robust modding community that continually introduces new content.
  • The game is plagued by technical issues, including frequent crashes, freezes, and various glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in its base form.
  • Many players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and time-consuming, especially in the late game where repetitive missions can lead to frustration.
  • The monetization strategy, including the intrusive 2K launcher and frequent DLC releases, has drawn significant criticism, leading players to feel that the game prioritizes profit over player experience.
  • story
    19,314 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of *XCOM 2* is generally described as engaging and immersive, continuing the narrative of resistance against alien occupation from the first game. While many players appreciate the character development and the emotional stakes tied to soldier permadeath, some criticize the plot for being predictable or lacking depth, with a reliance on familiar sci-fi tropes. The introduction of new factions and mission types in the *War of the Chosen* expansion adds complexity and variety, enhancing the overall experience, though the frequent mission timers can detract from strategic gameplay.

    • “The game does a great job of providing you context and background while also moving the plot forward in a way that doesn't bore you.”
    • “Visually, the game’s dark, rebellious atmosphere fits perfectly with the story of a resistance force fighting back against an alien occupation.”
    • “The story, characters, and music are fine for the game, but the real appeal is the mods, which have a ridiculous effect on the characters and gameplay with unique classes or story content.”
    • “Storytelling is better with XCOM 1; in XCOM 2, there are some gaps in story/world logic.”
    • “The story is what you'd expect, well written, amazing cinematics, and intense combat!”
    • “The story is essentially a rehash of the first game's; the DLCs are mostly junk, and the expansion ('War of the Chosen') basically adds 3 'bosses' that appear in the middle of your missions, use some seriously unbalanced and annoying abilities, and then teleport away when you 'kill' them, only to appear again a couple of missions later, at full health.”
  • gameplay
    8,153 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    XCOM 2's gameplay is characterized by its deep tactical mechanics and strategic decision-making, offering players a rich experience that combines turn-based combat with resource management and character customization. While many players praise the game's complexity and replayability, they also express frustration with its RNG mechanics, unskippable cutscenes, and occasional bugs that can disrupt the flow of gameplay. Overall, the game is well-regarded for its engaging tactical gameplay, though it may require patience to navigate its more challenging elements.

    • “Xcom 2 is really amazing at providing so much depth to gameplay that seems simple at first but opens up so many possibilities once you begin to understand it.”
    • “With its deep tactical gameplay, gripping tension, and endless replayability, it remains one of the best strategy experiences out there.”
    • “The gameplay is spotless, the risk and reward in every move, the strategy involved in every single battle feels incredible.”
    • “I don't know how this is allowed by Steam; this game is not playable with the DLCs unless you can handle crashing every 5-10 minutes worth of gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is terrible and clunky; the tutorial on the easiest difficulty level doesn't tell you when you have gone too far into a mission with losing someone you need.”
    • “The gameplay loop quickly became more about frustration and complications rather than fun, so I wouldn't recommend this one.”
  • graphics
    3,458 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in XCOM 2 have received widespread praise for their impressive detail and aesthetic appeal, with many reviewers noting significant improvements over its predecessor. While the visuals are generally considered stunning, some players have reported performance issues, including frame rate drops and graphical glitches, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the game successfully combines engaging gameplay with high-quality graphics, although optimization remains a concern for some users.

    • “The graphics and modular design to upgrade make this game a definite 10/10 game to play.”
    • “The graphics are very nice, with a very distinctive art style that holds up very well.”
    • “The game's visuals are stunning, with detailed environments, dynamic lighting, and impressive special effects bringing its futuristic setting to life.”
    • “The original XCOM and the newer OpenXCOM are amazing and probably even better in many ways, but the older graphics will turn away 90% of players.”
    • “I don't appreciate the design philosophy AAA gaming studios bring to these titles. I feel like if we went back in time and showed 1994 XCOM: UFO Defense players what the series looks like after 22 years, they would be incredibly confused at how little the game has moved forward in any ways except for graphics and accessibility.”
    • “The graphics are very subpar.”
  • optimization
    2,825 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of XCOM 2 has been a significant point of contention among players, with many reporting severe performance issues, including frame rate drops, long loading times, and stuttering, even on high-end systems. While some users have noted improvements following patches and the War of the Chosen expansion, the game is still criticized for its poor optimization at launch, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall playability. Players are advised to consider waiting for further updates to address these issues before purchasing.

    • “Performance has improved, but you might still run into frame drops and long load times.”
    • “The game wasn't rife with bugs or unfinished like a Bethesda title would be, but the performance of the game was absolutely abysmal.”
    • “I would strongly recommend getting War of the Chosen as well, as it improves the game performance and adds some great features.”
    • “War of the Chosen expansion ruined the game and the base game's performance is such shit it's nearly unplayable.”
    • “Get ready for some bad news though... optimization for the game is mud level, with even high-end computers often struggling to load, stuttering throughout levels and all sorts of jank and crash city.”
    • “The performance is abysmal, especially considering this is a turn-based game, which, apart from some areas, looks underwhelmingly dated.”
  • stability
    1,879 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of XCOM 2 has been a significant point of contention among players, with many citing it as a "buggy mess" that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. Common issues include frequent crashes, freezes, and various glitches that can disrupt missions and overall enjoyment. While some players report that the game runs smoothly on their systems, the consensus is that it remains plagued by technical problems, particularly in its base form, making it advisable to approach with caution or wait for patches and updates.

    • “It runs great and looks great on Steam Deck.”
    • “So far, the game runs smoothly on high presets @ 2560x1440, no glitches.”
    • “Absolutely amazing game, really love it running silky smooth with no glitches or problems.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess that needs some polish from the workshop to be playable.”
    • “It's a buggy mess which gets old quickly because there is only one type of mission with different objectives.”
    • “The game is buggy as hell, and while a vast majority of bugs are graphical, and only serve to give rise to the occasional head shake or chuckle, there are a few bugs that are frustrating.”
  • replayability
    1,870 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    XCOM 2 is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, largely attributed to its deep tactical gameplay, procedural map generation, and a robust modding community that continually introduces new content and challenges. Players appreciate the variety of strategies, soldier customization, and the impact of decisions made during gameplay, which ensure that no two playthroughs are the same. The addition of expansions like "War of the Chosen" further enhances the game's replay value, making it a must-play for fans of the strategy genre.

    • “The decisions this game forces on you are thought-provoking and incredibly fun, plus the insane amount of variability in every single level is staggering, making the replayability of this game unmatched for its genre.”
    • “With procedurally generated maps, a massive variety of challenging enemy types, and an array of rewarding soldier customization and class specialization options, XCOM 2 offers unrivaled replayability.”
    • “The modding community has made this game infinitely replayable, providing new missions, classes, and challenges that keep the gameplay fresh long after the main story concludes.”
    • “The replayability and the intensity are unmatched.”
    • “The procedural generation of maps and objectives ensures that no two playthroughs are exactly alike, which significantly enhances its replay value.”
    • “The game has a giant replayability status; you can play for hours and will not even feel like it has been 4 hours.”
  • music
    686 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its catchy and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the tension and immersion during gameplay. While some find the music to be memorable and fitting for the game's themes, others criticize it for being repetitive or lacking the emotional depth of previous titles in the series. Overall, the soundtrack is generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, especially with the inclusion of mods that allow for a variety of musical experiences.

    • “The soundtrack builds tension and provides a sense of your resistance efforts.”
    • “The game's soundtrack, composed by Tim Wynn, complements the action with stirring orchestral scores and ambient soundscapes that heighten the tension and drama of each mission.”
    • “Xcom 2 boasts a very impressive soundtrack that fits the feel of the game like a perfect puzzle; creating a murky atmosphere of danger and despair while still sustaining a sense of hope and determination.”
    • “The music and ambient sounds are poorly done; they fail to evoke any emotion at all and are fortunate to just fade away.”
    • “The music is just bad... the original XCOM music would get you pumped; this is just cheesy and overly dramatic.”
    • “The soundtrack was also too generic and felt more like it was created for a Call of Duty game.”
  • grinding
    346 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the late game where repetitive missions and resource management become overwhelming. While some appreciate the strategic depth and challenge, others feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to a frustrating experience filled with monotonous tasks and long wait times. Overall, players suggest that the game can feel like a grindfest, requiring significant time investment to progress, which may not appeal to everyone.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's basic and straightforward: excavate debris, build facilities which help you build stuff, research stuff to help you build stuff and fight the aliens, manage your soldiers, etc. Luckily, it's not tedious and doesn't take anything away from the game.”
    • “Player will experience tedious situations.”
    • “The game can feel a bit tedious — difficult at first and then turning into a waiting simulator.”
    • “The missions are tedious and take a long time; the game feels more like a dragging pace with no idea which mission to choose.”
    • “Xcom 2 is a miserable grinding simulator dressed up to look like something else, and they tacked on a bunch of casually irritating garbage like long load screens and a bad UI to really drive it home.”
  • humor
    336 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, often stemming from its absurd situations, quirky character interactions, and the unpredictable nature of its mechanics, such as missing high-percentage shots. Players frequently find themselves laughing at the game's glitches, ragdoll physics, and the comical outcomes of their tactical decisions, which can lead to both hilarious and frustrating moments. The modding community further enhances the humor, allowing for creative and funny character customizations that add to the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “It's frustrating, it's hilarious, it's incredibly deep, and it constantly generates unique, unforgettable narratives, mostly about how badly you screwed up.”
    • “The game has a great sense of humor, from the snarky commentary of your squadmates to the ridiculous alien designs.”
    • “Just make sure to have a sense of humor handy – you're going to need it when your best-laid plans go hilariously, spectacularly wrong.”
    • “The issues that are there with the game are not funny anymore (if they ever were). Seriously, make a game that's not the cheapest, make DLC that makes it even more expensive if you want to purchase it as a whole, and over the years that it's been out, not bother to fix game-breaking issues like this?”
    • “Not just boringly unfunny, but lacks any jokes or hint of mockery.”
    • “These contradictions make the game funny in a totally unfunny way.”
  • emotional
    331 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is a significant highlight, with players expressing deep attachment to their customizable soldiers, leading to intense feelings of loss when they inevitably die due to the game's permadeath mechanic. Many reviews describe the experience as an emotional rollercoaster, where strategic decisions carry heavy emotional weight, and the unpredictability of combat can result in heartbreaking moments. Overall, the game successfully blends tactical gameplay with a compelling emotional narrative, making each victory feel meaningful and every loss profoundly impactful.

    • “This game will put you through the emotional ringer.”
    • “You’ll get emotionally attached to soldiers… and then watch them get obliterated in one unlucky crit ”
    • “Losing them to permanent death adds a layer of emotional weight and tension to every decision you make on the battlefield.”
    • “Decent, but with a boring story.”
    • “Boring story and terrible voice acting too.”
    • “Exceptionally boring story.”
  • atmosphere
    288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and intense qualities, effectively complementing the narrative of a resistance fighting against alien occupation. Players appreciate the dark, gritty visuals, atmospheric music, and detailed environments that enhance the overall experience, although some feel it lacks the oppressive tension of earlier titles in the series. While many reviews highlight the game's ability to create a captivating atmosphere, a few critics note that it doesn't fully capture the depth and horror of its predecessors.

    • “Visually, the game’s dark, rebellious atmosphere fits perfectly with the story of a resistance force fighting back against an alien occupation.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredibly well-crafted, immersing you deeply into the game and making each mission a thrilling experience.”
    • “The graphics really capture the gritty atmosphere of a world under alien occupation, and it adds to the sense of urgency and desperation.”
    • “The atmosphere is lacking.”
    • “The game has lost some atmosphere compared to the first one; there are dumb glitches from time to time.”
    • “The atmosphere in this one is lacking, especially compared to Enemy Within, but the characters are all likeable enough and the story is serviceable.”
  • monetization
    138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy for the game has drawn significant criticism, primarily due to the intrusive 2K launcher that forces advertisements and collects extensive user data, leading many players to feel that the game prioritizes profit over player experience. While there are no microtransactions or loot boxes affecting gameplay, the frequent DLC releases are perceived as cash grabs, and the overall approach to monetization has left players frustrated with the invasive marketing tactics and lack of genuine content improvements.

    • “Also, no loot boxes or microtransactions is a big bonus.”
    • “Some of the small, cosmetic DLCs are overpriced, but there aren't any randomized loot boxes or microtransactions that affect the gameplay and frustrate the players.”
    • “You can play it the way you want to, rather than being forced through artificial bottlenecks like competitive play, leaderboards, monetization, etc.”
    • “Remember when they forced the BS launcher in XCOM 2 that broke mod compatibility just to try to push ads and track more user data?”
    • “The launcher is just a cluster of ads and causes a hassle.”
    • “Taking an older loved game and trying to squeeze its user base by forcing in invasive pre-launch advertising is a new low for 2K and Firaxis.”
  • character development
    93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and customization options, allowing players to create unique characters with rich backstories that enhance gameplay and tactical strategies. While many reviews highlight the immersive storytelling and emotional investment in squad members, some critiques point to a lack of depth in character backgrounds for certain non-playable characters. Overall, the combination of character design, skill upgrades, and narrative elements contributes significantly to the game's appeal, though opinions vary on the execution and consistency of character development across different titles in the series.

    • “The storytelling is immersive, with rich character development that makes you genuinely care about your squad members.”
    • “As much as I prefer and miss the micromanagement, ambience, and complexity of the classic ones, this game has an incredibly deep character development system and world building.”
    • “XCOM 2 has very good to amazing graphics, an excellent story, and very good character development with a deep variety of strategically complex skills that keep me coming back for hours on end to try different play styles.”
    • “Not much of any specific character development or background on the VIPs we're saving or why retaliation and raids were happening.”
    • “The story has a ton of potential; however, the delivery falls short with hastily acted out cutscenes and practically non-existent character development.”
    • “There is a lack of character development beyond the basic leveling system that can be a drawback if you like more literary RPG games.”
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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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51h Median play time
240h Average play time
33h Main story
79h Completionist
15-276h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 441 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

XCOM 2 is a tactical role playing game with science fiction theme.

XCOM 2 is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, iPhone and others.

The main story can be completed in around 33 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 79 hours to finish. On average players spend around 240 hours playing XCOM 2.

XCOM 2 was released on February 4, 2016.

XCOM 2 was developed by Firaxis Games.

XCOM 2 has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

XCOM 2 is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Phoenix Point, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters, Xenonauts, XCOM: Chimera Squad and others.