XCOM 2 box art
Name: XCOM 2
Release date: February 5, 2016
Platforms: PC, XBOX ONE, PS4
Genre: Turn-based Strategy, Tactical

Description

XCOM 2 is a turn-based tactics game developed by Firaxis Games, and a sequel to XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The year is 2035, and the alien invasion that happened in the first game did not go very well. The aliens won, and humanity is now subjugated and its resistance reduced to few groups engaged in guerrilla warfare. As the player, you must take the role of the Commander, rally the existing forces and take Earth back, saving it from aliens mysterious Avatar Project.

The gameplay is very similar to XCOM: Enemy Unknown - players control individual soldiers in missions given to them, use their abilities, shoot enemies, and so on. They also have a task to complete - be it deletion of all enemies or rescuing captives. In the base, they can recruit new soldiers, develop new technologies, outfit your soldiers with new gear and armor, and launch missions where they often have to choose between several soldiers or countries to save.

Recommendation

XCOM 2 has been received with high praise, doubling down on its player-created narratives - you create your own squad of soldiers, shape their stories, and when they die, you feel sad - you've become invested in making them better and more skillful, and now they're gone. This investment in your squad along with tough, unforgiving missions make XCOM 2 very engaging to play. Also, it changes things up tactically - now, you're the hunter and they're the prey, which makes up for interesting ambush scenarios with your soldiers.

Metacritics Rating: 88 (PC)
Our visitor's rating: N/A
Average playtime: 30-60 h

Our recommendation

If you like turn-based tactics shooters or liked the first XCOM, in its category, there is none better.

Description

XCOM 2 is a turn-based tactics game developed by Firaxis Games, and a sequel to XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The year is 2035, and the alien invasion that happened in the first game did not go very well. The aliens won, and humanity is now subjugated and its resistance reduced to few groups engaged in guerrilla warfare. As the player, you must take the role of the Commander, rally the existing forces and take Earth back, saving it from aliens mysterious Avatar Project.

The gameplay is very similar to XCOM: Enemy Unknown - players control individual soldiers in missions given to them, use their abilities, shoot enemies, and so on. They also have a task to complete - be it deletion of all enemies or rescuing captives. In the base, they can recruit new soldiers, develop new technologies, outfit your soldiers with new gear and armor, and launch missions where they often have to choose between several soldiers or countries to save.

Recommendation

XCOM 2 has been received with high praise, doubling down on its player-created narratives - you create your own squad of soldiers, shape their stories, and when they die, you feel sad - you've become invested in making them better and more skillful, and now they're gone. This investment in your squad along with tough, unforgiving missions make XCOM 2 very engaging to play. Also, it changes things up tactically - now, you're the hunter and they're the prey, which makes up for interesting ambush scenarios with your soldiers.

XCOM 2 DLC LISTarrow

Note: We are only showing paid DLC at this time. Free DLCs will be added at a later date.

Major Expansions

War of the Chosen arrow

War of the Chosen thumbnail

What does it add?

It is a big expansion pack for XCOM 2, adding new resistance factions, as well as new enemies, called the Chosen. Chosen are essentially bosses in their own right, and overcoming them takes quite the skill. Also adds various new soldier classes, types of enemies, types of environments, mission variety, and much more, like adds the ability to form bonds to the soldiers. It was very well received for the amount of content and variety it added to the main game.

Buy this if:

  • You played through XCOM 2's main campaign and want a new, fresh challenge
  • You want a big content expansion that changes a lot of things and adds depth to the game
  • You like the new enemies and Chosen

Key store price: 16.94 $
Traditional store price: 19.99 $
Metacritics Rating: 88
Release date: Aug 29, 2017
Trailer: YouTube

Mission Packs

Alien Hunters arrow

Alien Hunters thumbnail

What does it add?

It adds a new mission themed around leading your squad against alien hunters. Also adds new armors to the game themed around aliens and their looks. Is somewhat unthematic with the main game.

Buy this if:

  • You like the alien suits for your soldiers

Traditional store price: 4.99 $
Release date: May 12, 2016

Shen's Last Gift arrow

Shen's Last Gift thumbnail

What does it add?

It adds a new mission, where an engineer Lily Shen accompanies you to search a mysterious object in a laboratory. Also adds a new soldier class, resembling the mechanical soldier class from the first game. Was praised for the new class and a difficult mission.

Buy this if:

  • You want a new extension story in the main campaign
  • You want a mech class to your soldiers

Traditional store price: 4.99 $
Release date: Jun 30, 2016
Trailer: YouTube

Customization Packs

Anarchy's Children arrow

Anarchy's Children thumbnail

What does it add?

It adds quite a lot of customization options, all themed around being rebellious. These are purely cosmetic and do not alter any stats whatsoever.

Buy this if:

  • You like the style of the skins you can buy

Traditional store price: 2.49 $
Release date: Mar 17, 2016

Resistance Warrior Pack arrow

Resistance Warrior Pack thumbnail

What does it add?

It adds new armors, skins, and head-gear for your soldiers to use in your campaign. The skins have varied style, with something to choose for everybody.

Buy this if:

  • You like that one particular skin

Usual price: 4.99 $
Release date: Nov 22, 2016
  • XCOM 2 screenshot
  • XCOM 2 screenshot
  • XCOM 2 screenshot
  • XCOM 2 screenshot
  • XCOM 2 screenshot
  • XCOM 2 screenshot

EDITIONS arrow

Platforms: Classic store price: Key store price:
Standard Edition PC, XONE, PS4 13.50 $ 9.99 $
Reinforcment Pack PC, XONE, PS4 9.99 $ 7.26 $
Deluxe Edition PC, XONE, PS4 18.74 $ 13.39 $
XCOM 2 Collection PC, XONE, PS4 99.99 $ N/A

Edition Chart

Standard Edition Reinforcment Pack Deluxe Edition XCOM 2 Collection
Base game white checkmark white checkmark white checkmark
Anarchy's Children DLC white checkmark white checkmark white checkmark
Shen's Last Gift DLC white checkmark white checkmark white checkmark
Alien Hunters DLC white checkmark white checkmark white checkmark
War of the Chosen Expansion white checkmark

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Key store recommendations

Key resellers are sites that sell game keys at (usually) much lower prices than traditional retailers. They do this through a combination of ways, like selling keys that come in a bundle, that were on a sale and many other ways.

The reason why we separated them from traditional retailers is that these stores have been the subject of a divisive discussion for a long time.

The reason we include them is that you can buy keys on these sites usually for very big discounts, sometimes quite ridiculously cheap. In 99 % of cases, they will work the same as a much more expensive key would. For many people, especially people from countries with lower standards of living, this can mean big savings that have a significant impact on their life, while also playing the game and not resorting to piracy.

If you are buying on these stores, we have a few recommendations to follow:

  1. Just know there is a tiny risk. Either your purchase will fail and you will use your money, or that the key you recieved won't work. It has never happened to us or anyone we know, but it has certainly happened to a number of people on the internet. That is partly the nature of the business, partly un-consumer business practices of some of the stores. In 99.9 % of cases, the purchase will be ok, but sometimes it won't.
  2. If the price is not cheaper on key stores (it almost always is, though), then we recommend to buy from the traditional, established retailers.
  3. If it is a store with multiple sellers with ratings, always pick the one with the highest number of sold keys and ratings. The probability of a successful purchase is much higher if buying from a reputable key seller.