XCOM 2 Reviews

XCOM 2 is ranked in the 96th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9.6 / 10.0
Mar 13, 2016

Are you a tactical\turn-based strategy fan? If yes, then XCOM 2 is for you. It is really perfect. It is very challenging but its difficulty is completely acceptable and doesn’t make you angry. Its optimization is not very good but except this, it doesn't have any significant problem. XCOM 2 is a masterpiece.

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9 / 10
Mar 10, 2016

XCOM 2 improves on its predecessor in every aspect and yet manages to keep its core elements untouched. Addictive game play, amazing and realistic battlefields, a must-have title for all strategy fans.

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9.5 / 10.0
Feb 5, 2016

XCOM 2 is a great turn-based strategy experience that delivers plenty of tension, a wide range of ways for gamers to navigate missions and choices and enough procedurally generated maps to keep engagements interesting even after 50 hours or more of play.

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9.6 / 10.0
Feb 5, 2016

XCOM 2 took a formula that was already deeply compelling and made it even better. The game is even more punishing due to the expanded gameplay and the emphasis on urgency, but it gives you plenty of opportunity to succeed all the same. You'll celebrate every victory, you'll learn from each defeat, and either way, the game manages to be amazing. As good as the previous release was, XCOM 2 is an even better game in every conceivable way.

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Cubed3
Eric
Top Critic
7 / 10
Feb 13, 2016

XCOM 2 improves many aspects over the original, as well as adding some much needed atmosphere through its uphill battle narrative. In many ways, this has much more balance between classes, and weapon customisation is a notable difference, and as players really come to know their soldiers they are potentially sending to death. However, a decrease in many already sparse elements, such as no UFO interception and bare minimum base management, makes the romp through approachable to many but leaves the hardcore types unlikely to want to work beyond the finish line once, and will likely not leave a legacy like the originals did.

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8.9 / 10.0
Feb 15, 2016

The only fly in the ointment here are some technical issues to prevent you from fully enjoying the masochism: issues with the game failing to start for some users, quirks with aiming, soldiers warping to different locations when reloading and even some crashes to desktop are the stumbling blocks that have a number of gamers asking when can we expect a patch. In the meantime, I will live with these issues so I can continue having my head kicked in.

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Feb 6, 2016

Firaxis has outdone themselves with 'XCOM 2'. It is a tactical experience without peer, better even than its predecessors. It is draining and agonizing, but in a good way. The high difficulty may turn off some gamers, but it's worth every second.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 4, 2016

All in all XCOM 2 is a solid sequel. In many ways, it's more of the same with some new enemies, mechanics, skills and weapons to make it feel like a true sequel rather than a mere expansion. It doesn't make any big changes to the formula but improves upon the original. Fans of the first should find a lot to like here, but newcomers may want to start with the original XCOM.  At the end of the day, it's a solid, fun, and incredibly unforgiving strategy game that will test your wits and your patience. Don't get too discouraged when your favorite soldier is disintegrated by a lucky crit from a laser beam. That's just the XCOM experience.

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7 / 10
Mar 30, 2016

[XCOM 2] functions well and the tactical gameplay is still solid as ever but retains the annoyances of the old systems

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Cubed3
Top Critic
9 / 10
Nov 16, 2016

XCOM 2 delivers an excellent port to the PS4. It has been cleverly designed to take advantage of a gamepad and this alleviates many potential concerns. Below this lays an experience that is unrivalled when it comes to strategy titles, particularly on console. The constant feeling of 'backs against the wall,' with scant resources and war decisions to be made, conveys a constant feeling of tension, which only serves to enhance the story of guerrilla resistance. Of course, with the permanent death mechanic, the tales of battle with much loved soldiers are rich for sharing between friends as a badge of honour and craft a memorable experience, living long after the game is finished—which, of course, is not a short one, by any means, providing the substantial difficulty is not a turn-off.

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Feb 5, 2016

XCOM 2 is finally here, and we're taking a break from mourning our fallen squaddies to tell you how great it is.

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83 / 100
Feb 19, 2016

XCOM 2 isn't so much a game about liberating humanity from its extraterrestrial overlords, but a statement about the kinds of stories our games can tell and allow to be told, even when they aren't especially valued for their narrative.

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10 / 10.0
Feb 4, 2016

Despite being a fan of the XCOM series as a whole I never expected this new entry to be as polished, intricate, immersive, beautiful and exciting as it is. XCOM 2 is not only one of the greatest strategy games of all time, it's also one of the greatest videogames of all time.

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Unscored
Feb 23, 2016

[T]hrough it all, XCOM 2 never loses sight of the basic thrills that made its predecessor such a welcome surprise. The feeling of holding the line against seemingly impossible odds, of pulling a mission from the jaws of death with a timely rescue and a wounded comrade on your back, of watching an experienced squad slice its way through pod after pod of once-formidable foes—they're all still here, as satisfying as ever.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 13, 2016

Firaxis have made tremendous strides to provide new mechanics and gameplay options for players who are still unsure what the XCOM series can offer them whilst retaining all the features that fans of Enemy Unknown have grown to love and now expect from the series. XCOM 2 is more than just a fantastic XCOM game, it's a polished and cohesive AAA experience that shines with a level of quality not often felt in these bleak, modern days.

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7 / 10
Feb 18, 2016

Overall, XCOM 2 is a flawed sequel. Much like Street Fighter V, we can't help but feel that there's a good game here, it's just that the wrong set of features were prioritised in production. We recommend waiting for it to be fixed before putting down your cash.

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Unscored
Feb 16, 2016

If you liked XCOM: Enemy Unknown, you'll be right at home in XCOM 2. Frankly, Firaxis doesn't seem interested in bringing non-fans along for the ride - the lack of console support and the in-the-deep-end story and gameplay confirm that.

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9 / 10.0
Dec 4, 2016

This game is a true diamond in the genre. A rough diamond, admittedly, but it shines through all the same. I've been waiting for this sequel for the longest time and, as expected, Firaxis delivered. XCOM 2 is genre-defining and exceeds expectations - it's a game you don't want to miss.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 23, 2016

A solid followup to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, XCOM 2 delivers on story, action, and tension. It's nonetheless in serious need of optimization to correct glitching and framerate issues.

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3.5 / 5.0
Oct 8, 2016

An addictively fun game for the RTS fan who doesn't mind a tough challenge even on the lowest of settings

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