XCOM 2: War of the Chosen

 PC
Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 39
  3. Negative: 0 out of 39
  1. Ars Technica
    Sep 6, 2017
    War of the Chosen is the definitive way to play XCOM 2. Even if you weren't impressed with the original package, this feels like a whole new game.
  2. Eurogamer
    Aug 24, 2017
    War of the Chosen is a generous expansion that's bustling with brilliant new systems that's a must for anyone who's completed XCOM 2. [Recommended]
  3. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Aug 24, 2017
    This is XCOM writ so damn large, so wide and wild and all-consuming, that it gets the same intractable hooks into me that XCOM games always have while also taking me to new places, occupying even more parts of my obsessive brain. [RPS Recommended]

Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best PC Game of 2017
49
#49 Most Discussed PC Game of 2017
35
#35 Most Shared PC Game of 2017

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 332 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 272 out of 332
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 332
  3. Negative: 34 out of 332
  1. Streps
    Sep 5, 2017
    4
    This is the biggest Con-Job I have been dumb enough to be fooled by. Lets be clear here, this DLC is $40usd, for that I could buy Watch DogsThis is the biggest Con-Job I have been dumb enough to be fooled by. Lets be clear here, this DLC is $40usd, for that I could buy Watch Dogs 2, Rocket League and FLT and still have some change. So for $40usd you get a "New Story to play though", NO! You don't, what you get are 3 new skins, 1 new room to build in the Avenger, 2 new alien types which are just re-hashed version of what is already in game, and a pinched idea form Shadows of Mordor. Which are 3 alien bosses that pop into random mission and talk to much. So to re-cap, no new, innovative content, no new story, no new tech to build, ohh hang on, it now has white zombies, cause that's innovative, zombies in a PC game, so all they could come up with was white zombies for $40usd

    Anyone that claims this is worth $40 is delude and anyone that claims this adds hours upon hours of new and exciting content is an idiot. If you feel the need to waste money on seeing a few new skins then go ahead but my advice is to WAIT till this rip off of an DLC is $5-$10. The free mods on steam workshop are better than this pile of crap. Oh, also it is still riddled with bugs.    … Full Review »
  2. Jeb077
    Sep 8, 2017
    7
    Let me say first, know what you're buying. This expansion works more like a supercharged DLC than a true expansion. Don't get me wrong thereLet me say first, know what you're buying. This expansion works more like a supercharged DLC than a true expansion. Don't get me wrong there is a lot of new content, but none of it extends the original ending of the game and it becomes bloated at various points in the game (more on this later). So lets get to the meat of it. This expansion is all about three new bosses (chosen) and making you hate them.

    X-Com has never been much of a game with "bosses", so it feels a little out of place, too Hollywood for a game that once was a pretty gritty and realistic strategy game. These over the top, trash talking bosses could be great if used more subtly, but Firaxis shoves them down your throat. They pop up to tell you how weak and doomed you are at any given point. They die, reappear, only to come back stronger. They would be great for a cinematic game like Metal Gear, not in a strategy game. Now lets move onto the ridiculous power of these bosses. They get to move, attack, move in battle. Can summon Advent out of thin air. They automatically hit (defense is irrelevant, they'll hit you through with smoke grenades and Aid bots). So there is the problem, a once hardcore strategy game has thrown out strategy to create drama, wanting you to hate these bosses. In a game like XCom the mystique of a powerful alien should be mystery and subtlety, I think they did it all wrong. Some new developers are on the Firaxis team for sure.

    The other main draw if the exp is the three new friendly factions. Reapers, Skirmishers, and Templars. I kind of like what they did with this. Through these new factions you get covert actions which open up some decent strategic options and unique upgrades (I love pistol specialized snipers and getting a flat +1 damage to all of them made for some fun gaming, albeit a tad overpowered :).
    The actual classes of these factions are well done, and feel distinct enough from the original classes to have a place. My rating of 7 is mostly due to these factions.

    So I have mixed feelings on WOTC. There is a lot in this expansion pack but fitting it in the original core story seems overwhelming. A new player who didn't play X-Com 2 vanilla will be lost in all the new missions the expansion throws at you. The rate of main story mission to side mission is about 1 in 10 in the expansion, where the original is more 1 in 5.

    Hopefully Firaxis will tone the bosses down in XCom 3, while keeping these factions. Give us a longer main story with time to better fit in all these new missions and upgrades. Bring back some of the mystery into Xcom. Let us stumble on a big bad boss by turning a dark corner and seeing it for the first time. And always make sure its a strategy first game over theatrics.    … Full Review »
  3. op8
    Aug 30, 2017
    10
    The bar has been lifted.
    XCOM 2 was great, now with WotC it's an epic masterpiece.
    A no-brainer 9.5/10 (only because nothing can ever be    The bar has been lifted.
    XCOM 2 was great, now with WotC it's an epic masterpiece.
    A no-brainer 9.5/10 (only because nothing can ever be truly 10/10).    … Full Review »
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