XCOM 2

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 518 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 332 out of 518
  2. Mixed: 93 out of 518
  3. Negative: 93 out of 518
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  1. Jebb333
    Jun 22, 2020
    9
    Loved the mechanics and honestly is a super fun game to play. It’s definitely hard at first but once you get used to it it’s addicting. The customization options are pretty awesome
  2. Dattwood7
    Sep 27, 2016
    10
    If you liked XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Within, you'll like this game. You might have to get used to the new classes (the biggest change, in my opinion), but there are enough improvements in this game to win you over (one of the biggest is undoubtedly the improved character customization options: You'll get so attached to your crew you'll want to restart every time one of them gets hurt.) ThereIf you liked XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Within, you'll like this game. You might have to get used to the new classes (the biggest change, in my opinion), but there are enough improvements in this game to win you over (one of the biggest is undoubtedly the improved character customization options: You'll get so attached to your crew you'll want to restart every time one of them gets hurt.) There might be some bugs, and you might gripe about some other little things, but the core game is there. This is an excellent strategy game, simple as that.… Expand
  3. Pureray
    Sep 27, 2016
    10
    The fight for Earth, just became a whole lot harder in Xcom2! A simply great addition for any strategist fan to have for their Playstation 4! It shares the same game mechanics from the original, now with better visuals and more new enemies and equipment to experiment with in the battlefield!
  4. jstevo
    Oct 20, 2016
    10
    Initially this game was frustrating; being quite a good gamer, but having not played the original XCOM, I selected “moderate” difficulty. This was a huge mistake; not only was the game punishing every SINGLE error I made, I was aimlessly wandering a map and dying often. Losing key staff members. Eventually rage quitting.
    However, after throwing the toys out the pram, I stomached my pride,    Initially this game was frustrating; being quite a good gamer, but having not played the original XCOM, I selected “moderate” difficulty. This was a huge mistake; not only was the game punishing every SINGLE error I made, I was aimlessly wandering a map and dying often. Losing key staff members. Eventually rage quitting.
    However, after throwing the toys out the pram, I stomached my pride, and started the game on “easy/first time playing XCOM.” This is where I really started to enjoy the game; I was able to successfully complete missions, move forward in the overall game etc.
    It’s still difficult, but I really started to enjoy it. It’s a clever game, very few times have I ever had to pause when playing a different game and think “I could lose this round if I make 1 mistake” or constantly cycling through different tactical options, or after completing a move go “DAMN I should of considered that.”
    Most games nowadays dumb everything down to be completely generic and enjoyed by everyone. This is deliberately hard, and has a steep learning curve.
    Its also full of bugs; like everywhere. Sometimes so many things go wrong that you actually go “what just happened in the last 10 seconds” the camera pans to nothing, someone falls through a floor. Its bizarre, but I still love it. Well worth the price.    … Expand
  5. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    9
    While I was playing this game, something kind of clicked in my brain and forced me to ask the question, why don’t I play more tactical turn-based games? I now realized that I am a huge fan of this genre and need to play more games like this. Game play wise this is a great game, I really enjoyed mapping out my soldiers and trying to find the perfect (or near perfect) spot for them.

    There    While I was playing this game, something kind of clicked in my brain and forced me to ask the question, why don’t I play more tactical turn-based games? I now realized that I am a huge fan of this genre and need to play more games like this. Game play wise this is a great game, I really enjoyed mapping out my soldiers and trying to find the perfect (or near perfect) spot for them.

    There is just something about having the “perfect” turn where everything just goes right. It’s just extremely satisfying feeling to watch your plan unfold and things just go well. The game has a lot of depth so when you’re first starting out, things just seem to go badly. Over time, little by little you learn how to deal with the various obstacles and before you know it, something will click and you’ll just understand the game. For me, it took me about 10 hours before I can confidently say that I started to understand the depth of the game.

    Tactical depth is a great way to describe this game. There is a lot going on and there is a lot to learn in order for you to maximize your efficiency. For each turn, you control at most 6 units (you start with 4 but unlock more slots as the game progresses) and each unit has 2 actions. There is variety in each action as well, you can move once then for your second action you can take a shot an enemy, you can chose to hunker down which gives you better defense and evasiveness. You also have the option of going into “Overwatch” which is another defensive option where if an enemy moves, your unit (or units if you put multiple units in overwatch) will fire at the enemy. You can also throw grenades which don’t do as much damage as a shot but they’ll break an enemies shield and they’ll blow up the surrounding area which makes it easier for your other units to fire at the enemy. You also have the option of moving again so you can move twice as far in one turn.

    The game has 4 types of units you can use in missions. I do recommend using combinations of them all in missions because each unit type can help in certain situations. There is a grenadier which basically has a grenade gun which allows them to have 2 grenades rather than 1 but also they can shoot grenades further than other units can simply throw them. There is the Sharpshooter which is basically the sniper type and this unit has better aim, can shoot from further away but you have to keep in mind shooting the sniper rifle counts as 2 actions so if your first action is move or reload then the sharpshooter will pull out their pistol which does less damage. There is a Ranger unit and they’re really the flanking unit. They can sneak around enemies, put themselves in a better position and take out enemies from behind. The final unit is the specialist and they have this drone which can be used for 1 of 2 things. The drone can either be used for combat where it will do damage to an enemy but I found that using the drones as a healer was a better way to go. I figured since all of the other units deal damage, it would be nice to have one unit that its primary role would be to heal wounded units.

    The game has a somewhat simple leveling up system where units will gain abilities as they rank up. There are 8 total ranks, you start out as a Rookie and rank them up to Colonel. So as units rank up to Colonel they’ll have 7 total abilities and those abilities vary depending on the class. Whats also nice about ranking up the units is, they gain more health and also they’re overall accuracy will improve as well. Having higher accuracy is important because when units miss their shots that is when bad things happen.

    So the accuracy is probably the most important game play mechanic and how it works is pretty simple. So lets say there is an enemy on the map, you select your unit and it has a 30% shot accuracy. That’s not a great shot so you want to give your unit a better opportunity to hit its mark. What you would want to do is move that unit closer or a better strategy would be to bring out your Grenadier. Lets say the enemy is perched behind a tree so what you want to do is get that tree out of there so your other 5 units have a better shot. So the Grenadier comes in, shoots its grenade and eliminates the tree. Now you can move your other units closer and it could take that 30% shot accuracy to 90% shot accuracy.

    If you’re a fan of turn-based games, I would recommend picking this game up. It’s a solid game that has a lot of depth that takes time to learn but you have to have the patience to deal with games short comings. I know when this game first came out there were some major issues with the PC version but I believe that’s better now and I would say if you can play on that version. If you do end up playing on a console, just keep in mind that its great but very buggy.    … Expand
  6. Berik
    Nov 9, 2018
    8
    Great game, but buggy on PS4 and loading screens can get as long as 20 minutes when you get near the end of the game. Clearly this never reveived the patches it needed and deserved. Still, it is an excellent game that gets you hooked and attached to your soldiers. Story and missons are very fun.
  7. Malooga
    Sep 29, 2016
    10
    Did you like/love X-Com Enemy Unknown? Buy X-Com 2. That's the basic gist of things, but I still have like 50 characters to go for a minimum review...so...aliens.
  8. fallouts
    Sep 27, 2016
    9
    Great game. Must own for fans of the first two on last gen of consoles. The graphics are crisp, clean and stylish. The game play is improved with lot of new features and new classes.
  9. azog
    Oct 1, 2016
    10
    Elapsed strategy game with turn-based system.
    The title is not without errors but it certainly is the best strategy released on PS4. Fantastic game big opportunities tactical and strategic.
  10. countofhell4321
    Oct 6, 2016
    8
    The mood of this game is unforgettable, brand new rethought strategy, new features and renewed, stronger alien units are going to bring this game even for a higher level, however the graphics are not improved, only minimal, it is clearly the same engine as the XCOM 2012 and the soundtrack, few sound effects are reused as well.
    The game runs in 1080p, the CGI animations running smooth and    The mood of this game is unforgettable, brand new rethought strategy, new features and renewed, stronger alien units are going to bring this game even for a higher level, however the graphics are not improved, only minimal, it is clearly the same engine as the XCOM 2012 and the soundtrack, few sound effects are reused as well.
    The game runs in 1080p, the CGI animations running smooth and clear. Great content, excellent playability.
    However XCOM 2 still suffers from the same problems as XCOM 2012 or Enemy Within, framerate drops and hanging, long loading times but this is a TBS game so this won't cause too much trouble during gameplay.
    XCOM 2 is a strong 8 for me.    … Expand
  11. spadePerfect
    Oct 10, 2016
    9
    This game is satisfyingly punishing and hard as hell, but the constant tension makes you want to keep going anyways.
    No matter how helpless you might feel, the feeling after beating a Very Difficult mission without being hit and owing it to nothing but your own tactics is the best you've felt for a while in a game and makes you want to keep going no matter what.
    The game suffers from    This game is satisfyingly punishing and hard as hell, but the constant tension makes you want to keep going anyways.
    No matter how helpless you might feel, the feeling after beating a Very Difficult mission without being hit and owing it to nothing but your own tactics is the best you've felt for a while in a game and makes you want to keep going no matter what.

    The game suffers from some technical issues like long loading times and visual glitches but nothing game-breaking or gameplay-affecting is among these. If you liked XCOM Enemy Unknown/Enemy Within, get this game.    … Expand
  12. drlowdon
    Jan 22, 2017
    8
    X-Com wasn’t exactly an easy game but this sequel takes things up another notch right from the start in terms of difficulty, and I’m sure that will put a fair number of people off (I came close to giving up after my 3rd restart). It’s worth sticking with and taking the time to learn how everything works however as you’ll be rewarded with a genuinely deep and rewarding strategy game.

    The    X-Com wasn’t exactly an easy game but this sequel takes things up another notch right from the start in terms of difficulty, and I’m sure that will put a fair number of people off (I came close to giving up after my 3rd restart). It’s worth sticking with and taking the time to learn how everything works however as you’ll be rewarded with a genuinely deep and rewarding strategy game.

    The game plays largely the same as previous iterations with the gameplay consisting of managing your base of operations (securing supplies, recruiting soldiers, researching new weapons etc) and turn based missions that task you with a variety of objectives such as rescuing VIP’s or securing key intel. Veterans of the series will notice a greater variety of mission types, enemies, weapons etc but these don’t change the game at all.

    From looking around forums the most controversial addition seems to be the ‘timed’ missions which only allow a set number of turns to complete them. Initially these can prove very frustrating as they force you to move forward quicker than you’d like, often resulting in your soldiers being ambushed and quickly killed. Personally I feel as though the turn limits could have been a little less strict on occasions (The VIP missions in particular force you to rush to much) but, after a while, I realised that they made a good addition as they prevent overuse of the tactic of moving forward at a snail’s pace and putting your soldiers on overwatch every turn. A further addition that adds to the difficulty is the enemy reinforcements that can arrive at random during missions. These are a good idea in theory as they help keep you on your toes, and you do have a turn to set up an ambush, but when three or four enemies suddenly drop into a difficult spot and take out half your squad it can sometimes feel as though the game is determined to just beat you up.
    I’ve heard a few comments regarding the way the game works on PS4 but, other than a few minor glitches here and there (the bodies of all my female soldiers vanished on one mission!) and loading times that are a little too long when starting a new mission I had no problems at all during my 25+hours of playing the game.

    Overall X-Com 2 is a minor refinement of the formula that worked so well for the series last generation and, assuming that the difficulty doesn’t put you off early on, you’ll find it’s arguably the best strategy game available on current gen consoles.    … Expand
  13. illphil
    Oct 28, 2016
    8
    Really good game. I would give it a solid 8. It has bugs and really long loading times which can be annoying if you make a big mistake and need to reload a save. I had never played the previous games so I found it difficult the first time I played because it was encouraging me to push through the main story missions. You should not do this if you are new to the franchise- look at someReally good game. I would give it a solid 8. It has bugs and really long loading times which can be annoying if you make a big mistake and need to reload a save. I had never played the previous games so I found it difficult the first time I played because it was encouraging me to push through the main story missions. You should not do this if you are new to the franchise- look at some of the advice online and focus on powering up and expanding and your team and territory early on or you will get destroyed later.

    It's really satisfying once you figure out how it works and can start dishing out ass kickings. Then again if you get too good then it becomes too comfortable later on so I found it difficult to strike a balance. Still, it's a great and exciting strategy game and well worth playing.    … Expand
  14. horrorsparadise
    Sep 30, 2016
    10
    Welcome back commander.
    Xcom2 arrived on PS4 and boy the battle for Earth has never been harder and funnier than this. It will not come as a surprise the game is good. It was good when it came to PC and the XCOM: Enemy Unknown/within were great. It suits the console great and the new mechanics, new enemies and equipment are also great. Will always be one of the best turn based games out    Welcome back commander.
    Xcom2 arrived on PS4 and boy the battle for Earth has never been harder and funnier than this. It will not come as a surprise the game is good. It was good when it came to PC and the XCOM: Enemy Unknown/within were great. It suits the console great and the new mechanics, new enemies and equipment are also great. Will always be one of the best turn based games out there. But nobody will properly read meta review about this game. It's awesome. Good to see you again commander.    … Expand
  15. midniteblues
    Oct 10, 2016
    9
    XCOM 2 is one of the best experiences I've had on the PS4. The game is actually harder than XCOM: Enemy Unknown, however it manages to feel more rewarding. I felt excited every time one of my soldiers gained a promotion and the feeling of satisfaction when beating a difficult mission is something that not many other games provide. The only bad thing I can say about the PS4 port is theXCOM 2 is one of the best experiences I've had on the PS4. The game is actually harder than XCOM: Enemy Unknown, however it manages to feel more rewarding. I felt excited every time one of my soldiers gained a promotion and the feeling of satisfaction when beating a difficult mission is something that not many other games provide. The only bad thing I can say about the PS4 port is the super long loading times. I think the further you get in the game, the longer the loading times become. I experienced loading times of up to 3 minutes when I was close to the end of the game. However, even with that said, this game deserves all the praise and it is a must play. Hopefully 2K will patch the game and make it run smoother. Other than that, this game is nothing short of amazing. 9/10… Expand
  16. Atilla1456
    Oct 5, 2016
    10
    Incredible game, exactly what I bought it for. It holds true to the XCOM Franchise, and presents new challenges while adding new functions. A great story also comes along with the great gameplay and "athmosphere" of XCOM 2. A game that is worth buying.
  17. Johnnybont
    Oct 26, 2016
    9
    This is an amazing game, a great advancement on the previous instalment. A must play for everyone who owns a PS4 and is looking for a strategy game! yes, it is a little buggy and yes the camera can be a little annoying, but the game play is king here and massively makes up for these points.
  18. xephnid
    Oct 22, 2017
    8
    I wanted to like this game, I really did, and I did rate it an 8 despite how much it annoyed me. XCOM 2 contains a whole lot of improvements over the first one. Even more if you also buy War of the Chosen...

    The maps are more varied. The enemies are more varied. The gameplay has improved quite a bit. Everything looks better. And more... There is a lot to like. But - and this is a big    I wanted to like this game, I really did, and I did rate it an 8 despite how much it annoyed me. XCOM 2 contains a whole lot of improvements over the first one. Even more if you also buy War of the Chosen...

    The maps are more varied. The enemies are more varied. The gameplay has improved quite a bit. Everything looks better. And more... There is a lot to like.

    But - and this is a big one - Firaxis have learned nothing whatsoever about interface design between the two games. Nothing. I have no hope that they ever will.

    Every thirty seconds there is some inane voice-over to tell you perfectly obvious stuff. And to make absolutely positively sure you pay attention to that hideous mix of bad exposition and superfluous tutorial, the game locks the interface, takes camera control away from you and forces you to look at that one thing you don't care about. And because that's not annoying enough, that **** is on repeat. You will hear it again and again and again while screaming "Give me control of the frickin game, dammit!". Sure, some of the exposition and the tutorialising is useful at least halfway through your first playthrough. About mid-game however, it'll start to grate. By the end you will rage and scream "Shut up! Shut up!" while the game noises at you.

    Some people think this game has replay value. I disagree. You will never want to hear from "Central" again. Never. This can be slightly mitigated by installing certain mods, but only slightly.

    I really wanted to like this game. I kinda did. Kinda. I don't regret buying it and its expansion. And, no, I will not buy future Firaxis games. This is it.    … Expand
  19. hokido
    Oct 8, 2016
    9
    After both Valkyrie Chronicles and The Banner Saga this year i was more than happy to jump into another turn based strategy game, this time the follow up to the very good XCOM Enemy Unknown/Within.

    As with the previous game it is a real challenge you have to think constantly, go charging in and you will get slaughtered, patience is the key and there is no better feeling than luring a    After both Valkyrie Chronicles and The Banner Saga this year i was more than happy to jump into another turn based strategy game, this time the follow up to the very good XCOM Enemy Unknown/Within.

    As with the previous game it is a real challenge you have to think constantly, go charging in and you will get slaughtered, patience is the key and there is no better feeling than luring a group of Aliens into a well planned out trap.

    This brings me onto one of the only issues i have with the game time sensitive missions, countless times i have had to rush across the map to secure a piece of Intel or blow something up after which i have to watch my squad get annihilated, because in order to reach the objective in time strategy has to go out of the window.

    This is my only gripe in what otherwise it a top quality turn based strategy game and a great follow up to 2012's XCOM.    … Expand
  20. pelotasDePiedra
    Oct 5, 2016
    10
    Fantastic gama that improves on the first one in every aspect. The difficulty has been ramped up though so you need to be prepared to lose more people this time around. Delicious game regardless!
  21. thrill747
    Sep 30, 2016
    10
    Oh man, such a great game! This review is for the benefit of anyone who might be "on the fence" about getting this game. Basically, if you already played the crap out of XCOM:Enemy Unknown/Enemy Within and are looking for more then you gotta get this game. It does have a few glitches in gameplay and cut-scenes but nothing that ruins the game, stops the game, or ever takes you out of theOh man, such a great game! This review is for the benefit of anyone who might be "on the fence" about getting this game. Basically, if you already played the crap out of XCOM:Enemy Unknown/Enemy Within and are looking for more then you gotta get this game. It does have a few glitches in gameplay and cut-scenes but nothing that ruins the game, stops the game, or ever takes you out of the game. All-in-all it remains a super-challenging and immersive XCOM experience. Highly recommended! Just be sure to save often 'cuz it is not easy!… Expand
  22. mikehettfield
    Oct 7, 2016
    10
    I was having my doubts, but at the end this game Is such a epic one to me, i love the character customization and the setting, is just how strategy games should aim for, I-m so glad it-s on ps4 now so more people get to know thhe series and keep it growing, STOP READING ANYMORE AND GO GET IT!!!! XD
  23. djbarker
    Feb 12, 2018
    8
    I love and hate this game. The tactics you need to succeed are very deep, but the RNG makes me want to scream! The game is improved in every aspect over Xcom, especially as now enemies don't suddenly teleport onto the map and totally disrupt your plans.
    The contols in the ship are clunky and it takes ages to load, both of which become very irritating, but the high challenge of the game    I love and hate this game. The tactics you need to succeed are very deep, but the RNG makes me want to scream! The game is improved in every aspect over Xcom, especially as now enemies don't suddenly teleport onto the map and totally disrupt your plans.
    The contols in the ship are clunky and it takes ages to load, both of which become very irritating, but the high challenge of the game play makes up for these negatives. Highly recommend if you want a game that really makes you think and forces you to gamble.    … Expand
  24. GABRIEL1030
    Oct 16, 2016
    9
    It´s a nice strategy game, the maps are aleatory and the experience is well balanced.

    Presentation 8
    Graphics 8
    Gameplay 8
    Sound 8
    Endless Appeal 9.5

    The game is very satisfactory because every stage is different, the new customization options are welcome.
  25. Markos-
    Feb 13, 2019
    9
    it is true as some say that the game lacks originality. It is, in fact, just "more of the same" if compared to the previous.
    However, this game is in any case great if you do love turn based tactical combat, carefully improving your soldiers and weaponry as you progress. Getting attached to your squad members helps for an added immersion (I recommend to name them after friends, etc... ).    it is true as some say that the game lacks originality. It is, in fact, just "more of the same" if compared to the previous.
    However, this game is in any case great if you do love turn based tactical combat, carefully improving your soldiers and weaponry as you progress. Getting attached to your squad members helps for an added immersion (I recommend to name them after friends, etc... ).
    It is more of the same (really good stuff).    … Expand
  26. iKen
    May 21, 2020
    8
    Played on PS4 Pro.
    Gameplay: GREAT
    Graphic: GREAT
    Story: GOOD
    Music/Sound : GREAT
    Dialogue/Voice Acting: GOOD
  27. Rox22
    Apr 16, 2017
    9
    I was so happy when I heard this was getting a PS4 port. So was it worth the wait? H3ll yeah!

    It took everything great from the last game, and improved upon it. It looks like they did listen to most of the feedback from the previous game. Visually on par with last game with bigger and more varied environments. Even though the game improves on so much it also feels too much like    I was so happy when I heard this was getting a PS4 port. So was it worth the wait? H3ll yeah!

    It took everything great from the last game, and improved upon it. It looks like they did listen to most of the feedback from the previous game.

    Visually on par with last game with bigger and more varied environments.

    Even though the game improves on so much it also feels too much like the game before it. This is not a bad thing, just wish they could have added more new elements eg. ship combat from the original series.

    Also now there is a great and engaging story, delivered far better than the first game with some great and developed characters.

    Overall:
    XCOM 2 is a great improvement and upgrade from the previous game, but does now need some fresh gameplay mechanics for the next game.    … Expand
  28. chrisse989
    Jul 7, 2018
    8
    I love Xcom EU, so was happy with more Xcom when this announced :)
    I enjoy XCOM 2, but less so than EU:
    - You get WAY too much notifications - Maps are random generated and are ok, but after a while feel also very generic. - Load times are a tad long. I don't think that the game is too hard as some commented (comes from a guy who did 70 runs on I/I in EU, 95% fails). What does tick    I love Xcom EU, so was happy with more Xcom when this announced :)
    I enjoy XCOM 2, but less so than EU:
    - You get WAY too much notifications
    - Maps are random generated and are ok, but after a while feel also very generic.
    - Load times are a tad long.

    I don't think that the game is too hard as some commented (comes from a guy who did 70 runs on I/I in EU, 95% fails).
    What does tick me off is that you might encounter a bug playing in Ironman (you only have one save) which ERASES your save. Not fun when you're 15 hours in on the highest difficulty. I've had it in EU too, but only twice on 80 games. In XCOM 2, I had it on my third run... That should have been fixed a long time ago (-1 point of for that)    … Expand
  29. pongkrit03
    Aug 1, 2017
    8
    XCOM 2 is surely a great game, however whether it surpass XCOM1 or not is still uncertain. I am XCOM's veteran and I really have good time with XCOM2. While the battle system is still as satisfying as the same, the management system is changed a lot. Last time, you was in the underground base and intercepted alien UFO with your crafted combated airplane, now your base is within the hugeXCOM 2 is surely a great game, however whether it surpass XCOM1 or not is still uncertain. I am XCOM's veteran and I really have good time with XCOM2. While the battle system is still as satisfying as the same, the management system is changed a lot. Last time, you was in the underground base and intercepted alien UFO with your crafted combated airplane, now your base is within the huge airship, you choose the place to attack instead. It is quite opposite from original and I want to praise the team who come up with this fresh new idea. The graphic looks nice. Difficulty, however, is surely harder than XCOM 1. High cover is not as reliable as it was because most enemies have some skills that can hurt you in some way even you are in cover. Moreover, almost every mission has timer. Therefore, the most effective way to fight in XCOM2 is to go on full aggression, kill enemies before they have chance to retaliate. It is not bad concept but I prefer the old way to have balance in attack and defend. I believe Overwatch got nerfed as well.

    The story mission in XCOM 2 is not as good as XCOM1. I don't feel like I enjoy much of it. The new two managers in your ship (engineer and scientist) are not as memorable as the old ones. I love Dr. Valen and Shen more than these two guys. The ending is not satisfying.

    More importantly from my first playthrough, there were several time that my game was crash. Thankfully, the game has autosave so it did not hurt my progress. The freezing animation happened quite a lot. LOADING TIME IS TOO LONG, I must mention this. Loading time kills enjoyment of the game. It may be better to play with high spec PC rather than PS4

    DLCs are good so far. Strangely, I like the costume dlc which normally I never care about costume in any other game, don't know why.

    In summary, XCOM2 is still a good game. Without crash and long loading time I would give it 9/10, but in my opinion I still love XCOM1 more than XCOM2. I would suggest you to play XCOM2 on PC if you can. The graphic on XCOM2 looks very polished though. For those who never played XCOM1 before I highly recommend you to play XCOM 1 enemy within first, because the price is cheaper, the quality of enjoyment is on par or better and the difficulty is more suitable for new comers. If you like XCOM 1, just grab XCOM 2 and have fun. It is still good game nonetheless.    … Expand
  30. Kai82
    Jan 16, 2021
    10
    A great sequel. The story is set approx 20 years after X-Com Enemy Within / Unknown. Earth has surrendered to the aliens (We would have no sequel otherwise;-). The X-Com project was abandoned and the aliens created a shining new benevolent future for humanity. This is however a facade as they have a more sinister agenda. You are again the commander of X-Com and freed from captivity to beA great sequel. The story is set approx 20 years after X-Com Enemy Within / Unknown. Earth has surrendered to the aliens (We would have no sequel otherwise;-). The X-Com project was abandoned and the aliens created a shining new benevolent future for humanity. This is however a facade as they have a more sinister agenda. You are again the commander of X-Com and freed from captivity to be the leader of the resistance. The aliens and the puppet government troops called Advent will try to stop you. The general gameplay is the same. It is half base management (Development & Research, building, training etc.) and half turn based strategic combat missions. You have a mobile headquarter in form of the Avenger a captured alien supply craft. Here you can build several facilities. There are requirements, building / maintenance costs and of cause you must have enough power supply. Facilities can be upgraded to gain additional benefits. You research new technologies and build weapons / items that help you. Be warned there is a huge mysterious Avatar Project run by the aliens. It is basically a game over timer and it should be a priority to stop them. There will be monthly supply drops and dark events. You get a choice to stop 1 of 3 events and face the disadvantages that go along with the others . These range from don't bother me with this to crippling your efforts. There is a new resource called intel. It is used to contact the resistance on other countries and is a valuable resource. Try to get a good balance with building facilities and researching. Then there are the turn based missions. You send out a squad of soldiers on different types of missions. You have normally a concealment in place as long as you don't attack or be spotted (Use this to full advantage). There are 4 classes of soldiers available with a fifth being unlockable. These are Ranger, Grenadier, Specialist and Sharpshooter. All classes are useful and the extra class requires a bit of research and building but is worth it. The final mission would be far more menacing without 2 members of it in my team. Many staples / features return. Your soldiers level up into a new ranks by defeating enemies. With each rank you can chose 1 of 2 abilities. There are a few interesting builds as there are overlaps and branching parts. Be warned your soldiers can permanently die or be wounded which means unavailability until full recovery. There is again a training facility where you can unlock some benefits if you have a soldier with the needed rank. It should be a no brainer that the squad size upgrades should be high on the list and that you should train a few rookies to have replacements in case of wounded or dead soldiers. There are a few new enemies you must prepared for. Be warned that some missions have a time limit or are more difficult (retaliations for example) if you want to get the best results. As X-Com staple you have a great variety on difficulty settings. The higher once are truly challenging. I recommend a play-trough on lower difficulties to learn the mechanics and then starting with the higher once. The game mechanics overall work well and they mastered the art in giving us more of the same and some additions that are refreshing but not to alienating. The story itself delivers as there are great twist and a strong final. Overall this is an excellent sequel and one of my favorite strategy games. An easy recommendation especially for fans of the genre.… Expand
  31. brandoncargill1
    Oct 20, 2019
    10
    Great game, as long as you don't mind utilizing a quick save. That is an absolute must, unless you want to beat your head against the wall. You definitely earned your progression and I enjoyed the difficulty.
  32. JackytheRipper
    Oct 4, 2020
    9
    Turn based tactics, character development, research and base building, ideally combined
  33. nismo10
    Apr 16, 2017
    10
    Lo mejor que ha jugado en años, es un juego dificil, pero gratificante cuando ganas, es al principio dificil de entender, pero una vez entendido pasarás horas y días enteros disfrutando, lo recomiendo ampliamente.
  34. SrPepe
    Jan 22, 2018
    9
    Un tremendo juego que hace muy buen honor a la primer entrega, muy divertido. Ansioso por el tercero!
  35. marykaymylove
    Feb 9, 2017
    8
    This is the best top down turn based strategy I have ever played but some elements are holding it back and these are:

    1) Lack of character customization unless you buy the DLCs 2) Missing at point blank is complete BS 3) Legendary Ironman is unnecessarily difficult without trying almost 30 times. 4) The performance issues are noticeable especially with the fps drops. 5)    This is the best top down turn based strategy I have ever played but some elements are holding it back and these are:

    1) Lack of character customization unless you buy the DLCs

    2) Missing at point blank is complete BS

    3) Legendary Ironman is unnecessarily difficult without trying almost 30 times.

    4) The performance issues are noticeable especially with the fps drops.

    5) Central. SHUT. YOUR. TRAP.    … Expand
  36. kernowtom
    Jan 2, 2017
    10
    This is my favourite game of 2016. Would highly recommend to anyone who loves turn based games. It is very challenging but never too difficult. The game is a good length and is perfect for multiple playthroughs.
  37. TraceSkipper
    Apr 13, 2017
    10
    Frustrating, stressful and not enjoyable. I played it on easy and I raged quit a few times until i had enough and deleted it. Then I spent a day thinking about what I did. Am I too sensitive to handle these types of experiences? What has happen to me?? So I redownloaded it and for better or worse I am all IN! To make an experience difficult as this is the only way that this game could beFrustrating, stressful and not enjoyable. I played it on easy and I raged quit a few times until i had enough and deleted it. Then I spent a day thinking about what I did. Am I too sensitive to handle these types of experiences? What has happen to me?? So I redownloaded it and for better or worse I am all IN! To make an experience difficult as this is the only way that this game could be made. An Alien race has taken over earth and they are better than you and they know it. So go ahead play it show yourself you can.… Expand
  38. shiftyman
    Dec 9, 2016
    9
    XCOM 2 is the hidden gem on PS4, anyone who is unsure whether to purchase it, like I was, will not be disappointed after a few hours of gameplay. The amount of upgrades and customisations available is amazing and fun. The turn base stragery at times is extremely unforgiving, but rewarding. Just a great game all round.
  39. thatcoolguy222
    Sep 23, 2017
    9
    Amazing game! I just finished the game on easy (since im a noob), and it was an awesome experience. I really liked the fact that every step you take matters (when fighting, but also when upgrading/building). One wrong decision can really screw you up, which makes the game very interesting and tense. In addition there is tons of stuff to research and build. A wide variety of enemies, and aAmazing game! I just finished the game on easy (since im a noob), and it was an awesome experience. I really liked the fact that every step you take matters (when fighting, but also when upgrading/building). One wrong decision can really screw you up, which makes the game very interesting and tense. In addition there is tons of stuff to research and build. A wide variety of enemies, and a wide variety of classes for your team. Each class is very different and can really add something unique to your team. I bought the expansion immediately after finishing :). Only reason i did not gave a 10 is because the game on the PS4 has some bugs and frame rate drops which can be kinda annoying on bigger maps. Also the load times can be pretty long. But for the rest it is an awesome game! If you like a mix of strategy and rpg; BUY IT!… Expand
  40. Dano1871
    Dec 6, 2016
    9
    X-com 2 isn't an RTS. It is a turned based strategy game, not real time so I don't see how someone who has played it is writing that down as a review.
    Anyway the game is great nice graphics and nice game play worth the money
  41. PS4allday
    Dec 28, 2016
    9
    Wow, most of the reviewers are right, this games even better that the previous XCOM. Love the satisfaction you get from progressing thru the game. Building your squad, building new facilities, researching for new gear and items and exploring the map for new adventures. Love the deep strategy required from the gamer to get the most reward from the game. My PS4 version did kick me out toWow, most of the reviewers are right, this games even better that the previous XCOM. Love the satisfaction you get from progressing thru the game. Building your squad, building new facilities, researching for new gear and items and exploring the map for new adventures. Love the deep strategy required from the gamer to get the most reward from the game. My PS4 version did kick me out to main menu once but due to auto-save feature only lost 10 minutes. I have had the game 4 days and already have 20 hours in. Love it!… Expand
  42. Bringo69
    Jan 24, 2017
    8
    I am changing my score from 6 to 8. This is actually a very decent game but you will need to invest time into to understand the mechanisms. Also if you are new to the franchise, you will need to play it on easy.
  43. Thrice_Bitten
    Jan 31, 2017
    8
    Having never played an Xcom game, I wasn’t sure what to expect other than a turn-based action game and I tend to enjoy those. The plot is simple and quickly gets out of the way so that gameplay can take center-stage. Combat proved to be engaging and challenging. Sometimes a scenario would put me in a bad situation, but that felt less like being screwed over and more akin to how real warHaving never played an Xcom game, I wasn’t sure what to expect other than a turn-based action game and I tend to enjoy those. The plot is simple and quickly gets out of the way so that gameplay can take center-stage. Combat proved to be engaging and challenging. Sometimes a scenario would put me in a bad situation, but that felt less like being screwed over and more akin to how real war might throw you a curveball. Some might disagree with me, but I enjoyed that Xcom 2 had a shallow level of customization spread across various frontiers. I never got bogged down trying to choose between a dozen different skills for my soldiers, research paths, weapon upgrades, or facility-builds like some resource management games focus on.

    Everything took a backseat to the combat missions which was my most enjoyable experience with Xcom 2. My one complaint in this area would be that the animations were often basic, repetitive, and did not sync with actions. Often I would find myself unloading a dozen rounds from a machine gun into an Alien’s face, only for the alien to pause for a second then spastically ragdoll around the floor and start clipping into walls. This replaced some of my immersion with chuckles but overall did not ruin the game for me by any means. Xcom 2 is far from perfect but was still an extremely enjoyable game, and I look forward to future installments. I can see myself replaying this game, recommending it to friends, and I may even go back and play Xcom: Enemy Unknown at some point. A solid 8 out of 10.    … Expand
  44. EEKtheratbat
    Mar 20, 2017
    8
    As a fan of the original game i really liked that they brought this to console again, The only downside of this game is that the missions feel repetitive so they have to work on that for a sequal and the loading times are just terrible ( even on the pro ).
  45. siphus007
    Dec 24, 2017
    8
    It's hard to say why, in XCOM 2, Earth has inexplicably lost the war, when you swear you remember a positive ending sequence for the first game.
    ...which is just as inexplicable for how shockingly hard this game is in comparison to the first. While the template remains mostly the same, the tactics change consierably, including the ease of having your whole squad wiped out from one    It's hard to say why, in XCOM 2, Earth has inexplicably lost the war, when you swear you remember a positive ending sequence for the first game.
    ...which is just as inexplicable for how shockingly hard this game is in comparison to the first. While the template remains mostly the same, the tactics change consierably, including the ease of having your whole squad wiped out from one mistake. But I digress.

    Despite various aspects of the game feel downgraded from 1, the story is still compelling, the core gameplay is still a blast, and the constant stream of activities makes this one of the most addictive games I've ever played. I want to say maybe an 8.5, but it leans further towards an 8 due to balancing problems, frustrations, and slightly more visual issues. While XCOM 1 is a must-play and is refreshingly difficult but exquisitely fun, XCOM 2 is simply more of the same with more difficulty and a little less fun.    … Expand
  46. sandroide
    Aug 15, 2017
    9
    Finally a nice game with a fair mechanic although not so deep but ok.
    I liked it and I'm looking forward to buy the next extension! It took too long since the first release and I hope it will be good as well.
  47. MaxsterChief121
    Dec 23, 2017
    8
    XCOM 2 is a fantastic game, filled with lots of fun as well as pain. Although this game is good, the console ports left a little bit to be desired, from glitches, bad frame rate, long load times, and some low textures here and there. Although these are problems I still didn't think it was enough to bring the game down to far, and I believe that XCOM 2 (PS4) is still a very good game, evenXCOM 2 is a fantastic game, filled with lots of fun as well as pain. Although this game is good, the console ports left a little bit to be desired, from glitches, bad frame rate, long load times, and some low textures here and there. Although these are problems I still didn't think it was enough to bring the game down to far, and I believe that XCOM 2 (PS4) is still a very good game, even with these flaws.… Expand
  48. Vitolo98
    Nov 15, 2018
    9
    I love this game. The world is interesting and with great potential. The artstyle is catchy and pretty. The gameplay is addicting, and the game has huge amounts of replayability. The game is dirt cheap, get it. Only cons are the long loading times, and the occasional stutter. But part of that is due to high CPU consumption of this game, which is a Achilles heel for the beloved PS4 hardware.
  49. Cocaine
    Mar 24, 2020
    8
    I really love this first X-com. And the second part is good too but not better then the first one. Advantages and disadvantages of the second part:
    "+"
    1. Great squad customization 2. Lot of interesting equpment which creates interesting tactics possibilities 3. Melee combat 4. Nice strategical part on the Avanger 5. Plot is good enough for strategical game "-" 1. MISSES in are    I really love this first X-com. And the second part is good too but not better then the first one. Advantages and disadvantages of the second part:
    "+"
    1. Great squad customization
    2. Lot of interesting equpment which creates interesting tactics possibilities
    3. Melee combat
    4. Nice strategical part on the Avanger
    5. Plot is good enough for strategical game
    "-"
    1. MISSES in are short distance, when you have 95+ accuaracy you always thinking that it must be MISS, this force you to use guns only when miss is not critical for you or your gadjets and abilities are on cooldown.
    2. Plot on the first part was better
    3. Bad optimization, long loadings screens    … Expand
  50. Knight_Shade
    Feb 2, 2019
    10
    I've always been a fan of Turn-based strategies since Rebel Star, Laser Squad etc. and I've enjoyed most of the XCom games so maybe I am biased in my opinion but this version lived up to my expectations.

    This is an excellent revamp and extension of the old classics with a great storyline and new characters and weapons. I played it on normal settings and finished it, although it is hard    I've always been a fan of Turn-based strategies since Rebel Star, Laser Squad etc. and I've enjoyed most of the XCom games so maybe I am biased in my opinion but this version lived up to my expectations.

    This is an excellent revamp and extension of the old classics with a great storyline and new characters and weapons. I played it on normal settings and finished it, although it is hard / impossible to keep your favourite characters alive all the way through without some luck.

    Highly recommend to anyone who likes the genre. Still the best of the bunch imo.    … Expand
  51. gqmasters3
    Oct 31, 2019
    10
    This game is superb. I am really surprised the user score is so low; I can only imagine people didn't like how hard the game is so they decided to cry a fit over it, but I don't know that for sure. XCOM2 is a lot of fun, challenging and it has a replay value through the roof. I highly recommend this game if you like turn based tactical RPGS.
  52. Xcommander
    Sep 30, 2019
    10
    The XCOM 2 was amazing game but incomplete until war of the chosen expansion.i recommend if you want to play XCOM 2 buy war of the chosen expansion that complete game in every aspect
  53. Sylaman
    Nov 10, 2019
    8
    I liked this game a lot! I'm fan of Strategy and RPG games, and here these two genres are combined. XCOM 2 captured me for a long time.
    The only con is absence of big variability in soldiers development, variants are very limited.
  54. Ciboxes
    Dec 8, 2019
    8
    Lo bueno, un juego a la altura de su antecesor, buena historia, gráficamente no es perfecto pero esta muy bien. Lo malo, tiempos de carga largos, fallos gráficos, que ya no deberían de pasar, después de varias actualizaciones
  55. Biberattacke
    May 1, 2020
    8
    Das ist das erste mal, dass ich mir ein Spiel aus der berühmten Xcom Reihe gekauft habe.
    Ich wusste zwar grundlegend worum es im Spiel geht, hatte aber keine Spielerfahrung.
    Grundsätzlich kann man sagen, dass mich das Spiel wirklich überzeugt hat. Das rundenbasierende Spielsystem mit ihren in einer Runde geteilten 2 Zügen erscheint sinnvoll und geht recht schnell in Fleisch und Blut    Das ist das erste mal, dass ich mir ein Spiel aus der berühmten Xcom Reihe gekauft habe.
    Ich wusste zwar grundlegend worum es im Spiel geht, hatte aber keine Spielerfahrung.
    Grundsätzlich kann man sagen, dass mich das Spiel wirklich überzeugt hat. Das rundenbasierende Spielsystem mit ihren in einer Runde geteilten 2 Zügen erscheint sinnvoll und geht recht schnell in Fleisch und Blut über.
    Da ich leider mich als Anfänger fühlte, habe ich die leichteste Schwierigkeitsstufe gewählt (Rekrut). Das ist nicht uneingeschränkt zu empfehlen. Es wird nachdem man Mechanik Verständnis und Missionserfahrung gesammelt hat recht leicht, fast schon zu leicht und das obwohl man Anfänger ist. Trotzdem hat mich das Spiel gut unterhalten und ich werde mindestens nochmal auf der Stufe Veteran das Spiel durchspielen und/oder sogar noch die Erweiterung "War of the Chosen" spielen.
    Per Summa also eine absolute Kaufempfehlung !    … Expand
  56. monks99
    Jun 20, 2020
    9
    So much fun but difficult at first. But great! Just great! I hope there are more games like this.
  57. Nerevarinho
    Jul 4, 2020
    8
    Would reload savegame again. But loading time is too long.
    ................
  58. Scebol
    Aug 5, 2023
    9
    Non sono un amante della fantascienza ma amo i giochi a turni e xcom 2 è sicuramente uno dei migliori. Le uniche pecche sono alcuni bug e i tempi di caricamento biblici, che pero' si riducono drasticamente se lo si gioca su ps5
  59. ZeroV
    Nov 21, 2019
    10
    - finished couple of times, including War of The Chosen
    - playing on legend difficulty now and loving it
    - graphics 10/10, story 8/10, DLCs 9/10, gameplay 9/10, soundtrack 7/10 - loading screens are definitely not something for the impatient - space orientation sometimes requires higher precision due to some level complexities - great challenge, intuitive learning curve - a minor    - finished couple of times, including War of The Chosen
    - playing on legend difficulty now and loving it
    - graphics 10/10, story 8/10, DLCs 9/10, gameplay 9/10, soundtrack 7/10

    - loading screens are definitely not something for the impatient
    - space orientation sometimes requires higher precision due to some level complexities
    - great challenge, intuitive learning curve
    - a minor rendering glitches, mostly humorous but not game breaking
    - the game constatly pushes you to do better no matter how good you think you were → thats my favorite aspect, its like an aggressive super hyped over enthusiastic proactive chess couch (with lasers)    … Expand
  60. bergcamp101
    Feb 21, 2021
    9
    I give it 9, because overall experience was impressive, which is great, but there are so many problems... FPS is so low, and it's a turn-based tactics! Loading times are infinite. I bet they did it on purpose, so you couldn't reload your move too often... And those hit percentages are just preposterous. You know that feeling, when you shoot 6 times in one alien, and miss 5 times, but whenI give it 9, because overall experience was impressive, which is great, but there are so many problems... FPS is so low, and it's a turn-based tactics! Loading times are infinite. I bet they did it on purpose, so you couldn't reload your move too often... And those hit percentages are just preposterous. You know that feeling, when you shoot 6 times in one alien, and miss 5 times, but when the enemy shoots from the same position, he does critical hit...… Expand
  61. X-comfan18
    Apr 27, 2021
    10
    The best turn based UFO Defence game that I've played.

    XCOM was Great. XCOM has further built up on it's strengths and created an even better product with Updated Graphics and Campaign. Every single DLC had a profound impact on gameplay and refined it even further.

    Grab the complete XCOM2 bungle for best experience.
  62. michaeljhuman
    Feb 14, 2022
    10
    This is based on playing more recently than a lot of these reviews, and on a PC. I don't have the issues others have. Also, I have War of the Chosen installed, which might change how the base game plays even when not doing WOTC.

    Ok, I consider this one of my favorite games ever. Hard, sure. But rewarding. It took me time to learn how to deal with some of the challenges. But I have    This is based on playing more recently than a lot of these reviews, and on a PC. I don't have the issues others have. Also, I have War of the Chosen installed, which might change how the base game plays even when not doing WOTC.

    Ok, I consider this one of my favorite games ever. Hard, sure. But rewarding. It took me time to learn how to deal with some of the challenges. But I have beat it quite a few times, not sure what difficulty levels.

    War Of the Chosen adds interesting, though sometimes stressful challenges. I would say play the base game first, and beat it. Then take on WOTC.

    There's a fair amount of customization of difficulty. For example, in my game, I can double the turn timers.

    Reading the reviews, I can see this is not for everyone. I don't know if the game was buggy in earlier versions, and/or if WOTC has improved things a lot. But I loved the game BEFORE buying WOTC.

    Yeah, 10/10 seems high, but this game made me want to keep going back and restarting, and trying different ideas.    … Expand
  63. Smiler78
    Dec 20, 2022
    8
    This is a pretty damn good game. Exactly what an turn based strategy game should be. The best strategy game on ps4 BY FAR. (We need more like this) A good variety of aliens to combat keeps the game interesting. The power ups and new items keep you wanting to come back. I just wish it lasted longer. Highly recommended. Good job. One of the only games I will not delete because I will comeThis is a pretty damn good game. Exactly what an turn based strategy game should be. The best strategy game on ps4 BY FAR. (We need more like this) A good variety of aliens to combat keeps the game interesting. The power ups and new items keep you wanting to come back. I just wish it lasted longer. Highly recommended. Good job. One of the only games I will not delete because I will come back and play it again.… Expand
  64. Shortbuss1211
    Nov 27, 2022
    10
    This game can be very frustrating at times.. you will either hate it or love it ..one of my top ten list but so is Final Fantasy so take it as it is .. opinion
  65. Yojimbo2015
    May 20, 2023
    10
    The seminal turn-based strategy game returns with some upgraded visuals and a conscious attempt to inject a bit more variety into the missions and maps. As with a lot of strategy sequels, some of the tinkering seems to be there for its own sake and adds a layer of complexity without really adding to the enjoyment. For this reason it doesn't quite capture the imagination in the same way asThe seminal turn-based strategy game returns with some upgraded visuals and a conscious attempt to inject a bit more variety into the missions and maps. As with a lot of strategy sequels, some of the tinkering seems to be there for its own sake and adds a layer of complexity without really adding to the enjoyment. For this reason it doesn't quite capture the imagination in the same way as Enemy Within, but it's a top notch strategy title nonetheless.… Expand
  66. TianLong1
    Mar 31, 2023
    9
    Great turn-based tactical RPG with loads and loads of customization for your soldiers, even better than its previous release. There is a lot of different maps and types of enemies which make the game harder as you progress. I wish there were more types of objectives aside from attacking a base/payload or saving civilians, it can get a bit repetitive.

Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best PS4 Game of 2016
32
#32 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2016
34
#34 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. RPGamer
    Jan 3, 2018
    80
    XCOM 2 doesn't reinvent the wheel, which is a good thing. It takes the lion's share of the gameplay from the last game and embeds it into the new game's foundation, shifting around some pieces to support the new gameplay fixtures without really altering the heart of the experience. With new soldier classes, enemy types, mission objectives, an all-new base, and a story built on losing the invasion the last time around, the new game provides the same intense combat experience and resource management series veterans expect. It ups the ante in terms of difficulty, and the result is a nail-biting game of close calls and narrow victories. While this may turn off some, it provides an amazing feeling of victory when one finds the sweet spot between keeping troops alive and advancing the long-term narrative-driving projects.
    Read full review
  2. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Nov 27, 2016
    90
    While it’s a shade short of perfect, there is no comparison: you will find no finer strategy game on PS4. [Christmas 2016, p64]
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Nov 21, 2016
    90
    No mere sequel, XCOM 2 reshapes everything with lots of success. It won't coddle you, and the invisible dice hate you, but overcoming these odds is as sweet as ever. [Dec 2016, p.72]
See all critic reviews »