XCOM 2, the turn-based tactics game from Firaxis, celebrates its 10th anniversary amid reflections on its frustrating yet brilliant design. Released a decade ago, the title continues to captivate players through its challenging gameplay and vibrant modding community. Developers and fans alike highlight its enduring appeal in recent features.
XCOM 2 launched 10 years ago as a Firaxis-developed turn-based tactics game set in a sci-fi world where players command an elite squad against alien invaders. The game's core appeal lies in its class-based tactical gameplay, allowing soldiers to specialize in roles like the versatile Sharpshooter, who can switch between sniper and pistol expert modes. Players customize units with colors and outfits, fostering deep investment in characters, such as a Swedish Grenadier named Paul in one player's anecdote.
Iconic moments define the experience, including near-guaranteed shots missing despite high hit chances, often against foes like Mutons or Sectoids. Boss encounters, such as sudden appearances by massive enemies like frost snakes during missions, add tension, forcing adaptation without save-scumming. Regular threats, like Sectopods emerging from the fog of war, compound the challenge, alongside resource management hurdles, such as 10-day missions to Brazil for upgrades while alien forces advance.
A decade on, XCOM 2 remains highly playable, bolstered by frequent Steam discounts and extensive community mods. Popular additions include quality-of-life tweaks from Stop Wasting My Time and Evac All, alongside creative options like turning soldiers into cacti or enabling romance between units. Size Five Games director Dan Marshall exemplifies its draw, logging 219 hours in the game on his PC, far outpacing his 20 minutes in Fallout.
As one retrospective notes, 'XCOM 2 is an all-timer, one that still has a home in my installed Steam library a decade later.' Its blend of narrative, design, and permadeath risks ensures lasting memories of triumph and heartbreak.
