How Many Hours to Beat XCOM? A Comprehensive Guide
Figuring out how long it takes to beat an XCOM game is not as straightforward as it might seem. The series, known for its deep tactical gameplay and significant replayability, offers a wide range of completion times depending on your playstyle. The simple answer is: it varies greatly. For XCOM: Enemy Unknown, focusing on the main objectives can take around 26½ hours. However, for completionists, aiming to see all aspects of the game, expect to invest closer to 67 hours. With XCOM 2, while the core game is typically faster to complete, the addition of expansions and achievement hunting can skyrocket playtime. Let’s break down these numbers and explore the factors that influence game length in the XCOM franchise.
Factors Influencing XCOM Playtime
The length of your XCOM experience is significantly influenced by how you approach the game. Here are some key elements that contribute to varying playtime:
Main Objectives vs. Completionism
A player solely focused on completing the main story arc in either XCOM: Enemy Unknown or XCOM 2 will naturally finish much faster than someone aiming for 100% completion. This includes completing every research project, developing all available gear, maxing out soldier ranks, and tackling every side mission. The nature of XCOM games allows you to engage with as much or as little side content as you wish, impacting your playtime significantly.
Difficulty Level
Your chosen difficulty level also plays a role. Higher difficulty settings often necessitate more tactical planning and careful resource management, leading to longer missions. Players on easier difficulties might breeze through encounters, decreasing overall playtime. Additionally, failing missions can reset progress in permadeath modes, potentially extending game time considerably.
Expansion Content
Both XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2 have expansions that dramatically expand content and gameplay. The Enemy Within expansion for XCOM: Enemy Unknown and War of the Chosen for XCOM 2 add new enemies, missions, soldier classes, and systems. These expansions alone can easily add dozens of hours to your overall playtime. For instance, a complete playthrough of XCOM 2 with War of the Chosen will take significantly longer than a vanilla run.
Tactical Playstyle and Game Knowledge
Experienced players familiar with the game mechanics and optimal strategies will often complete campaigns faster than first-timers who are still learning the ropes. Tactical competence and efficiency in combat engagements are crucial for streamlining mission completion, which in turn impacts playtime.
Long War
The infamous Long War mod significantly increases the complexity and length of XCOM: Enemy Unknown. This overhaul adds new classes, abilities, equipment, and expands the strategic layer of the game. Players who delve into Long War can easily accumulate hundreds if not thousands of hours.
XCOM 2 Playtime Specifics
While XCOM 2’s core campaign can be completed faster than the first game by players going straight for the main mission objectives, aiming for complete achievement completion extends playtime significantly. The estimated time to complete all 50 XCOM 2 achievements is between 150-200 hours, based on data from multiple completion tracking sources. This indicates the depth and potential for replayability offered by the game.
The non-linearity of XCOM 2 also impacts playtime. The game features a “doomsday” meter that accelerates as the aliens develop stronger tech. Players must manage this threat while pursuing main objectives and optional side missions. However, this meter can be manipulated, allowing players to spend an indefinite amount of time in a single campaign, provided blacksites are regularly destroyed, thus preventing the alien progress.
Related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the playtime of the XCOM franchise:
Is XCOM 1 or 2 better?
XCOM 2 is generally considered the better game overall. While both are excellent, XCOM 2 offers more variety in enemies and playstyles. However, both games have their charms. The recommended experience involves playing XCOM: Enemy Within (the complete edition of XCOM 1), then moving on to XCOM 2 with War of the Chosen.
Is XCOM or XCOM 2 easier?
XCOM 2 is often considered easier on Veteran and Commander difficulty settings compared to XCOM: Enemy Unknown. However, XCOM 2 is much harder on Legendary difficulty than the previous game on Impossible. The removal of time restraints from the first game’s turn mechanics also made it more forgiving.
Is XCOM 2 a long game?
Yes, XCOM 2 can be a long game, especially if you aim to complete all of its achievements or fully explore all content from the base game, DLC, and modded content. Even just a single playthrough can take up to 50+ hours for new players.
Can you play XCOM 2 infinitely?
Yes, you can effectively play XCOM 2 infinitely. The game will keep spawning missions until you decide to complete the final mission. The alien’s doomsday meter can also be managed, allowing you to prolong a campaign indefinitely.
Who is the strongest character in XCOM 2?
Many players agree that the Reaper class is often considered the strongest and best class in XCOM 2. Its stealth capabilities and unique abilities often put them at an advantage. The Grenadier and Ranger classes also come highly recommended.
Is XCOM worth playing after XCOM 2?
Yes, XCOM: Enemy Within is absolutely worth playing even after XCOM 2. It provides a different experience, with aspects that XCOM 2 does not offer, such as a different tech tree and many core systems with variations. It’s not just a straight downgrade, but rather a distinct game.
Do I need to play XCOM in order?
It’s recommended to start with XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Enemy Within. Bureau: XCOM Declassified is a spin-off and not essential to the series, and is generally considered to be not as strong of a game as the mainline XCOM games.
What order should I build in XCOM 2?
A balanced build order for XCOM 2 is generally: Advanced Warfare Centre > Guerrilla Training School > Power Relay > Resistance Comms > Proving Grounds > Psi Lab.
How many years between XCOM 1 and 2?
XCOM 2 takes place 20 years after the events of XCOM: Enemy Unknown.
How many endings does XCOM have?
There are essentially two endings in XCOM: Enemy Unknown: winning, by completing the final mission, or losing by having eight nations leave the XCOM project. There is an additional condition to win, in that the volunteer chosen to go inside the final chamber, the gallop chamber, must survive.
What does Long War add to XCOM?
Long War adds numerous new classes, abilities, weapons, armor, and items, as well as soldier fatigue and improvements to alien units over time, significantly increasing the game’s complexity and length.
What is the most op weapon in XCOM 2?
The Plasma Bolt Caster is considered the most powerful weapon in XCOM 2 in terms of raw damage per shot, although it requires reloading after every shot.
Can you lose at XCOM?
Yes, you can lose in XCOM by failing crucial missions or letting key characters die, specifically failing an Avenger defense mission (which means your base is overrun).
Does XCOM 2 continue after ending?
No, once you complete the final mission the campaign ends. However, you can start a new game with the Ironman mode enabled, or start a new game after completion.
Is it okay to lose soldiers in XCOM 2?
Yes, losing soldiers is a normal part of the XCOM experience. You are meant to lose soldiers, and missions from time to time, and must learn to adapt and continue on.
Conclusion
The playtime for an XCOM game varies greatly. While a focused campaign might take around 26½ hours in XCOM: Enemy Unknown and is similar for XCOM 2, completionists can easily spend 60+ hours on a single playthrough in either game. The inclusion of expansions like Enemy Within and War of the Chosen, or mods like Long War, will dramatically increase total playtime. Understanding your playstyle and goals is key to estimating your playtime in the demanding, tactical world of XCOM. Whether you enjoy rushing through the story or meticulously planning every move, the XCOM series provides plenty of options to tailor your gaming experience.