On This Day in Gaming: February 4, 2016

February 4, 2016 was a big day for strategy gamers everywhere. First up, Firaxis delivered the highly anticipated follow-up to the 2012 Game of the Year, XCOM® 2. Right around then, Valve teased its upcoming Steam Lunar New Year Sale, and Microsoft kicked off the marketing push for Rise of the Tomb Raider on PC. In a week full of discounts and major news, Firaxis quietly showed us that smart tactics can still steal the spotlight.

A Story That Sparks the Rebellion

Twenty years after Earth’s surrender, XCOM is in ruins. Now, the planet is under an eerie alien rule, with ADVENT drones broadcasting their propaganda day and night. From the hidden hangar of your new mobile HQ, the Avenger, you step in as Commander. Your mission? Rebuild XCOM and unite scattered resistance cells into a world-wide insurgency.

  • Hidden threats revealed: ADVENT’s “bright future” sells safety, but hides forced labor and secret experiments.

  • Build your base on wheels: Turn an alien supply ship into your HQ, customizing everything from training facilities to weapon workshops.

  • Global strategy: Juggle research, recruit more fighters, and keep enemy forces in check on a dynamic world map.

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Streamlined Guerilla Warfare in XCOM 2

Whether you love speedruns or careful planning, XCOM 2’s turn-based missions have plenty to offer:

  1. Stealth and ambush: Pick your moment to strike—move in unseen or lock down foes with overwatch fire.

  2. Five soldier classes: From Rangers and Grenadiers to Psi Operatives, each class has its own skill tree, so you can mix and match to find your perfect team.

  3. Ever-changing missions: Rescue VIPs, raid facilities, and more—procedural maps keep each run feeling fresh.

  4. Scavenge resources: Loot ADVENT troops for gear and research components to upgrade your soldiers and unlock new tech.

Pro Tip from SpeedyGamer99: Always end your turn hidden when you teleport a Ranger behind enemy lines. One surprise strike can clear two troopers before they even see you. Perfect for shaving precious seconds off timed missions.

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Cinematic Look and Sound

Powered by Unreal Engine 3, XCOM 2 brings war-torn cities and overgrown alien outposts to life. Here’s what stands out:

  • Art style: Bright ADVENT propaganda towers tower over cracked streets and graffiti-covered barricades—showing both alien control and human defiance.

  • Soundtrack: Michael McCann’s haunting score builds tension, while every gunshot and robot shriek keeps you on edge.

  • Cleaner UI: Redesigned panels make it easier to pick abilities and plan combo moves—critical when you’ve got a dozen soldiers spread across dangerous maps.

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What Players Are Saying

On Steam, XCOM 2 holds an 86% “Very Positive” rating from over 400 recent reviews—and an overall 84% positive score from more than 73,000 total reviews.

Fans love:

  • Fresh takes on base management

  • Strong mod support that keeps adding new content

  • Deep class customization and memorable, player-driven stories

Common gripes:

  • Sometimes soldiers pathfind strangely

  • A bit of luck can decide mission layouts

  • New players may find the learning curve steep

Luckily, the Workshop is packed with mods that fix most small annoyances—everything from faster load times to better sniper scopes.

Gamer Tip Even if a map funnels you into narrow streets, smart use of grenades and Psi powers can turn the tide. Keep an eye on choke points and focus fire when it counts.

In her analytical deep dives, SpeedyGamer99 notes: “While map generation can sometimes funnel your squad into funnel-choked streets, careful use of grenades and Psi powers almost always flips the odds. Watch for choke points and bosses—knowing when to kite and when to concentrate fire is the secret sauce of sub-hour mission clears.”

Why XCOM 2 Still Matters

Back in 2016, XCOM 2 helped bring turn-based tactics back into the spotlight. Proving you don’t need twitch reflexes to make a great game. Its success inspired indies like BattleTech and Mutant Year Zero, and showed how a vibrant mod community can keep a game fresh for years.

By blending a gripping story with player-driven surprises, Firaxis raised the bar for strategy games. Today, speedrunners still hunt new records, finding ever-smarter ways to clear missions faster.

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Add XCOM 2 to your Steam collection!