Xcom 2 (2016)

Author: 2k Games

XCOM was a hard game. Have a squad member die once, and they're gone forever. Make a wrong decision, and the life of the human race could be forfeit. In the second installment, that scenario has already played out. The aliens have won the war, and humans only exist in tiny pockets of resistance. It's no surprise then, that XCOM 2 is even more difficult than its predecessor. The odds are stacked against you from the start, and the introduction of new enemies introduces early mind control mechanics that wreak havoc on an inexperienced team. It feels like a natural progression for the series, and brings more to the turn-based title than improved graphics. Mechanics like procedurally generated maps and objectives lend themselves very well to replayability in this sequel, meaning you can't simply predict what happens. It adds yet more difficulty, but Fireaxis offsets that somewhat with more forgiving extraction mechanics and better progression. Add to that the new classes, and XCOM 2 becomes incredibly fun. It has the same endless customization as the first game, but this time it extends it further, to your ship and weaponry. As you fight your way past aliens, the story of humanity's last stand will slowly unfold, joined by stellar voice acting and animation. However, the real emotion in XCOM is what you add to it – the sentiment you attach to your squad, often named after friends or loved ones. The game lets you build your own subplot, and the power of that can't be understated.