How Long is the XCOM Campaign?
XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a turn-based tactics game where players take control of the XCOM defense force against an alien invasion. But how long will it take to complete the campaign?
Main Game Completion
According to reports, the main campaign can be completed in about 26½ hours, assuming the player focuses on the primary objectives. This time can vary depending on the difficulty level and playstyle of the player. For players who strive for 100% completion, including obtaining all achievements and exploring the game’s lore, it can take significantly longer – around 67 hours.
Breaking Down the Mission Completion
Breaking down the mission completion further, players can expect:
- Early missions to be relatively easy and quick to complete
- Mid-game missions to become more challenging and demanding on resources
- Later missions to require careful strategic planning and coordination
It’s worth noting that mission completion times vary depending on the difficulty level. Playing on higher difficulty levels, such as Classic Ironman or Impossible difficulty, can significantly increase playtime and challenge.
Is there an End to XCOM?
Contrary to popular belief, there isn’t a ‘true end’ to the XCOM campaign. Yes, the game has two main storylines: killing the Priests at the Temple Ship (winning the game) or failing the mission to kill the priests and facing the consequences of 8 nations leaving the XCOM project (losing the game).
Losing Soldiers and Its Consequences
losing soldiers is an integral part of the XCOM experience. Rookies or early-game characters may succumb to combat, leaving players to manage the impact on their overall strategy.
How Many Endings Does XCOM Have?
There are only two main endings in XCOM 2. These endings can be attributed to the win/lose condition of killing the priests at the Temple Ship:
- Winning (killing the priests) – achieve a sense of victory as you’ve eliminated the threat
- Losing (failure to kill priests) – face the harsh consequences as 8 nations abandon the XCOM project
These endings can further be categorized based on another condition – the survival of the volunteer (the soldier used in the Gallop Chamber).
Conclusion
XCOM: Enemy Unknown offers an engaging and immersive campaign, with a story that will keep players enthralled for hours on end. With a total playtime of around 26½ hours for the main game and 67 hours for 100% completion, XCOM’s campaign presents a significant amount of game content.
Additionally, losing soldiers, while detrimental to the gameplay experience, is an intrinsic part of the game design, while the two possible endings (winning/losing) offer a degree of variety and replay value.