Buy this game with all of its "DLCs" in cluding its Expansion 'War of the Chosen' (this is actualy an enhanced version of XCOM 2, don't try to play the game without 'War of the Chosen' becuase new mods only work for WotC)

Played this game using "XCOM2_AlternativeModLauncher" becuase the defualt Launcher from 2k doesn't works with mods. Used the AML version 1.5.0

This game is a paradise for Steam workshop mods, used around 650 mods and it didn't break the game as long as your let the game start up (for me it was around 2 min until the game launched).

My advice is to play it with mods and look for Steam Workshop mods that you like "BEFORE" you start up your first campain. Just press "suscribe" on the mod page to add it into your game and check the Mod name checkbox on AML list before you launch the game using AML.

The best mods are the 'sound pack compatibility' for your units and the 'Tau Armaments' because they add the Vesper Armor that gives you "Warp" teleport. That way you can flank or escape situations the would mean dead for your soldier.

Best tactic is to save your game each turn, that way you can re-think of change your plan that turn when you reload. Try to keep at least 5 save files(2 before the mission and 3 for in-game mission)

Give this game a chance if you like games like Baldur's Gate

Where to start with X-com 2......humor, frustration, and moments of pure euphoria in equal measure are indelible parts of this game. I will start with what I love and finish with what I hate about this game. Full disclosure, I have never played the original series and so cannot compare then. I also modded the crap out of both one and two so the plethora of amazing work from the modding community turned a fun game into a masterpiece.
So what are some good points? The graphics are crisp, clean and pretty, even on an older computer. The action is fairly consistent and stays engaging for most of the game with new upgrades and enemies. Being able to customize your soldiers makes you really care about them and is one of the best parts of the game (though mods vs no mods is no comparison..). Even the hokey little picture mechanic they added in a DLC, which often glitches is cool when working and good for a laugh when not. When I saw my first poster I had created plastered on a wall in the middle of a battle, my mouth was open for a few seconds. The levels vary enough to be more fun then I first thought it would be and the base building, while very limited, is fun enough for a side mechanic. Music is decent too.

Get ready for some bad news though.... Optimization for the game is mud level, with even high end computers often struggling to load, stuttering throughout levels and all sorts of jank and crash city. Admittedly, the base game got better over the years but with mods on, and you need mods on, it all comes back again with a real vengeance. I have had the game for many years and have many more hours than listed playing and I still have not finished a game. Partly because i'm mod obsessed but the other part is that the game is just that badly put together. How could a team that made such a diamond of a game also make the same game such a disaster? Regardless, getting it to run smoothly, especially with mods (which you need), is a serious hassle and for some an impossibility. Certain mechanics that actually work in-game will have you pulling your hair out at times too, such as the RNG elements when deciding hits, misses and damage. It is so wonky that many have quit the game because of it. For example, a 99% shot will often miss and a 2% shot hits more often than it has any right to. Is that the true outcome of a percentage based system? Well, yes it is but it is infuriating beyond comparison and more often than not it is seems to be so unfairly skewed as to be labeled a cheat mechanic for the AI.

These two faults alone were enough for many to leave this game behind forever but the DLC cash grabs and difficulty balancing issues as well as some lackluster boss fights tipped the scales. In parting I would just say this. Do I recommend this game? Yes I do, because I love it and most strategy fans with patience and an interest in aliens will most likely love it too. But if this game doesnt grab your attention initially and you do not intend to mess with mods, I would advise you to give it a pass. Without the mods it can really me a mess. Looking back on the game without my mods it seems pretty boring to me now too, but I totally ruined it for myself from that perspective. If you like the descr. and WILL mess with mods though, 100% get this game right now.

Not recommended for lower end devices. I set the graphics settings to minimal and the resolution as far down as it would around and it still looked like I was watching a poorly spaced out PowerPoint. Don't even get me STARTED on how unintuitive modding has been. I would have loved the game I'm sure, but it's just... Know what? Not gonna sugar coat it. As it is now, it's SUCH. ♥♥♥♥.