Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Expansion to a violent and mature strategy sci-fi game.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
XCOM: Enemy Within
What's It About?
Developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K Games, XCOM: ENEMY WITHIN is an expansion pack that requires last year's XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Like the full game, Enemy Within is a turn-based strategy game that tells of an alien invasion on Earth, and you're tasked with commanding a number of soldiers to take out the intergalactic threat. Playing from an angled, top-down perspective, you'll take turns with the enemies, on various maps, to destroy them one by one. This expansion disc adds new operative abilities to fight two new aliens (Mechtoid and the Seeker) and an underground human organization hoping to gain control of Earth, too. XCOM: Enemy Within also includes a large number of new solo and multiplayer maps (almost 50 percent more than last year's game) along with new weapons and upgrades.
Is It Any Good?
If you liked last year's XCOM: Enemy Unknown you'll love XCOM: Enemy Within. Along with 40 more (and better) maps, there's the new enemy faction (rebel humans called the EXALT), which spices things up, along with new weapons, an alien resource ("Meld"), and new soldier abilities: "gene mods" (so you can genetically enhance your troops into super soldiers) and MECs (Mechanized Exoskeletal Cybersuits, each with weapons including a flamethrower). Although it would've been nicer if it were cheaper than $40 (or $30 for PC), this expansion does exactly what a good add-on should: deliver a ton of new content and refinements over the original game. Note: All three versions of the game are the same.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Expansion discs that require a game to work aren't as popular as they once were -- now, it's usually a digital download as "DLC" (downloadable content), if anything -- so do gamers still want a game like this one? A way to get more content without paying for a whole new game? Or should it be free?
What do you think the impact of violence is on players?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
- Subjects : Social Studies : citizenship , Language & Reading : following directions , reading , Science : energy
- Skills : Self-Direction : goal-setting , time management , work to achieve goals , Thinking & Reasoning : decision-making , strategy , thinking critically
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : 2K Games
- Release date : November 12, 2013
- Genre : Strategy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , STEM
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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