If some apocalyptic event forced me to seal myself in a vault with just a single video game, XCOM 2 would be the one for me. No other game has given me such deeply satisfying tactical fun with near infinite replayability. I didn’t think the formula could get much better after Enemy Unknown, but XCOM 2 somehow took that gem and polished it to an even brighter shine.

The measured use of proc-gen for the maps, new classes and items, more diverse mission types, and vastly improved UI were all welcome, exciting changes. The timed missions were a bit contentious when it was introduced, but to me this was a much needed counterweight that kept the game right on balance between slow, methodical tactics and aggressive, calculated gambits.

And much like Enemy Within, I think the War of the Chosen DLC has become a crucial part of the complete XCOM 2 experience. The Chosen enemies and the new faction classes added great variety and replayability, and I especially enjoyed how the new bits of lore and campy storylines integrated so seamlessly into the emergent narratives. I’m sure every XCOM fan has a tale about a heartbreaking loss of their cherished Reaper, or a pitched battle for survival against a Chosen’s base assault. The DLCs really set XCOM 2 apart as a unique game with its own flavor and not just an iteration of its predecessor’s formula.

Years ago, I was introduced to the genre of turn-based tactics games with XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and for better or worse I was left chasing that incredible high ever since. The only other game that could provide that perfect mixture of strategy, risk management, and the iconic kick of RNG was none other than XCOM 2. While the sequel largely supplanted this one in terms of pure gameplay, every once in a while I still get the hankering to start a campaign in this atmospheric sci-fi horror setting to beat down aliens with my stompy mech soldiers.

But why was I so instantly captivated by this game? This wasn’t something I could easily answer at first while getting thoroughly obliterated as a newbie commander. That first campaign was confusing, brutal, yet still inexplicably fun. 1000 hours of play later, I’ve come to the conclusion that XCOM has the most perfect loop of interesting decisions and significant consequences constantly alternating one after another, keeping players invested all the way up until the endgame. The choices are weighty, varied, difficult but still intuitive to understand. Whether things go right or wrong, both newbies and veterans can always uncover a new layer of strategic depth.

I was hooked on this rapid and dynamic loop of learning, adapting, and gradually molding my troops into badass alien killers. My first campaign didn’t go very well, but as soon as it ended I was pumped to start the journey again with the knowledge that I had gained through my mistakes. Then I did it again, and again, until I finally won my first classic ironman campaign after a long, bloody war with a death toll in the 50s. That victory was one of the most memorable gaming moments in my life, and something I always hope to experience again when playing other strategy games.