XCOM: Enemy Within - 8 Reasons It Is 2012 & 2013’s Game Of The Year

1. €œJust One More Mission€...at 3am

It's one of those Facebook group-esque "That awkward moment when" times, where you realise the clock has ticked over into the early hours of the following day. It's a feeling of being one with the game you're playing, and if you've never had this experience, you've just not been playing the right titles. The best games will grab you palm-to-shoulder and keep you riveted throughout their playtime, trickling in the evolutions to their mechanics in a way that knocks you for a loop, but catches you at the same time. XCOM is such a game, and although Enemy Unknown had it's fair share of management menus, Within throws a staggering amount of customisation and tactile options your way throughout the first few hours of the game, yet continues to expand on them throughout. It's a game built not for the quick-thrills of an instant headshot or the capturing of a flag, instead it's a slow build of intricately moving your troops into position, and waiting to spring your trap through thousands of custom possibilities. When the bullets are flying left right and centre and your men are dropping in equal fashion, it's nothing short of devastating, but when the opposite happens and a few enemies attempt to get the drop on you only for a pre-ordained series of events to spring into action, cutting off their approach at the last second...that my friends, is an experience you need to have for yourselves. So have you grabbed a copy yet? Or are you not as eager to try it out? Please share your 'XCOM Moments' down in the comments if you've been destroyed at the last minute or won a particularly long battle, or just your thoughts on the franchise overall. I cannot recommend this game enough, I implore you as a gamer and a consumer of entertainment that really makes you think, play.this.game.
Gaming Editor
Gaming Editor

WhatCulture's Head of Gaming.