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The original Long War mod for XCOM: Enemy Unknown and its expansion Enemy Within makes the campaign substantially longer than the base game, but there is no reliable published total for its hours or mission count. Treat it as a major time commitment rather than planning around a specific number.
What “Long War” means here
This answer is about the original Long War mod for XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Enemy Within, not the later mods for XCOM 2. The original mod describes its campaign as extended and says it requires far more missions than the base game. The original Long War mod page also notes that upgrades can allow missions with as many as twelve soldiers; it does not say how much that changes total playtime.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
XCOM: Enemy Within (Renewed) | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
XCOM: Enemy Within | $13.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
XCOM: Enemy Within - Xbox 360 (Renewed) | $40.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
X-COM ENEMY WITHIN | $9.06 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
XCOM Enemy Within (Xbox 360) | $24.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Why there is no dependable hours estimate
The available direct information does not give an exact mission total or a trustworthy completion-time range for the original mod. Campaign duration will depend in part on play style, difficulty, and campaign decisions, but the sources do not quantify how much those factors change the total. Player anecdotes may describe individual campaigns, not a measured average.
Jake Solomon is quoted on the mod page as saying, “We’re basically a 20-hour tutorial for Long War, and that’s okay.” The line describes the base game’s relationship to the mod; it is not an estimate that Long War takes 20 hours. The page does not establish the quote’s date or Solomon’s role.
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Do not confuse it with the XCOM 2 mods
Numbers often associated with similarly named mods refer to different games and should not be used to estimate the original Enemy Within campaign.
| Mod | Published figure | Why it does not answer this question |
|---|---|---|
| Original Long War for XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Enemy Within | No reliable hours estimate or exact mission total is stated on the cited mod page. | This is the mod addressed here. |
| Long War 2 for XCOM 2 | Pavonis Interactive described a 100–120 mission target for its campaigns in a 2017 announcement. | It is a separate mod for a different game. Read the Long War 2 announcement. |
| Long War of the Chosen for XCOM 2: War of the Chosen | Its FAQ gives 100–120 missions and 200–300 hours; the page’s date is not established here. | It is another separate conversion, not the original Enemy Within mod. Read the Long War of the Chosen FAQ. |
What to use for planning
Set aside substantially more time than you would for the base campaign, and avoid relying on the XCOM 2 figures as a substitute estimate. The original mod is associated with XCOM: Enemy Within; it is not itself a retail game. For the game’s official PC manual, see 2K’s XCOM: Enemy Within manual.
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- New Soldier Abilities: Research a new alien technology to advance the capabilities of your operatives
- New Weapons and Equipment: Give your operatives an extra tactical edge with new projects from your engineering team and the Foundry
- New Enemy Threats: Adopt new tactics to counter the threats from two new alien classes including the Mechtoid
- New Strategic Resource: A valuable new alien resource, known as MELD, has been released onto the landscape providing access to new research and upgrades
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- New Soldier Abilities: Research a new alien technology to advance the capabilities of your operatives: Gene Mods: Construct the Genetics Lab to physically enhance your operatives’ abilities including augmentations to the chest, brain, eyes, skin, and legs
- New Weapons and Equipment: Give your operatives an extra tactical edge with new projects from your engineering team and the Foundry
- New Enemy Threats: Adopt new tactics to counter the threats from two new alien types and a deadly new organization known as EXALT
- New Strategic Resource: A valuable new alien resource, known as Meld, has been discovered. Secure it on the battlefield and use it carefully back at base to unlock new research and upgrades
- New Tactical Challenges and Maps: Cloak-and-dagger and intelligence operations provide new tactical challenges on over 40 new battlefields
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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