History Heartwarming / XCom2

* At the start of the final level, [[spoiler: as the Commander is about to be uploaded into the Avatar, they lean their head from the operating table to look at Bradford, as if to reassure him they'll be alright. Bradford's telling the Commander to "[[DareToBeBadass Give 'em hell.]]" also counts.]]
* Bradford's relationship with the Commander in general, really. After 20 years apart keeping XCOM going from the shadows, his sheer joy and gratitude at getting the Commander back, a feat he put his life on the line to achieve, is just constantly reassuring. Later on, Bradford tries to [[spoiler:veto having the Commander be the operator of XCOM's Avatar]], because ''any'' risk to the Commander's life, no matter how small, is too great.
* Just before the final mission, after [[spoiler: the Commander's consciousness has been uploaded to the Avatar]], you get a first person shot of a walk through a hallway, with your best soldiers standing on either side, saluting as you pass.
* The second-to-last cutscene in the game: [[spoiler: ADVENT is in full retreat, but still controls the city centers where a curfew is in effect. An XCOM operative cuts the ADVENT propaganda with a simple message]].
--> '''XCOM Operative:''' [[spoiler: To all of you in the occupied zones - hold your ground, [[DoNotGoGentle continue the fight]]. [[YouAreNotAlone We promise you, help is on the way.]]]]

** [[spoiler:The Reapers end their lonely existence in the wilds and rejoin humanity.]]
** [[spoiler:A group of [=ADVENT=] soldiers lay down their weapons and remove their helmets as Betos welcomes her newly liberated "brothers and sisters".]]
** [[spoiler:The Templars, however, subvert the trope, and merely give a SequelHook, opting for the BadassBoast instead.]]

* Central's reforging of XCOM after its defeat in the first war, as shown in "Blast from the Past". Initially a group of survivors searching for a rumoured safe haven, Bradford's team causes a wave of destruction after discovering the said Haven had been destroyed by the aliens, culminating in the destruction of an alien portal on top of a dam. Said portal was protected with the best forces the aliens had at the time, including what may have been [[spoiler: 3 precursor Avatars (it is somewhat unclear if actual Avatars were protecting the dam, but Bradford specifically mentions remembering their hairdo)]] After the battle ends and the red mist clears, Central realises that his "team" ''can'' take the fight to the aliens, and sets out to search for other individuals and resistance cells.

* Completing a mission without losing any of your operatives. Your operatives are tired and most likely wounded, but they smile at each other and are relieved that all of them are returning home.

*** Removing negative mental effects also includes mind control. Seeing a mind controlled ranger dash in to slash their bondmate, only for the control to break as they prepare to strike brings to mind that the affected soldier realised what they were doing at the last possible moment.

* Central's reforging of XCOM after its defeat in the first war, as shown in Blast from the Past. Initially a group of survivors searching for a rumoured safe haven, Bradford's team causes a wave of destruction after discovering the said Haven had been destroyed by the aliens, culminating in the destruction of an alien portal on top of a dam. Said portal was protected with the best forces the aliens had at the time, including what may have been [[spoiler: 3 precursor Avatars (it is somewhat unclear if actual Avatars were protecting the dam, but Bradford specifically mentions remembering their hairdo)]] After the battle and once the red mist clears, Central realises that his "team" can take the fight to the aliens, and sets out to search for other individuals and resistance cells.
* The Resistance DJ started off his career by misusing alien technology, accidentally luring an entire Chrysalid swarm from the ocean and being an all around nuisance to Central. But at the end of the day all he wants is to brighten the day a little for those still evading Advent.

* Each of the resistance factions certainly qualify as well. Even in the new, much more brutal world, people from all walks of life are still coming together fight the forces of tyranny:
** The Reapers take those willing to learn and train them to survive. Even outside of resistance havens, in the lost infested cities, or in the most brutal alien overrun environments, the Reapers are learning to survive and thrive.

* The beginning of the game. After an explosive opening, and a tense surgery scene, the first thing the Commander sees after coming out of their surgery is Bradford, who expresses relief that they're ok.

--> '''Council Spokesman:''' Commander, I admire the effort you and your team put into rescuing a fellow soldier. The resistance will see this as a sign of your dedication and loyalty. Congratulations on your success.

** Lily checking on Tygan and asking if he misses anything about city life or has regrets about choosing to join XCOM. Only for once she's not doing it with an air of suspicion or subdued hostility over his history, Shen is just legitimately checking upon a colleague that she relies on. More over Tygan's response that the only thing he genuinely misses is his lab equipment meaning none of the the plentiful food, warm beds, safety, or even those damn juicy advent burgers ever tempts him away from XCOM. He just wishes he could work on his research more efficiently.
--> '''Lil:''' Don't worry, I'm sure the commander will find you something nice.

* Central's reforging of X-Com after it's defeat in the first war, as shown in Blast from the Past. Initially a group of survivors searching for a rumoured safe haven, Bradford's team causes a wave of destruction after discovering the said Haven had been destroyed by the aliens, culminating in the destruction of an alien portal on top of a dam. Said portal was protected with the best forces the aliens had at the time, including what may have been [[spoiler: 3 precursor Avatars (it is somewhat unclear if actual Avatars were protecting the dam, but Bradford specifically mentions remembering their hairdo)]] After the battle and once the red mist clears, Central realises that his "team" can take the fight to the aliens, and sets out to search for other individuals and resistance cells.

* Each of the resistance factions certainly qualify as well. Even in the new much more brutal world people from all walks of life are still coming together fight the forces of tyranny.
** The Reapers take those willing to learn and train them to survive. Even outside of resistance havens, in the lost infested cities, or in the most brutal alien overrun environments the Reapers are learning to survive and thrive.
** Betos and the Skirmishers are not only fighting on the side of humanity but actively freeing their enslaved fellows. They have every reason to fear or hate xcom for the wanton slaughter of their dominated kin but choose to help them regardless.
** The Templars even with their questionable methods are proving vital the survival of humanity. Geist and his compatriots are after all finding the psionic humans left before the Elders can kidnap them for experimentation.

** Lily checking on Tygan and asking if he misses anything about city life or has regrets about choosing to join XCOM. Only for once she's not doing it with an air of suspicion or subdued hostility over his history, Shen is just legitimately checking upon a college that she relies on. More over Tygan's response that the only thing he genuinely misses is his lab equipment meaning none of the the plentiful food, warm beds, safety, or even those damn juicy advent burgers ever tempts him away from XCOM. He just wishes he could work on his research more efficiently.

** On top of this, it's ''Lily'' that suggests that the commander could install Julian in a SPARK. In a ''very'' roundabout way, she does care for her crazed A.I "brother".