Insurgency: Sandstorm

This game is alright. Perhaps even good, or great. But with Embracer group firing every single developer that was a part of NWI I can't recommend you buy it. None of the funds go to the devs anymore, it all just gets funneled into Embracer group, Focus Entertainment, etc. Anything new you'll get from this game is going to be made via outsourcing to another company.

Filled with Russians despite the fact they can just play it irl and get paid for it.

This FPS plays really well, smooth dynamics, great with the updated FREE texture pack, and holds its own against much more recent mil-sim style FPS. The weapons and gear are remarkably accurate to the real deal (pull on M4 with rail and laser for example or the yank of the combat shotgun) make for real fighting experience. The audio in this game is spectacular. The buzzing overhead of 7.,62 rounds is spot on and the way the frag or ied responds to player dynamics are very realistic. I'd say better than most games in terms of realism. THE COMMUNITY on the other hand sucks. Players are so extreme on the open servers (they act like they are Gods of FPS). Not one open server game went by without some player screaming into the audio like a baby who has wet diapers or having several players demand to ban a player for friendly fire because they accidentally shot an idiot NPC walking directly across the line of fire. Many of the "people" (i use that term loosely) playing on these servers (at least the regions i was in) are out of their minds.. They throw extreme tantrums or constantly demand banning some poor new player who may have accidentally done the wrong thing. Sadly that means playing this game is either in LOCAL game mode or on few available custom community servers. LOCAL GAME against NPCs works pretty well although as noted earlier are abit daft, often crossing directly in line of fire or seeing a molotov thrown run straight into the flames. COMMUNITY hosted servers are awesome, as then I could join up with my friends who are reasonable players with good team work and play. Certainly a lot of fun but only if you can find a community server with reasonable ping! Overall the game itself retains so much quality, even in 2025. But alas, as many games have sadly done, the players on open servers have gone insane asylum mode, making opportunities to play and enjoy this great legacy game a bit harder.

This game is a huge disappointment compared to its predecessor in every aspect. Poor map design, crappy visuals, the addition of dumb mechanics and even the sound design sucks by comparison. I don't know how you can go from the GOATed maps of Insurgency 2014 to the randomness they puked out for this game. Every map has way too many paths and rooms that add an absurd level of unneeded complexity. They even butchered Tell, the only map they held onto from the original game. Bigger maps with more rooms, hallways, doorways and clutter is not an improvement in the slightest. I can say the same for the visuals in this game. More does not equal better. The original game had a consistent style where everything looked like it belonged on the screen while playing. Nothing stood out or looked like it didn't belong. Sandstorm's visuals much like its level design looks like they just puked out a bunch of random assets and through them into their game. The mechanics they added make no sense for this game. Attack helicopters, mortar barrages and rocket strikes have no business being in an Insurgency game. Especially the attack helicopter when playing on a map with huge open areas where you don't even stand a chance of survival. It's unfortunate because when I first heard that this game was in development I was really excited for it. They took a good game threw it into a box with a bunch of random garbage, shook it up and called it a sequel.

the fact that you only allow people that have game pass to do cross-play should be illegal. It's 2025 just let people play the fucking game together. money grabbing assholes

Comparable to a game that I won't name (it rhymes with Dall of Cuty), but Insurgency: Sandstorm has a much more realistic tone. You have different classes with different weaponry, and a limited amount of attachments to choose from (If you want grips, silencers and optics on your guns, they cost a number of points each so choose wisely). Expect competitive fights. Guns actually have quite a bit of recoil, so don't just hold down left mouse when trying to pick off enemies. If you want to call in fire support (Drone bombers, gunships, rocket or mortar strikes, and much more) you need to play as a commander, and have a spotter ready by your side (Be prepared to ask multiple times for someone to be your spotter!) Oh, and most of the community is sassy, crass, and not that toxic. People are often funny and rude at the same time but I rarely felt personally insulted by anyone. This game is worth full price (30 USD) and even better if you snag it on a sale. Highly recommend.

[h1]DECENT GAME, BUT WITH SERIOUS ISSUES[/h1] Insurgency: Sandstorm is a first-person shooter that strikes a balance between casual and hardcore gameplay. It’s not overly punishing, but it definitely demands more thought and tactical awareness than your typical Call of Duty or Battlefield experience. I can understand why some players are passionate about this game. Despite looking a bit outdated visually, its core mechanics are rock solid. Unfortunately, the experience for new players is rough - matchmaking is poor, and the community can be extremely toxic. I don’t expect these issues to improve anytime soon. The current studio maintaining the game seems to be doing the bare minimum - just enough to keep it running and squeeze what revenue they can from the remaining player base. [b]If it were possible, I'd give this a mixed review.[/b] [b]Toxicity[/b] I'll start with something I noticed from my very first PvP match: the player base in this game can be extremely toxic. I'm not saying the majority are like this, but hearing screaming Russians or watching people flame each other was noticeably more common than seeing teammates actually share useful information. If you're a new player just looking to relax and enjoy the game, this could sour your experience with Insurgency very quickly. [b]Matchmaking[/b] I know this game isn't hugely popular, so the player base is limited, but the number of level 1000+ players in my matches was insane. If you're a beginner (like I am), you'll constantly get destroyed by these guys, and that kills your enjoyment very quickly. [b]Story[/b] There’s no story mode, but you can play solo against bots. [b]Game Modes[/b] The game offers a variety of PvP modes: Push (very divisive, but I enjoyed it), Frontline (meh), Ambush, Domination (not a fan), Firefight (also not a fan), Skirmish, and some occasional limited-time modes you can play from time to time. Honestly, most of them felt pretty similar - just run and gun. I don’t think it’s an issue with the game modes themselves tho. Maybe I’m just unlucky, but most players seemed unwilling to play in a coordinated way. [b]Gameplay[/b] The gameplay loop is straightforward: you choose a role and weapons, then fight in objective-based modes. As I mentioned earlier, Sandstorm aims to be "hardcore" without being overly punishing, and it succeeds. Features like friendly fire, no kill confirmation, fast TTK, proximity chat, limited roles, and more all contribute to that experience. There’s a good reason I didn’t use the word “tactical” at the start. Unless you play on specific servers with like-minded people, most players just run and gun without any real teamwork. I definitely enjoyed the gunplay in Sandstorm. The guns hit a “sweet spot” where they’re not too difficult to handle, but also not so easy that they feel like laser guns. The fast TTK makes the weapons feel authentic and impactful. Sure, the quick TTK can be frustrating at times - especially against skilled snipers or campers - but that’s always subjective. On the other hand, I’m not a fan of the Fire Support abilities - helicopters, artillery, mortars, and more - that the Commander class can call in. I understand why they’re there, but they often feel out of place. I don’t really think Insurgency needed that kind of feature. [b]Maps[/b] For Insurgency fans, this might sound like blasphemy, but I really dislike the maps in Sandstorm. I like the general concept - various locations across the Middle East - but the final result is simply mediocre. There are two or three enjoyable maps, but the rest are just boring to play. There’s not enough variety. The maps all feel similar because they basically boil down to a series of connected corridors, just sometimes larger than others. [b]Year Passes[/b] Not gonna lie, the new owners of the IP seem to be squeezing every last dollar with minimal effort. The Year Passes are a joke - just some uninspired skin and gear sets, and nothing else. Why do they cost so much? Look at other FPS games with seasonal content: even when their updates aren’t huge, they still offer way more than Insurgency Sandstorm does. [b]HUD & UI[/b] I like the limited HUD. It shows you everything you need, right when you need it, without overwhelming you. On the other hand, the UI leaves much to be desired. The menus are often cluttered, and the loadout screen is especially frustrating to look at and navigate. [b]Visuals[/b] The game aims to capture the raw, realistic feeling of war on a modest budget - and it does so fairly well. Sandstorm isn’t exactly pretty, but the Middle Eastern locations have a certain charm. The muted color palette helps mask some of the less polished models and textures. I’d love to see improvements in the animations - the movement can feel quite clunky, and reload animations on certain weapons look awkward. If you’re not into over-the-top customization, you won’t find that here. There are skins with brighter colors, but they never look out of place. [b]Audio[/b] Soundtrack? What soundtrack? Honestly, I can’t recall much from it, except the Operation Overrun theme. It’s not that the music is bad - it’s simply not memorable. I don’t have any complaints about the other sounds. Guns, explosions, grenades, even the voices - all sound great and really help build the atmosphere. [b]Technicalities[/b] Great performance with a mostly stable 120 FPS. I didn’t notice any game-breaking bugs - just some minor visual glitches like floating equipment and flickering textures. That obviously doesn’t mean the game is completely problem-free. I simply haven’t played enough to know where to look.

great game when you find great community! UNITAS + EBS + Old Dogs Servers where it's at

I have no problems with the game but for a realistic game they make lmgs non-realistic with their recoil and makes them over extreme so I'll wait for update to fix them and if you like lmgs wait till there's an update to fix the recoil.

I have 500+ hours on PS5 and while my friends and I had our fun with the game, the lack of updates focused on improving the game has killed our interest. Even the content updates are often a joke with new guns that re-use assets (i.e reload animations) and you're lucky to even get a new map. Ever since NWI was bought out and this game was passed off to eastern European contractors, they're just doing the bare minimum at this point to continue selling season passes and rake in easy money. They make little to no effort to actually improve or modernize the game. All the attachments are outdated and based on airsoft guns. Hard to enjoy a "tactical shooter" when you're using the same optic that a twelve year old uses irl to shoot his uncle in the ass. Thus what was once me and da bois go to game, a group of eight of us, we've now all grown long tired of it and it's a shame because the PvE can be really fun when a bot isn't butt f*cking you through a wall, through smoke, and from 100 yards away while sprinting.

The gameplay is great, but the ping is always awful.

Its the most frustrating game but addicting game I have ever played. Learning the very simple systems and gameplay mechanics to slowly become better, work with your teammates and win is thrilling. CoOp has horrific AI, but it's still a blast. Customization is great. A few bugs, such as your preset classes and loadouts randomizing or disappearing is incredibly frustrating, but overall is a great game and I enjoy it. Just needs more support.

holy when i say this is one of THE MOST addicting millitary shooter games I MEAN IT i was sleeping on this game for a LONG time and let me tell you i REGRET that. This game is basically like the older versions of call of duty and it is AMAZINGLY FUN, hours of gameplay and a really cool game

small scale conflict simulator,with its flaws sure,but overall great game

bug on ambush, depleted waves as either team, teammate last alive clutches a point capture as last alive with 0 remaining waves, it used to then spawn the team, now its broken and respawn circle endlessly spins. verified 3x othwrwise greatest game of all time. add more maps

this game has trained me for whatever war is about to happen I am now prepared to die for absolutely nothing

It is game. You buy, you experience the horrors of war with your closest friends. 9/10. Needs more gore

Best shooter you can play right now. The guns look and feel legit. The characters look and feel legit. The combat and damage feels legit. No hit markers. Kills feel sometimes feel almost too brutal. I mean the game lets you customize your drip to larp as an 80's SEAL with M81 Camo and Boonie hat, or a GWOT Marine or Delta guy, or an insurgent with a full Track Suit and AK, what more needs to be said? 10/10 wish I woulda got it when it first came out.

I only play co-op, I've never tried PvP. No one needs to remind me that I'm bad at video games. Got it for $10, feels fair at that price. The best word I would use to describe this game is "basic". It's an FPS set in the modern day. 99% of the time it's just infantry fighting infantry. People call in airstrikes now and then, and one time I saw the enemy driving a truck. Otherwise it's just small arms and grenades. There's a bit of realism to it. Reloading is pretty slow, and when the action gets thick you have to be careful with your ammo. I also see people employing some reasonable tactics: moving slowly, checking corners. I don't understand the progression. It seems like in each round you might be able to earn points to spend on your loadout, sort of like Counter Strike, but there's no persistent progression other than cosmetics, which as far as I can tell must be purchased with real money. But really, who cares about cosmetics in an FPS. You have no idea what you look like, after all. Creating your loadout is pretty detailed. For each mission, you're given some number of points to spend. You can spend those points on various primary and secondary weapons as well as attachments for those weapons. You can choose a variety of grenades and equip different armor sets or bring extra ammo. You can even wear a gas mask, and if it's set at night, you can choose from 2 different night vision goggles. So the loadout selection is impressive, but what's weird is that you are given very few points to spend on your loadout, so you don't end up with many choices. The number of points varies per mission, but most of the time I'm randomly placed in games with very few points given per-player, and you aren't given any more points regardless of how well you do, so that it feels like the challenge of the game is just making do with very little. That's fun I guess, but kind of defeats the purpose of having such a detailed loadout system. The graphics are also "basic". I'm writing this in mid-2025, so of course this game isn't going to look great. It's passable, though. No glitches that I can see. In summary, for $10, this feels fair. Would much rather spend $10 on this than suffer the constant microtransaction pressure of some free-to-play alternative. The biggest annoyance here is that you're asked to link your Epic account every time you start the game. (I always click "cancel".) This game is good for some quick co-op FPS. It's fast to drop in and out of missions. I think you can have something like 8 people in a mission, maybe more. It's a chill PvE shooter. That's a win in my book. This game could definitely be taken miles further though. Would be fun if the enemy had vehicles, and if you had more abilities like being able to call in drones or more airstrikes or something. I don't think any of that will ever be added to this game, but it would make sense. I'm basically thinking of Helldivers 2 but in first person and set in the modern day. Maybe one day we'll have a game like that.

i feel like in back in iraq game actually triggered my ptsd i flew back from my seat after getting killed in game and immediatley started beat the shit out of my wife then i came to and realized i had shit my pants but i dont know how to do the laundry and my wife was unconcious 5 stars: would definitley get triggered again

In a world of game bans for saying a bad word, this game stands as one of the last pillars of free speech in gaming.

Perfect game if you're looking for a blend between realism and arcade. Both PVP and PVE work well and feel great. Lots of mods in the server browser if you're looking for a different experience. I have more hours than listed because I migrated from GamePass. Definitely worth picking up if you're looking for something slower-ish but not too slow. All DLC is cosmetic, and while there were some complaints it was getting too flashy it doesn't takeaway from the gameplay or aesthetic cohesion IMO.

I love this game, it reminds me the times when I was in the army... Times when it was ok to shoot my own workers when they didn't want to work overtime for no payment. 10/10 made me nostalgic

Heavily updated version of the original Insurgency. The game is very tactical and has a bunch of different game modes. Gun physics are very nice. There is a wide variety of rifles, smgs, lmgs, dmrs, snipers and shotguns to choose from. Pretty much any popular gun is here. There are also air strikes, artillery, attack helicopters and drones. I don't think I encountered cheaters, which is a huge plus for an online shooter in this day and age. You could complain that the game forces you to camp and play like a chicken at times, but what can you do. Such is war. Overall I'm very satisfied.

Good game to play if you want something tactical but not too serious. Developers still update the game.

Plays worse than the first game and runs like complete ass. The fact this game killed the original is depressing when its worse in every way.

I'll put it this way, when the game is fun it's fun. But that's unfortunately 25% of the time considering the community, the games design, and other factors. It's trying to do too much at all times. And now the original devs are all gone. Don't buy this game. Buy the original if you want the insurgency experience with the better parts of the communit

Can't turn off EAC if you want to use VM's for a LAN party on a private server, can't launch the game in a VM. Mega dumb.

ive played the game on xbox and on pc both have pros and cons my issue with pc is the hacking and total fat assery of the players most of the pajeets are running around with aimbot and walls thats what takes the fun from the game plus the russians are INVADING!!!!!

Developers have been adding maps and rarely new weapons instead of fixing the notorious bugs and unpolished gameplay that this game has.

Insurgency: Sandstorm, developed by New World Interactive, is a gritty, immersive tactical shooter that emphasizes realism, teamwork, and intense infantry combat. As a successor to the cult-favorite Insurgency, Sandstorm elevates the formula with modern graphics, refined mechanics, and more expansive maps, delivering an experience that rewards patience, communication, and strategic play over run-and-gun reflexes. Players engage in close-quarters firefights and long-range engagements across a variety of Middle Eastern-inspired environments, where every bullet counts and death can come swiftly, reinforcing a tense and authentic battlefield atmosphere. The game’s core strength lies in its attention to detail and commitment to realism. Weapons handle with convincing weight and recoil, and the absence of traditional HUD elements like a minimap or ammo counters adds to the immersion. Tactical elements such as suppression, realistic ballistics, and limited player health force players to coordinate with their squad, use cover effectively, and think critically about every move. This creates a slower-paced but highly rewarding gameplay loop that sets Sandstorm apart from more arcade-style shooters. Maps are well-designed with multiple objectives that encourage varied approaches, including stealth, flanking, and direct assault. The game offers several modes, from objective-based PvP battles to cooperative PvE missions, catering to different playstyles while maintaining the core emphasis on teamwork. Class roles are clearly defined, with options ranging from rifleman and sniper to support gunner and engineer, each equipped with unique weapons and gadgets that foster strategic diversity. Visually, Insurgency: Sandstorm impresses with detailed character models, realistic lighting, and destructible environments that enhance tactical possibilities. The sound design is exceptional, with directional audio cues, authentic weapon sounds, and immersive ambient noise that heighten tension and situational awareness. However, the game’s demanding realism can present a steep learning curve for newcomers, and its focus on slower, methodical gameplay may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action. In summary, Insurgency: Sandstorm offers one of the most authentic and intense tactical shooter experiences available today. Its meticulous design, emphasis on squad-based gameplay, and realistic combat mechanics deliver a deeply satisfying challenge for players who value strategy and teamwork. While it may not cater to everyone’s tastes due to its unforgiving nature and slower pace, it stands as a benchmark in modern military shooters and a must-play for fans of hardcore tactical combat. Rating: 7/10

Maybe if they fixed their absolute shitty servers i could recommend this game, as is it's broken

Decent, close quarters to medium range shooter, realism style that is kind of one hit kill. Decent variety of maps but you can see everything the game offers fairly quickly. The progression system is really hollow essentially just holding back more of the game until you've played a lot of it

People consistently talk in voice chat and you get to meet all kinds of people from the scum of the earth to genuinely cool people. It’s also a semi-realistic shooter so that makes it very cool also. I’ve picked this game up and put it down for years and always have fun with it.

Great game. I bought this on PS5, but its way better on PC because I can actually aim. Game play is fun but it takes a little bit of time to learn everything - which is fine. Firefights are intense, and it takes patience to win sometimes. There are small issues with FPS drops (sometimes) but they aren't that bad - it doesn't make the game unplayable at all - but I would just like a smoother experience. Overall, this is my favorite game right now.

This game can be brutal at times but offers a solid tact fps experience. I play it when i'm sick of COD. Love the community. Not completely overrun by shitheads. Solid game!

I've mostly just played the PvE modes and they are really fun. when it comes to PvP anti cheat always seems like the most important thing. And kilcams in this game leave you unable to tell how you die. So im hesitant to to encourage the PvP, but the PvE coop is really fun. It wasnt what i was expecting, but its even better. I highly recomend this game

Perfect balance between mil-sim and arcade, with an awesome sound design. The community is keeping the game alive.

The game where the real enemy isn’t the other team… it’s sound. Footsteps? Gunshots? A teammate yelling “I got this!” before exploding? Blink once and you’re dead. Blink twice and your squad is also dead. Realism has never been this stressful or this fun.

At first it's very frustrating because you will die a lot. But as soon as you get better, the game gets much better.

Great game and good FPS. There's a bit of a learning curve to fit in with the community but once you're in, you're in. The game has a lot to offer to players and if played with right people, it's a fantastic experience.

I really liked the gameplay and character customization in this game. Most of the dress items you can unlock by upgrading your level. There are plenty of maps to explore, and night mode is also there which is better than Insurgency game. It feels like real when you play at night mode with high resolution video settings. There are various modes you can select in the game. I like the co-op mode in the multiplayer online where you can team up with other human players around the globe to defeat the normal level bots which will give you good competition and won't let you win easily. I found this game addictive and better than many fps games I've played so far. So it is worth purchasing it in my opinion. You just need to fix some settings before start playing (you can watch it on youtube).

fast paced, tactical and very formatted gameplay

This is a really good game, the first time I got shot it scared the sh*t out of me. Wasn't expecting it to be so fast lol. It becomes oddly addicting and I keep wanting to do just one more round one more round. I tried this because I was looking for FPS games I could play on Linux and it runs great!

Very fun game, good bang for you buck. It is like a more casual version of Squad imo

Very fun, very brutal. Prioritizes tAcTiCaL gAmEpLaY, but is not so serious that you cant have some fun (and insane killstreaks) rocking the goofiest weapons. In other words, tactical enough to be grounded, but arcadey enough to be fun!

This game has been out for 7 years now. It still has support and even gets new content updates. Graphics aren't the best of all time but hold up really well. Several varying game modes keep you entertained. Plenty of maps all of which are designed really well. Are you sick of COD give this a go. This is the realism version of COD. Time to kill is very fast. All of the guns in this game feel really good and are all useful. Obviously some weapons are superior. The sound design is good. This game definitely has a learning curve. Knowing the maps is a large part of the battle. This game offers tons of PVP and PVE Content. This is a game I always come back to because I feel nothing else is truly like it. I played it again quite a bit this year. 10/10 Would recommend.

As an og: Insurgency veteran I'm sorry I slept on this banger. 2k active players at time of writing and no problem getting in games with auto find queue/server.

game would be so much better without the bombers. dumb game

If you like tactical shooter I would recommend this one. Even though it's old, there's still very active servers for pretty much any game mode. The gunplay is very satisfying, the atmosphere is intense... no complaints really. No fishing though so 0/10