Enlisted is a free squad-based multiplayer tactical first-person shooter developed by Darkflow Software and published by Gaijin Entertainment. The game is set during World War II and revolves around major battles fought across all fronts of the war. It was an Xbox Series X/S launch title and timed console exclusive.[1] On March 2, 2021, the closed Beta went live on PlayStation 5.[2] On April 8, 2021, the game was released on PC as an open beta test.[3]
Enlisted | |
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Developer(s) | Darkflow Software |
Publisher(s) | Gaijin Entertainment |
Engine | Dagor Engine |
Platform(s) |
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Release | March 2, 2021 |
Genre(s) | First-person shooter |
Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Enlisted is squad-based, with each player controlling an infantry squad or a vehicle's crew. Players control a squad of 3–9 soldiers (represented by a real life division of their respective military, such as the 1st Infantry Division) of varying classes, equipped with class-restricted weapons such as rifles, submachine guns, machine guns, sniper rifles, mortars, anti-tank weapons, or flamethrowers; alternatively, players may control the crew of a tank or a fighter aircraft (at least one of these crews must always be equipped for use in the menu). Players control one of the soldiers in their squad, and can give orders to or switch between the other AI soldiers in their squad. The player's squads, soldiers, and weaponry can be managed in the main menu, where squads can be equipped and upgraded, soldiers and weapons can be purchased, game modes and campaigns can be switched, and several other aspects of the game can be customized or controlled.[4]
Players battle in large maps based on major World War II battles on the Eastern Front, Western Front, and the Pacific Theatre. Players are divided into two teams representing the Allies (Red Army, United States Army, United States Marine Corps, British Army, Free French Forces, New Zealand Army) and the Axis (Wehrmacht, Royal Italian Army, Imperial Japanese Army, Romanian Armed Forces).[lower-alpha 1] The specific factions used depend on the map. The game features six campaigns: Battle of Moscow, Invasion of Normandy, Battle of Tunisia, Battle of Berlin, Battle of Stalingrad, and the Pacific War.[5][6]
Singleplayer tutorial levels for basic gameplay, tanks, planes, and engineers are also available, as is a shooting range containing every weapon in the game.
Gaijin Entertainment and Darkflow Software first announced the game in 2016 as a crowdfunded title. Two campaigns focusing on the Battle of Moscow and the Invasion of Normandy were announced. The game was advertised as a "first person shooter decided by the fans, for the fans" and that "they will have direct input into what we create, including things like campaigns, game modes, even which platforms after PC we will support"; other campaigns would be unlocked if the game's funding goals were met. Funding tiers at the highest levels would allow contributors to choose which campaign would be added next.[7]
The first public play test occurred in April 2020 on PC. In November 2020, ray-traced global illumination and DLSS was added to the game.[8][9] On May 20, 2021, the Battle of Berlin campaign was partially released in a public beta test.[10]
At E3 2018, Microsoft confirmed that the game would be released on the Xbox and would be part of the Xbox Game Preview for that year.[11][12] The first public play test occurred in April 2020 on the PC and in October of the same year, Microsoft announced that Enlisted would be part of the Xbox Series X/S launch lineup and a timed console exclusive.[13][1] On March 2, 2021, the closed beta went live on PlayStation 5.[2] Nvidia confirmed the game's PC release.[9] On April 8, 2021, the game was released on PC as an open beta test.[3] On October 4, 2021, Enlisted was released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, albeit with only the Moscow, Normandy, and Tunisia campaigns.
All six campaigns have been released on PS4/PS5, Xbox One/X/S, and PC.
XboxEra gave Enlisted a 5/10 rating, saying the game's best elements were "mediocre", and its worst elements "truly dreadful". XboxEra praised the gun handling, but criticized the game's uncomfortable controls, generic soundtrack, and poor performance. Heavy criticism was given to the game's slow player progression system, in which each item must be purchased individually for each soldier in each squad, calling the system pay-to-win.[14]
A review by Penny Arcade praised Enlisted, calling it "an absolute blast" and "the best WWII shooter", praising the game's "'Matrix' style encounters where you might die to someone only to come into consciousness in another body".[15]
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