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.

>Be me >Enjoying game >Hear phone ringing >wtf.jpg >Turns around >Explodes 10/10 game, hoped I could play as the c4 bomber as the insurgent

If Call of Duty is a theme park, Sandstorm is a haunted house run by ex-marines and Twitch trolls. I hate it. I love it. I can’t stop.

>We are terrorists running inside a cave >My teammate yells to not "go up there" >Teammate looks at him >He says "don't go up there" again >Teammate looks at objective zone and back to the guy >Yells "I'll do whatever I damn well please" >Runs up there >Explodes from a IED 10/10

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.

great game for when the missus kicks you out of the bed fro the night.

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

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.

One of the best tactical FPS shooter out there. Serve both PVP and PVE Coop. The game features multiple mode as well. If you play PVE Coop, your team will be line up against enemy bots or AI. For casual players Normal Check Point is really fun, but if you are looking for challenge and even more fun, try Hardcore Check Point. A heads up though, hardcore mode is very tough and you would need some practice before playing.

[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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Dated controls and bad servers from my experience. Player base is down to the very few people who still enjoy it. While it was a great upgrade from the previous Insurgency game, it has become very dated amongst modern shooters in this genre. Players are better off playing more successful titles such as Squad, Arma Reforger, or even Call of Duty to get the same appeal this game has.

Bigoted crowd from COD have ruined the game. Servers are just filled with racist dbags.

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.

great its funny fun realistic and overall fun

me and my squad kaping the piont and sudenly herd a phone , my antire squad died 10/10 game , PTSD simulator!

Love the gritty realism, love the gunplay, until I picked up the Mosin Nagant with a scope. I fire a round powerful enough to send someone's soul to the shadow realm, but my scope? Rock solid. Not a single wobble. Not even a little cinematic flinch. It's like my guy duct-taped his eye to the glass and reinforced it with concrete. Then comes the best part, reloading. My dude works that bolt like Gordon Ramsay filleting a fish, but somehow the entire world moves except the scope, which stays perfectly centered like it's been spiritually enlightened. TL;DR: ✅ Amazing gun sounds ✅ Tactical gameplay ✅ Mosin turns me into an unshakeable turret with titanium neck muscles Still 9/10, would recommend. Just give my dude some vertebrae physics next patch.

Really good game. realistic, W graphics etc.

Got told to go get a job, got a job, got told to brush my teeth, brushed my teeth, then got called the n word. fun game.

I dont think this game is praised enough. It's the perfect mix of "arcade" mechanics, with a very hardcore experience woven into it.

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

Its a good game and the normal modes are fine, but Team Deathmatch should ALWAYS be playable.

After 20 hours I can safely say this is my favorite FPS I've played in quite awhile. The game is both simple but complicated. Tactical and casual. A perfect blend of both making for a really fun experience. I recommend this to anyone who's looking for a replacement for games that have fallen short recently. (Call of Duty, Battlefield, Apex, etc.)

Best shooter I've played in a while, Everything is done well especially sound design, the cries and gasps of air your foe takes before their final breath is harrowing. Good game, Highly recommend.

Awesome game! Weapons feel amazing and I love getting destroyed in domination for 15 minutes only to go even because I'm trash.

I love this game, but has bugs from hell. I also purchased the Gold Edition and haven't unlocked any DLC items. So if you are going to play the game, just get the base version .. save yourself the headache. You have everything unlocked from the beginning anyways, just be prepared to be blown up by 38 suicide bombers. Good time killer, but do not invest too much time or money into.

Really fun. PVP is hard but PVE was a blast for a casual gamer trying something new

Fun shooter to grab while on sale, the AI is pretty challenging if you're not careful to eliminate them quickly. PvP is pretty awful, but versus AI is fun and you can typically get a decent number of people playing (community servers) to make the experience more memorable.

one of the best shooters to come out in a long long time! even playing ground no abilities/powers no bs movement. very realistic!!! love it

Just watched the Warfare film and was craving some PTSD when i came back to this masterpiece. Did not disappoint. Nothing quite like shitting your pants after getting jumpscared by some poor insurgent with a bone stock AK right before blowing his head off with an anti material sniper rifle equipped with a nice 7x scope and a will to kill. His head went everywhere, it was amazing. Sorry, got sidetracked there, this game has one of the best sound designs, specifically talking about the A-10 strafe, i get hard every time i hear it, the game has lovely graphics and gameplay that's more unpredictable than your girlfriend. Get this game, and pro tip: enable gore

Some of the smoothest and most responsive gun play in the industry!

Love the insurgency 2, so I naturally picked up sandstorm, it's definetely different, but not necessarily better. However I love the fact they kept the core idea in tact - ie., more realistic damage

Never had so much fun with friends, mowing down endless waves of dead-eyed terrorist bots with hot lead, then hosing them off with Molotov cocktails — all while laughing at their over-the-top death screams and hilariously broken English voice lines. [i]"EVERYONE GETS TACOS!" [/i] Still not sure if it was a battle cry or a lunch offer.

This game is great. Great Milsim. This game is also always on sale for $10 so it’s worth every penny. I have not ran into any issues. My only feedback is I wish there was more Destruction and more vehicles. They should definitely add more permanent game modes like a hardcord push or hardcore team deathmatch. I love the hardcore feeling of this game. And they should definitely add a bigger map with tanks and other vehicles.

Don't buy this game ! They sell you DLC's, take your money BUT THEIR DLC's DON'T WORK Dlc's show up in game, but are locked Their just after your money

this game is good realistic has better craphics then most games and its perfect for getting ptsd, a therepyst or ht ewil to commit su!c!d3. abselutly perfect

I don't play this game a ton, but when I do I have a blast. And listening to some music while you play genuinely makes the game 100x better.

Very immersive and fun expierience,worth every penny that i spent Need some work to do with the modding but altho the game is fun and i would like more weapons to choose from instead of the default ones

Strapped C4 into a car and drove into the insurgents. 10/10 game, even the non-terrorists are terrorists

Good game. Definitely worth playing. The gunplay is great and the games realism is really cool.

so far im left traumatized on those f**kahh IEDS but either than that the community isnt as really toxic really good people most games are hilarious and the intensity this game gives is great will recommend it just be ready to smash your desk a couple of times

Best combat sim out there other than the Arma games. This is more at the firefight level, where as arma is actually less realistic in that regard because of how big the map is. the game organizes the spawns and map sizes well to create a unit driven experience. not as structured as squad but thats a bit boring and restrictive.

too late to fight in the middle east, too early to fight in the middle east, just in time to fight in the middle east and the middle east in game. You can also experience ✨PTSD✨