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.

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

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

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.

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

[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.

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.

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.

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

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 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

The game is not perfect and the bots occasionally gain the powers of John Wick, but the game is fun especially with friends. Plenty of active groups running servers if you want to blast bots with a team and there is PVP available for those interested. The modding community has kept this game going long past its expiration date and we still get some support from the developers. Pick it up on sale and start having fun.

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

While the Marketing team has been doing their best to bring in new players, apparently the Tech Support team is just the total opposite, letting the unstable ping issue remains untouched and it's been going for ages now. I pity the new players buying this game only for utter disappointment. I'm currently at level 2000+, and now I am determined to write this review.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Very well made game. Combat is smooth. Gunshots and gunfire is crisp. if you are into realistic shooters you MUST give this a go. in the game there are so so many guns and the beauty of hopping straight in is you dont have to unlock any of them. this gives you the freedom to play the game exactly how you would like and also helps to give replayability. overall, i would say this is one of the most fun realistic FPS experiences ive played. big thumbs up

This is the GOAT FPS game. 11/10, amazing gunplay, amazing movement, game is pure fun.

good soup only gripe isnt with the game just with the amount of people who use the chats to whine like little bitches

So fucking buns I turn a corner and instantly get laid out by the bot with a mosin facing the opposite direction and spend the next 5 minutes spectating literal zoo animals spray walls and walk into their own grenades. Why do those with more skill (but worse wifi???) have to watch paint dry all match?

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

While this game's action is more intense than any of the firefights I've been in there is a lot of effort into things, like reloading action and sound effects, that reminds me of my youth.

> reinstall Insurgency: Sandstorm > hop on Checkpoint with 200-300 ping on average > put Strike Force Heroes/Raze soundtrack in the background > has no clue whats happening but having too much fun to complain even when dead i really reinstalled this game, to put nostalgic flash game soundtracks in the background absolutely worth my time, my adhd has never been more through the roof than doing this, 10/10 try the idea yourself, it might be fun for you too :>

incredible game, its the most realistic tactical shooter, if u like games like r6 and others this game is perfect there are almost no bugs.

The voicelines are the best thing in the game, hands down. Get it solely for that and you'll be satisfied.

Aside from the horrific images of my friends losing their legs to mortars, I'll give this game a 10/10.

Good FPS game with great details and realistic play. Still enjoyed it even though I only play the bot local mode.

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