Enlisted
- April 8, 2021
- Darkflow Software
- 20h median play time
"Enlisted is a massively multiplayer action game that allows two players to command their own squads of AI-controlled soldiers in intense, massive battles set in iconic locations from the Second World War. With four countries to choose from and the ability to switch soldiers during battle, players can experience the full scale and intensity of the bloodiest war of the 20th century. The game features lots of grinding, making it a challenging and rewarding experience."
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and chaotic WW2 shooter experience with unique gameplay mechanics, allowing players to control squads of soldiers and vehicles.
- Regular updates and events provide a steady stream of new content and rewards, enhancing replayability and player engagement.
- The graphics are solid and well-optimized, making it accessible for players on various hardware setups.
- The game has a predatory monetization model, with numerous microtransactions and a grind-heavy progression system that can be frustrating for free-to-play players.
- Matchmaking issues and balance problems often lead to one-sided matches, diminishing the overall enjoyment of gameplay.
- The AI behavior is often clunky and unresponsive, which can detract from the squad-based gameplay experience.
- gameplay19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this WWII shooter is characterized by chaotic battles that integrate vehicles, aircraft, and infantry, offering a mix of squad-based mechanics and unique features like engineering fortifications and diverse classes. While the shooting mechanics are simple yet enjoyable, the game has faced criticism for inconsistent updates and a shift away from historical accuracy in favor of balance, leading to a blend of realism and arcade elements. Overall, players find the gameplay fun and addictive, though some express concerns about the grind and the presence of pay-to-win mechanics.
“A great WW2 shooter with unique gameplay mechanics; battles bring together vehicles, aircraft, and infantry.”
“The shooting mechanics are simple but enjoyable, and the battlefields are very chaotic at times, with planes, tanks, explosions, and soldiers absolutely everywhere.”
“There's a lot of unique mechanics, such as it being a squad-based game using AI soldiers in your squads, or the variety of engineering fortifications, rare and unique weapons and vehicles, and much more.”
“Although the gameplay is fine, you really need another life for the grinding in this game.”
“As a closed beta tester all the way back from 2020, it saddens me to see that this game, which was hyped up to be a strong competitor to Battlefield and maybe even Call of Duty, is in a state of inconsistent quality: it feels as if for every good update or two that we get, we get double the amount of bad or pointless updates filled with mechanics or other undesired/unpolished additions to the game, while we are still missing a lot of promised changes that the devs have offered us.”
“I paid $20 on Steam for a free-to-play game (at their launcher) with pay-to-win mechanics.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a double-edged sword; while it offers unique rewards and engaging gameplay, it can become tedious, especially in later stages. Many users express frustration over the necessity of extensive grinding to unlock higher-tier weapons and squads, particularly for free-to-play players, who face a steep progression curve and the option to pay for faster advancement. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, the grinding can feel excessive and time-consuming.
“Grinding can get tedious in the later stages of the game as well.”
“Although the gameplay is fine, you really need another life for the grinding in this game.”
“You have this long and grindy research tree to unlock gear and squads – but you can bypass the grind instantly by paying for it, or buying yourself a premium squad with double progression rate.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's monetization strategy heavily relies on microtransactions, often perceived as predatory, with a "pay for convenience" model that encourages players to spend money to alleviate inconveniences. While players can enjoy the game without spending, the frequent cash grabs and focus on premium content detract from the overall experience, particularly for those who invest significant time into the game.
“So if you’re someone like me and have infinite hours on Enlisted over the course of a few years, having maxed out a few armies – you can have a good time here, minus some bugs and game design flaws a (despite the egregious monetization) skeleton crew of developers can’t be bothered to fix as they’re too busy making new premium content.”
“There are a ton of microtransactions in the game, even just to customize your soldier's appearances (who aren't exactly the best looking player models), but you can still have fun without spending a dime.”
“The game’s philosophy for monetization is to deliberately go out of its way to make your experience worse, but then offer you a way to bypass every single inconvenience by opening your wallet.”
“However, it cannot allow you to be matched with only the players of the same rank, because that would remove the incentive for you to progress and engage with all the systems set up for the purpose of monetization.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some users noting solid visuals and good optimization for low-end devices, while others criticize them as subpar for 2024 standards and mention issues with frame rates and overall quality.
“The game has pretty good graphics and is well optimized for low-end devices.”
“The graphics are solid and are optimized very well.”
“Game play sucks to be honest and the graphics are not great for 2024.”
“Bad graphics, bad optimization, too few frames.”
“Graphics aren't 100% crash hot.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised for its solid graphics and good performance on low-end devices, allowing for a smooth experience. However, some users express frustration with the lack of options to revert optimization settings and report issues with frame rates and graphics quality.
“You can use any weapons or vehicles you can think of in WW2; the graphics are solid and are optimized very well.”
“The game has pretty good graphics and is well optimized for low-end devices.”
“In Enlisted, soldiers’ stats are very important, as they allow you to achieve better performance and unlock powerful perks.”
“I literally don't get how stupid you need to be to make such 'optimization' without leaving players a choice to just revert back.”
“Bad graphics, bad optimization, too few frames.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game's story is overshadowed by frustrations with the in-game economy, particularly regarding the inconsistent rewards from daily logins and missions. Players express a desire for more reliable silver rewards to enhance their progression, suggesting that the current system detracts from the overall narrative experience.
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurd scenarios, such as driving a WWII-style school bus into battle and soldiers delivering quirky, amusing voice lines, which contribute to a chaotic and entertaining multiplayer experience. Players appreciate the unexpected comedic elements that enhance the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Funny enough, Enlisted went from a game I didn't really care for to one of my favorite WW2 shooters after all of these major changes were implemented.”
“Build your own fortifications, fly planes, or drive a WW2-styled school bus into battle, resulting in insane and crazy PvP matches - all while your soldiers are screaming weird and funny voicelines.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game exhibits noticeable jankiness and bugs, leading to a perception of being unpolished despite ongoing bug fixes.
“The game is definitely still a bit janky and buggy; while there are constant bug fixes, it still feels unpolished.”
“I frequently encounter crashes that disrupt my gameplay experience.”
“The frame rate drops significantly during intense moments, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its cinematic quality, particularly during battles, which enhances the overall immersive experience.
“The battles are atmospheric and feel like a movie.”
“The game's atmosphere immerses you completely, making every moment feel cinematic.”
“The environment is rich and detailed, creating a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”