Phantom Squad

About

Phantom Squad is a multiplayer action game. It was developed by Ctrl Freak and was released on July 18, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Phantom Squad drops you into the chaos of top-down tactical combat, blending methodical planning with fast-paced gunfights. Play as a team of 1-4 players, navigating brutal missions where every choice counts. Plan Your StrikeUse voice chat and in-game tools to coordinate your approach. Move fast and adapt as things change; the enemy won’t hesitate. Intense GunfightsWhen the shooting starts,…

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 108 reviews

story20 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Phantom Squad offers a highly engaging cooperative experience, emphasizing teamwork, communication, and strategic planning, making it particularly enjoyable with friends.
The game features a unique Assault Coordination Engine that allows players to plan their moves in real-time, transforming missions into tactical puzzles that reward careful execution.
Combat is intense and satisfying, with precise weapons and gadgets that enhance gameplay, creating moments of accomplishment when plans are executed flawlessly.

The game is heavily designed for cooperative play, making solo experiences significantly more challenging and less enjoyable due to the lack of AI teammates and increased difficulty.
Mission design can feel repetitive, as enemy placements and objectives remain largely the same across playthroughs, which may diminish replayability.
The steep difficulty curve and punishing mechanics can be overwhelming for players not accustomed to tactical shooters, potentially alienating those seeking a more casual experience.

story
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
75%
3%
The story of "Phantom Squad" revolves around players joining a secret combat group tasked with completing a series of challenging missions that require strategic planning and teamwork. Each mission presents unique tactical puzzles, with varying objectives and environmental constraints, rewarding players for careful execution and communication. While the handcrafted missions offer engaging gameplay, some players noted issues with mission repetition and enemy behavior, suggesting a need for more diverse content and improvements in mission design.
- “But some of those missions had great plot twists we did not expect!”
- “Phantom Squad is essentially a top-down version of SWAT with inspiration from Rainbow Six, where you need to clear rooms and complete mission objectives with whatever weapons and gadgets you come into the mission with.”
- “The current missions are fun and varied.”
- “The inconsistent enemy reactions, especially in co-op, made me unable to finish the game, stopping at the second to last mission.”
- “Phantom Squad currently lacks replayability (outside of getting 3 stars on every mission), which is a pretty big issue.”
- “The only truly bad part about this game was mission 06, very unfun in both singleplayer and multiplayer, where you're at a direct disadvantage if you're playing with friends.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
40%
15%
The gameplay of this tactical operations game is praised for its modern take on classic mechanics, featuring a clean top-down perspective that enhances situational awareness and strategic planning. Players enjoy a fun and challenging gameplay loop, particularly in co-op mode, with smooth mechanics, diverse combat options, and a well-paced introduction of new tools. The game effectively balances strategic and reflex-based gameplay, making it engaging and immersive, though some players noted issues with enemy detection mechanics.
- “Developed by ctrl freak and published by Super Rare Originals, the game presents itself as a modern interpretation of classic tactical operations gameplay, viewed from a clean top-down perspective that emphasizes situational awareness and deliberate decision-making.”
- “The gameplay loop is fun and challenging, and while undoubtedly designed to be played co-op, with some skill and patience you can beat the game in single player.”
- “The biggest selling point is the sharp gunplay and combat - every gun and option feels viable and changes the gameplay and approach - big guns kill faster but draw more attention and might get hostages killed.”
- “Zero detection mechanic or viewcone for enemies, so it goes from 'haha idk where you are' to instant aimbot out of nowhere.”
- “So glad I never bought Door Kickers because although Phantom Squad heavily resembles it, it's not only affordable, but the gameplay is so well done that I feel as if I'm not missing out.”
- “Well at £11.99 full price this game offers 11 campaign missions with a decent enough story to justify the tactical SWAT gameplay loop.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is limited, with some modes like t-hunt providing minor opportunities for replay, but many players feel that the lack of diverse content and features, such as a mapmaker, significantly hinders long-term engagement. While some aspects can be revisited for completion, the general consensus is that the game needs more replayable elements to enhance its longevity.
- “On top of that, you can replay those maps in the new t-hunt game mode, offering a little bit of replayability.”
- “Overall, the game was fun and has great replayability, mainly because it seems easy to implement and provides an easy way to sink more hours into the game.”
- “I hope a mapmaker can be created one day, as it would significantly enhance the game's replayability.”
- “Phantom Squad currently lacks replayability (outside of getting 3 stars on every mission), which is a pretty big issue.”
- “Overall, it's kind of mediocre, and there is no replayability.”
- “If there isn't, then replayability suffers a little.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The graphics are praised for their attention to detail and pleasing visuals, despite the game's top-down view and simple art style. Reviewers highlight the slick design and effective sound, contributing to an overall impressive aesthetic experience.
- “Graphics and attention to detail are on point.”
- “Slick real-time tactical game with pleasing visuals and sound.”
- “Don't be fooled by the top-down view and simple art style.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's optimization is praised for its excellent performance across most systems, enhancing the experience of replaying missions to refine tactics and achieve higher performance ratings. This aspect aligns well with the game's mastery-driven design.
- “Replaying missions to refine tactics or pursue higher performance ratings becomes a natural extension of the game’s mastery-driven design.”
- “Excellent performance on most systems.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frustrating performance drops during critical moments.”
- “I often experience long loading times and stuttering, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience.”
- “The lack of proper optimization makes it difficult to enjoy the game on lower-end hardware, resulting in a significant number of players being left out.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The music in the game is described as a restrained soundtrack that effectively enhances tension while maintaining focus on the careful pacing of each mission.
- “The music perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments.”
- “Each track is meticulously crafted, creating an immersive experience that draws players deeper into the game world.”
- “The soundtrack stays restrained, heightening tension without distracting from the careful pacing of each mission.”
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during long play sessions.”
- “The sound effects overshadow the music, making it feel like an afterthought rather than an integral part of the experience.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by unexpected and intense battles that often lead to amusing situations, such as team-kills and quirky glitches. The game embraces a lighthearted tone, featuring hilarious villainous screams that contribute to its comedic charm. Overall, it successfully balances action with moments of levity.
- “Doesn't take itself too seriously and allows for some funny moments like team kills and other jankiness.”
- “Hilarious bad guy screams.”
- “Unexpected, intense battles that can be quite funny at times.”