Enlisted Review

Enlisted answers a question other WWII shooters never ask: what if you commanded not one soldier, but an entire squad? Developed by Darkflow Software and published by Gaijin Entertainment, it is a free-to-play, squad-based tactical first-person shooter available on Windows and consoles. The core idea is strong enough to make it stand out in a genre that rarely innovates, even if the surrounding systems keep tripping over their own boots.

Gameplay

You control a squad of three to nine soldiers, each a different class or vehicle crew, spread across large maps recreating major World War II theaters. When your active soldier falls, you respawn as the next member of your squad, keeping you in the fight instead of staring at a respawn timer. Your AI teammates follow and hold ground, and you can switch between them or crew tanks and aircraft on the fly. This respawn-as-your-squad loop is genuinely clever, delivering a constant, chaotic sense of a real battle rather than the stop-start rhythm of a standard deathmatch.

Content and Progression

The historical settings are detailed and the level design captures the scale of WWII engagements well, from the ruins of Berlin to the beaches of Normandy and the frozen approaches to Moscow. Objective-based modes and destructible cover encourage genuine tactics rather than mindless rushing. Progression is where enthusiasm cools. Enlisted asks you to upgrade and equip each soldier in each squad individually, and because items are purchased and unlocked per-soldier, the busywork multiplies fast. Managing a full roster of troops across multiple squads becomes an inventory chore, and the grind to keep everyone kitted out drags on the fun. Matchmaking and bugs have also drawn consistent criticism.

Tech and Monetization

Visually the game is a strong performer, with detailed models and environments that sell the period. It is free-to-play, and here the design invites its harshest reviews. Because equipping soldiers individually is so laborious, premium squads and shortcuts feel less like optional convenience and more like relief from a system built to grind you down, and reviewers have flagged genuine pay-to-win concerns around premium content. It is not the worst offender in the free-to-play field, but the monetization is entangled with the progression in a way that clouds the experience.

The squad-respawn idea is the best thing in the game and the reason to try it. The per-soldier upgrade treadmill is the reason many players drift away.

Who It's For

Enlisted suits WWII shooter fans looking for something more tactical than the usual run-and-gun, players who enjoy commanding AI and switching between roles mid-match, and anyone drawn to large-scale historical battles. It is a weaker fit for players with little patience for grind-heavy progression or for anyone allergic to a store that leans on premium shortcuts.

Pros

• Inventive squad-respawn system keeps you in the action.
• Detailed visuals and convincing large-scale WWII battlefields.
• Tactical depth from commanding AI and swapping between soldiers and vehicles.

Cons

• Tedious per-soldier, per-squad upgrade and purchase grind.
• Premium content raises legitimate pay-to-win concerns.
• Matchmaking issues and lingering bugs.

Verdict

Enlisted is a game with a great idea fighting a frustrating structure. The squad-based combat and respawn loop are legitimately fresh, and the WWII presentation is excellent, which is why reviews swing so widely, from harsh to warm. The per-soldier progression grind and monetization entanglement are the anchors dragging it down, and they keep an inventive shooter from reaching its potential. If the command-a-platoon concept excites you, it costs nothing to try and can be a blast in the right match. Just go in knowing the grind is waiting. Score: 7.0/10.