Enlisted offers a distinctive take on the World War II shooter formula by placing players inside squad-based battles rather than focusing only on one character. You control one soldier directly while AI-controlled squad members follow your commands, and you can switch between surviving soldiers during a match. This creates a battlefield experience where positioning, teamwork, and quick decisions matter alongside aiming skills. The game combines infantry combat with tanks and aircraft, creating large encounters across historical fronts. Its current structure uses research trees for four countries, while matchmaking considers weapon strength and historical opponents. For players who enjoy large-scale multiplayer battles, the format provides plenty to explore. The free-to-play structure makes the core experience easy to try. Its large battles can feel especially engaging when several squads converge around an objective.
Squad-Based Gameplay Creates Tactical Variety
The squad system is one of Enlisted’s defining features. Instead of entering battle with a single character, players manage squads containing soldiers with different classes and equipment. You can issue orders, change positions, and switch between squad members when circumstances change. This design can make even a difficult situation feel recoverable because another soldier may still be available to continue the fight. Classes also encourage different approaches, with specialists suited to particular combat situations. New players may need some time to understand how squad management works, but the added layer gives matches more strategic depth than a straightforward run-and-gun shooter. It also makes teamwork and awareness important throughout each battle. Skilled players can approach objectives more deliberately instead of simply chasing eliminations. Switching soldiers creates emergency options during chaotic engagements.
Weapons And Vehicles Add Combat Depth
Enlisted provides a broad selection of historically inspired equipment, giving players several ways to approach combat. The official game site lists more than 250 weapons and over 150 tanks, alongside armored cars, motorcycles, and aircraft. This variety means that combat can shift quickly from infantry engagements to vehicle encounters or aerial attacks. Different weapons and vehicles also encourage players to experiment with research and squad development rather than relying on one loadout indefinitely. The damage model adds another layer because damaged vehicles can affect how players continue a fight. For enthusiasts who enjoy military equipment, the range of gear is a significant part of the game’s appeal and long-term variety. Experienced players can also develop preferred combinations for different objectives. That breadth helps players who enjoy changing roles between matches.
Maps And Atmosphere Support Immersive Battles
The game places battles across several major World War II fronts, including Normandy, Moscow, Tunisia, the Pacific, and Stalingrad. These settings provide visual and tactical differences, from fortified positions to urban environments. The official developers also continue to update visual effects, animations, sound, and physics. A 2026 development update highlighted improvements to hit effects, explosions, shell-casing behavior, and vehicle interactions. Such changes contribute to the sense of a living battlefield, although the intensity may not appeal to players seeking a lighter presentation. The combination of historical settings, detailed equipment, sound design, and large-scale encounters create a recognizable military atmosphere. Updates also support presentation quality. The variety of locations can also prevent the overall experience from feeling visually repetitive over longer sessions.
Progression Gives Players Long-Term Goals
Progression in Enlisted revolves around research trees connected to the United States, Germany, USSR, and Japan. Players can work toward new weapons, vehicles, soldiers, and equipment while developing their preferred armies and squads. Soldiers can also be individually upgraded and customized with perks, allowing players to create more specialized roles. This system gives regular players reasons to return because progress is tied to expanding and improving their available options. The amount of equipment and development paths can feel substantial for newcomers. The game has also introduced a single Silver currency for ordinary progression, simplifying parts of the earlier system. Premium options remain available for players who want additional content or faster access. Progression can feel meaningful, although simple-system players may need patience. The system supports gradual experimentation for regular players.
Updates And Community Keep Enlisted Active
Another notable part of the experience is its continuing development. The official news feed shows frequent updates, testing periods, events, balance adjustments, and new content throughout 2026. Recent development has included off-road vehicles, improved melee animations, revised effects, and additional battlefield features. Enlisted also includes a mod editor that allows players to create custom missions and experiences, including scenarios outside the traditional World War II setting. This community-focused approach can extend the game beyond its standard maps and progression systems. However, mechanics and content can evolve over time. Players returning after a break may notice differences in systems, balance, or available content compared with earlier versions. Content can refresh familiar routines. That ongoing development can help keep the experience active and give regular players fresh reasons to return across future updates.
Conclusion: Is Enlisted Worth Exploring Today?
Enlisted combines squad management, infantry combat, vehicles, aircraft, historical settings, and long-term progression into a single multiplayer experience. Its main distinction is commanding a squad while directly controlling individual soldiers, making tactical decisions important. The wide equipment selection and continuing updates provide substantial variety, while custom content gives the community additional ways to play. New players should expect a learning period because the progression systems, squad roles, and battlefield mechanics can take time to understand. The free-to-play model lowers the barrier to trying the game. Overall, Enlisted is designed for players who enjoy large-scale military shooters and want more strategic layers than a conventional character-focused multiplayer game. Its blend of scale and squad control feels distinctive. It remains easy to sample.
