Enlisted

App Overview

One-line pitch: Enlisted is a squad-based first-person shooter that throws you into massive World War II battles with human players on both sides and a whole platoon of AI soldiers following your every order.

Developer / Publisher: Gaijin Distribution Kft, the same team behind the free-to-play tank and plane combat sim War Thunder.

Key features at a glance:

• Squad command system – you control a team of AI soldiers, give orders, and instantly switch between them when one falls.
• Combined arms warfare – infantry, tanks, and aircraft fight together on the same maps, each with its own role.
• Authentic WWII weapons and vehicles with detailed damage models that reward smart positioning over blind rushing.
• Dynamic campaign progression that evolves based on how players perform on the front lines.

Who it's for: History buffs who want a tactical shooter with some weight, players who enjoy leading a squad rather than lone-wolfing, and anyone looking for a slower, more methodical alternative to arcade-style FPS games.

A Mud-Soaked Opening

You spawn into a smoldering French village. Your squad of five rookies huddles behind a stone wall as a Tiger tank rumbles past, shaking the ground. A whistle blows – your officer yells "Forward!" – and you charge across a wheat field while machine-gun tracers snap overhead. This isn't a Hollywood movie. This is Enlisted, and it does a better job of making you feel like a small cog in a huge, terrifying war machine than most triple-A shooters have managed in years.

Your Squad, Your Command

The game's standout feature is how it handles squads. You don't just play as one soldier; you lead a small team of AI-controlled comrades. You can order them to move to a specific building, hold a corner, or attack a marked enemy. And when your current character goes down – which happens often – you instantly jump to the next soldier in your squad, keeping the action flowing without a respawn screen. It's like directing a small film crew in hell: you get the dramatic deaths, the panicked shouts of your men, and the satisfaction of seeing your orders actually work. The AI isn't perfect (they'll sometimes stand in the open when you tell them to hold), but it's good enough to make you feel like a leader rather than a lone wolf with a gun.

Tanks, Planes, and the Grunt in Between

Enlisted shines brightest when all three arms – infantry, armor, and air – clash on the same map. A single well-placed artillery strike can turn a fortified house into rubble, but a sneaky engineer can lay an anti-tank mine that stops a Panther cold. You can hop into a tank yourself, but beware: enemy planes will dive on you, and infantry with satchel charges can creep up your flank. The combined-arms dance feels chaotic but deliberate. It's not the twitchy, high-speed gameplay of Call of Duty; instead, it rewards teamwork, map knowledge, and patience. A bolt-action rifle from 200 meters can one-shot kill, but so can a stray piece of shrapnel. Every bullet tells a story.

Learning the Ropes – A Gentle Kick in the Teeth

Let's be honest: Enlisted doesn't hold your hand. The interface packs a lot of information – ammo counts, squad health, orders, vehicle controls – and it can feel overwhelming at first. The shooting is slower than what you're used to from Battlefield or CoD, and the lack of health regeneration means you'll spend a lot of time crawling behind sandbags waiting for a medic. But after a few hours, the rhythm clicks. You start instinctively checking your flanks, ordering your squad to advance in bounding overwatch, and feeling genuine relief when your tank crew survives a direct hit. The learning curve is steep, but the reward is a sense of immersion that few shooters manage.

How It Stands Out from the Crowd

Most WWII shooters either go full arcade (Call of Duty: Vanguard) or full simulation (Post Scriptum). Enlisted sits in a sweet spot: it's more tactical than Battlefield V, but more accessible than Hell Let Loose. Its unique squad system gives it a layer of strategy absent from most action & adventure titles. You're never just a soldier; you're a leader, a commander of a tiny platoon. That small twist changes how you approach every firefight. Also, the free-to-play model is refreshingly fair – progression is mostly cosmetic, and you can unlock new weapons and squads without paying a cent.

Final Verdict – Should You Enlist?

If you're tired of running and gunning without consequence, and you want a shooter that makes you think about where to put your men before you pull the trigger, Enlisted is a fantastic choice. It has rough edges – the AI can be dumb, the matchmaking sometimes lopsided – but its core idea of leading a squad through authentic WWII chaos is compelling enough to keep you coming back. It's free, it's deep, and it's unlike anything else on the Windows Store. Give it a weekend. You might just find yourself shouting "Squad, on me!" while your coffee goes cold.

FAQ

How do I start playing Enlisted and control my squad?

After launching the game, complete the tutorial to learn basic controls. You command a squad by moving the selected soldier; give orders to your AI teammates using the command wheel (default: 'Q'). Access Settings > Controls to customize key bindings.

How can I switch between soldiers in my squad during battle?

Press the number keys (1-9) to instantly take direct control of any alive squad member. If the soldier you want is unavailable, wait for them to respawn or use the 'Request Reinforcement' option from the squad menu. Check Controls under Settings for reassignment.

What are the main squad classes and their roles in Enlisted?

Classes include Assault (close combat), Sniper (long range), Machine Gunner (suppression), Mortar (indirect fire), Flamethrower (area denial), Engineer (building fortifications), Anti-Tank, Radio Operator (artillery strikes), Tank Crew, and Pilot. Each has unique weapons and abilities.

How do I upgrade my soldiers and unlock perks?

Go to Squad Management from the main menu. Select a soldier and choose 'Upgrade' to spend in-game currency earned from battles. Each soldier has a perk tree—unlock passive bonuses like faster reload, increased stamina, or improved aim. Higher ranks require more experience.

Can I pilot both tanks and aircraft? How do they work?

Yes, you can spawn as a tank crew commander or aircraft pilot by selecting the corresponding squad in the deployment screen. Tanks have driver, gunner, and commander positions; aircraft use full flight controls. The game provides separate tutorial missions for vehicles.

How does the Engineer class build fortifications and what can they build?

Equip the Engineer's tool (hammer or wrench) from the inventory. Approach the desired location and hold the interact key to build sandbags, anti-tank obstacles, ammo boxes, or repair stations. Fortifications appear as blueprints; you must complete them before they become functional.