In a world where growing lawlessness is held at bay only by the bravest and most devoted servants of justice, have you ever considered the weight of the badge? Void Interactive‘s first-person tactical shooter, Ready or Not, straps players into the combat boots of a Special Weapons and Tactics commander, leading with precision and purpose. Whether hand-selecting their personal squad of NPCs or teaming up online with other gamers, players must rely on strategic combat support from a devoted unit of S.W.A.T. officers. In every mission, the game delivers a level of immersion that makes the burden, and honor, of the badge strikingly clear.
Following the Los Sueños Police Department’s S.W.A.T. team, the solo narrative places players in command of a unit striving to operate with maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Together, the team fights to stem the tide of crime, corruption, and cruelty threatening their city. The game offers full player-character customization, spanning weapon loadouts, uniforms, tactical gear, crowd-control devices, advanced gadgetry, and more. Players can even hand-select team members for each mission and tailor their equipment to match the demands of any operation, as well as the preferences of the player.
From an impressively extensive and realistic arsenal of modern and retro weaponry to cutting-edge tactical gear used by real-world law enforcement officers, the robust content depth in Ready or Not is truly something to behold. The game showcases top-tier gunplay and authentic gear mechanics, while empowering players to tailor their loadouts for each mission while selecting the appearance and equipment that best suit their preferences and needs. Beyond personal customization, players can assess and collaborate with their allies, fostering trust and tactical synergy in the field. This layered gameplay offers compelling insight into the inner workings of a big-city S.W.A.T. unit, delivering an immersive, high-stakes experience that’s equal parts intense and rewarding.
Whether choosing to deploy less-than-lethal tactics to apprehend suspects and secure crime scenes or to exercise decisive deadly force when warranted, players must respond to evolving threats in accordance with each mission’s assigned risk profiles, while simultaneously attempting to safeguard the psychological well-being of both themselves and their team. Failure to effectively perform the task at hand, whether it’s due to civilian casualties, botched mission objectives, or the deaths of fellow officers, can and will take a toll on the mental state of the team. Each officer may become stressed, withdrawn, or emotionally unstable as a result of repeated shortfalls, undermining their ability to operate effectively in high-stakes scenarios.
It falls to the player to monitor these fluctuations in each teammate’s mental health, referring affected officers for professional support and trauma recovery with the department psychiatric professional. At the same time, the player must consider that each officer brings with them their own unique strengths to the overall makeup of the team, whether that be enhanced combat proficiency, boosted trauma recovery or increased armored resilience, among many other individual specializations that benefit the squad. If mentally compromised, these specialists may falter during critical engagements, resign from their post, or worse… fall in the line of duty.
Serving as commander of their five-man S.W.A.T. unit, players must master the art of issuing precise field commands to their team. This includes directing individual officers to perform specialized tasks, such as assigning two of their operators to stack up on a door or neutralize a hostile, while simultaneously instructing the other two officers to address entirely different objectives, allowing for a synergistic approach to time-sensitive tactics. Commands can also be issued to all four officers simultaneously, with the option to queue actions, enabling the team to reposition, prepare equipment, or coordinate timing before executing their orders. This type of optional complexity in the control system reinforces the importance of tactical awareness, split-second judgment, and synchronized action under pressure.
Each mission the player and their team undertake presents a distinct and unpredictable challenge, ranging from bomb threats and school shootings to human trafficking interventions and drug den raids executed under cover of darkness. These pulse-pounding scenarios test the player’s leadership, strategy, and nerves to the absolute limit. Across repeated attempts of the same mission, players will discover that suspect placements, traps, evidence, and other potentially deadly environmental elements shift between playthroughs. This procedural design keeps every encounter fresh, demanding vigilance and adaptability to find success, as each mission will prove to be consistently inconsistent. As a S.W.A.T. commander, the player is never granted perfect foresight, which allows the game to maintain high stakes and amplify its replay value well beyond other games in the genre.
This element of randomization paired with an in-depth scoring system that evaluates the team’s performance based on evidence collected, civilians rescued, team member survival, and other critical mission objectives completed, encourages experimentation with different tactics and refinement in regard to execution. Unlike real-world operations, where failure rarely allows for a second chance, players are given the opportunity to reattempt missions and evolve their approach while working to master the unpredictable nature of tactical engagements.
Ready or Not‘s online multiplayer component integrates the same randomization, customization (with the addition of changeable voices and player models), and scoring system found in solo mode. However, instead of commanding AI teammates, players join a S.W.A.T. unit composed entirely of other real players, who operate independently and cannot be directed through a command interface like the squad in single player. Personally, I found this aspect to be some of the most fun the game has to offer. I formed a task force with my buddies from Everything Nerd, Ultan and Ben, and we had an absolute blast. What unfolded felt like a genuine brotherhood forged through tight coordination and a growing mutual trust.
We customized our individual loadouts to complement one another, ensuring that our team was ready for any objective or evolving threat. Our uniforms reflected our individual roles and personal preferences, yet we still appeared and operated as a cohesive unit. Our communication felt seamless, instinctive, and near-perfectly tuned in such a way that left me feeling engrossed in the immersive experience. The multiplayer gameplay was tactical, sometimes chaotic, often hilarious, and more engaging than anything I’ve experienced in years, if ever. Though I wanted to revisit every mission multiple times, explore alternate routes, and refine our strategies, we’re not actual S.W.A.T. officers and we’ve got other responsibilities.
With that said, I walked away from my time playing Ready or Not with something far more valuable than high scores and unlocked gear. I left with a profound sense of joy and accomplishment, forged through teamwork, trust, and a shared sense of adrenaline-fueled justice! I think it’s an instant classic and will be a 10/10 addition to the tactical shooter genre when it releases on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 on July 15th! If you prefer PC, pick it up on Steam!
Now for what my squad mates had to say about their experiences cleaning up the streets in multiplayer as well as with their own singleplayer teams. – Collin
Ready or Not is one of the best tactical FPS games that I’ve ever had the privilege of playing. While kicking down doors, popping bad guys’ lids, or even slowly maneuvering down dark tunnels that were barely wide enough for a shield to fit through, I really got a strong feeling of tension and excitement when running missions with the boys! I’d easily give this game a 10/10 due to the engaging complexity of the commander system, the excellent shooting mechanics, and mostly just for how much fun it is to play multiplayer with a group of friends.
Ready or Not is fantastic and I’d genuinely recommend it to any fan of first-person shooters and squad-based tactics. This has been one of my most anticipated titles to make the jump from PC to console in quite some time, and while I was desperately waiting for its upcoming release, lo and behold we got review codes! I’m grateful to have had a chance to play this game with both my colleagues, and I’m so thankful to the developers for giving us early access to get in on the fun together! This experience was a true pleasure. – Ben
Get ready to lock and load, because Ready or Not has finally breached the console scene, and it’s an absolute triumph! This tactical first-person shooter from VOID Interactive is a dream come true for co-op enthusiasts, delivering some of the most thrilling multiplayer moments I’ve had in years. Over the past two weeks, my squad and I have been glued to this game, and it’s hands-down the most fun we’ve had together since the glory days of couch co-op.
With tight mechanics, endless customization, and an atmosphere that’ll make your heart race, Ready or Not is a must-play for shooter sim fans and roleplaying enthusiasts alike. As a spiritual successor to the classic S.W.A.T. series, the co-op mode is where this game shines brightest. Coordinating with your team to defuse hostage situations, bust drug rings, or tackle bomb threats feels like starring in your own action movie. The mechanics are razor-sharp, emphasizing strategy over run-and-gun chaos. Every mission drips with tension, with some scenarios so atmospheric they’ll leave you gripping your controller in dread.
The full 18-mission campaign offers a meaty experience that keeps you coming back. The replayability is off the charts, enemies spawn in different spots each time, ensuring no two runs feel identical. We played the cartel illegal immigration mission ‘Rust Belt’, multiple times and not once was it the same. The map had a web of ancient tunnels underground, so incredibly tense but also fun. Customization is a standout feature. You can tailor your multiplayer character to your exact playstyle, from light armour for speed to heavy gear for tanking hits and choose between lethal or non-lethal ammo to match your approach. Whether you’re roleplaying a by-the-book officer or a grizzled tactician, the options let you make the experience your own.
It’s a love letter to fans of the old S.W.A.T. games, and I couldn’t get enough of it. I personally like to move slow and armoured. To quote Special Operations Officer Sarchie from the movie ‘Deliver Us from Evil’, “as a cop I’ve always had a heavy hand”. This aptly describes my play style. That said, the game has some very minor hiccups. Some police officers in the station could use a facial patch to smooth out their faces, and matchmaking gave my team occasional headaches, though, after just two weeks of play, these feel like minor growing pains for a game this ambitious.
VOID Interactive deserves a standing ovation for proving the naysayers wrong; many claimed this intricate tactical shooter couldn’t make the jump to consoles, but they’ve delivered a port that feels polished and smooth to play. The controller was mapped perfectly. I do recommend the tutorial to get a run down on your many available singleplayer commands.
Ready or Not is one of the best games I’ve played this year, hands-down. It’s a masterclass in cooperative gameplay, a heart-pounding shooter sim, and a nostalgic nod to S.W.A.T. fans like me. Grab your squad, gear up, and dive into this unforgettable tactical adventure, you won’t regret it. I give it a 10/10. We are so thankful to be given 3 codes for testing and also incredibly grateful to be given such ample time to test the game. It is truly rare these days. – Ultan
