Insurgency: Sandstorm

Insurgency: Sandstorm is praised for its intense, tactical FPS gameplay that strikes a balance between realism and fast-paced action. Players enjoy the satisfying gunplay, immersive sound design, and the sense of teamwork required to succeed. The game offers both co-op and competitive multiplayer modes, appealing to fans of military simulations and tactical shooters alike. The community is generally seen as friendly, especially in co-op modes, though some toxicity is noted in PvP.

However, the game suffers from technical issues such as bugs, lag, and poor optimization, which frustrate many players. The matchmaking system and leveling mechanics are criticized for imbalance and lack of progression incentives. Additionally, some find the maps and game modes poorly designed or unbalanced, and there are complaints about the increasing focus on microtransactions and cosmetic DLCs over meaningful content updates. Overall, while the core gameplay is engaging, the game's longevity is hindered by persistent problems and design choices.

Highlights

Gameplay mechanics receive strong praise for their tactical depth, realistic gunplay, and rewarding combat experience. The sound design, especially weapon sounds and indoor audio, is noted as immersive and high-quality.

The game appeals to both newcomers to mil-sim shooters and veterans seeking a challenging yet accessible tactical FPS. Co-op modes are highlighted as particularly enjoyable with friends.

Players appreciate the balance between realism and fun, avoiding overly slow or tedious gameplay, and enjoy the customization options for weapons and characters.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include persistent bugs, server lag, and poor optimization that detract from the experience. The matchmaking system is often unbalanced, pairing players of widely different skill levels, leading to frustration.

Players express dissatisfaction with the lack of meaningful progression systems and the heavy emphasis on microtransactions and cosmetic DLCs. Maps and game modes are sometimes described as poorly designed or unbalanced, with gameplay mechanics like slow reloads and vaulting feeling clunky. The community can be toxic in PvP, and crossplay features have been removed, limiting multiplayer options.