Squad Up or Struggle

Top-down shooters typically feature fast-paced, in-your-face gameplay where second-guessing results in instant death. With Phantom Squad, developed by Ctrl Freak and published by Super Rare Originals, they decided to add a technical element to it where you'll need patience and good communication to tactically complete your objectives. The game bears a resemblance to Hotline Miami, except that instead of shooting drug-fueled gang members with a rooster mask, you become a member of an elite team equipped with riot shields and EMP grenades, utilizing stealth to your advantage. Drawing inspiration from tactical games like SWAT 4 and Ready or Not, Phantom Squad successfully blends chaotic gunplay with methodical planning.

Tools of the Trade

Since we are talking tactics, we need some advanced weapons. Your main weapon is typically a rifle, machine gun, or a special type, such as a gas canister launcher. Your secondary can be a pistol, stun gun, or lethal throwing type. There are various types of devices that can help you: some can pinpoint an enemy, such as a door camera or heartbeat sensor, while others can distract, like a stun grenade. There are many equipment options to unlock, and the right choice for each mission depends on you.

I appreciate when a game doesn't always hold your hand. They offer you the tools, and it's an opportunity for you to explore and understand them. There is a training area, something I wish many games had, where you can test anything you like out. That way, you have a better feel for how to use your preferred tools from the get-go.

When Communication Becomes Your Best Weapon

A mission briefing prepares you, but the final decisions are made by you and your team. The game lacks a significant storyline. If you are more into story-driven games, this title might not be for you. Each mission provides a narrative element, but there is no real dialogue or main characters to which players can form attachments.

You can play online with up to four players, but finding random teammates can be challenging because there is no traditional matchmaking lobby system. Yup, we are going old school and just playing with friends, you know. Solo play has significant limitations due to reduced team size. Playing with 4 friends means you can have up to eight gadgets instead of just two, and it makes a significant difference to have someone with you when you're breaking down doors. Although friendly fire is a key mechanic that adds tension and requires careful coordination, you might want to watch out for those friends with jumpy trigger fingers.

Tactical Planning Done Right

The map layout is well designed, ensuring that there are multiple routes for navigating and securing hostages or stopping a bomb threat. You and your team use a system called A.C.E., which is by far my favorite feature in the game. You all can take notes, marking down strategies that the others can see to help you plan out each room before going in. This is a smart way to tell your teammates if there is a hostage or terrorist in that room without putting bullets in the wrong people since only you can see the gadgets you're using. What makes A.C.E. special compared to other tactical games is how seamlessly it integrates real-time collaborative planning with in-game execution—it's so well implemented that it becomes difficult to go back to other tactical shooters.

While I did enjoy most of the missions, there was one in particular that I did not care for at all. In fact, my entire group didn't like it. While I won't spoil the settings of it, it involved all of us being stuck together to complete everything without leaving a certain distance apart. Additionally, we couldn't use weapons, and there were no checkpoints, which made it unnecessarily difficult and annoying. Because of these aspects, we were making mistakes, and the way the map was made, it felt like having more people was a disadvantage. After too many attempts, we decided to take a break, but I later did it by myself with no issues at all. I would honestly never play that mission again if given the choice.

Another frustrating aspect was that some enemies you encountered had a view distance that created a significant disadvantage. You can only see so far, but sometimes a guard would shoot you off-screen before you knew what was happening.

It is worse when you have fewer people to look out for, and it almost feels pointless to play this alone since having a team doesn't just feel like an advantage; it feels like a requirement. When you lack easy access to find teammates and must instead coordinate with people you actually know, this situation may discourage solo players from wanting to make a purchase. A potential solution could be giving solo players more equipment or health to balance the difficulty, though it's worth noting that solo players already get 2 revives.

A Must-Have for Tactical Co-op Fans

On the technical side, Phantom Squad runs excellently on both PC and Steam Deck with consistent performance and effective use of lighting effects. The game is currently available on Steam for $13.99, and there's a free demo available if you want to test the mechanics before purchasing.

Despite a few complaints, this game was enjoyable. As I said, this is a game where you want a team, teamwork is key, and communication is vital to your survival. If you enjoy playing games where planning ahead is a must and being precise is a requirement, I would highly recommend Phantom Squad. The game itself is only on Steam right now, but the base price is reasonable when you consider the tactical depth and cooperative gameplay it offers—just make sure you have friends ready to join your squad.