Ready Or Not was announced in 2017. Since then, it has drawn attention several times – but rarely positively. Since December 18, 2021, the game has been in Early Access on Steam and is doing very well there. The community celebrates the game and calls it better than Rainbow Six Siege. Why this is the case is explained by MeinMMO.
What kind of shooter is this? Ready Or Not is a tactical shooter that takes the same approach as the old Rainbow Six and SWAT games. In particular, the 2005 classic SWAT 4 seems to have been a direct inspiration for Ready Or Not.
Although the game is a shooter, you should avoid shooting as much as possible: You are playing a SWAT team that primarily wants to apprehend criminals in various missions. If you resort to excessive violence and take down everything that stands in your way, you will be punished by the game.
That’s why there are many tactical options in the game to resolve each situation without bloodshed. You can sneak up on enemies, yell at them until they drop their weapons, or incapacitate foes with non-lethal weapons like tasers.
Currently, in Early Access, there are 6 missions available that you can play alone with AI partners or in co-op. The game is also supposed to become playable in a PvP mode later. However, this is not available at the moment.
Ready Or Not seems to be reinventing itself in Early Access
What do the players say? Players on Steam are enthusiastic about Ready Or Not. Currently, the game has about 5,000 Steam reviews, of which 96% are positive (via Steam). Moreover, it is currently the most popular new release on Steam.
- JakeTheButcher says on Steam: “[The game is] what Rainbow Six Siege should have been.” (via Steam)
- awpticC even goes a step further: “This is not what Rainbow Six could have been, this is better.” (via Steam)
- Foures writes: “This is the game we’ve been waiting for since the release of SWAT 4!” (via Steam)
Players were not always excited about the game: This positive response on Steam shows how the game seems to have reinvented itself with the Early Access release.
Previously, the game was only playable in an alpha version that cost 120 €. Additionally, alpha players were not allowed to share gameplay videos due to a strict embargo. Nevertheless, there were always reports of severe problems that the developers did not address.
When gameplay of the PvP mode was first revealed in 2019, hopeful fans were severely disappointed: What was shown resembled Call of Duty more than SWAT (via Gamestar).
As a result, many players were convinced that Ready Or Not was a “scam” (via reddit). This reputation seems to have been shed with the release in Early Access now.
Why is the game doing so well now? As can be seen from the communities on Reddit, Steam, and YouTube, fans are especially pleased with the gameplay. Since SWAT 4 was released in 2005, players have not had a true ‘SWAT simulator’. The “Rainbow Six” games have developed in a different direction, first with Rainbow Six Vegas, and most recently with Rainbow Six Siege.
Additionally, most shooters these days are heading in a more action-oriented direction. Tactical planning like in the old SWAT and Rainbow Six games can only be found in indie titles like Door Kickers. That’s why tactical fans like YouTuber OperatorDrewski are cheering right now, saying: “The SWAT genre is back!” (via YouTube)
New levels and PvP multiplayer are expected within 1 year
Is there already something like a roadmap? There is no concrete roadmap with exact dates. Developer Void Interactive states, however, that the game is expected to remain in Early Access for about 12 months. The current state reflects a late alpha version of the game. Purchasing in Early Access also grants access to the beta, which is supposed to start at an unspecified later date.
During these 12 months, at least 5 more levels are expected to be released, as well as new weapons and UI improvements. Additionally, the PvP multiplayer is set to be added.
Have you already tried Ready Or Not? If so, are you enjoying the ultra-realistic gameplay? Or are these ‘SWAT simulators’ not for you? Let us know in the comments.
If you want to know what’s currently happening in Rainbow Six Siege, we recommend the article:
The new operator from Rainbow Six Siege can instantly kill attackers, but has a catch
