by theygamesBetween Escape From Tarkov, Gray Zone Warfare, and the other flagships for the still-burgeoning extraction shooter, FPS games have become a lot weightier; a lot more consequential. In many big, arcade-y shooters like CoD and, to a lesser extent, Battlefield and Counter-Strike 2, the pace is fast, the body count is high, and you have more freedom to take risks. EFT and its contemporaries have changed the pace. Realistic physics and damage systems mean that death is swift and that kills take skills. If you rush and neglect to strategize with your teammates, you’re almost certain to get everyone wiped. Created by just four people, a new, tactical FPS takes this gameplay style to new levels. After a run of successful betas, it’s just landed on Steam in early access, and you can try it right now.
This is Exfil. Built by Misultin and published by strategy stalwart MicroProse, it’s an extraction FPS with a focus on slow-burn tension and community support. Two teams enter – it’s Dragons versus Spartans. For the early-access launch, there’s a single game mode, where the rival squads fight to obtain a hidden piece of intel and then safely escape.
There are six maps, all handcrafted, and all complete with dynamic weather and day and night cycles. Sometimes you’re fighting in the center of a forest. Other times, it’s close-quarters urban combat. Maybe it’s clear skies and you zap your opponents from range. But then a sandstorm of a cloudburst might drop in, killing visibility and totally upending your tactics.
Bullet drop, velocity, and trajectory are all realistically modeled. Similarly, rounds will penetrate softer surfaces, but ricochet off steel and thick concrete, so spray and pray is definitely not an option. At the end of each game, Exfil provides a comprehensive report, detailing every shot fired, every miss, and every step you’ve taken across the map, so you can closely scrutinize your tactics and adjust for subsequent matches.
Exfil also has its own in-built VoIP (voice over internet protocol) system and proximity chat – although you and your squad have a dedicated radio channel, if you get too close to your opponent, they can eavesdrop and ambush you. You can also self-host servers and set the gameplay rules to customize your games.
Having just launched into early access, Exfil has already earned a solid ‘mostly positive’ rating on Steam. In the coming months, Misultin is going to add NPCs, and also a scenario editor so you can build your own PvP and PvE matches. A slot-based inventory system is on the way, as well as more-detailed stats tracking. If you want to try Exfil, it’s available at an introductory discount of 15%, so you’ll pay $25.49 / £21.24. Just head here.
Alternatively, try some of the best survival games, or maybe the very best multiplayer games available on PC.
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