Enlisted review 2026: squad-based WWII shooter verdict

The short answer: Enlisted is worth downloading in 2026 if you want a free WWII shooter where every player brings a squad rather than one disposable avatar. The official feature overview explains the infantry, tank and aircraft structure: you directly control one soldier, issue simple orders to the rest and switch into a surviving squad member when the current soldier dies. That creates busy combined-arms battles and a distinctive rhythm. It also means the experience depends partly on AI squad behavior and a large equipment progression system.

Evidence and limits

This documentary assessment uses Enlisted's current official feature, progression and store documentation. Those sources establish the squad system, research trees, Battle Rating, free-to-play model and published system requirements; they do not establish current matchmaking quality, AI reliability, server stability or device-specific performance.

What makes Enlisted different from another WWII FPS?

The squad is the defining feature. An infantry lineup contains several individually equipped soldiers, while tank and aircraft squads represent crews. In battle, the uncontrolled members follow orders and remain available as new points of control. A single death therefore does not always send you back to a distant spawn screen.

The additional squad members put more visible soldiers on the battlefield than a conventional match with the same number of human players. They also give classes practical continuity: an engineer, radio operator or anti-tank soldier can remain useful even if the rifleman you started with is lost.

The system is not a full real-time tactics game. Orders are deliberately simpler than direct control, and AI soldiers cannot read a changing objective like a coordinated human squad. Enlisted is best understood as an FPS with tactical reserves, not a replacement for organized player communication.

How do squad switching and AI affect a match?

Squad switching reduces downtime and creates small stories inside each life. You might begin with a machine gunner, lose that soldier crossing a street, take control of the engineer who survived in cover and build a rally point that helps the entire team. The squad becomes both a toolkit and a limited pool of second chances.

The weakness is predictability. AI companions can hold a position, follow and contribute fire, but they are vulnerable when a route exposes them or a threat requires human judgment. Treating them as autonomous teammates leads to frustration; treating them as specialists to preserve and reposition is more effective.

This also changes the skill curve. Mechanical aim matters, yet loadout planning, spawn infrastructure, objective pressure and knowing when to switch soldiers can matter just as much as one clean duel.

Are the combined-arms battles actually varied?

Yes. Enlisted places infantry, armored vehicles and aircraft in the same objective-driven matches. A player can bring several squad types and change roles after a loss, so one session can move from clearing a building to repairing a tank or attacking from the air.

The official game covers the USA, Germany, USSR and Japan across historical fronts, with weapons, uniforms and vehicles tied to those armies. The Battle Rating system groups equipment strength and influences the maps and opponents selected by matchmaking.

Variety creates balance pressure. A strong vehicle can dominate players who did not bring an answer, while dense infantry areas can leave a vehicle lineup without the right tool. A roster with complementary squads has more answers than four versions of the same role.

How does progression work in 2026?

Progression is organized into research trees for each country. Battle experience advances the selected research item, after which Silver is used to buy equipment, enlist soldiers and fund upgrades. The official “Meet the new Enlisted” breakdown documents the move away from campaign-by-campaign progress toward country research trees and Battle Rating matchmaking.

It is still a long-term grind. Four countries contain many weapons, squads and vehicles, and every useful unlock may need purchases and equipment changes before it becomes battle-ready. Focusing on one army and one branch is much more manageable than trying to keep every country equally advanced.

The research tree gives players agency to skip unwanted branches, but tier requirements prevent completely ignoring the wider structure. Enlisted rewards a project mindset: choose the next weapon or vehicle that changes a lineup, then build toward it.

Is Enlisted pay to win?

It sells advantages, but the useful answer needs precision. The official site advertises Premium squads with increased experience gains and complete equipment, while Gold purchases can accelerate progression. A Premium account also reduces the time required to move through research and build several lineups.

That means spending can produce stronger or more complete options sooner. Battle Rating limits some mismatch, but it does not make account progression irrelevant. Free players can access the base game and research trees, yet they pay with time and narrower early rosters.

Do not buy a premium squad before learning the ordinary lineup. A ready-made unit may be powerful in its bracket, but it does not teach spawn placement, objective timing or combined-arms counters. The fairest first test is free: build one infantry lineup, unlock an engineer and decide whether the core match flow is enjoyable before paying to accelerate it.

Official 2026 development posts continue to adjust the surrounding economy and squad setup. The March 2026 battlefield update introduced planned perk presets and free resets, while later events and chests changed how old equipment can return. That cadence is useful evidence of active support and a reason to verify any exact reward or store claim in the live client.

Is Enlisted friendly to new players?

The controls of an individual soldier are familiar, but the surrounding systems are not. New players must understand squad composition, soldier classes, Battle Rating, research, Silver, equipment transfers and several spawn choices. The opening becomes easier when treated as a small roster problem rather than a collection screen.

Start with one country. Keep the equipment Battle Rating coherent, include an engineer, place rally points near objectives without exposing them and avoid spending every unit of Silver on sidegrades. A basic squad that supports the team is more useful than an expensive weapon attached to an incoherent army.

PC requirements are comparatively approachable: the official page lists 8 GB RAM and older DirectX 11 hardware as the minimum, with a larger full client and stronger GPU recommended. Actual performance still depends on map, effects and battle density.

Who should play Enlisted in 2026?

Play it if you enjoy WWII equipment, objective-based multiplayer and switching between infantry, armor and aircraft. The squad system is especially good for players who like preparing a roster and improvising after losses. Short matches also make it easier to sample than a persistent strategy account.

Skip it if you want a pure competitive FPS where every visible soldier is human, progression never affects loadout breadth, or AI behavior is absent from the outcome. Players who dislike research trees should also expect friction even if they like the shooting model.

For a slower persistent war built around alliances, our Rise of Kingdoms review examines a very different time commitment. For party-based PvE and factory management, see Arknights: Endfield.

Is Enlisted worth playing now?

Yes as a free trial, not as an automatic long-term commitment. The first objective is to discover whether commanding a squad feels like added tactical depth or extra babysitting. That answer matters more than the size of the research tree.

Give one country enough time to unlock a coherent infantry setup and an engineer. Try armor or aircraft only after learning how objectives and rally points shape a match. If switching soldiers turns a failed push into a useful second decision, Enlisted offers something few shooters reproduce. If the AI and progression remain more noticeable than the battle, premium acceleration will not solve the underlying mismatch.

Frequently asked questions

Is Enlisted free to play?

Yes. The base game and national research trees are free, with Premium time, squads and Gold offering acceleration or ready-made options.

Is Enlisted mainly multiplayer?

Yes. Its battles are online and objective based. AI soldiers belong to player-controlled squads; they do not turn the game into a standalone story campaign.

Which country should a beginner choose?

Choose one whose early weapons and fronts interest you, then keep its Battle Rating coherent. Progressing every country at once multiplies the grind.

Are tanks and aircraft required?

No, but understanding their counters is. A balanced roster with an engineer and anti-vehicle option contributes more consistently than infantry that cannot answer armor.

Is Enlisted pay to win?

Paid squads and faster progression can create meaningful account advantages, though Battle Rating and player decisions still matter. Test the free ordinary lineup before buying power or convenience.