Ready or Not [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

I’ve never really been drawn to tactical shooters, with fast-paced, arcade-style action more of my cup of tea. Then I played Ready or Not, and it completely rewired how I think about first-person shooters. Within minutes of my first mission, I was absolutely hooked, with the weight of each decision, the tension behind every door, and the split-second judgments between threat and civilian gripping me in a way no other game has before. This isn’t just a shooter – it’s a f*****g pressure cooker, and it’s bloody brilliant.

Check out some screenshots down below:

From the outset, Ready or Not doesn’t try to dazzle you with spectacle. There are no cinematic explosions or set-piece shootouts, but instead, you’re grounded in tight, realistic environments and tasked with diffusing tense (and often grim) scenarios. Each mission drops you into a situation that feels like it has been pulled straight from real headlines: hostage rescues, active shooter events, human trafficking busts. It doesn’t sensationalize these subjects but instead portrays them with a heavy dose of realism that forces you to think rather than react. It caught me off-guard a little, and I couldn’t help but to think about the realism of the situations when playing.

What makes Ready or Not so gripping is the moment-to-moment gameplay. Every step you take, every door you breach, every shout you make to a suspect or civilian could change the entire mission. You’ll second-guess yourself constantly: is the person around the corner holding a gun, or are they in innocent civilian caught in the midst of a gunfight? The stakes are high, and even a single mistake – hesitating, firing too early, or trusting the wrong suspect – can have serious consequences. That constant pressure makes for an experience that’s as mentally engaging as it is physically tense, and honestly, I’ve never experienced anything quite like it.

What really blew me away, especially as someone new to this genre, is just how much the game trusts you to handle these situations intelligently. You’re not handheld through flashy tutorials or fed a set of rigid objectives (though the training does do a good job of introducing the mechanics to you). Instead, you’re given tools – a nifty little mirror gun to peek under doors, flashbangs to disorient, non-lethal weapons to subdue suspects – and expected to plan and adapt. The command system, particularly on console, takes some getting used to with the constant shifting and pressing of shoulder buttons, but once it clicks, it becomes second nature. You can direct your squad to stack on a door, breach with a bang, or clear a hallway – all with a few contextual inputs that feel intuitive despite their initial complexity.

“Ready or Not’s intense, grounded scenarios and razor-sharp focus on tactical decision-making created a level of immersion I’ve rarely felt in games.”

There’s also a solid variety of modes to keep things fresh beyond standard mission runs. The core of the experience lies in the Commander Mode, which serves as the single-player campaign where you manage your squad, send them into missions, and deal with the consequences of injuries, mental strain, or even permanent losses. Each mission type offers unique objectives – from high-risk warrants to hostage rescues – and many include randomized elements like enemy placement or trap locations, keeping repeat attempts unpredictable. In co-op or solo, these missions can be approached in any order, allowing players to tailor the difficulty curve to their liking. While it doesn’t overwhelm you with endless modes, Ready or Not provides enough variety to support its focused, replayable design and keep players returning for more.

Playing solo is a solid experience thanks to competent AI teammates who can execute commands efficiently. They’ll hold positions, cover angles, and even take down threats with impressive accuracy. However, they can sometimes feel TOO efficient, often clearing rooms and subduing enemies before you’ve even caught up, which takes a bit of the excitement away. Playing solo is certainly tense and the elements of squad management add to the strategic nature, but it never quite reaches the highs of multiplayer.

Co-op is where everything changes. Missions become unpredictable, not just because of enemy placements or civilian behaviour, but because your teammates – whether strangers or your real-world friends – add a human layer of chaos and collaboration that the AI allies in solo simply can’t replicate. One moment you’re working in perfect sync, clearing rooms with silent precision; the next, someone prematurely opens a door or triggers a booby trap, throwing the whole mission into disarray. That unpredictability creates moments that feel like something out of a TV drama or tactical crime film, whilst disagreements on tactics mid-mission, split-second arguments on who breaches first, and debates on whether to go lethal or non-lethal all add to the immersion and tension.

Check out some screenshots down below:

I’ve never played a co-op game that has delivered this kind of dynamic tension between players. It’s not just about executing the objective – it’s about navigating the group dynamics that come with it. Do you split up and take both doors at once? Do you push forward aggressively or play it safe? The game never forces a particular path, and that freedom makes every mission feel different – even when replaying some of the same levels over and over again.

That said, Ready or Not isn’t without flaws. The UI on console can be cramped, especially when navigating equipment menus or issuing complex commands, and it took me a bit of playtime before things really clicked. Also, every mission seems to end with a bit of a lull – a final enemy or civilian tucked away in some random corner of the map, requiring a frustrating backtrack to complete your objectives. It doesn’t ruin the experience, but it does break the tension that the game otherwise builds so masterfully.

Despite those gripes, Ready or Not stands out as one of the most immersive and thrilling shooters I’ve ever played. It’s not flashy, and it won’t appeal to everyone, but if you’re even remotely curious about tactical gameplay, this is a game you simply cannot miss.

Developer: VOID Interactive
Publisher: VOID Interactive
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, PC
Website: https://voidinteractive.net/