Deal | Steam: Realistic World War II shooter free to play for a limited time
The World War II shooter Hell Let Loose was originally developed by Australian indie studio Black Matter, with funding raised through a Kickstarter campaign. The game entered Early Access on June 6, 2019 – fittingly coinciding with the 75th anniversary of D-Day – and saw its full release on July 27, 2021. In December 2022, British publisher Team17 took over development. Since then, new studios such as Cover 6 and Expression Games have continued to expand the game with fresh content.
As a dedicated multiplayer shooter, Hell Let Loose doesn’t feature a single-player campaign. Instead, it immerses players in large-scale, historically accurate World War II battles – from the Normandy landings to the Eastern Front and North Africa. The game is built around realism: gunfire is lethal, there’s no minimap, no arcade-style mechanics and even reloading and navigation are deliberately slow. The focus lies on a shared war experience – whether fighting as an infantry soldier, tank crew member, scout or commander – in battles defined by intensity, authenticity and teamwork.
At the core of the game are 50 vs. 50 battles built around a sector-based conquest system, where teams must capture or defend key territories. In Warfare mode, the front lines shift dynamically as both sides fight for control. Offensive mode puts one team on the attack while the other defends. For smaller-scale action, Control Skirmish offers 25 vs. 25 matches with a more focused combat experience.
Reviews: Authentic World War II shooter with technical weaknesses
In their review, the German gaming magazine 4Players praised Hell Let Loose for its intense and realistic portrayal of war, highlighting the oppressive atmosphere, authentic battlefield experience and immersive sound design. The game truly shines when played with friends or as part of a coordinated clan. However, the reviewers also pointed out technical issues – including lag and connection problems – that can seriously impact gameplay. They further criticized the confusing menus and clunky controls, which may pose a challenge for newcomers. 4Players did not assign a final score.
On Steam, the World War II simulation enjoys solid support, with around 90,000 user reviews and a positive rating of 84%. On Metacritic, however, reception is more mixed: critics awarded a Metascore of 79, while players gave it a User Score of 6.5.
Free weekend on Steam
Hell Let Loose normally sells for around $50 on Steam, but right now players can try the World War II shooter for free until June 15. Those who want to keep playing can pick it up at a 50% discount until June 26 – the lowest price to date, according to SteamDB.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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