Insurgency is a first-person shooter that attempts to blend the military simulation elements of games like Arma and the more casual elements of games like Call of Duty. In doing so, it tries to expand the rather niche appeal of mil-sims to a wider audience.
Insurgency does a number of things right. First, it knows exactly what player it is targeting. It goes after people that think Arma is interesting and unique, but too “hardcore” for them. They enjoy the heightened realism, but still want to feel like they are playing a game, rather than military training software. They don’t want to shoot someone 15 times and have them still be able to sprint away. They like the minimalist HUD because it aids their immersion. If this describes you, then you will most likely enjoy Insurgency. Weapons are powerful and can kill in only a few shots, so you can’t play as risky as you can in Call of Duty. It adds a lot of weight to the combat system. The game isn’t as methodical or slow paced as Arma, but it avoids the “run and gun” style of gameplay, rewarding careful movement and smart positioning.
When it comes to recommending Insurgency, the best strategy is to try it for yourself. It is such a specific genre that unless you have prior experience with a similar game, such as Day of Infamy, you can’t know if this game will work for you or not. If you are dissatisfied with arcade shooters like Call of Duty, I would strongly recommend giving it a try to see if Insurgency is right for you. If you are a fan of the genre, Insurgency is a great example of it. It is a well-rounded game with no glaring flaws.
