RAID: World War II Review Summary

Greatly improved by updates with satisfying gunplay and solid co-op and solo play, but suffers from low player counts, poor enemy design, and frequent bugs and crashes.

Updates improved game greatly: The game has seen significant improvements from updates, particularly to the skill system and balance. Developers are actively updating the game, even into 2025, which has earned praise for the MUG team.

Satisfying gunplay: Gunplay is a standout feature, described as satisfying, chunky, and impactful with good weapon feel and recoil. Weapons are visually and audibly appealing.

Great for co-op and solo: The game is highly praised for co-op play with friends, especially in a WW2 theme. Solo play is also doable and fun, with many calling it a great co-op shooter.

Game is extremely fun: Players consistently rate the game as highly enjoyable and fun, often exceeding expectations. The gameplay is described as engaging and entertaining.

Good weapon and mission variety: There is a good variety of weapons, missions, and objectives, with most weapons viable on high difficulties. Missions feel unique and varied.

Low player count: Multiple clusters report that the game has a very low player count, making it difficult to find multiplayer matches. Even during sales, concurrent players are in the tens, and the servers are described as dead or barely alive.

Poor enemy design: Enemy variety is very limited, with only a few special enemy types. The AI is also unintelligent, often running in straight lines or glitching through walls, and enemies spawn too frequently or behind the player, making difficulty scaling feel cheap.

Frequent bugs and crashes: The game suffers from frequent crashes, bugs, glitches, and desync issues. Enemies can phase through walls, and bugs often ruin the experience.

Limited weapon progression: Weapon upgrades take too long with tedious challenges, weapon selection is limited, and only one class feels worthwhile. Customization options are very restricted.

Abandoned by developers: Players feel the game is abandoned by developers, has no new features or improvements since release, and still feels like an early access title despite being released in 2017.

Heavily compared to Payday: The game is overwhelmingly compared to the Payday series, often being called a spiritual spin-off or clone. Players note strong similarities in gameplay loop, progression, and overall feel, with some describing it as a "Croatian reskin" of Payday 2, though there are also distinctions mentioned.

WWII-themed heist game: The game's World War II setting is a key identifier, often combined with the Payday-like heist mechanics, creating a unique theme of stealing gold and killing Nazis during the war.

Weapon-based progression system: Players note a progression system where weapons are leveled through specific challenges (e.g., headshots, kills) to unlock upgrades or stat bonuses, making it a central feature of the gameplay loop.

Co-op shooter description: The game is frequently described as a cooperative first-person shooter with a focus on 4-player teamwork in a World War II setting, emphasizing co-op play over single-player.

Stealth mechanics without pagers: Stealth mechanics include carrying bodies, unlimited silent kills on stealth maps, and no pager system, but stealth is designed to be non-mandatory and lacks tools like disguises or climbing, often making loud combat more viable.

Severe optimization and FPS issues: The game suffers from poor optimization causing FPS stutters and drops, especially during shooting or with shotguns. Some users note it is worse than Payday 2 and that settings do not help.

Worse optimization than Payday 2: Multiple players state the optimization is much worse than Payday 2, citing lower FPS and a weapon sway bug.

Very long loading times: Loading times, especially for the safehouse, are reported as very long. This impacts the overall pacing and player experience.

Barely alive servers: Servers are described as barely alive, likely causing connectivity or matchmaking problems.

Soft-locks during mission start: A player experienced soft-locks when readying up for new missions, preventing them from progressing smoothly.

Do not buy the game: A significant group of players strongly advises against purchasing the game, calling it not worth the money. Some say to avoid it entirely, even at a 75% discount.

Play Payday 2 instead: Many reviewers advise players to buy Payday 2 Ultimate Edition instead, as it offers more content, is more polished, and is a better overall experience compared to this game.

Play with friends for fun: The game is best enjoyed with friends, and many comments emphasize playing co-op. It is described as a fun timewaster with buddies and especially recommended for group play.

Wait for a sale: Several players recommend waiting for a sale before purchasing. They suggest buying at a discount or for a very low price like under $5 to get acceptable value.

Recommended for Payday fans: Several players recommend this game specifically to fans of the Payday series and Payday 2. They highlight the similar gameplay and the appeal of the WW2 setting.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00.

Game completion: 10.0h.

Story completion: 6.0h.

Player reports are mixed; some find the game enjoyable immediately, while others describe a boring grind until later unlocks or after a major update. The game's fun profile depends on player tolerance for repetition and the ability to play with friends.

Friction: grinding for levels and unlocks; repetitive missions; boring early game; long loading screens; bugs; tedious weapon unlock challenges.

Unlock drivers: progression system rework; unlocking new weapons and skills; playing with friends; adjusting to old-school recoil.

Satisfied Co-op Enthusiast: Plays through missions with a focus on teamwork and variety, appreciating the setting and gameplay mechanics. Motivation: To enjoy a fun, chaotic co-op shooter experience with friends or solo. Stance: buy.

Frustrated Grind-Weary Player: Focuses on leveling up and unlocking content but finds the grind tedious and unrewarding. Motivation: To achieve meaningful progression and a rewarding gameplay loop. Stance: no buy.

Setting-Loving WW2 Fan: Enjoys the thematic missions and class abilities, focusing on the narrative and atmosphere. Motivation: To immerse in a WW2 co-op experience with humor and over-the-top action. Stance: sale.

Linux and Proton: Based on the available Linux user review, the game runs well on Linux using Proton GE, with a minor performance issue during shooting sequences. No other Linux-specific compatibility problems were reported, indicating good Proton support.

Monetization: User reviews indicate RAID: World War II is perceived as a low-effort cash grab with concerns about future DLC, but no evidence of current microtransactions, pay-to-win elements, or predatory monetization. Complaints focus on game quality and value, not in-game purchases.

Dedicated player base: Players mention receiving a review key or owning the game multiple times, and note the game is supported by a small free modding team. This indicates a community of dedicated players and supporters.