When comparing Arma Reforger, Hell Let Loose, and Squad, it is tempting to lump them together as realistic shooters, but each carves out a distinct identity. Arma Reforger is a sandbox military simulation platform built on a new engine, offering unparalleled modding potential and freeform scenarios. Hell Let Loose thrusts you into massive World War II battles with a focus on squad-level tactics, resource management, and a dynamic front line. Squad sits in the sweet spot between accessibility and hardcore modern combined arms warfare, demanding tight communication and coordination. Choosing the right one depends entirely on what you value in a milsim experience.
All three titles punish lone wolves and reward patience, but their approaches to realism, scale, and community differ greatly. Understanding these differences will help you avoid spending hours in a game that does not match your preferences. Below, we break down each contender in detail.
Arma Reforger: The Sandbox Military Sim
Arma Reforger is Bohemia Interactive’s bridge between the aging Arma 3 and the upcoming Arma 4. Built on the new Enfusion engine, it serves as a technological showcase with stunning visuals and robust modding tools. The base game includes a small but detailed island (Everon) and a couple of official game modes like Conflict, where two teams fight for control points. However, the true strength lies in the workshop: community-created scenarios, custom maps, and entirely new game modes. This is a platform for military simulation enthusiasts who want to tinker, create, and experience emergent gameplay. If you enjoy Zeus-like game mastering or scripting your own ops, Arma Reforger is unmatched. The infantry combat is unforgiving, with realistic weapon handling, stamina, and medical systems, but vehicle physics and AI can still feel rough around the edges.
Hell Let Loose: Gritty WWII Large-Scale Warfare
Hell Let Loose delivers a cinematic and chaotic portrayal of World War II’s most infamous battles. Its 50v50 matches unfold across sprawling, historically inspired maps with a unique sector control meta. The commander and squad leaders manage resources like fuel and munitions, build garrisons for spawning, and coordinate artillery barrages. The role system is deep, with specialized classes such as engineer, medic, and anti-tank, each vital to the team’s success. Communication is essential, but the game is more forgiving than Squad in terms of moment-to-moment gunplay. The gun handling feels weighty without being punishing, and the respawn timer is relatively short, keeping you in the action. The game’s visual and audio design creates a harrowing atmosphere, with artillery shells shaking the screen and distant gunfire echoing across the fields. Hell Let Loose is the right pick if you want a structured, objective-focused WWII experience with a strong emphasis on teamwork but less downtime than Squad.
Squad: Modern Combined Arms Teamplay
Squad, developed by Offworld Industries, is the spiritual successor to the Project Reality mod. It emphasizes modern asymmetric warfare, pitting conventional forces against insurgents or militia across large maps. The hallmark is its communication framework: every squad has a leader, and every leader communicates on a command net, creating a hierarchy that demands clear callouts and precise planning. Firefights are tense and lethal, with suppression effects and a lengthy respawn timer that penalizes reckless play. Squad’s construction system allows squads to build forward operating bases complete with emplacements, sandbags, and repair stations, adding a strategic layer beyond simply capturing points. The game has a steep learning curve; new players must listen, learn, and often start with basic roles before taking on leadership positions. The community is generally welcoming but expects competence. If you crave modern military tactics, structured teamwork, and a slower, more deliberate pace, Squad is the premier choice.
Key Gameplay Elements Compared
To decide between these games, it helps to directly compare the aspects that define the experience. Realism, communication demands, map design, and learning curves vary significantly.
Realism and Communication
All three require voice chat, but the intensity differs. Squad demands constant radio chatter between squad members and leaders, with a strict chain of command. Failing to communicate will quickly get you kicked from squads. Hell Let Loose also requires coordination, but the in-game proximity chat feels more organic, and the smaller squad sizes (6 players) make management easier. Arma Reforger’s realism is more systemic; you can set up complex radio networks with the in-game radio system, but the open-ended nature means communication depends on the server and mode. Gunplay realism: Arma Reforger has the most hardcore ballistics and injury simulation, Squad strikes a balance with lethal but fair hit detection, and Hell Let Loose is slightly more arcadey with hit markers and quicker kill confirmations.
Maps and Scale
Arma Reforger’s Everon is a densely forested 51 km² island offering true combined arms sandbox potential with land, air, and sea vehicles. Squad’s maps range from 2 km² to 4 km², focused on combined arms but with a tighter objective radius. Hell Let Loose maps are similar in size to Squad’s but use a hex-based grid system that breaks the battle into active sectors, creating a fluid front line. The feeling of scale is most impressive in Hell Let Loose because of the sheer number of players and the sweeping landscapes. Arma Reforger can feel empty if the server population is low, but a full 128-player server is chaotic and sprawling. Squad’s maps feel meticulously designed for competitive play, with fewer dead zones.
Learning Curve and Accessibility
Beginners will find Hell Let Loose the most accessible. The class roles are straightforward, the shooting feels familiar to FPS veterans, and you can contribute by simply following your squad leader. Squad has a notoriously steep entry because of the heavy reliance on communication protocols, role responsibilities, and logistics. Arma Reforger sits in between; the controls and inventory system can be cumbersome, and the lack of a comprehensive tutorial puts off new players, but the sandbox nature means you can learn at your own pace on cooperative servers. All three have active communities, but Squad’s server quality can vary, and some servers have strict rules that new players must learn quickly.
Community and Player Count
As of 2025, Hell Let Loose boasts the largest consistent player base across all platforms (PC, PS5, Xbox), making matchmaking quick and full servers common. Squad maintains a healthy PC-only player base, with peaks during sales and free weekends. Arma Reforger has a smaller but dedicated community, heavily reliant on mods; the console release boosted numbers, but finding a populated vanilla server can be tricky outside peak hours. The modding community for Arma Reforger is active and growing, promising longevity. Hell Let Loose receives regular content updates with new maps and factions, keeping veterans engaged. Squad’s updates are slower but substantial, often reworking core systems.
Which Game Fits Your Playstyle?
Now, the critical question: where do you fall on the tactical shooter spectrum?
For the Tactical Sandbox Enthusiast
Choose Arma Reforger if you love creating your own missions, experimenting with mods, or enjoying unpredictably dynamic battles. You are not content just being a cog in a machine; you want to drive the tank, fly the helicopter, or script the ambush. You have patience for jank and appreciate the long-term potential of the Enfusion engine. If you are already deep into Arma 3 but want better graphics and a taste of the future, Reforger is a worthy investment, though it does not yet replace Arma 3’s content depth.
For the Immersive WWII Historian
Pick Hell Let Loose if the thought of storming Omaha Beach with a bolt-action rifle gives you chills. This is the game for players who want a cinematic WW2 experience with clear objectives and a strong sense of camaraderie. It is the easiest to jump into, yet mastering the meta-game of resource nodes and garrison placement offers depth. You enjoy communicating but do not want to spend half the match walking from spawn. The fast respawns and constant action make it the most adrenaline-fueled of the three.
For the Team-Oriented Modern Combat Fan
Squad is your game if you prioritize tight-knit teamplay and modern military tactics above all else. You are comfortable listening more than you speak initially, and you get a thrill from a well-executed flank under the leadership of a competent squad leader. The slower pace means patience is rewarded, and victories feel earned. If you are a veteran of Arma’s cooperative modes but want a more structured, plug-and-play experience without needing clan commitments, Squad hits the sweet spot.
Technical Considerations and Platform Availability
All three games are available on PC via Steam. Hell Let Loose also supports PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S with full cross-platform play between consoles (PC is separate). Arma Reforger released on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5, with limited mod support on consoles. Squad remains PC-exclusive. Performance-wise, Hell Let Loose is well-optimized for its scale, while Squad can be CPU-intensive. Arma Reforger, despite being a newer engine, still stutters occasionally on lower-end hardware, but the visuals are a significant step up. If you play on console, your choice is narrowed to Hell Let Loose or Arma Reforger, with Hell Let Loose offering a more polished console experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions that arise when deciding between these military sims.
