Before Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, the Vietnam War was a conflict FPS games have always been fascinated by, mostly because Hollywood made a great effort to salvage the reputation of the United States and highlight its horrors while also trying to make it look (and sound) cool as hell. Like it or not, it gave us a handful of pretty great movies – most of which didn’t have a glowing opinion of the US – and the same thing happened with video games.
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam isn’t interested in glory or artificial set pieces, and that’s what could set it apart from its biggest influences. Like its WW2-set predecessor, it loudly reminds us war is hell, even when it makes for undeniably fun entertainment products with occasional sensible narratives. Don’t expect any of the latter in this one though.
Expression Games has kept Hell Let Loose: Vietnam limited to online multiplayer matches that, in most cases, will have 100 players running through the jungle and camping behind bushes and trees. This isn’t Call of Duty or Battlefield. While things can get hectic and cinematic at times, the average battle is scary, dirty, and very confusing. It may sound like a miserable experience – and that’s kind of the point – but it makes for pretty compelling moment-to-moment gameplay and a real sense of collaboration that’s hard to find in large-scale modern FPS.
With commanders tasked with keeping eyes on the entire battlefield and provide relief and support – with bombing runs, extra vehicles, ammo boxes, and whatnot – the bulk of each team mustn’t blindly charge into firefights, but to listen to what the higher-ups are planning and to follow instructions. This tactical approach to what’s ultimately an FPS in which you’re killing enemies and conquering key locations of the maps will no doubt cause headaches when you’re stuck with useless teammates, but it’s likely a committed community will flourish and stick around.
This is why it’s hard to fully evaluate Hell Let Loose: Vietnam before it goes live. We’ve only played this demanding shooter in a controlled and curated environment during the pre-release period, and while I’ve seen all its potential in action, what most players will experience could feel very different. Similarly, access to all the game modes and maps was limited since it’s so hard to get 100-player servers going with only a bunch of press members and influencers, so stay tuned for more thoughts on that front later.
In any case, the central Warfare game mode feels like something I’d want to spend more time on. Mind you, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam isn’t the type of online game I’m always gonna be in the mood for, as the average experience is running for three minutes only to be sniped from an unknown direction, but sometimes we want some real meat on our multiplayer FPS. Following orders and listening to organised but chaotic radio chatter as bullets fly and squad mates fall around you is exhilarating stuff that quickly turns terrifying when a mortar strike turns you to minced meat and the screen suddenly goes black. No killcam, no anything. It’s just lights out for you… and waiting for respawn depending on your team’s garrison and outpost-establishing efforts.
The Vietnam War’s limited scope and weaponry also means the selection of guns and vehicles is sparse, which makes the second Hell Let Loose feel more authentic but also thinner for the crowd that’s potentially looking for an engaging grind. It’s positive to be playing a modern FPS because it’s fun, rather than because it’s always giving us shiny toys to unlock and a deluge of cosmetics. Mind you, there’s some progression baked in, but you won’t perform better or feel cooler due to a new attachment. Tactics and comms are winning this war.
Expression Games has also bet on asymmetrical warfare, with the NVA having access to tunnels that can allow them to ‘fast travel’ and more boats, while the US can rain fire from the sky and transport troops around efficiently with helicopters. Tanks are available for both sides, however, and they’re quite scary even if they require a full coordinated squad to be properly operated. It all adds up and creates a rhythm that’s dissimilar from anything else in the market, provided you’re into a hardcore experience with no room for mistakes. This is what I’d call an FPS for dads. But fear not; its control scheme and mechanics aren’t a nightmare to grasp and learn.
With six maps at launch, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam might also seem short-lived at first glance, but considering their sheer size and how layered they can be across several game modes, I’d say the package feels like more than enough. Each match can last over an hour if the teams are balanced, and considering this FPS is rejecting the ‘fast food’ nature of many of its contemporaries, I’ll take quality over quantity, especially when the lush jungles can look gorgeous and genuinely dense at times. You never know what’s waiting four metres ahead, and that adds to the tension that permeates the whole game.
Performance was another key worry during the open beta tests, and while I wasn’t part of those, I can say Hell Let Loose: Vietnam largely runs fine when compared to other high-profile Unreal Engine 5-powered games that are stuttery nightmares. On a 4070Ti plus 7800X3D build, it’s kept well above 100 frames per second in all scenarios with the DLSS upscaler set to Quality at 1440p. Frame Generation tends to misbehave and turn itself off at random intervals though, and while it’s an annoyance that I hope the developers look into, it’s also something I’ve experienced in many other UE5 games.
Overall, I’m impressed by what Expression Games has been cooking here. While many players will no doubt find the learning curve too daunting and won’t appreciate getting murdered by invisible bullets, I’d say there’s something special here that walks the fine (and uncomfortable) line between ‘war as entertainment’ and the horror of seeing a friend’s limbs fly off as you hug the nearest tree. For our deeper (and scored) thoughts after the game goes live, come back in a few days.
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam launches on August 13, 2026, on PC (Steam & Epic Games Store), PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. A PC review code was provided by the developer.
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