STRIDEN is a new team-based sandbox looter shooter survival game that aims to be something completely unique that you’ve never experienced before. Read on to learn everything we know, our review of the demo, and more.
Everything We Know About STRIDEN
STRIDEN Plot
The Cold War isn’t cold anymore.
The battle between the East and the West rages on in the Scandinavian Peninsula. After nuclear warfare had ravaged society, massive evacuation orders were issued to help people escape. However, not everyone could be saved.
STRIDEN Gameplay
STRIDEN is a fast-paced sandbox looter shooter survival game where four teams of five players each battle it out. The goal for each team is to activate their radio transmitter to be able to be extracted via helicopter after earning 15,000 points. Loot areas and houses for food, drinks, weapon parts, and blueprints to give you and your team an advantage for equipment and points while steering clear of the radioactive storm.
Secure strongholds, build defenses, and purchase and upgrade weapons so that you and your team can fight for the valuable electro pods that are needed for your team’s transmitters. After gathering enough electro tubes and the construction of your radio transmitter inside your team’s stronghold, defend it at all costs until the radio signal is sent.
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STRIDEN Release Date
STRIDEN was released in Early Access on July 12, 2025 for PC (Steam). It was announced on the game’s Steam store page that the game is scheduled to fully release in 2026 but will depend on the developer’s plans to expand the team.
STRIDEN Review (Early Access)
Great multiplayer shooters always have something in them that makes them special. Be it Call of Duty’s frenetic pace, Battlefield’s unique large-scale combat, or even Fortnite’s innovative build-and-shoot playstyle. There’s always something that pushes them over the edge and makes them stand out against all the rest.
STRIDEN is a multiplayer looter shooter survival game that is set during the Cold War in Scandinavia. But calling it a multiplayer looter shooter is a disservice to how the game actually plays. The question is, does STRIDEN’s concept have what it takes to stand out from the rest of the multiplayer shooters out there?
Looks Alright For the Wartime
In terms of the game’s visuals, it’s not that bad. The animations are a little stiff and rough around the edges, but it’s not a massive thing to complain about. The different maps are also pretty good, with Sweden being the most memorable of the bunch. Weapon designs are also distinct and well-designed; I hoped there would be more weapons to play with, however. The audio design is decent but very barebones. Most of what you’ll hear is ambient noise and characters speaking in their native languages, nothing else.
All in all, the overall presentation is decent, if not a little generic. What pushes the look over the edge are the map designs and the WWII aesthetic. There’s not much to complain about because it looks as good as you’d expect it to be, but it's not anything that you’d be amazed at.
Loot, Build, Defend, Survive
The gameplay of STRIDEN is definitely unique. It combines multiple aspects from multiple shooter games, all rolled into one game. Let’s get it straight, however; this game is a team-oriented, objective-based game with looter shooter mechanics. If you were coming in expecting this was a battle royale or a traditional looter shooter, then this isn’t it. There are four teams of five competing for objectives around the map to gain points. The goal is to successfully extract via helicopter using the team’s radio transmitter and gain 15,000 points.
A game will pretty much start with the looting portion, which is pretty simple. You loot survival items like food and drink, blueprints, and weapon parts for the team to use. Along the way, players will capture a stronghold so they can stash whatever they find. More importantly, players can now start looking to build different structures like turrets, walls, weapon stations, and more.
After building the weapon station, players can get their loadouts and upgrade them if they have enough materials and start to fight the other teams for the airdrops that will periodically appear around the map. I will say that the gameplay loop of STRIDEN is unique and is reminiscent of games like Battlefield 1, a tiny bit of Fortnite, and Call of Duty’s pace when it comes to the moment-to-moment gameplay.
There’s even something called Powerspikes,
which function similarly to Call of Duty’s killstreaks. They’re pretty much like superpowers, where characters can turn into radioactive bears or call in Moose Tanks or even call in Hawks to relocate themselves or their allies. It’s definitely funny to think that a random soldier just turns into a bear and starts wrecking shop, but it was actually terrifying to go up against.
Severe Lack of Players
During the few times that I was able to play, there were barely any people that were playing. This means that I can’t exactly judge a full game of STRIDEN because I haven’t seen a full lobby of players. I’m no marketing expert, so I can’t exactly say this was a marketing issue. However, a multiplayer game with no players is barely a game worth playing.
Novel Concept, No Audience
So, does STRIDEN have a novel concept that separates it from the rest? Yeah. But it’s facing a different problem. It can’t exactly stand out if it can’t stand. Let me make it clear. The gameplay isn’t so much of an issue because I personally think it has all the makings to be a niche shooter and have a cult following. However, I only found this out after playing the game. This can’t exactly be seen in the trailers and footage that were out everywhere. I think that STRIDEN suffers from its gameplay not being conveyed properly to the public. Being described as a looter extraction shooter makes it sound like it’s trying to be The Division or Warframe or even like a battle royale with all the skills and such. But it wasn’t the case.
Hell, the team aspect wasn’t exactly clear to me until I joined a server, and then I realized that it was more like Battlefield instead. It sucks that a game with a unique team shooter concept just can’t take off, but it could’ve been unique and probably competitive against other niche shooters if it had come out a lot earlier. Imagine if the game came out right around when the battle royale boom was going or maybe five years ago when the other shooters started going stale. I feel like this would've been a whole different conversation and maybe even a review to recommend people to start playing it more.
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STRIDEN Product Information
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| Title | STRIDEN |
|---|---|
| Release Date | July 17, 2025 (Early Access) |
| Developer | 5 Fortress, Yahaha Games |
| Publisher | 5 Fortress |
| Supported Platforms | PC (Steam) |
| Genre | Action, Shooting, Survival |
| Number of Players | 1-20 (5v5v5v5) |
| ESRB Rating | RP |
| Official Website | STRIDEN Official Website |
