Door Kickers 2 breaches onto the scene with addictive tactical gameplay

I’m not fond of the overabundant military aesthetic across gaming, and tactical micromanagement isn’t my cup of tea. And yet, Door Kickers 2 mixes these elements to such perfection, that I simply can’t get enough of it.

After spending years in Steam Early Access, Door Kickers 2 has fully released. The game places you in control of a military squad, tasking you to complete quick mission-based operations. From rescuing hostages to defusing bombs, you’ll breach a vast amount of enemy bases and, well, kick a lot of doors open.

While simplistic at a glance, the surprising gameplay variety and wealth of content means Door Kickers never stops delivering. Door Kickers 2’s release slipped under the radar, but it might quietly become one of 2025’s most under-appreciated titles.

Precise, tactical operations

Many games let you fulfil the fantasy of playing a pivotal role in a tactical team, but it’s rare to see this amount of control. In Door Kickers 2, the player controls their entire squad simultaneously in real-time. Each mission provides a top-down map where you can assign actions and draw out movement to each unit. Plans can be paused or adjusted on the fly, which is essential when dealing with aggressive enemies.

Controlling your team is simple, if admittedly finicky. Drawing out their action paths is always satisfying, especially with the options to adjust behaviour and synchronise actions with other teammates. You really need to micromanage sightlines though as a unit will always obey your plan, even if that means walking into certain death. 

Units sometimes take contextual actions automatically, such as rescuing hostages. It’s far too easy to do this by accident and leave yourself vulnerable. I recommend sticking to a series of short and quick plans for these reasons, instead of one big master plan.

Door Kickers 2 has an excellent gameplay loop, but it could certainly put more effort into showing players the ropes. It took me a while to realise how vulnerable units are when performing actions, for instance. I soon discovered it’s always smart to have another ally covering them. 

The game also felt a little restrictive initially, until I discovered the equipment section, and what a world of difference this made. Spying through doors and breaching through walls significantly expands the game. I highly recommend unlocking these tools as soon as possible. 

The unit customisation adds personal flair, as you can change the name and appearance of each individual. Building character load-outs and switching out my units based on the mission type was quietly one of my favourite elements of Door Kickers.

There are also a host of additional quality features. Steam Deck support is excellent, with full touchscreen functionality that lends itself beautifully to the gameplay. Door Kickers 2 also includes up to four-player cooperative play online. I’m always on the hunt for unique co-op games, and this title has become a new favourite of mine. I can’t get enough of the quiet, focused fun followed by hilarious chaos that Door Kickers 2 provides.

An incredible amount of doors to kick

What’s truly impressive about Door Kickers is the amount of content included. The game can last as long as you are enjoying it thanks to the depth of playable missions and alternate game modes. Personally, it’s a game I know I’ll revisit many times down the line. 

For a game this repetitive, mission variety is thankfully very strong. Levels can be big environments or cramped spaces, feature relentless opposition or defensive enemies, and consist of explosive action or quiet stealth. Each mission provides a unique mixture, as well as occasional curveballs, such as fighting through a cultist base or a theatre. There’s also a splash of RNG in every attempt. Enemies and objectives might move, so a level never truly becomes stale. 

One feature that shakes things up is the unlockable squad types. After completing several missions, the player can acquire two additional squads. SWAT units can deploy extra weaker units and buff them with a special leader unit. It’s not a massive change, but bringing a mini army into some missions is quite fun. The CIA are far more interesting, as they feature unique stealth mechanics that allow them to traverse hostile locations undetected. The developers have expressed interest in adding more squads in the future and I’m very keen to see what these additions could bring.

If you get really good at kicking doors, campaigns provide a much tougher challenge for those who seek it. Each campaign consists of several missions, where soldiers can become fatigued, injured or even killed. Watching your forces dwindle over time is extremely tense (especially with permadeath on), but it makes victory all the more satisfying.

If over 90 missions and six campaigns somehow still aren’t enough, Door Kickers 2 offers randomly generated missions. There’s also an in-depth level editor to create your own missions, and native mod support via Steam Workshop. Thanks to the game’s Early Access period, there’s already a hefty amount of fanmade levels and campaigns and there are even new squad types. The developers even published their own custom level, a remake of Office, one of the most iconic maps from Counter-Strike.

There’s a lot of merit in such a small and simple game, providing so much to consumers. If any of this sounds appealing, I implore you to check out Door Kickers 2 for yourself. Door Kickers 2 is currently available on PC via Steam. If you’re on the fence, the first game frequently goes on sale, and features many of the sequel’s strengths.