Ready or Not is an intense, tactical, first-person shooter that depicts a modern-day world in which SWAT police units are called to defuse hostile and confronting situations.
Players widely praise the game's authentic and realistic tactical gameplay, which aims to faithfully recreate the high-stakes, high-tension operations of a modern SWAT team. The gameplay revolves around carefully planning and executing each mission, with a strong emphasis on methodical, coordinated, and restrained approaches. Players must thoroughly scout environments, coordinate their team's movements, and make split-second decisions on the appropriate use of force based on evolving circumstances. This level of tactical depth and realism is a significant draw for the game's community.
The gameplay encourages close coordination and communication within a squad, as effectively completing missions often depends on teammates' ability to work together seamlessly. Players commonly highlight the game's requirement for team members to clear rooms, secure suspects, and evacuate civilians, fostering a strong sense of interdependence. Many players report that the most rewarding experiences come from collaborating with friends or strangers to overcome the game's challenging scenarios through careful planning and execution.
The game provides players with a range of tactical options and approaches to each mission, allowing for a high degree of flexibility and replayability. While the game rewards a cautious, methodical style of play, it also accommodates more aggressive or unconventional strategies, depending on the player's preferences and the specific scenario at hand. Players can customize their loadouts, equipment, and even individual team member roles to suit their preferred playstyle, further enhancing the depth and replayability of the gameplay.
The game's detailed, authentic-feeling levels, combined with its cinematic score and sound design, help to create a heightened sense of tension and realism during missions. Players have noted that the environments feel like living, breathing spaces, with environmental storytelling and interactive elements that add to the sense of immersion. The attention to detail, from realistic weapon handling to dynamic lighting and weather effects, has been widely praised for its ability to draw players into the high-stakes world of SWAT operations and enhance the overall gameplay experience.