This article was produced in collaboration with Valnet Inc. and Sponsor Team17 Digital
At this point, it's safe to say that the Vietnam War has woven its meaning into several generations. Whether someone lived to bear first-hand witness to the most terrifying conflicts, or they are just now emerging in the world, a few brief images are enough to bring so many of us back to the thoughts of the pure chaos that was unleashed on the battlefield. All hell breaks loose: Vietnam brings us much more than images; backed by the power of Unreal Engine 5, developer Expression Games and publisher T17 are ready to deliver a punch of a tactical shooter that's positively stuck in iconic moments.
This is not the developer's first trip to the past. The original Hell Let Loose hurled players across World War II's European and African fronts, and one look at the sequel proves that the creators have as basic an understanding of the Vietnam War as they did with its (still supported!) predecessor.
Massive 50v50 multiplayer battles mark their impressive return, fought against the backdrop of a brutally realistic depiction: the jungle is just as deadly as it should be. Survival means prioritizing teamwork at every turn and approaching your objectives not through a strictly gun-toting attitude, but a strategic understanding of how many ways your opponents can get you killed. Traversing Hell Unleash: Vietnam's six sprawling maps means you put your life in the hands of your allies and know the feeling is mutual.
Epic scale returns in spades
Massive 50v50 multiplayer battles mark their impressive return, fought against the backdrop of a brutally realistic depiction: the jungle is just as deadly as it should be. Survival means prioritizing teamwork at every turn and approaching your objectives not through a strictly gun-toting attitude, but a strategic understanding of how many ways your opponents can get you killed. Traversing Hell Unleash: Vietnam's six sprawling maps means you put your life in the hands of your allies and know the feeling is mutual.
Any Vietnam War sim that neglects to add helicopters for the American faction has some catching up to do; Hell Let Loose: Vietnam has them in spades, with fast-paced, hard-hitting aerial warfare galore. Troop deployment, supply reductions, and platoon redeployment are all large parts of the helicopter's importance on the battlefield.
Vietnam's rivers can be just as fierce a death trap – and arguably a more neglected aspect of the game's existing coverage of US forces clashing with the NVA – so I'm equally happy to see some boats here for both sides to seriously pursue. And the NVA's vast tunnel network, so often the scene of incredibly successful ambushes, will also play a big part in the game's unwavering commitment to realism.
Infantry classes include riflemen, assaults, medics, supports, machine gunners, anti-tanks and engineers. Stealth and long-range enthusiasts have both spotters and snipers to choose from, and commanders hold everything together from the top. There is room for tank commanders and gunners as well. American helicopter pilots bring pilots, gunners and crewmen into the equation. The developers have even added a big one with brand new mortar squads, so yes, this is a proper explosive shooter.
We've seen enough – Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is officially on our radar. It's shaping up to be as authentic as it is ambitious, and an excellent fix for fans of more hardcore mil-sim experiences. The team behind all this breathtaking carnage is aiming to release the game on PC and consoles sometime next year, but playtesting is just around the corner with a Q1 2026 target. Read more on the official website and check out the game's Steam page here.
