Door Kickers 2: Task Force North Reviews

Door kicker in a nutshell: 1.pick a map 2.choose what squad to bring 3.plan carefully 4.start 5.all dies

Improved tactics, downgraded immersion. New mechanics and features are great, but some weapons feel wrong compared to real life. It’s fun, but something about the presentation feels stuck in a past era. Playable, but not as polished as it should be. The whole "war in a dusty country" is... a well.

A great blend of various genres of strategy games. Top down stop and go (or real time if you want that challenge medal) tactical strategy with different squad types (factions more or less). Skill trees, hand made and procedural maps, mods. What else do you want?

great game. lots of missions. very tactical. fun co-op game

The deep community support bolstered by RW input across the gameplay including the wide flexibility from high quality mods makes this a go-to game that defines the genre.

Simple, but effective. Hits the spot. Gave me that old feeling for gaming that I haven't felt for a long time. I totally recommend this game!!!

Door Kickers 2: Task Force North is a tactical top-down strategy game that builds upon the solid foundation of its predecessor while taking a more grounded and grittier approach to modern-day counter-terror operations. Developed by KillHouse Games, this sequel retains the core formula that made the original so compelling—real-time tactics with pause-and-plan gameplay—but refines it with smarter AI, more complex scenarios, and a new thematic focus on Middle Eastern conflict zones. The result is a game that feels both familiar and significantly more mature, offering a challenging, methodical, and deeply satisfying tactical experience that rewards careful planning and execution. Whereas the first Door Kickers emphasized SWAT-style law enforcement operations, Task Force North shifts the narrative to military special forces. This change in setting isn’t just cosmetic—it influences everything from enemy behavior to mission design. You're no longer just breaching suburban homes or office buildings. Instead, you’re navigating cramped alleys in desert towns, infiltrating insurgent compounds, or defending embassies under siege. These environments are rich in tactical opportunities and hazards, often featuring multiple points of entry, blind corners, breaching obstacles, and civilians who must be identified and protected amid the chaos. The core gameplay loop remains a blend of pre-planned and real-time execution. Before kicking in the first door, players draw precise movement paths for each soldier, set up fields of fire, stack up at entrances, and time synchronized room clears. When ready, the plan is executed—either in real time or with pauses for adjustments. The satisfaction of watching a well-coordinated breach unfold without a hitch is one of the game’s strongest appeals. However, Door Kickers 2 introduces a more robust command system, allowing for greater complexity: you can assign specific stances, trigger actions based on enemy presence, chain multi-phase plans, and switch between stealth and aggressive tactics mid-mission. One of the most significant upgrades is the AI. Enemies behave more intelligently—they’ll retreat under fire, flank your team, or hunker down in ambush positions. Civilians move unpredictably, adding another layer of uncertainty and requiring split-second judgment calls. Your own operatives also feel more specialized and distinct, thanks to the expanded operator system. Each operator can belong to different special forces units, such as Delta Force or the CIA’s SAD, with unique weapons, gear, and abilities. Custom loadouts offer access to flashbangs, breaching charges, silencers, shields, and even drone reconnaissance, giving you a broad tactical toolkit that accommodates both silent infiltration and explosive entry. The mission variety is another standout aspect. From hostage rescues and HVT (high-value target) captures to bomb defusals and ambush missions, each map demands a different approach. Some missions are scripted and narrative-driven, while others are procedurally generated or randomly seeded for replayability. What keeps things especially tense is the game’s unforgiving nature—one mistake can lead to the death of a team member or mission failure. The permadeath system for operators in campaign mode adds significant weight to each decision, turning every successful extraction into a meaningful accomplishment. Graphically, Door Kickers 2 adopts a functional but improved aesthetic. While it doesn’t boast high-end visuals, the isometric style is crisp, clean, and highly readable. Lighting plays a greater role, especially in night missions where flashlights, NVGs, and muzzle flashes pierce the darkness with cinematic tension. Sound design is equally effective: gunfire has weight, explosions are sharp, and the distinct clatter of suppressed vs. unsuppressed weapons adds to the immersion. There’s also support for multiplayer co-op, a long-requested feature that allows you to coordinate with a friend in real-time. It transforms the experience from a solitary planning exercise into a more communicative, team-based affair—adding stress, hilarity, and depth in equal measure. Modding support is present too, with the community already creating new missions, weapons, and even entire campaigns, further extending the game’s lifespan. Still, the game has a few rough edges. The UI, while functional, can feel unintuitive for newcomers, especially when managing multiple squads or complex synchronized commands. The lack of a full campaign (as of mid-2025) may also leave some players wanting a stronger narrative structure, though updates have steadily expanded mission content. Additionally, while the game rewards patience and precision, its punishing difficulty may turn off more casual players. In summary, Door Kickers 2: Task Force North is an excellent evolution of tactical strategy gaming—complex without being convoluted, tense without relying on cheap tricks, and consistently rewarding for those who invest in its systems. With its deep planning mechanics, smart AI, realistic modern setting, and flexible mission design, it sets a high bar for top-down tactical shooters. Whether you're a veteran of the original or a newcomer craving methodical, high-stakes gameplay, Door Kickers 2 delivers an uncompromising and exhilarating experience that earns its place among the best in the genre. Rating: 10/10

Would absolutely recommend this game if youre a fan of siege or ready or not. It just feels so rewarding to carefully plot out your strategy for a mission and finally get it right. And the amount of content and variety between the 3 vanilla teams, plus all of the modded stuff from workshop, will keep you entertained for a long time. I dont really take my time to write reviews for stuff but ive had so much fun with this game that I felt compelled to. Have to say also, its one of the most perfect games to play on the Steam Deck.

This game taught me that cordination in any FPS would be amazing. But that's never gonna happen cuz my teamates in those games will always be garb.

Not usually someone to play PC games but i was messing around on my wifes laptop one night and I found this game, as I've aged and having kids I have found it hard playing games and locking in and like enjoying a game. I haven't been hooked on a game like I am hooked on this one in a long time. It has so many missions and so much to do and it was way more than I thought but it really eases you into the game. Overall incredible game I hope add on's to come like more squads to pick from but otherwise no legit complaints.