WARDOGS Three Teams, One Zone

Up to one hundred combatants divide into three sides, and one control zone decides the match. The zone lands in a random spot inside a larger map set in derelict industrial mountains in Eastern Europe, so you push somewhere different each time. You score by crowding the zone with more teammates than either rival side, and reaching 100 first ends it. Because the zone location and player tactics vary, each fight develops its own shape.

Each life, you buy a custom kit of arms, equipment and transport. Reviving squadmates, transporting teammates and holding the objective earn cash, and that cash carries over from one match to the next. That persistent cash makes spending a real decision. Going all in on stronger kit or transport at a decisive point can swing the fight your way.

The battlefield is destructible, and you can shape it. You can build a forward operating base to fortify a chokepoint, fly supplies to teammates by helicopter, or roll through towns in a heavily armoured tank.

The core gameplay is enjoyable, with a wide variety of roles and jobs to try, and it can be hard to put down. The trade-off is progression. Key gear is locked behind levels, and players who grind more gain a big advantage over casual players. Balance between sides can swing, so expect some uneven matches.