Hell Let Loose: Vietnam takes the large-scale tactical warfare of the Hell Let Loose series into the dense jungles, rivers, mountains, and battlefields of the Vietnam War. Instead of treating the conflict like a fast arcade shooter, the game focuses on communication, positioning, squad coordination, and careful movement. Battles can involve 100 players, with 50 soldiers on each side, creating situations where a small squad’s decisions can affect a much larger fight.
The Vietnam setting also changes how battles feel. Thick vegetation can hide enemy movement, tunnels can create unexpected attacks, helicopters can transport troops, and patrol boats can move forces through waterways. Players can choose from specialized roles and work with their squad to capture objectives, defend important positions, and push through difficult terrain.
Game Overview
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam was developed by Expression Games and published by Team17. The PC version released on August 13, 2026, and the game is also available on current-generation consoles. It is an online multiplayer action, simulation, and strategy shooter built around large 50-vs-50 battles.
The game offers six large-scale maps inspired by real locations and allows players to fight as either the North Vietnamese Army or US Armed Forces. There are 17 specialized roles spread across infantry, reconnaissance, armor, mortar, and helicopter units.
Entering the Vietnam War
The biggest difference between this game and the original Hell Let Loose is obviously the setting.
The battlefields are filled with dense jungle, mountain areas, rivers, bridges, villages, and other environments that change how players approach combat. A location that looks safe from a distance may contain enemy positions hidden behind vegetation.
This creates a very different rhythm from fighting across open European battlefields. Visibility can be limited, movement can be dangerous, and knowing the terrain becomes extremely important.
Large-Scale 50 vs 50 Battles
The main attraction is the scale.
Each battle can place 100 players on the same battlefield, divided into two teams of 50. Players are further organized into squads, creating a command structure where individual actions contribute to a larger plan.
A squad that captures an important position can open a route for other players. Likewise, a squad that ignores its objective can leave the rest of the team exposed. The Sinking City 2
This makes communication much more useful than simply having good aim. A coordinated group can often accomplish more than several players acting independently.
Different Roles
Players can choose from 17 specialized roles, giving the game more variety than a standard military shooter. Infantry, reconnaissance, armor, mortar, and helicopter units all have different responsibilities.
Your role determines what you bring to the battlefield and how you support your squad. Someone playing an infantry role may spend most of the match moving between objectives, while a reconnaissance player may concentrate on gathering information.
The variety also encourages players to learn different aspects of the battlefield rather than using exactly the same playstyle every match.
Jungle Warfare
The jungle is not simply a visual background.
Dense vegetation affects visibility and movement, making it possible for enemies to remain hidden until they are close. This makes patience valuable. Running blindly through an area can put you directly into an ambush.
The environment also creates opportunities for players who understand how to use cover. A squad that moves carefully through vegetation can approach an objective without immediately revealing its position.
NVA Tunnel Networks
One of the most interesting Vietnam-specific mechanics is the tunnel system.
The NVA can construct underground tunnel networks that function as hidden spawn points. These tunnels can allow troops to appear in unexpected locations and create pressure behind enemy lines.
This gives the NVA a different strategic identity. Instead of relying only on conventional movement across the map, tunnel networks can be used to maintain pressure and create new opportunities for attacks.
The mechanic also means that controlling an area does not always mean the danger is completely gone. Enemy forces may have another way to reach the battlefield.
Helicopters
Helicopters are another major part of the game.
They can transport troops across the battlefield and help squads reach areas that would otherwise take much longer to reach on foot. This adds an entirely different layer to movement and coordination.
A helicopter pilot therefore has an important responsibility. Getting troops into the correct location can make a major difference, but poor positioning can expose both the aircraft and the passengers to enemy fire.
Patrol Boats
Waterways also play a role in the Vietnam experience.
Players can use patrol boats to move across rivers and other water-based routes. This provides another way to approach objectives and gives commanders more options when planning attacks.
The combination of jungle, roads, waterways, and air transport makes the maps feel more dynamic than a simple collection of infantry lanes.
Weapons and Equipment
The game includes historically inspired weapons and equipment appropriate to the Vietnam War. The goal is to make firefights feel grounded rather than turning every weapon into an arcade-style tool.
This also means understanding your weapon and position matters. Long-distance engagements can require different tactics from close-range encounters inside jungle terrain or buildings.
The available equipment also depends on your selected role, making team composition an important part of the experience.
Six Large Maps
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam launches with six large-scale maps inspired by real-world locations.
The maps are designed around different types of terrain rather than simply changing the scenery. Mountain areas, jungle locations, waterways, bridges, and developed areas can all produce different tactical situations.
Learning the map can therefore be almost as important as learning your weapon. Knowing where cover exists, where vehicles can move, and where an enemy might establish a position can give your squad a major advantage.
Warfare Mode
One of the game’s major modes is Warfare.
This is a 50-vs-50 battle where both teams fight over a series of sectors. The objective is not simply to eliminate opponents but to control the battlefield and push the enemy back.
This creates battles where the front line can move several times during a match. One successful push can change the situation, while losing an important sector can force your team to reorganize.
Offensive Mode
Offensive creates a different structure because one side attacks while the other defends.
This can make the battle feel more focused because each team has a different responsibility. Attackers need to break through defensive positions, while defenders need to hold their sectors for as long as possible.
The mode also rewards preparation. A strong defense can make an apparently simple objective extremely difficult to capture.
Other Game Modes
The game includes six gameplay modes in total, with Warfare and Offensive forming part of the core experience alongside four additional modes that change the rules and objectives.
This variety helps keep the multiplayer experience from becoming repetitive. Different modes can encourage different approaches, whether that means defending a position, pushing forward, or controlling specific areas.
Communication Is Important
Communication is one of the most important parts of Hell Let Loose: Vietnam.
Because battles involve so many players, it is almost impossible for one person to understand everything happening across the map. Squad leaders and individual players need to share information about enemy positions, objectives, movement, and threats.
A simple callout can save an entire squad from walking into an ambush. Likewise, telling nearby players about an enemy position can allow them to attack from another direction.
Command Structure
The game encourages players to follow a chain of command.
Squads operate as smaller units within the larger 50-player team, and squad leaders can coordinate with other units to organize attacks and defenses.
This structure is what gives the game its tactical identity. You are part of a larger operation rather than simply playing your own match.
For players who enjoy military simulations, this can be one of the most satisfying parts of the experience.
Combat Is Not Always Fast
New players may initially find the combat slower than expected.
Enemies can be difficult to see, particularly in thick vegetation, and running directly toward an objective can be a bad idea. You may spend several minutes moving carefully before suddenly finding yourself in a very intense firefight.
This slower pacing gives successful attacks more meaning. When a squad finally reaches an objective after carefully moving through difficult terrain, it feels like an achievement rather than something that happened automatically.
My Personal Experience
If I were starting Hell Let Loose: Vietnam for the first time, I would probably avoid choosing a complicated role immediately. I would spend a few matches learning the maps, understanding squad communication, and getting used to how quickly an enemy can disappear into the jungle.
For me, the most interesting part would be the uncertainty created by the environment. In a normal shooter, you can often identify where the enemy is coming from. Here, thick vegetation and large maps can make that much harder.
I would also prefer staying with my squad instead of running alone. The game seems designed around teamwork, and playing as part of a coordinated group would make the experience much more enjoyable.
The Importance of Teamwork
Teamwork is not simply a bonus feature in this game.
A squad needs different abilities to work effectively. Recon players can gather information, infantry can push objectives, armor can provide heavy support, mortars can attack distant positions, and helicopter units can improve mobility.
When these roles cooperate, the battlefield becomes much more manageable.
When everyone ignores their role and moves independently, the team can quickly lose control of important areas.
A More Tactical Shooter
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is designed for players who want something more serious than a typical run-and-gun FPS.
The game rewards positioning, communication, patience, and awareness. You can still have intense firefights, but they happen inside a much larger tactical situation.
This is especially noticeable in 50-vs-50 matches because the actions of players hundreds of meters away can influence what happens to your own squad.
Graphics and Unreal Engine 5
The game is built using Unreal Engine 5, which helps create large and detailed environments filled with jungle vegetation and other battlefield elements.
The detailed environments are useful for atmosphere, but they also make the game demanding on PC hardware. Players with older systems may need to use upscaling or lower graphics settings to maintain a stable frame rate.
Current PC Performance
The official Steam requirements list Windows 10 64-bit, 16 GB RAM, an Intel Core i5-10600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, and an RTX 2060 Super or RX 6600 XT as the minimum configuration. The recommended setup moves to Windows 11, an Intel Core i5-12600K or Ryzen 5 7600X, and an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6900 XT. Both configurations require 30 GB of storage and a broadband internet connection.
The minimum target is listed around 1080p/60 FPS with aggressive upscaling, while the recommended configuration targets 1080p/60 FPS with higher settings and balanced upscaling.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Large-scale 50-vs-50 battles
- Strong focus on teamwork
- Interesting Vietnam setting
- Dense jungle creates tension
- Helicopters add mobility
- Patrol boats add variety
- NVA tunnels create different tactics
- Multiple specialized roles
- Large maps
- Several multiplayer modes
- Cross-platform multiplayer
- Detailed Unreal Engine 5 environments
Cons
- Requires a reasonably powerful PC
- New players may find the learning curve difficult
- Communication is important, so solo players may struggle
- Large maps can involve long periods of movement
- Jungle environments can make enemies difficult to spot
- Online-only gameplay means there is no traditional offline campaign
Is Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Multiplayer?
Yes. Multiplayer is the central part of the game.
The Steam listing describes it as an online PvP and cross-platform multiplayer title built around large battles. The main format places 50 players against another 50, creating a battlefield where coordination between squads is essential.
If you are looking for a traditional single-player Vietnam War campaign, this is not that type of game. Its focus is on large online battles between players.
Is It Worth Playing?
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam has a strong idea behind it: take the large-scale tactical structure of Hell Let Loose and place it inside one of the most difficult environments imaginable.
The jungle changes almost everything. Visibility becomes limited, movement requires more thought, and hidden positions can turn a quiet area into a dangerous one. Helicopters and boats provide additional ways to approach objectives, while the NVA tunnel system creates another layer of strategy.
The game is not perfect. Current Steam reviews are Mixed, with roughly 60% of English-language reviews positive at the time of writing, so players should be aware that the launch reception has not been universally positive.
Still, if you enjoy tactical multiplayer games and are willing to learn the systems, there is a lot here to explore.
How to Download This Game
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is officially available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The PC version is available through Steam, and the game supports cross-platform multiplayer.
For PC players, the safest option is to install the game through an official store. This gives you access to updates, multiplayer services, achievements, and the latest game files.
Final Thoughts
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is built around one simple idea: make the Vietnam War feel like a large tactical battlefield where every squad has a job.
The 50-vs-50 format gives battles a huge scale, but the real strength comes from the smaller interactions inside that battlefield. Infantry squads need to communicate, reconnaissance players need to gather information, helicopter crews can move troops, armor can support attacks, and commanders need to understand what is happening across the map.