Ready Or Not vs Ground Branch which one is better?
In this tactical shooter comparison, you’ll learn what they have in common and what makes them different.
| Feature | Ready Or Not | Ground Branch |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Set in the town of Los Sueños with a focus on realistic police SWAT operations; highly lethal gameplay. | Follows CIA's SAC/SOG in special operations; emphasizes 90s and early 2000s tactical realism and planning. |
| Consultation | Consulted with police teams worldwide for realism. | Inspired by tactical shooters from the 90s and early 2000s. |
| Gameplay Mechanics | Focuses on weapon choice for different situations, including non-lethal options like tasers and distraction devices. | Offers complete freedom to customize weapons and equipment; weight and placement affect character movement. |
| AI Behavior | Features AI that communicates and reacts to player actions in real-time, creating unique mission experiences. | No specific mention of AI behavior. |
| Graphics and Sound | Powered by Unreal Engine 4; polished textures. | Powered by Unreal Engine 4; more realistic and gritty graphics. |
| Community and Multiplayer | Co-op multiplayer with up to 5 players; single-player modes include Commander, Practice, Ironman, and Training. | Multiplayer with up to 8 players in a team or 8v8 adversarial mode; integrated VOIP system for communication. |
| Development and Updates | Released in Early Access in 2021; planned DLCs and updates, including Home Invasion. | Early Access since 2018; ongoing development for first aid options, campaign format, and map diversification. |
| Best For | Players who prefer a more narrative-driven experience with a focus on tactical police operations. | Players who enjoy extensive weapon and equipment customization and meticulous planning. |
Game Overviews
On the Steam platform users discussed these games, but it’s hard to deduce which one they liked better, as opinions are sharply divided.
But let’s start by putting together an overview of these realistic FPS games.
Ready Or Not:
Crime is spreading rapidly through the town of Los Sueños, and the police SWAT team has been called in to fight it. Everything is framed in an atmosphere of realism, including the lethality of both player and opponents – a few shots, and the foe is gone.
Developers of Ready Or Not consulted with police teams worldwide to refine the gameplay and create a unique atmosphere of police action.
Ground Branch:
As a member of the CIA’s SAC/SOG, a paramilitary group responsible for carrying out special operations, you’ll move around a map of unique environments, and customize your weapons to suit your aptitude.
This tactical shooter was created along the lines of games from the ’90s and early 2000s, the feeling of realism and meticulous planning of your next moves are inevitable here.
Gameplay Mechanics and Features
For those who like to experiment with weapons, the Ground Branch is worth noting. The game offers complete freedom to customize your weapons and equipment. You are free to place pouches on a vest but bear in mind that increased weight will affect your character’s movements.
In the case of weapons, such details as the placement of scope too forward on the rail will reduce your sight picture, and a rifle that is too long will slow you down in a close-quarters battle.
Here, you must be aware of your character’s position. Even if your leg is out of a cover, you can be shot into it. The physical appearance of your avatar with the environment is strongly realistic here.
In Ready Or Not you will focus on choosing the right weapon for a situation. Some will be more effective at night and others when the suspects are wearing gas masks.
In extreme cases, the use of lethal weaponry will be most advisable, but, when a hostile is needed alive, you will use tasers, riot guns, or some distractionary devices to disorient the target and then arrest him.
Ready Or Not features AI that communicates with each other and reacts to your actions in real-time making gameplay more difficult and turning each mission into a unique experience.
Graphics and Sound
Both productions are powered by Unreal Engine 4. The graphics are perfectly adequate for these games. In Ground Branch, it seems a bit more realistic and pebbly, and in Ready Or Not the texture is more polished.
In terms of sound, both games offer impressive designs that put you in the tactical boots of a soldier.
Community and Multiplayer
In Ready Or Not and Ground Branch it is possible to play as a lone wolf in a military unit consisting of AI members, and multiplayer with other players.
In the first mentioned production you can co-op with up to 5 players through online multiplayer. In single-player, you have four modes to choose from: Commander, Practice, Ironman, and Training.
In addition to single-player mode with AI teammates, Ground Branch enables cooperation with up to 8 people in a team in multiplayer or 8v8 adversarial game mode. An integrated VOIP system with 3D positional voice and radio allows players to communicate freely without external software support.
Development and Updates
Ready Or Not:
Players first had a chance to play Ready Or Not in 2021 after releasing on Steam Early Access after 5 years of work on the game. In the late spring of 2024, VOID Interactive planned to release two downloadable content for players, but Home Invasion was postponed until the end of July.
Ground Branch:
Work on the Ground Branch began in 2007, and Early Access was released on Steam in 2018. Developers plan to introduce a first aid option in exchange for giving up regeneration health and health packs, and an original campaign format with better-placed missions. Among other things, development is still underway to diversify the maps and arsenal.
Conclusion
You can’t see it at first glance, but the differences are considerable. Undeniably, each of them is the best tactical FPS in its way, but the final choice is up to you.
If you like the freedom to customize your tools then Ground Branch is a good option, and in case you prefer a more obvious plot, choose Ready Or Not. Once you try out any of them, don’t forget to share your review.