GROUND BRANCH review

GROUND BRANCH is for PC players who miss the slow, planned tactical shooters of the late 1990s. BlackFoot Studios, which includes one of the developers behind the original Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon, casts you as the CIA's Special Activities Center/Special Operations Group leading deniable operations worldwide. Its True First-Person System puts the camera at your character's eyes and fires bullets from the muzzle, so a foot sticking out of cover can be seen and shot. Loadouts go down to individual pouch and attachment placement, and an encumbrance and stamina system punishes overpacking. Steam lists single-player, co-op and PvP play with Steam Workshop support, and the store page dates its release to July 16, 2026. At $29.99 it ties Arma 3 and Insurgency: Sandstorm on price, but asks for 16 GB of RAM. There are no vehicles or large battles, so it suits small squads rather than players who want combined arms.

Who it is for

Small teams who want methodical special operations missions

Price

$29.99 one-time purchase on Steam (US store).

Take your time. Think ahead. Get the job done. $29.99 Buy on Steam
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Play as the CIA's Special Activities Center/Special Operations Group
• True First-Person System with the camera at the character's eyes
• Per-pouch and per-attachment loadout customization
• Encumbrance and stamina system tied to your gear
• Single-player, co-op and PvP modes

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: $29.99 ties for the cheapest full price on this list
• Strength: Made by one of the developers behind the original Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon
• Strength: Deep gear system rewards planning
• Weakness: Minimum spec asks for 16 GB of RAM
• Weakness: Small-team focus, with no vehicles or large battles
• Weakness: Slow, unforgiving pacing will not suit arcade shooter fans

Key facts

• Developer: BlackFoot Studios (published with MicroProse)
• Price: $29.99
• Released: July 16, 2026
• Minimum RAM: 16 GB
• Storage: 40 GB

Where it ranks

GROUND BRANCH is No. 10 in our Best Military Games for PC verdict and No. 7 in Best Military Simulation Games.