These multiplayer shooters are just hard and realistic enough to be considered milsims, but don't have a steep learning curve and are pretty easy to jump into.

1 Insurgency: Sandstorm

A fan favorite with a blend of hardcore and casual.

The Insurgency franchise goes a lot further back than most people realize. The very first game in the series, Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat came out in the ancient year of 2007 for the PC. Its sequel came out 7 years later, in 2014, which in turn was followed by Insurgency: Sandstorm in 2018, the latter of which ended up becoming the most popular game in the series.

Insurgency: Sandstorm (and I'd say the entire series) found that perfect sweet spot between casual and hardcore. Guns are very hard to control, the time-to-kill is very low, and the HUD is very minimal. On the other hand, it's really easy to jump into a match, the game retains a fast pace, and there are tons of modding and custom game options to keep things fresh.

It may not be the most realistic or hardcore milsim out there, but it has a very friendly learning curve. It caters to both fans of tactical, squad-based gameplay and those who just want to have a bit of casual fun. Despite being out for a while now, Insurgency: Sandstorm is still being updated with new maps, modes, and weapons.

Why Insurgency: Sandstorm is worth playing

• Fast-paced tactical combat that blends realism with tight, responsive gunplay.
• Minimal HUD and minimap, which promotes communication and teamplay.
• Tons of maps and a highly customizable arsenal.
• Custom game modes, PvE, and mod support.

2 Hell Let Loose

The grittiest WW2 game out there.

Hell Let Loose is the kind of game that you jump into thinking you're about to have a good time, but the only thing you end up having is PTSD. One word: sound design. Okay, that's two words, but the idea still stands.

The one thing that truly shocked me about this game are the authentic, crisp, blood-curdling sounds of gunfire, screams, and worst of all: ricocheting tank shells. Do you remember that movie "Fury" where the U.S. tanks are advancing on German anti-tank positions and when the Germans fire an anti-tank round, it ricochets off the Sherman's front armor plates and makes that horrifying sound? Here's what that sounds like in the game: It's absolutely terrifying, but also weirdly mesmerizing.

Besides that, the gameplay of Hell Let Loose is also just as great. It's pretty hardcore, with a low TTK (time-to-kill), minimal HUD, no crosshairs, and to win, you really need to play as a team.

Each class has its own unique role on the battlefield, from tank drivers, to engineers who build defenses.

Since the battles in Hell Let Loose are on a far larger scale than in Insurgency, it's somewhat harder to simply jump into a game and have fun, since the learning curve is a little steep. However, once you find something you're good at and enjoy doing, Hell Let Loose is a lot fun, even if you die constantly.

I highly recommend trying out tank combat. Though it's no tank simulator, it's still quite an immersive and nerve-wracking experience.

Why Hell Let Loose is worth playing

• Huge 50v50 battles across large, historically-accurate WW2 maps.
• Deep squad gameplay, where each class has a unique role.
• Logistics and supply gameplay - for those who don't always want to shoot.
• Communication-focused teamwork with very fun proximity chat encounters.

3 Rising Storm 2: Vietnam

A real run through the jungle.

Rising Storm 2: Vietnam is an older game, but it still holds up after 8 years. The developer, Tripwire Interactive, has worked on milsim shooters for some time, with the Rising Storm series, Red Orchestra, and even Killing Floor 3, which is a zombie horde shooter, but it still highlights their knowledge and experience in multiplayer FPS titles.

Rising Storm 2: Vietnam takes place in the dense Southeast Asian jungles. You get to play as one of six factions, which are divided into North and South Vietnam. Your choice of factions actually makes a pretty big difference in how you'll play the game, making this an asymmetric shooter.

The US Marines and other allied forces have access to powerful weapons, gear, and equipment, as well as helicopters, which are a particular highlight of the game. On the other hand, as the North Vietnamese, you'll be partaking in more guerrilla warfare; hiding inside little foxholes, laying traps, and so much more.

This makes the game way more replayable than multiplayer shooters that have the same equipment and play styles on both sides. In one game, you may play as the South Vietnamese forces and play as a helicopter gunner. Meanwhile, as the North Vietnamese, you'll be partaking in tunnel and trench warfare.

Why Rising Storm 2: Vietnam is worth playing

• Historically accurate maps, uniforms, and weapons.
• Asymmetrical gameplay depending on which faction you pick.
• Plenty of equipment and tactical support, such as helicopters, artillery, and even napalm.
• Hardcore gunplay that's easy to pick up, but can be punishing.

4 Isonzo

From the beloved WWI series of games.

Isonzo is latest in a series of WWI shooters by BlackMill Games. While Verdun focused on the Western Fronts, and its sequel, Tannenberg, on the Eastern Front of the Great War, Isonzo takes us to an often overlooked Italian Front of WWI.

Verdun and Tannenberg were great games in their own right, as they really nailed down the grittiness of trench warfare, something I always felt wasn't as well represented in the far more popular Battlefield 1. But Isonzo takes it up a notch by diverging from the more horizontal trench warfare and takes combatants to the more vertical battlefields of the Alps.

Isonzo features unique vertical gameplay and mountain climbing mechanics, something that I have not seen in any other shooter. Getting shot at didn't give you enough of an adrenaline rush? Try dodging bullets while you're hanging off the side of a cliff.

Though it doesn't have the trench warfare that you'd expect from a traditional WWI multiplayer shooter, Isonzo's unique vertical gameplay is something you should experience if you're a fan of historically-accurate shooters.

Why Isonzo is worth playing

• Historical setting that's not widely represented in games.
• Unique mountain climbing and vertical warfare mechanics.
• Attackers must scale mountains; defenders must hold the objectives.
• Classes with distinct roles and diverse equipment.

5 Ground Branch

Tactics and teamwork are the name of the game.

Let's finish things up by going back to the modern era of warfare, but this time something a little more tactical and slow-paced. While Insurgency: Sandstorm has a deep communication-based methodical gameplay loop, BlackFoot Studios' Ground Branch is unapologeticallytactical.

Developed by the people behind the titular Rainbow 6 and Ghost Recon franchises, Ground Branch is a hardcore mil-sim with a greater focus on methodical gameplay. It sets itself apart with slow, methodical gameplay, with an emphasis on real-world tactics and strategy. Planning your every move matters and running in without any strategy is punished with a bullet through the cranium.

There's also a distinct focus on room clearing and breaching, letting you play out those spec ops fantasies. Besides PvP, Ground Branch features PvE mission-based game modes, where squads can try out their tactics on AI opponents.

The developers of Ground Branch are very active, as they provide tons of sneak peeks into the development of the game as the game advances through its Steam Early Access phase.

Why Ground Branch is worth playing

• Slow-paced, methodic gameplay.
• Planning and tactics are extremely important to mission success.
• Realistic gunplay, where the emphasis is on patience and precision.
• PvE game modes, with custom mission scenarios