- Rogue Company is a 4v4 multiplayer shooter, developed by First Watch Games

From the very first moment its main menu loads, Rogue Company radiates bold personality. You’re immediately punched in the ears by a surprisingly catchy hip hop-infused soundtrack playing alongside a raucous cast of unique characters. This free-to-play, team-based shooter combines facets from many of the most successful FPSes already out there, from Overwatch to Counter-Strike, to deliver a fun package that requires skill, patience, and an appreciation for teamwork to succeed – even if that also means it’s lacking in originality.

Rogue Company is a 4v4 multiplayer shooter, developed by First Watch Games. The concept of the title is very simple, you pick a unique Rogue and use their personal abilities/weapons to either eliminate the enemy team or complete an objective on the map. Essentially, it's closer to Valorant than anything else out there, however it isn't as hardcore. In fact, you can clearly see the effort that has been put in to ensure the game can be played without needing a masters degree in crosshair placement and grenade trajectories. Of course, being good at both will help, but it isn't as crucial as it is in Counter-Strike.

More Money, More Rogues
Here, we come to the quandary, however, of spending money on this delightfully Free-To-Play game. Players are given 6 Rogues for free, including Saint and Ronin, as well as Dima, Dallas, Anvil, and Trench. In-game reputation is earned per game and can be spent to purchase additional Rogues. You can also buy a pack to unlock the rest of the roster for only $29.99. This, for me, was an easy decision. The game is already more than worth $30 for me, as I’ve sunk nearly 24 hours into it, plus I like the idea of supporting these developers by purchasing their content. I want more of what they’re dishing out!

Additionally, real-world money can be spent on “Rogue Bucks” to then purchase in-game cosmetics, of which there are currently precious few. It’s great to see that this game is not going the “Pay-To-Win” route and that each Rogue is unlockable through grinding reputation points.

There may be only three modes to go at, but the majority of those that play Rogue Company seem to think that the only worthwhile way to find success is to play a glorified deathmatch. Oh, and it seems that reviving their comrades is for the weak. The number of times I’ve been downed while trying to capture a point, and crawled back to friendly lines only to be ignored, absolutely baffles me. Surely having another gun by your side would be an advantage; why let anyone die at your feet without trying to revive them?

Hi-Rez Studios has produced some great free-to-play titles over the years, from Smite all the way to Realm Royale. Whilst some have succeeded more than others, Rogue Company shows the most promise, even in its early days. The title has simple enough mechanics, tight, great feeling gunplay and characters unique enough to keep the gameplay feeling fresh. Sure, it isn't without its flaws, but for a title that is looking to be around for the long run, Rogue Company is definitely showing early signs of what could be greatness.