SWAT Commander: Prologue – A Promising Foundation for a Tactical Shooter with a Rough Start

A spiritual successor to SWAT 4, this indie tactical shooter starts strong with mechanics and replayability, but its current state is held back by bugs and AI issues.

SWAT Commander is an upcoming cooperative tactical shooter, co-developed by Red Mountain Games and Ritual Interactive, and published by the latter. Although a release date hasn’t been announced, the game is expected to launch in 2025. It is planned for Early Access, which will last for 12 months, during which the developers will release key updates based on player feedback.

According to an interview with Mezha.media, development of the game began in early spring 2021. It’s described as a spiritual successor to SWAT 4.

While the full game is still in development, players have already gotten an early look through the release of SWAT Commander: Prologue.

Overview of the Prologue

The Prologue is a short demo that introduces players to the second mission of the game — “Hot Reception” — where you and your squad investigate a shootout between rival gangs at Bernard Tire and Auto Center.

It introduces players to the game’s user interface and core gameplay systems through:

• A mission briefing with clear objectives
• Weapon, armor, and tactical gear customization
• Three mission types: high-risk warrant, barricaded suspect, and bomb threat
• Solo play or cooperative multiplayer via private lobbies
  

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Solid Tactical Foundation – Mission planning, gear loadouts, weapon customization, and coordinated team tactics are already in place.
• High Replay Potential – Multiple mission types, customizable loadouts, and randomized enemy positions promise solid replay value.
• Developer Engagement – The dev team has actively responded to community feedback and released bug fixes during early testing.

Cons

• Unpolished Animations & Movement – Enemy animations feel stiff, and overall movement lacks fluidity.
• Inconsistent AI Behavior – Hostile NPCs often break surrender animations to attack, and display unrealistic accuracy from long distances.
• No Team AI or Matchmaking – Without squad bots or public matchmaking, players are forced to gather full squads manually for co-op.
• Clunky Equipment Switching – Cycling between gear (like grenades, pepper spray, or cameras) interrupts movement and feels awkward.
• Overpowered Enemy Vision – Enemies detect players from extreme angles and distances, making stealth approaches nearly useless.
• Frequent Bugs – Issues include door-breach shotguns failing to work and enemy bodies floating mid-air after takedowns.
  

Recognition and Awards

The game won 1st prize at the Game Development World Championship (Summer 2023) and has been nominated for Most Anticipated Game at Indie Cup.

Final Thoughts

SWAT Commander: Prologue shows potential and lays a solid foundation for a strong tactical shooter. However, its current version is held back by rough animations, frustrating AI behavior, and noticeable bugs. If the developers follow through on community feedback — smoothing animations, reworking AI, adding squad bots and matchmaking, and cleaning up the bugs — the full release could easily become a must-play for fans of SWAT 4, Zero Hour, and Ready or Not.

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