Door Kickers 2: Task Force North
Real-time tactics sequel with three distinct squads.
Door Kickers 2: Task Force North is a real-time tactics game from KillHouse Games, available on Windows and macOS. It follows up on the 2014 original *Door Kickers* with similar core gameplay but several key upgrades. The action takes place in the fictional Middle Eastern nation of Nowheraki, where players lead special forces and paramilitary units against an insurgency threatening the region.
The game blends strategy and tactical shooter elements from a 3D top-down view that shows the entire map. Players choose which squad and troopers to deploy, plot each trooper’s movement and actions in detail, then execute the plan in real time—with the ability to adjust routes and orders on the fly. Troopers automatically engage enemies and reveal fog-of-war areas as they move, can be set to look in specific directions, and can hold position until given one of four “go orders.” Each trooper’s weapons and gear affect combat performance, and new equipment is unlocked using stars earned from completing levels. Campaigns come in two forms: linear “Operations” and randomly generated “Tours of Duty” with selectable missions, where players manage persistent injuries and optional permadeath over multiple in-game days. “Battle honors” from campaigns unlock unique weapons and gear.
Major additions over the first game include night vision, man-portable and stationary machine guns, explosives (grenades, launchers, rocket launchers, and enemy suicide bombers), limited destructible environments for explosive breaching, a revamped stealth system, and customizable weapon sights, suppressors, and ammunition. The biggest change is the introduction of three distinct squads instead of a single SWAT team: the “Rangers,” based on the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment and balanced for general combat; “Nowheraki SWAT,” a joint force of local security and militia with lower funding but greater numbers and cost-effectiveness; and “CIA,” a small, stealth-focused team inspired by the Special Activities Center. Each squad has unique classes, weapons, equipment, and doctrine trees that shape their strengths and weaknesses—Rangers are versatile but poor at stealth, Nowheraki SWAT excels in numbers but lacks expertise, and the CIA struggles in direct fights but can infiltrate and hit-and-run.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Door Kickers 2: Task Force North
- Developer
- KillHouse Games
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS
- Released
- WW · February 10, 2025
- Genre
- Real-time tactics
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Designer
- Dan Dimitrescu
- Programmer
- Catalin Saitan / Oskar Nordquist
- Composer
- Cosmin Mirza
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Door Kickers 2 combines elements of strategy games and tactical shooters, presented from a 3D top-down perspective. The core gameplay is similar to its predecessor: players select units and troopers, plan movement pathing and actions, and send troopers to follow assigned paths in real-time, with the option to alter plans. Troopers engage enemies, reveal fog of war, and can be angled to look in certain directions or set to hold positions. Equipment and weapons are unlocked with stars from completing levels. Campaigns include linear Operations and randomly-generated Tours of Duty with persistent trooper injuries and optional permadeath.
The game adds substantial features including night vision devices, machine guns, explosive weapons, limited destructible environments, a revamped stealth system, and customizable weapon sights, suppressors, and ammunition. The most major addition is the implementation of three different squads: Rangers (all-rounded combat unit based on U.S. Army Rangers), Nowheraki SWAT (joint task force of local security forces and militia), and CIA (small stealth-centric team based on the Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Center). Each squad has unique classes, weapons, equipment, and doctrine trees. The game also features a level editor and full modding support for Steam Workshop and Nexus Mods, including custom squads.
Reader's Guide
Door Kickers 2 received generally positive reviews upon its full release. Review aggregator Metacritic displays a score of 84 out of 100 based on 6 critic reviews. Critics described the game as a combination of XCOM, Company of Heroes, and Arma, and as essentially a full game version of the planning sequences of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six and Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear, with enough unique elements to be considered one of the best strategy games ever created. The game was praised for its various approaches to levels, high replayability, and trial-and-error gameplay, as well as being unpredictable and ruthless while having a low learning curve that encourages learning from failures. Some noted that the game's setting and worldbuilding felt minimized. The game's development was first teased in January 2016, with a formal announcement on January 17, 2016, and an early access release originally slated for Q4 2016. After entering development hell, a re-announcement trailer was released in February 2020, and the game was finally released on Steam Early Access on November 3, 2020, after a frustrated fan's demand prompted a developer response. The full version 1.0 was released on February 10, 2025.
Did You Know?
- The game was released on Steam Early Access within 10 minutes of a developer responding 'ok, give us 10-20 minutes' to a frustrated fan's demand.
- Door Kickers 2 features three distinct squads: Rangers, Nowheraki SWAT, and CIA, each with unique strengths and weaknesses.
- The game includes a limited destructible environment allowing for explosive breaching.
- Features such as UAV aerial reconnaissance, enemy booby traps, and Tactical Abilities were announced but ultimately cut by full release.
More in Video Games of the 2010s, Part 1 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced