DaRmaZat Door Kickers 2: Task Force North is a top‐down, real‑time tactics game that puts you in command of elite military Special Operations units on daring missions against a Middle Eastern terrorist network. Building on the acclaimed legacy of its predecessor, Door Kickers, the game emphasizes precise planning, dynamic combat, and advanced strategic mechanics—all delivered in real time with the option to pause at will.
Originally launched in Early Access on November 3, 2020, the game evolved over four years through regular updates and community feedback until its fully polished 1.0 release on February 10, 2025. While it is primarily available on PC, the game now also offers native macOS support, runs on Linux via Steam Proton, and has been optimized for the Steam Deck.
Masterful Tactical Gameplay and Precision Planning
From the moment you launch Door Kickers 2: Task Force North, you are thrust into the heart of high-stakes operations where every decision matters. You command a squad that must neutralize terrorists, eliminate hostile forces, and rescue hostages by executing synchronized invasions—whether by cutting the lights, sabotaging enemy equipment, or forcefully breaching doors. The game immediately immerses you in action, yet also provides the crucial ability to pause and plan every maneuver. Before each single mission, you receive an exact blueprint of the operational infrastructure; although the precise locations of terrorists and hostages remain hidden, this detailed layout allows for thorough pre-mission strategizing. However, executing your plan is not always straightforward—while intuitive controls (predominantly via the right mouse button) make things accessible, mastering the available shortcut keys such as Control and Shift takes practice. In fact, I found myself longing for an option to simply draw a rectangle around multiple units to synchronize their movement, a feature that would streamline coordinating your forces.
The game’s advanced mechanics truly shine during the planning phase.
The game’s advanced mechanics truly shine during the planning phase. You can reset your current plan if things become too tangled—a useful feature since your plan is saved for later retries—and even edit the plotted path as long as you haven’t activated the “go” command. This flexibility allows your diverse units to proceed as a cohesive entity toward the objective, continuously covering one another without interference.
Unrivaled Tactical Freedom and Adaptive Challenge
Movement itself is multi-faceted: whether you choose to sprint, walk, crawl, or simply stand still, you can further dictate your approach with commands like “keep moving,” “wait for clear,” “go silent” or “go loud,” and even set one unit to wait on another to script precise dependencies. Every action, however, consumes valuable time and carries its own risk, requiring you to balance aggression with caution. Each unit also has a limited field of vision, meaning you must cleverly utilize in-game objects as cover while approaching your target or switching between primary and secondary weapons—whether during reloads or when throwing flashbangs and grenades, which must be used with impeccable precision to avoid unintended fatalities. You also soon realize that, precisely because suicide bombers can be hiding almost anywhere, hostages must be kept as far away as possible from potential danger zones.
The enemy AI is impressively adaptive.
A minor drawback is that the mission briefings and orders appear too briefly at the start of each operation—often vanishing before you can fully absorb them—though you can manually recall them using the Toggle Mission Briefing button in the upper left corner. On the upside, the enemy AI is impressively adaptive; if you opt for an alternate route, they quickly notice and flank you, adding to the game’s challenging yet educational nature. The game also offers a robust campaign mode—unlockable after successfully completing 15 single missions—and an online co‑op option, both of which extend its replayability. Steam Workshop support and a built‑in level editor further empower you to create and share your own missions, contributing to a rich community-driven experience. Complementing all these features is an insanely good soundtrack—a modern industrial rock score that perfectly captures the intense, pulse-pounding atmosphere of every operation.
Final Thoughts
In essence, Door Kickers 2: Task Force North is a tactical gem that pushes you out of your comfort zone while delivering a deeply engaging, high-stakes strategic experience. Whether you’re meticulously planning every move using detailed infrastructure blueprints or reacting in real time to rapidly changing battlefield conditions, this game packs a quality, adrenaline-fueled punch that makes it impossible to stop playing. Its blend of realism, challenging gameplay, and creative freedom makes it a must-play for any fan of tactical strategy games.
Additional Information
Release Date: February 10, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by developer and publisher.
Developer: KillHouse Games
Publisher: KillHouse Games
Official Website: https://www.inthekillhouse.com
Relevant links: Door Kickers 2: Task Force North on STEAM
