If we can look beyond the AAA titles, the indie scene has plenty of gems to offer – and this chaotic shooter is a prime example.
Straftat is a micro-FPS born from the frustration of two brothers who couldn’t find a proper deathmatch game. It pits two players against each other in rapid-fire 1v1 duels, less a nostalgic nod to Half-Life, Quake, or Unreal and more a fierce distillation of them. With dozens of weapons, 150 small but wild maps, and a huge variety of hats – it’s completely free. The only paid addition is an optional $5 DLC that nearly doubles the map count and brings in loads of extras. It got better in February, even better in April, and now, just weeks later, another massive update has landed.
The DLC & Maps update brings 37 new arenas, 4 new weapons, cosmetics, and quality-of-life features. Most new maps are part of the base game. You’ll find Valhalla-inspired maps with dark lighting, stadiums packed with seats, and a Cage Fight map that is exactly what it sounds like. The most oddly named one is Canliferous Fluorspar, a night map with Mediterranean-style architecture.
Some maps are remixed versions of earlier vanilla layouts, but over 20 completely new arenas are also included. Of the 37, only 4 are DLC exclusives – including a pig farm and some “Surf Maps.” The four new weapons are a stun mine, a stun grenade, a “Bayshore,” and the Aboubi Head – the severed green skull of Straftat’s chain-smoking mutants. Other highlights include a new racing system in the training area with parkour and time trials, and a much-needed map search bar to simplify custom playlist creation.
DLC owners also get access to a special Babbdi map (a nod to the Lemaitre brothers’ earlier game) and a randomized weapon checker per map, which boosts replayability. There are also six new jingly hats and a hilariously awful “smelly head,” all exclusive to DLC buyers.
Even the free version of Straftat offers a ton of fun. And according to the devs, more is on the way – including a 4-player free-for-all mode and 2v2 team deathmatch. Some of the newest maps already appear to be built for four-player combat. With this kind of momentum, it’s clear the Lemaitre brothers aren’t slowing down anytime soon.
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