Rising Storm [for PC]

What Does Rising Storm Do?

Rising Storm expands the Red Orchestra franchise into the Pacific Theater, documenting the island-hopping campaigns between 1942 and 1945. The game features 64-player multiplayer combat across iconic locations such as Iwo Jima, Saipan, and Guadalcanal. Players take control of either the United States military or the Imperial Japanese forces in environments ranging from beach landings to close-quarters jungle night fighting.

The title introduces asymmetrical warfare to the series. American factions rely on superior firepower, including fast-firing semi-automatic rifles and flamethrowers. In contrast, Japanese forces utilize specialized tactics such as banzai charges, booby-traps, and "knee mortars" for indirect fire. A morale system dictates combat effectiveness, where specific actions like a banzai charge can suppress enemies and hinder their ability to return fire.

Technical features include realistic ballistics, bullet penetration, and manual weapon bracing for over 20 new weapons. This giveaway also provides full access to all Red Orchestra 2 multiplayer content, allowing players to switch between the Pacific and Eastern Fronts within the same server browser. Additionally, the software supports persistent stats tracking, player progression, and the full Mod SDK for Steam Workshop integration.

Top 5 Reasons To Download Rising Storm

1. Masterfully Executed Asymmetrical Warfare: Experience a unique balance where American firepower meets Japanese cunning and ferocity, creating a gameplay loop unlike any other shooter.
2. Unrivaled Realism and Ballistics: Dive into a world where bullet penetration, manual bolting, and weapon bracing make every shot count in a truly authentic WWII simulation.
3. Massive 64-Player Iconic Battles: Fight through historical locations like Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal in large-scale multiplayer matches that capture the true chaos of the Pacific Theater.
4. Two Games in One: This package includes all Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad multiplayer content, giving you access to both the Pacific and the Eastern Front in a single installation.
5. Innovative Morale and Suppression Systems: Feel the psychological weight of combat with a suppression system that rewards tactical pressure and a Banzai mechanic that changes the tide of battle.

If you are a fan of tactical shooters, or if you have ever felt that the modern military shooter market has become a bit too "arcadey" and predictable, then you need to stop what you are doing and pay attention. Rising Storm is not just another expansion pack; it is a masterclass in first-person shooter design that breathes new life into the World War II genre. Developed by Tripwire Interactive in collaboration with the community, this game takes the award-winning foundation of Red Orchestra 2 and transports it to the brutal, humid, and unforgiving environments of the Pacific Theater. This isn't just about clicking on heads; it’s about survival, teamwork, and historical immersion.

As a tech reviewer who has seen hundreds of shooters come and go, I can tell you that very few games manage to capture the "feel" of a period as well as this one. From the way your soldier’s hands shake under fire to the terrifying scream of a Japanese Banzai charge emerging from the jungle mist, Rising Storm is designed to keep your heart rate up and your tactical brain engaged. Below, I’ve broken down the top five reasons why you absolutely must add this to your library today.

1. Masterfully Executed Asymmetrical Warfare

In most modern shooters, balance is achieved through symmetry. If one side has an assault rifle, the other side gets a virtually identical assault rifle with a different skin. Rising Storm throws that philosophy out the window in favor of asymmetrical warfare, and the result is one of the most refreshing gameplay experiences you will ever encounter. This game understands that the US military and the Imperial Japanese Army fought very different wars, and it reflects that in every mechanic.

When you play as the Americans, you feel the sheer weight of industrial might. You have access to the iconic M1 Garand with its semi-automatic fire, the devastating Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), and the terrifying flamethrower that can clear out bunkers in seconds. Your advantage is clear: raw firepower. You can put more lead downrange than your opponent, and in a head-to-head shootout, you should win every time. However, that firepower comes with a sense of vulnerability, because you are often the one pushing into unknown territory, vulnerable to traps and ambushes.

On the flip side, playing as the Japanese requires a completely different mindset. You are often outgunned in terms of rapid-fire weaponry, but you are never outmatched. The game equips you with "knee mortars" (Type 89 grenade launchers) that allow you to rain indirect fire onto American positions from behind cover. You can plant grenades as booby traps, turning every discarded weapon or capture point into a lethal surprise for an unwary GI. The Japanese forces also emphasize close-quarters combat, with bayonets available for almost every weapon, including machine guns. This creates a terrifying dynamic where the Americans are trying to keep the Japanese at a distance, while the Japanese are using every bit of cover and cunning to close the gap for a lethal strike. This asymmetry ensures that the game feels completely different depending on which side you choose, effectively doubling the amount of content and strategy you need to master.

2. Unrivaled Realism and Ballistics

The "Red Orchestra" name has always been synonymous with realism, and Rising Storm takes that reputation to new heights. If you are tired of weapons that feel like plastic toys with zero recoil, you are going to love the gunplay here. The developers have meticulously modeled true-to-life ballistics, meaning you have to account for gravity, lead your targets at distance, and understand how different materials affect bullet penetration. If a sniper is hiding behind a thin wooden fence, don’t just wait for him to peek—shoot through the wood. The game rewards players who understand the physics of their weaponry.

But the realism goes beyond just the flight of the bullet. It’s in the small details that other games ignore. There is no "floating" crosshair in the middle of your screen; instead, the game uses a "free aim" system where your weapon moves independently of your view to a certain degree, simulating the actual weight of holding a firearm. You can brace your weapon on windowsills, logs, or even on the ground to increase your accuracy. Even the reloading process is immersive; if you’re using a bolt-action rifle, you have to manually cycle the bolt after every shot. It sounds like a small detail, but in the heat of a jungle firefight, forgetting to chamber that next round can be the difference between life and death. This level of mechanical depth ensures that every kill feels earned and every survival feels like a triumph of skill over luck.

3. Massive 64-Player Iconic Battles

The scale of Rising Storm is truly impressive. While many shooters are moving toward smaller, more controlled "arena" style matches, this game embraces the chaos of large-scale combat. Supporting up to 64 players on a single server, the matches feel like actual battles rather than just small skirmishes. The maps are sprawling and designed with historical accuracy in mind, taking you to the most iconic locations of the Pacific Theater’s island-hopping campaign.

You will experience the harrowing beach assaults of Iwo Jima, where the Americans must push off the black sands and into the fortified volcanic rock. You will navigate the dense, claustrophobic jungles of Guadalcanal, where an enemy could be behind any tree or in any bush. You will fight through the ruins of Saipan, dealing with verticality and urban decay. Each map is a tactical puzzle. In a 64-player match, you aren’t just a lone wolf; you are part of a squad. You need machine gunners to provide suppressing fire, riflemen to push the line, and commanders to call in artillery strikes. The sheer atmosphere provided by 64 players screaming, shooting, and exploding across these massive vistas creates an immersive "war movie" feel that few other games can replicate.

4. Two Games in One

One of the most compelling reasons to download this specific package is the incredible value it provides. When you get Rising Storm, you aren't just getting the Pacific Theater content. You are also getting the entirety of the Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad multiplayer content included for free as a bonus. This is an incredible deal that effectively gives you two of the best WWII shooters ever made in a single package.

This means that within the same game and the same server browser, you can switch from the humid jungles of the Pacific to the frozen, blood-soaked ruins of Stalingrad on the Eastern Front. You get to experience the desperate struggle between the German Wehrmacht and the Soviet Red Army, utilizing a completely different set of weapons, vehicles, and tactics. Red Orchestra 2 was named PC Gamer’s Multiplayer FPS of the Year in 2011 for a reason—its combat is brutal, its maps are legendary, and its community is dedicated. Having both the Eastern Front and the Pacific Theater in one client means you will never run out of variety. You can spend one hour defending a grain elevator in Russia and the next hour charging a beach in the Pacific. It’s a comprehensive WWII experience that is unmatched in the industry.

5. Innovative Morale and Suppression Systems

Finally, we have to talk about how Rising Storm handles the psychology of combat. In most shooters, "suppression" is just a minor visual annoyance or something that doesn't exist at all. In Rising Storm, suppression is a vital tactical tool. When bullets are whizzing past your head or thumping into the cover you're hiding behind, your soldier’s vision will blur, their heart rate will spike, and their ability to aim steadily will drastically decrease. This rewards players for using heavy machine guns for their intended purpose: pinning the enemy down so your teammates can flank them.

This system reaches its pinnacle with the Japanese Banzai charge. When multiple Japanese players charge together with their bayonets fixed, they enter a Banzai state. Not only does this give the charging players a boost in "courage" (making them harder to suppress), but it also applies a massive suppression effect to any American soldiers they are charging toward. If you are an American GI and you hear that collective scream coming toward you, your screen will shake and blur, making it incredibly difficult to land a precise shot on the incoming attackers. It’s a terrifying, visceral mechanic that perfectly illustrates the "morale" aspect of the game. Combined with a deep persistent stats tracking system where you can earn achievements, improve your soldier’s abilities, and eventually reach the status of a "Hero," the game gives you a constant sense of growth and consequence. You aren't just playing a match; you are building a career and experiencing the psychological toll of historical warfare.

In conclusion, Rising Storm is a rare gem in the world of first-person shooters. It manages to be both a hardcore tactical simulator and an incredibly fun, high-intensity multiplayer experience. Whether you are drawn in by the historical accuracy, the unique asymmetrical gameplay, or the sheer value of getting the Red Orchestra 2 content alongside it, there is no reason to pass this up. This is a game that respects your intelligence as a player and offers a level of depth that will keep you coming back for hundreds of hours. Download it now, fix your bayonets, and prepare for the most intense WWII experience of your life.