TL;DR: fast paced movement shooter with 2000's aesthetic, jungle ambient music, tons of maps and weapons with some mechanics and techs latched to them.
The game is easy to play and hard to master.
All of this without modern shooter slop for free.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

Straftat is a movement-focused shooter built around a huge variety of maps, each offering unique mechanics, weapon spawns, and architectural styles. The level design draws inspiration from brutalism, classic videogame environments (like bazaar style levels), and liminal spaces.
Its visuals carry the gritty and simple charm of early-2000s games accompanied the soundtrack composed of jungle ambient music which pairs perfectly with the clean, straightforward gameplay, ultimately making a very satisfying and paradoxically relaxing mix considering how fast paced the game is.

There’s no battle pass, no ranked ladder (aside from a global leaderboard that doesn’t affect matchmaking and that you’ll likely ignore since the lobby list is far more useful), and no excessive or flashy cosmetics. In short, there’s no bloat, no slop.
You can buy DLC, but it mainly exists to support the developers and unlock more maps and cosmetic options. Importantly, the maps are the real value, not the cosmetics. And a nice touch: if you host DLC maps, other players can still join and play them even if they don’t own the DLC themselves.
What really makes Straftat shine is the sheer variety of weapons and maps waiting to be learned and mastered.

In Straftat, you log in, join a lobby, grab a weapon, and either frag or get fragged often by someone far better than you, but that’s part of the fun: you pick up movement tech, mechanics, and map knowledge by playing against people who already understand them well. The game seems simple at first glance, but it takes time, practice, and curiosity to truly improve.
What “sells” the game (even though it’s completely free) is exactly the simplicity: It’s pure, skill-driven multiplayer where your movement, aim, and game knowledge,mainly of maps and weapons, and no "real external systems" determine how well you perform (aside from weapons spawns sometimes but that is not a real problem in private or some public lobbies due to the possibility to adjust that).


In conclusion: I HIGHLY recomment this game, it's fun, it's engaging and there's a lot of content for the price of absolutely nothing.

I will eventually buy the DLC and wish the best for the devs.

Personal note:
I strongly agree with the developer’s choice not to add a ranked system.
Without it, the game’s “competitive scene” becomes more niche and social: if you want a "ranked like" experience, you naturally end up joining groups, communities, and interacting with players who share the same desire to improve and prove themselves. You can still run into highly skilled players just by joining public lobbies, but this approach makes the experience feel more personal, grounded, and meaningful.

The game loop is very simple: you put on a mask at the start of the level and then clear the building of Russian mobsters. I won't discuss the story in this review, as it's something the sequel focuses on more.

The controls and mechanics are very easy to pick up. You can push people down and execute them, pick up weapons and guns, and use or throw them to accomplish the task of killing everyone in the level. The game is centered around the concept of violence, with almost every action focused on causing harm. The fantastic soundtrack keeps you pumped and adds to the hectic atmosphere as you clear each level, perfectly matching the visuals and theme of the game.

One thing to note is that it can be a bit frustrating on some levels at first, as the game can be quite challenging due to the fact that it only takes one hit to kill you. However, once you get the hang of it, these challenges become more manageable.

Another thing that kept me hooked in this very short game is the ambiance and atmosphere. The bright colors and charming pixel art are reminiscent of older retro games but with a modern twist.