Growing up in the suburbs just outside Toronto taught me a thing or two about how quickly a seemingly small issue, like an unkempt lawn or some late-night music, can escalate. There’s nothing quite as intimidating as dealing with a homeowners association on the prowl. It seems like the new multiplayer game on the horizon has taken this concept and cranked it up a notch. Imagine two teams of suburban folks going head-to-head, all wrapped up with some Looney Tunes-esque cartoon chaos. Welcome to Neighbors: Suburban Warfare, where Rainbow Six Siege meets suburban shenanigans—minus the hardcore military feel.
I had the chance to try out some good old suburban warfare with the team at Invisible Walls. The objective is simple, yet brilliantly chaotic: each team has their own house filled with essentials like a TV, toilet, bed, and oven that they need to protect. The winning team is the one that manages to obliterate the opposing team’s objectives while keeping theirs safe. Of course, executing this plan is no walk in the park. Between boarding up windows, setting traps, or just whacking opponents into oblivion, there’s no shortage of ways to defend your turf.
The game features class-based shooting, offering a cast of vibrant characters to play. I went with Doreen, an energetic granny armed with boxing gloves. Other characters are just as entertaining, like Chad, the charming buff guy rocking a maid outfit, and Mary-Jean, who’s great at sneaking and has a penchant for knitting. But then there’s Kevin, who’s basically Dennis the Menace with a slingshot, and P.A., an old daredevil hanging onto his gear from the past.
The characters are generally easy to pick up, but there’s definitely depth for those who want to master them. Their designs are unforgettable—sure, we’ve all played as various soldiers, but who’s ever been the neighborhood firework fanatic or a guy in a maid’s dress wielding a vacuum? Though I only played a few rounds, it’s intriguing to think about how these characters could weave into strategies as players delve deeper into the game.
Strategy in Neighbors also shifts based on the map. I experienced a match in a small-town roundabout suburb, where dodging a runaway delivery van tossing packages was a constant concern. Another round unfolded in a sprawling, upscale snowy neighborhood offering even more angles for attack.
Each match in Neighbors carries its unique rhythm. Daytime involves storming the enemy’s house, scavenging construction sites for resources, and figuring out how to breach fences or gates. But when night falls, the guard dogs come into play, and trust me, you don’t want to get caught sneaking about with one of those furry sentinels awake.
Although there’s no set release date yet, Neighbors: Suburban Warfare is gearing up for an early access release, and you can sign up for potential playtesting on its Steam page. I’ve navigated my way through countless team shooters, but the lively charm and intriguing strategy depth of Neighbors makes it a standout I’m eager to follow.
