Exfil: The Free-To-Play Tarkov Competitor
Looking for your next adrenaline fix in the hardcore FPS space? While everyone's talking about the big names, there's an extraction shooter flying under the radar that deserves your attention—and you can try it for free right now.
I've spent countless hours grinding in Tarkov and more recently getting frustrated (in the best way) with Gray Zone Warfare, but Exfil has been quietly building something special since its early access launch last December. This tactical extraction shooter captures that same heart-pounding tension we love, but it's been evolving rapidly with some major improvements just dropped in their latest update.
What makes Exfil stand out in the increasingly crowded mil-sim market? It delivers that punishing gameplay loop we masochistic shooter fans crave—realistic ballistics, high-stakes extractions, and the constant fear of losing your hard-earned gear. The weapon handling feels satisfyingly weighty, and the environments keep you on edge at every corner.
The game's biggest weakness was always its thin content offering, but that's changing fast. The new update finally brings proper PvPvE with AI enemies populating the maps (thank goodness—those ghost towns were getting eerie). You can now choose between solo play or teaming up with friends, which opens up so many more tactical possibilities.
They've also added a third game mode called Seek and Destroy alongside the classic and asymmetrical extraction modes. For those of us who love suppressive fire, there's now an LMG class that lets you really control those chokepoints. I can already imagine the satisfaction of pinning down a squad while my teammates flank.
One quality-of-life improvement I'm particularly excited about is the new interactive tactical map. If you've ever gotten hopelessly lost in these types of games (we've all been there), this should make coordinating with teammates and finding extraction points much less frustrating.
On the technical side, they've upgraded to Unreal Engine 5.3 with improved DLSS and FSR support. The weapon handling has also received attention with tweaks to sway and recoil across the arsenal—finding that sweet spot between controller-throwing difficulty and authentic gunplay.
Want to judge for yourself? Exfil's free weekend is running right now through Monday, March 24. Just head to Steam and download what they're calling a "demo" (it's actually the full game, just temporarily free). If it clicks with you, there's a 25% discount available until Wednesday, March 26.
For fans of hardcore extraction shooters like me, Exfil is shaping up to be a serious contender in the space—and this weekend is the perfect time to drop in and see what this Tarkov rival has to offer.
