“Squad 22: ZOV” – russia’s “Answer to Counter-Strike” That Nobody Asked For

The great “patriotic” computer game Squad 22: ZOV, proudly released with the blessing of russia’s Ministry of Defense, was supposed to conquer the hearts of gamers worldwide. Instead, it barely managed to conquer the “Play” button.

Billed as russia’s bold response to Counter-Strike, this “masterpiece” about the invasion of Ukraine hit Steam with all the fanfare of a wet firecracker. On the world’s biggest gaming platform, with nearly 40 million users, Squad 22 managed to attract a whopping fifty players on its peak day. Let’s be honest — that was probably the entire development team, their relatives, and maybe putin himself playing from his bunker to boost the stats.

The game first appeared in January 2025 on the russian platform VK Play and later bravely ventured onto Steam on May 28. It’s a real-time strategy game where players command russian troops through missions like capturing Mariupol and storming Melitopol. Think of it as Command & Conquer: Propaganda Edition, complete with cartoonishly evil Ukrainian soldiers who, according to the script, need drugs to “fight more bravely.”

Despite the devs bragging about international “success,” the reality is as grim as the game’s plot. After its short-lived burst of fifty patriotic clicks, Squad 22 fell faster than the ruble after sanctions. By June, daily player numbers dropped to five, then to three, and by November, the game was hanging on with one lonely player still clicking around — perhaps a russian bot that forgot to log out.

In a world of Baldur’s Gate 3, Helldivers 2, and Counter-Strike 2, Squad 22: ZOV stands out — not for innovation or quality, but as living proof that even propaganda needs better gameplay.