In this day and age – tactical shooters have much to fight for. Although the battle between Battlefield and Call of Duty is long gone, there is a lot of space for those games to occupy, especially if they provide something extra that the two giant series could not do.

This article will review the two games that perfected this scenario. Arma III and Squad.  Both are incredibly realistic, have much to offer regarding the gameplay and tactical elements, and can show you what the war looks like upfront. There are thousands of players all over the world who enjoy these harsh conditions on the front lines.

But – which one is better? Well, we are here to settle this once and for all. Those games have something extraordinary to show and can provide you with great fun. But, as all things are, people need to have one clear winner, so we have decided to provide you with some arguments. In the next five rounds, we will decide which game is better – the famous Squad or the cult Arma III. Let’s settle this right now!

Let’s start with something not you may not expect to be an important part of this clash, but in our opinion, it can sometimes take the crown. Let’s talk about graphic design. Although it’s not the heart of those games, it’s certainly one of the aspects that gamers all over the world are paying close attention to. Especially when discussing games presenting themselves as realistic tactical shooters. The History buffs are always looking for inconsistencies, so you must ensure those games are at the top. So, how do those titles play out?

Arma

Let’s start with Arma 3. Although it has a bit of a disadvantage of being released two years before Squad, it is still going strong thanks to the realistic portrayal of warfare and weapons. It’s primarily focused on military vehicles and weaponry. Unfortunately, due to the game having extremely large-scale battles, it’s often difficult to process all the elements simultaneously, so it’s getting harder and harder with each second to animate all of that greatness. 

The game is also two years older than Squad, so the change in the quality during those two years is noticeable. What we can say, though, is that Arma 3 has an incredible modding community that is constantly updating the game with new textures and weapon design. So – it looks still fresh. It was so fresh that even some political streamers thought the Arma 3 footage was the battleground in Ukraine. So – it's pretty realistic.

Squad

On the other hand, the newer Squad has the same amount of realism that it aims to provide. Character models, weapons, lighting, everything just needs to be at the top of the top as it makes this game interesting in the first place. So, how does it play out? Well, pretty good. Thanks to not being as occupied with the number of players on the same map, it feels more fun to play, and fewer shortcuts were taken in creating this game. On the other hand, this title does not have the modding power that the Arma 3 has.

Verdict

Our Verdict – Squad! Fortunately or unfortunately, Squad is just a newer version of this concept, and it shows. Whether we like it or not, the gaming world has taken some additional steps in creating an immersive experience, and those few years between those games made some impact. Nevertheless – it’s a pretty close cut, so as the Arma 3 has an incredible modding community, it’s a close call.

The next round is the realism of those games. It’s probably one of the critical aspects of both titles, as they rely on authenticity to make them stand out among other shooters. How do those titles play out in comparison? 

Arma

Let’s start again with Arma 3. Here, we essentially have a military simulation. You have lots of equipment that you can find on the battlefields in real life, realistic ballistics that include elements like bullet drop, wind, etc., and other environmental conditions that change the outlook of the war efforts. 

The same goes for the vehicles used in combat. They all are incredibly professional, especially in how they look and feel. To win those battles, you must understand different military tactics and use them to your advantage. Going solo and screaming Leroy Jenkins will only result in getting yourself killed.

Squad

On the other hand, we have the Squad, which is also highly realistic, but it emphasizes the infantry combat elements with teamwork. It’s all about squads working together with in-game communication, preferably via microphone, so you can always talk to your team members. 

Additionally, you have a medic system, where you can help your friends in need, but it also slows you down, adding another layer of realism to the gameplay. It’s a mid-level, buddies-style squad PvP rather than a grand battle with planes and tanks. It’s a bit smaller than Arma 3, which does not mean it’s worse; it’s more intimate.

Verdict

Our Verdict – in our book, Arma 3 wins this fight by a small margin, as it is just too modifiable to beat! Think about it this way – you may have squads and such, but with Arma 3 – you get to add new realistic-looking models every week. Additionally, the scale of those battles makes you feel like you are a lonely soldier in the crowd, adding another layer to the fighting. It does not mean that Squad and its tactical approach is worse. Arma 3 just feels more authentic.

Next round – let’s focus on working together! If you want to target the enemy, you must work fast and together. Which game is better for teamwork?

Arma

Arma 3 aims to create an immersive experience with dozens of different ways of fighting. You have your infantry, vehicles, aircraft, and everything you imagine happens on the battlefield. You need good coordination between those units to be as effective as possible. That’s why, in Arma, you get to choose different leaders for squads and more governing roles. Those individuals can decide what to do based on their experience and what’s happening on the battlefield.

Squad

On the other hand, Squad utilizes smaller groups to create a more intimate teamwork experience. You don’t have these planes flying everywhere, tanks, and all-around mayhem. You have multiple squads roaming the battlefield, trying to get an advantage over the enemy. That’s why the in-game communication is that important. It ensures quality and successful teamwork. Without it, you won’t be able to work effectively with your teammates, and that’s the only way to survive.

Verdict

Our Verdict – while combining different warfare and large-scale battles is exciting, we cannot stress enough how crucial teamwork is in the Squad. You should stay off this game if you don’t have the microphone. So, in that category, the Squad has the upper hand.

Next, we have the vehicles and equipment category. Both games are best for creating a realistic portrayal of cars, guns, and grenades. So, it’s only fair to compare which one did it better.

Arma 3

Traditionally, we start with Arma 3 and the whole arsenal it allows the players to use. There are plenty of military vehicles to operate with realistic physics of all of them. You may use a tank as a gunner, driver, or any other place in the car. And that applies to all the other ones as well. 

Moreover, thanks to the modding community, Arma 3 has an incredible amount of weapons and equipment that is only growing in size each day. So, if something is not in the game, you should always add “yet,” as it will, sooner or later, become the standard.

Squad

On the other hand, Squad is, as we have stated before, more infantry-oriented. It has some vehicles within the game, but it does not have even the percentage of what Army 3 allows to use. Nevertheless, it’s not like it has no quality products for you to use. Each squad has lots of highly realistic equipment to utilize with practical medic appliances and guns. Of course, there are also some vehicles with which you can advance your infantry-based concepts, like armored carriers and light vehicles for transportation. 

Verdict

Our Verdict – Arma 3 has more detailed equipment and vehicles. You just can’t win with dozens of people adding additional to this game with each day. The quality of those vehicles is astonishing, with detailed elements of usage, other seats you can access, and realistic physics so that it will all feel immersive and exciting. It does not mean that in any way, shape, or form, Squad is performing worse in that department; it just does not have the numbers to fight with Arma 3.

And for our last round, we decided to pick those games' community aspect. It often is one of the most essential elements when joining some group. If you are investing lots of time into it, you would like to spend it among people giving you good vibes rather than toxicity (greetings to our friends in CoD!).

Arma 3

Let’s start with Arma 3. As mentioned, Arma 3 is one of the most exciting titles regarding modding aspects. People worldwide play Arma 3 to express themselves as history/military buffs. They are among other like-minded individuals. It has a lot of role-playing community that does not limit themselves only to playing the game. 

Plenty of people use the multiplayer mode to organize what’s called MilSim – Military Simulation units. This means they are gathering to create the most realistic portrayal of the multiplayer experience. They assign each other memorable roles and ranks and work together to make the most immersive warfare ever created. The community is known for being inclusive and full of helpful people, so if you are looking for a nice place to join, this is it.

Squad

Squad is also known for its outstanding community, as it emphasizes teamwork to win the games. The collaborative effort is essential for success, which is much more important than how the game is played. It’s the more accessible of the two, as you will not need to get so immersed to play a few rounds and go back to your routine. It may seem more casual, but it’s not an extremely chill experience – it’s still a pretty complex and realistic game. But – the bar to join is lower here than in Arma 3.

Verdict

Our Verdict – when comparing the two, we are leaning towards Arma 3 as having a better, more advanced community. There, you can play with the latest mods, create new and beautiful textures, go for the highly immersive MilSim experiences, and many other things Squad simply lacks. It does not mean it’s a wrong community, as they are all friendly and military-oriented; it’s just more casual than what you would expect from Arma 3. In our book, the more, the better, so Arma 3 definitely wins this round.

So, as you can see, the verdict is only one – the winner is Arma 3! It’s fun playing solo, with friends, and all-around; it’s a fine game for people of, well, maybe not all ages, but if you’re rated M – definitely check it out!

The game has wonderful big spaces full of different types of warfare, up-to-date weapons thanks to the modding community, and lots of fantastic elements you can have fun with. As the users say – it’s just a box of possibilities. You can do a lot in this game; there’s a ton of content for you to explore, and it’s just that good of a game as a whole.

Of course, that does not mean that Squad is some beta version of Arma 3. We created this feud mainly because people love winners, losers, and clear-cut scenarios. When it comes to the overall performance of those games in our book – they are solid tactical shooters that should definitely be explored by the wider audience. 

Squad is just more casual in that department. You go for a quick shoot-out, come back, and that’s pretty much it. You don’t have these myriads of different possibilities with Squad, but you don’t have to invest so much life and your attention into it. Basically, it’s a less challenging version of Arma 3. It's still fun, but you don’t have to sell your life to the game to have some fun. If you prefer Arma 3, with more freedom and vehicle warfare. If you want something, then honestly – you will play from time to time – you can easily figure out what’s the Squad all about.

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