Hood Warfare 2, a $5 CoD-like shooter, goes viral on social media
The $5 indie game, released October 8, has drawn comparisons for its killstreaks and gang warfare setting in Chicago.
A $5 indie shooter called Hood Warfare 2 has gone viral on social media for its striking resemblance to Call of Duty.
The game, released on Steam on October 8 by developer Trapstar Games, pits rival gangs against each other in deathmatch modes set in Chicago. It features Call of Duty staples like killstreaks, a create-a-class system, and a similar heads-up display.
Game modes include Turf War, which functions like Domination, GangBang for Team Deathmatch, Chaos for Free-for-all, Hit a Lick for Capture the Flag, Destroy the Block for Search and Destroy, and Chain Snatch for Kill Confirmed.
A clip from Rainbow 6 Siege professional player Merc, which has racked up more than five million views, helped fuel the game's popularity. In it, the TSM star uses a 'Snitch' killstreak that works exactly like Call of Duty's UAV.
"They have a drive-by kill streak that s*it funny as hell; they bumpin music and shooting out the window," Merc noted.
"The Snitch being a UAV is hilarious," one user commented on the viral clip.
Other social media users have claimed the game's sniping and movement are "better than Call of Duty" and that they would rather play Hood Warfare 2 than the upcoming Modern Warfare 4.
"Serious question, can you collateral," one user asked, while another suggested, "Idk who made this, but put this mf on PS5."
The game has achieved a 'Mostly Positive' review status on Steam, with 74% of its 346 reviews being positive as of recent data. One reviewer described it as "basically just low-budget Call of Duty."
However, some negative reviews cite issues with spawn camping and cheaters. One Steam review stated, "GAME IS FUN! legit just ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ around and shoot the ops….but already cheaters running the show so im gone lol badass game but sadly cheaters ruined within first hour."
Many users say the game is fun for a brief period but quickly gets old, according to the notes.
Hood Warfare 2 is built in Unreal Engine 5 and features weapon customization, allowing players to change sights, magazines, grips, and suppressors. The game's player count has surged recently, reaching a peak of 4,491 concurrent players, a significant increase from the first game's all-time peak of 68 players.
The viral spread began around October 11, driven by social media posts highlighting its $5 price point and exaggerated street humor. The game is currently listed at $5.39 on Steam, a 10% discount from its $5.99 price.
According to its Steam description, players fight through downtown, the suburbs, The Trenches, and Chicago Mall, with the ability to set up loadouts with perks and equipment.
