PCGame

Spec Ops: The Line

Third-person military shooter with hard choices in sand-buried Dubai

YAGER · Published by 2K, Missing Link Games · Released Jun 29, 2012

ActionAdventure

Reviews
Very Positive
93% of 60K
Recent reviews
Very Positive
92% of 107 in 30 days
Players
23
daily peak, Nov 7, 2026
Steam Deck
Unsupported
Last update on Steam
Unknown
no patch notes on Steam
Minimum PC
HD 2600XT
2 GB RAM · 6 GB disk
Full requirements

Metacritic: 76/100 (critic reviews)

What is Spec Ops: The Line?

A third-person military shooter set in Dubai after a devastating sandstorm. You lead a Delta Force squad through combat missions, direct teammates, and use sandstorms in firefights while searching for survivors after a radio signal reaches the outside world.

For you if...

  • +you prefer dark war stories with moral choices
  • +you enjoy directing squadmates during third-person firefights

Not for you if...

  • −you want open exploration instead of combat missions
  • −you want shooting that departs from familiar cover-based combat

What players say

93% of 60,170 reviews are positive · 92% of 107 in the last 30 days

Players praise the story and its handling of war, but some find the shooting generic or clunky. Recent players also report bugs that interrupt progress.

Players over time

▼ -11% vs a month ago

Players online on Steam, one sample a day.

Highest since Sep 2026: 44 players on Sep 22, 2026.

Show the data
DayPlayers
Nov 7, 202623
Nov 6, 202618
Nov 5, 202618
Nov 4, 202624
Nov 3, 202620
Nov 2, 202622
Nov 1, 202627
Oct 31, 202619
Oct 30, 202614
Oct 29, 202623
Oct 28, 202622
Oct 27, 202611
Oct 27, 202618
Oct 26, 202622
Oct 25, 202623
Oct 24, 202622
Oct 23, 202621
Oct 22, 202617
Oct 21, 202614
Oct 20, 202623
Oct 19, 202624
Oct 18, 202618
Oct 17, 202621
Oct 16, 202620
Oct 15, 202621
Oct 14, 202627
Oct 13, 202618
Oct 12, 202627
Oct 11, 202617
Oct 10, 202626
Oct 9, 202622
Oct 8, 202628
Oct 7, 202621
Oct 6, 202629
Oct 5, 202628
Oct 4, 202628
Oct 3, 202627
Oct 2, 202616
Oct 1, 202626
Sep 30, 202625
Sep 29, 202622
Sep 28, 202618
Sep 27, 202628
Sep 26, 202629
Sep 25, 202628
Sep 24, 202625
Sep 23, 202615
Sep 23, 202624
Sep 22, 202644

How many players finish Spec Ops: The Line?

41% of Steam players have unlocked «Boot», the achievement for finishing the main story.

Share of everyone who owns the game on Steam, including those who barely played it. Updated weekly.

Screenshots and trailer

Spec Ops: The Line screenshot 1

Spec Ops: The Line system requirements

Minimum: HD 2600XT, 2 GB RAM, 6 GB of disk space.

As published by the developer.

Can my PC run Spec Ops: The Line?

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Minimum

OS
Windows XP SP3
Processor
Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2Ghz / AMD Athlon 64 X2 equivalent
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 / ATI Radeon HD 2600XT (256 MB memory)
Memory
2 GB RAM
Storage
6 GB free
Notes
Initial installation requires one-time internet connection for Steam authentication; software installations required (included with the game) include: STEAM Client, Microsoft Direct X, Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable, Visual C++ 2005 SP1 RedistributableCompatible

Recommended

OS
Windows Vista/7
Processor
2.4 GHz Quad Core processor
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX/ATI Radeon HD 4850 (512+ MB memory)
Memory
3 GB RAM
Storage
10 GB free
Notes
Initial installation requires one-time internet connection for Steam authentication; software installations required (included with the game) include: STEAM Client, Microsoft Direct X, Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable, Visual C++ 2005 SP1 RedistributableCompatible

Does Spec Ops: The Line have co-op or multiplayer?

Yes: multiplayer (mode not specified). It also has a single-player mode. Crossplay with other platforms is declared.

Does Spec Ops: The Line run on Steam Deck?

Unsupported No: Valve rates it Unsupported on Steam Deck.

  • Not supported on SteamOS

PC version details

DRM
None declared on Steam
Controller
Full controller support
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Achievements
50
Steam features
Cloud saves, Family Sharing
Age rating
17+
Languages
Text only: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish - Spain.

Does Spec Ops: The Line use AI-generated content?

No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.

Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Oct 25, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam

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