Arma 2

2009 Bohemia Interactive Action, Simulation, Strategy

Windows 11With a fix

MacNot sold

LinuxSilver

Steam DeckUnsupported

Gamicality score

Metacritic 774

OpenCritic Not rated

Steam players 801

How it’s combined

Playability today

2.5

Runs today3.5/5

Design today1.5/5

Steam user reviews

Very Positive

84%

2,117 reviews1

Get it on Steam Watch the trailer

Facts checked November 1, 2026

Does Arma 2 run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11With a fix

Runs with a fix. See the steps below.1

Mac (Apple Silicon)Not sold

No Mac version is sold.

LinuxSilver

Through Proton. ProtonDB: Silver, runs with minor issues.3

Steam DeckUnsupported

Unsupported, as rated by Valve.1

Played Arma 2 lately?

One click, no account, so the next player knows. How we check where it runs

How to get Arma 2 running today

If audio is loud or crackling on Windows 11, open Sound in Control Panel and set the same device as both Default Device and Default Communication Device (PCGamingWiki, Steam discussion).

Synopsis

Arma 2 is a military simulation from Bohemia Interactive set in Chernarus, a fictional former Soviet republic torn by civil war. Players lead a US Marine recon team through the Harvest Red campaign, fighting on foot and in vehicles and aircraft across a huge open map, and can build their own scenarios in a mission editor or join large online battles.

Developer: Bohemia Interactive
Released: 2009
Best version: Arma 2: Combined Operations is the better buy today, since Operation Arrowhead runs on a newer engine version and uses Steam for multiplayer, as the developer itself advises.
Genre: Action, Simulation, Strategy
Where to get it: Steam

Reception

Critics respected its scale, realistic ballistics and freedom, but criticized sluggish, imprecise controls, awkward systems for inventory, ladders and vehicles, unreliable AI and a buggy campaign, for a Metascore of 77. Players rate it Very Positive on Steam, and many remember it fondly as the base that the DayZ mod and countless other community projects grew from. Longtime players warn of a steep learning curve and heavy demands on the processor, and many recommend Combined Operations over the base game.

Trailer from Steam

Playability today

The average of two parts, each from 1 to 5. Tap a check to see why. How it works

Runs today

3.5/5

Sold or given away today by an official source
Needs fan patches to run well on Windows 11
?Not confirmed yetSingle-player works without an internet connection
No source covers the current version yet, so this check counts as open, not passed. Played it lately? Tell us
Some content no longer works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
The GameSpy service behind the server browser has shut down; the base game relies on a replacement master server or direct IP, and only Operation Arrowhead uses Steam for multiplayer (PCGamingWiki, Steam discussion).
Supports modern resolutions and widescreen
Widescreen, ultrawide, multi-monitor and 4K resolutions are supported (PCGamingWiki).
Full controller support or remappable controls
Controllers are supported and remappable, though not for every function (PCGamingWiki).
Not Steam Deck Verified or Playable
No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
No known game-breaking bugs in the current version
PCGamingWiki lists no unresolved issues; loud or crackling audio has a simple settings fix (PCGamingWiki).

Design today

1.5/5

Controls feel awkward on a modern controller or mouse and keyboard
Movement is sluggish and aiming imprecise, and nearly every action is buried in a dense keyboard layout and a scrolling action menu. Source: pcworld.com, steamcommunity.com.
Menus, text or interface are hard to read on today's screens
Using inventory, climbing ladders and operating vehicles all run through obscure menus, and squad commands pop up over the action menu. Source: pcworld.com.
Saving is harsh: few saves or checkpoints, progress gets lost
The manual describes the campaign keeping only the player's position on quitting plus a Revert option to replay earlier sections, and on Steam the official campaigns' scripts break on patch 1.63 and newer unless the game is rolled back to 1.62. Source: store.steampowered.com, pcgamingwiki.com.
Hard to make progress without a guide
Boot Camp training missions cover the basics, but the game remains far harder to learn than a typical shooter and players describe a long, swampy learning curve. Source: store.steampowered.com, pcworld.com, steamcommunity.com.
Pacing drags: grind, filler or forced backtracking
Missions play out slowly across very large maps, with long stretches of walking and driving between brief, deadly firefights. Source: pcworld.com, steamcommunity.com.
Camera and movement never fight the player
The first person view supports free look by holding Alt, even while moving, and TrackIR or Tobii head tracking; the field of view can only be changed with a fan tool. Source: store.steampowered.com, pcgamingwiki.com.