Practice CQB in Games (For Real, Not LARP)
You can't replace live-fire and force-on-force with a screen. But you can absolutely drill the *decision* layer of CQB — door reads, slice discipline, stack roles, calls — at hundreds of reps a week, for free, on a PC.
Ready or Not — top pick for slow CQB
Punishes bad geometry. AI behind doors. Maps designed around real-world clears. Best place to drill the deliberate method.
Ground Branch — milsim-leaning
More open environments, larger element problems, looser CQB but better for buddy-team and bounding work.
Zero Hour & Arma Reforger
Zero Hour: compact, fast, good for rapid reps. Arma Reforger: open-map, where you go for squad-tactics work.
What sims can teach
Door reads. Slice discipline. Cross vs. buttonhook reflex. Stack role discipline. Sector ownership. Comms cadence. Decision-making under time pressure. The cognitive layer of CQB. All of this transfers — not perfectly, but meaningfully.
What sims can't teach
Recoil. Weapon manipulation under stress. Real-world muzzle awareness with a teammate moving in your peripheral vision. The physical exhaustion of stacking up in kit. Don't pretend otherwise. Pair sim reps with real range time when you can.
The biggest mistake sim CQB players make
Solo. Or with randoms who don't talk. The whole point of CQB practice is the *coordination* layer, and you literally can't drill it without other voices on comms. If you're playing Ready or Not with AI bots silently, you're learning bad habits at scale.
Why TGH exists for this
We mic-gate every CQB squad. Members rotate stack positions so everyone gets reps as 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-man. Drill nights run 30 minutes of clears with debriefs before any 'campaign' play. It's the closest thing to a structured CQB drill night you'll get without paying $400.
Common questions
Best single game to start with?
Ready or Not. The friction (AI that hides, doors that matter) makes you slow down and actually slice. Bad habits get punished.
Do I need to own all the sims?
No. Pick one. Most TGH CQB regulars have Ready or Not + one of the others. Pick the one that fits your playstyle.
How do I find a mic'd CQB squad?
Join the TGH Discord, hop into the CQB voice channel. You'll be in a four-stack inside 5 minutes.