Den of Wolves: A Unique Blend of Payday, Cyberpunk, and Heat that Redefines Co-op Heist Games

Everything fell apart despite our careful planning. In the lead-up to executing our heist, my team and I methodically prepared every detail. We scoped out the high-tech bank, gathered our explosive materials, and readied a fleet of deadly drones to sneak our way in by pretending we were just making an innocent delivery. We doted on every little thing, ensuring our plan was airtight. Yet, as with any good heist story, a snag came our way.

The culprit? Greed. It always seems to be the case. We had already gotten what we came for: the crucial intel stored in the head of a CEO cocooned in a futuristic hideout. Having hacked into his brain to snag the invaluable data, we were poised to make our escape. But one of my colleagues, a developer on the 10 Chambers team, couldn’t resist suggesting we hit up the other vaults in the bank for extra cash.

Why not, indeed? With our spectacular escape from the towering skyscraper already set up, grabbing a bit of extra loot seemed harmless. As we took positions, suddenly swarming in were security droids and mercenaries, fully armed and ready for a showdown. One of our group got cornered in the lobby, while another was taken by surprise by a grenade. Meanwhile, as I was preparing to lead our rush out, a sniper across the hall sighted me. Just like that, it was game over. The heist was finished.

Den of Wolves has that thrilling unpredictability. There’s beauty in its chaos. “I’ve never seen that many enemies pop up so fast,” a developer exclaimed, illustrating how unexpected events add to its charm. Unlike other heist games where you might wing it, Den of Wolves is all about preparation. Think of it as a nod to high-stakes films like Ocean’s 11: one person crafting the perfect plan, another with a laid-back attitude, and someone eager to prove their mettle with daring tactics.

Simon Viklund, co-founder and narrative director at 10 Chambers, shares a preference for movies like Heat in terms of inspiration. “Consider how Heat evolves,” he explains. “You see them preparing down to every detail, a method we’ve drawn on heavily for Den of Wolves.” Tackling a heist here means gearing up methodically—each job takes careful setup, from acquiring weapons to planning an exit strategy.

Before diving into the main event (which might stretch to about 40 minutes), there’s the prep phase. During these 10-minute missions, our crew infiltrates secure buildings to steal essential gear, like an assault drone. These efforts allow us to breeze through the main heist with less hassle, like soaring past tough defenses with ease thanks to that sneaky drone.

Den of Wolves offers players more choice, echoing real-world criminal stories without romancing them. Think of it as more intense and choice-driven. With all these options, players can choose their approach based on their previous preps, whether stealth, sniper, or assault styles.

The brains behind the game, including veterans from Payday and Payday 2, have crafted a heist experience with high risks and rewards. It feels perilous in a way that grips you, likely learned from their punishing work on GTFO. But it’s remarkably approachable—our downfall only came from wanting a bit too much, a shortcoming more in execution than design.

The game’s cyberpunk backdrop furthers its immersive feel; weapons respond authentically, and every action from carrying loot to engaging in firefights is executed with satisfying attention to detail. Despite currently being in early development stages, the gameplay already shows promise, hinting at a robust experience ahead.

Den of Wolves is essentially a well-thought-out expansion of elements that made its predecessors exciting, now cranked up a notch. Creative director Ulf Andersson’s longtime dream of a sci-fi heist game is now coming to fruition in this title that seems poised to evolve the genre.

As the release of Den of Wolves into Early Access looms, excitement builds for what could be the next major hit in cooperative heist shooting. 10 Chambers appears highly committed to making this thrill-packed venture a success. We’ll cross our fingers that they deliver on the promise they’ve shown so far.

Keep an eye out for Den of Wolves hitting PC soon, as it’s due to arrive in Early Access, though a specific launch window hasn’t yet been revealed.