Red Storm Entertainment's 1999 classic — its history, how the press received it, how it plays today, and what a copy costs.
- Released
- 1999 · PC (DOS / Windows)
- Developer
- Red Storm Entertainment
- Publisher
- Red Storm Entertainment
- MobyScore
- ★ 8.2
The history
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear arrived in 1999 as the second entry in the series, developed and published by Red Storm Entertainment, Inc. Built upon the same graphics and game engine as its predecessor, it aimed to expand on the foundation laid by the first title.
The game mattered by refining the tactical shooter experience, pitting the player's team against a powerful adversary group known as "Rogue Spear." It continued the series' commitment to simulation and precision over the run-and-gun style of other shooters of the era.
How it plays
Rogue Spear is a first-person tactical shooter and simulation where the core loop revolves around careful planning and execution. Players lead their team in missions to save the world, facing off against powerful forces that require the player to strike quickly and hard to succeed.
The experience demands discipline; as noted in the official strategy guide, the game warns against developing an "itchy trigger finger," urging players to use caution and pick their targets with care to avoid failure.
The box & the art
Cover art, and real copies photographed in the wild.
Legacy
Red Storm Entertainment continued to shape the tactical landscape with later works such as Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2: Summit Strike and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown, as well as the Splinter Cell series. Rogue Spear remains worth seeking out today for those who appreciate the methodical, high-stakes approach to tactical combat that defined the early series.
What it's worth
A second-hand market that moves over time — a loose disc is pocket-money, while sealed or complete-with-manual copies drive the top end. For today's exact listings, check the live search.
See current copies on eBay →Copies in the wild
Real listing photos — the range of condition you'll meet.
Photographed examples from past listings — illustrative of condition, not a live inventory.
How to play it in 2026
Easiest today: GOG or the original disc under DOSBox. Either way the core game is intact.
Verdict
Whether it holds up depends on your patience for the era's simulation-heavy approach. While the engine is identical to the first game, the pressure to act decisively against the Rogue Spear forces provides a challenging experience.
If you can overlook the dated graphics and embrace the need for extreme caution, it remains a definitive example of the tactical shooter genre's origins.
Sources: MobyGames, Steam, and period/web coverage. Prices reflect the second-hand market and change over time.