Easy Red 2 lets Soviet infantry hitch a ride on the nearest T-34

Image credit: 404nosleepfound / Soviet Tank Desant, via Nexus Mods

Sometimes the quickest way across a battlefield isn't inside the tank. It's hanging onto the outside and hoping the driver knows what they're doing. 404nosleepfound's Soviet Tank Desant brings that particular slice of combined-arms warfare to Easy Red 2, allowing up to four eligible Soviet AI soldiers to climb aboard a T-34 (1941) and ride along as it moves. The troops handle boarding automatically when the tank stops nearby, while climbing and seated animations help sell the experience. Once it's time to fight, you can order them to dismount, or let battlefield conditions trigger their deployment.

There's a bit more going on than simply attaching soldiers to a vehicle model. Infantry can return to ordinary combat behavior after dismounting, casualties can fall away from the tank, and the remaining riders can continue their journey. The initial release is limited to the Soviet T-34 (1941), requires BepInEx 6 IL2CPP on Windows, and doesn't establish multiplayer support. The developer also acknowledges that some casualty animations can look awkward. Still, it's a wonderfully specific little mechanic that makes the relationship between infantry and armor feel more tangible, especially for players who enjoy the smaller details of historical combat.