WinBack: Covert Operations became one of the most famous games in the third-person shooter genre, carving out a niche for itself with gameplay that has since become standard for the genre. In the title, gamers take on the role of Jean-Luc Cougar, a secret operative carrying out a mission of utmost importance: to infiltrate a guarded facility where a formidable laser satellite is located under the control of a terrorist organization.

A distinctive feature of WinBack: Covert Operations is its innovative cover system, which radically changes the approach gamers take to gunfights. This innovation allows the Cougar to strategically maneuver, taking cover behind various elements of the environment to protect itself from enemy fire while still being able to deliver precise retaliatory strikes. This mechanic proved to be very important and became a staple in subsequent games such as Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Gears of War.

Another distinctive feature of the gameplay is the use of a laser sight, which provides gamers with greater accuracy of shots. Thanks to this, the user can quickly and effectively deal with enemies, which is reflected in later hits such as Resident Evil 4 and Metal Gear Solid 2. In addition, the project integrates elements of stealth gameplay organically into action-packed scenarios. Users can use stealth tactics, which allow the hero to silently incapacitate opponents with well-timed melee attacks, which further diversifies the gameplay.