A month before leaving the army, Lieutenant Tom Hobbes is rousted from bed in the middle of the night and taken to a secret location for one last mission: test a simulated virtual reality game used to teach situation war strategy. After being briefed on the top-secret project, code-named Harsh Realm, Hobbes is given his objective: eliminate Major Omar Santiago, who has taken the game hostage. But upon entering Harsh Realm, Hobbes discovers he is trapped there - and the deadly game will never end unless he completes his mission.