10 Most Realistic FPS Games You Need To Play

Many first-person shooter (FPS) gamers value realism, whether it’s how the game looks or how it plays. This desire has led to entire genres like military simulations and tactical FPS games, each offering a different way to create a combat experience that feels authentic and believable.

Some gamers enjoy the challenge of ‘one-shot kill’ games, where careful strategy is crucial, more than games focused on earning points and leveling up. In these games, every decision matters, unlike those where tactics are less important.

From intense, close-quarters battles in city environments to large-scale military conflicts of the 19th century, each of these games offers a unique take on realism and how it portrays war.

If you want a game that’s both engaging and realistically intense – one that might even leave a lasting emotional impact – these titles are definitely worth considering.

10. Bodycam

A Flawed But Promising Competitive Shooter

Bodycam isn’t a typical multiplayer shooter; it focuses on realism. Taking cues from the game Unrecord, it delivers a convincingly realistic combat experience, though it may not excel in all aspects beyond that.

The maps offer a good mix of close-quarters and long-distance combat, and a single accurate shot can be all it takes to win. Bodycam’s combat feels impactful, especially in its Team Deathmatch mode where each elimination matters.

While the game’s over-the-shoulder camera looks great, it doesn’t always make playing smoothly easy. Moving around and climbing can be a bit tricky, but it’s important to remember the game is still being developed.

This game shows a lot of promise and is likely to be a hit with players who enjoy realistic, team-based shooters with a strong competitive scene.

9. Red Orchestra/Rising Storm

A Truly Unique First Person Shooter Series

Despite being made with a smaller budget than many similar games, Red Orchestra/Rising Storm is a great WW2 shooter bundle available on Steam. It focuses on realistic gameplay and strategic teamwork.

This game series features two distinct settings. Red Orchestra puts you in the European theater, specifically the brutal Eastern Front with famous battles like Stalingrad and Druzhina. Rising Storm takes the action to the Pacific, where you’ll fight on maps based on locations like Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal.

Rising Storm 2: Vietnam is a sequel that recreates the intense, player-versus-player combat of the original, but sets it during the Vietnam War. All games in the Rising Storm series are known for their realistic shooting, movement, how bullets travel, and well-designed maps.

While not perfectly realistic, this series feels more genuine and relatable than most online shooters. Each game includes its own story mode, though it can sometimes be let down by unpolished artificial intelligence and other technical hiccups.

8. Verdun

The Ultimate WW1 Experience

While many first-person shooter games focus on other eras, the WW1 Game Series from Black Mill Games stands out as a great depiction of World War 1.

Beginning with the brutal battle of Verdun, the developers have crafted a compelling first-person shooter series that accurately captures the technology and diverse environments of World War I.

Tannenberg and Isonzo are sequels that feature similar gameplay, but they take place on the Eastern and Italian Fronts of the war.

Verdun realistically portrays the war and is a good starting point for anyone new to the game. Though it’s not always about complex strategy, it excels at showing the massive scope of the battles with its large maps.

7. Squad

A True Team-Based Tactical Shooter

Squad is a top-tier multiplayer shooter, especially for players who want a more realistic and strategic experience compared to games like Battlefield or Call of Duty.

Squad delivers intense combat by throwing players into massive 50 vs 50 battles on huge maps. To win, you’ll need to work as a team, use smart tactics, and follow instructions.

One thing that sets Squad apart from other competitive shooter games is its massive selection of weapons and vehicles. Whether you prefer simple improvised explosives or powerful anti-tank missiles, there’s a tool for every playstyle and role within the game.

Squad goes beyond typical first-person shooters by letting players build bases, defenses, and technology structures, adding a unique strategic layer.

6. Gray Zone Warfare

Open World Realism

I’ve been following Gray Zone Warfare, and it’s quickly becoming a standout tactical shooter. It had a bit of a rough start when it first launched into early access, but the developers have really listened to the community and fixed a lot of the problems we were having. It’s come a long way and is shaping up to be something special!

This first-person shooter takes place in a massive jungle and combines player-versus-player combat with environmental challenges, creating a unique experience. Although some minor tweaks to balance and enemy placement are still needed, the game has the potential to be a top-tier tactical shooter.

The ‘Winds of War’ update, launched earlier this year, has significantly enhanced the game. It added new game modes, made faction outposts more interactive, and completely revamped the player-versus-player combat system.

Honestly, the new weather system is incredible! I’ve played a lot of open-world games, and this is easily one of the best – especially for a tactical shooter. It really adds to the immersion.

5. ARMA 2

The Classic Hardcore Military Simulator

Man, ARMA 2 was a game changer for me and a lot of other players. It’s seriously one of the best military simulation games ever made, and it’s what really got the ARMA series noticed. Plus, it launched this incredible mod called DayZ, which totally blew up and became a huge success all on its own. I remember spending hours playing both!

ARMA 2 takes place in the made-up country of Chernarus and realistically portrays a conflict between American and Russian armies, acting as a kind of stand-in war. Beyond its compelling story campaign, the game offers extra missions, a huge range of player-created modifications, and robust multiplayer options.

Although the game’s mechanics might seem a little old-fashioned now, it was groundbreaking when it first came out. It featured realistic, though somewhat clunky, character movement, believable shooting and combat, and a wide range of vehicles – including cars, boats, and planes – that players could control.

While ARMA 3 and the newer ARMA Reforger continue the series, many players still prefer the original ARMA 2. The Operation Arrowhead expansion significantly enhanced the game by adding a large, new map set in the Middle East.

4. Hell Let Loose

A Brutally Unforgiving WW2 Experience

With so many World War II shooters available now, Hell Let Loose really stands out for how intense and realistic it feels.

This intense shooter throws you into massive battles with hundreds of players, where a single bullet can eliminate you and force you to wait before respawning.

What makes combat in Hell Let Loose so intense is the extended time it takes for players to respawn. Being eliminated has a significant impact on both you and your team, making strong leadership, cooperation, and careful planning essential for success.

The game truly shines during its most action-packed battles. With tanks, soldiers, artillery, and aircraft constantly engaging, you’ll never feel safe – and that’s perfectly fitting for the game’s name.

3. War of Rights

The Ultimate Civil War Simulation

Few games recreate the experience of fighting with muskets as convincingly as War of Rights. Set during the American Civil War, this multiplayer shooter emphasizes working together and following orders.

Firing in formation with coordinated volleys makes these simple, unreliable weapons much more effective. And when you’re under attack, the game does a fantastic job of creating a sense of intense pressure.

Slow reloading means you need to make each shot count, and charging into battle with a bayonet is as fierce and chaotic as you’d expect.

War of Rights consistently offers excellent seasonal events, like a detailed recreation of the 1776 Independence War in July and a thrilling Zombie Onslaught mode every October.

2. Escape From Tarkov

The Father of Extraction Shooters

Escape From Tarkov is an intensely challenging shooter. A single error can undo hours of progress, making every moment in the game incredibly tense and demanding.

Escape From Tarkov helped define the ‘extraction shooter’ genre, and it truly captures the core idea: enter a dangerous environment, grab valuable loot, and escape without being killed.

Don’t expect any guidance or easy tutorials. You’ll need to be well-prepared before venturing onto the lonely and challenging maps to compete against other players.

Escape from Tarkov is compelling because of its intense, risky gameplay, realistic combat, and the unique, gritty look of its environments inspired by post-Soviet settings. It’s not just about shooting; players also need to carefully manage their inventory and think strategically to survive.

1. Ready Or Not

As Real As It Gets

Ready Or Not isn’t flawless, but it excels in many areas. Inspired by the popular SWAT games, it offers a highly realistic and strategic combat experience, putting you in charge as a SWAT team leader.

This game blends fast-paced shooting with a realistic portrayal of trauma. Expect challenging missions, disturbing crime scenes, and incredibly intense combat that will stay with you long after you finish playing.

Despite a few minor technical issues and some recent concerns about censorship, VOID Interactive’s latest game is truly impressive. It’s a visually stunning shooter, and the missions feel incredibly realistic in their design.

The game has faced criticism for its extreme realism, with some players finding missions like a nightclub shooting and a college campus attack to be excessively violent and disturbing.

2025-10-25 18:12