By The games on this list are not for Call of Duty fans. These are for hardcore military FPS fans who appreciate realism.
Lately, I found myself playing more and more of extraction shooters. Mainly because of the military style, realistic gameplay mechanics that come with them.
When playing these milsims (military simulators), you have to be extra careful. Every shot counts. Healing is not as easy as hitting one button. And if you make one mistake, you lose everything.
If you enjoy that sort of thing, then this list is made for you.
Here, you’ll find some of the best military FPS games I’ve played. Most of these games are milsims with deep mechanics, some are military shooters that will give you a taste of the battlefield.
There are no single-player campaign games on this list (except for one); they are mostly PVPVE games, and only a couple of the games can be played offline. Regardless, all of these milsims are solid games.
1. Gray Zone Warfare
Gray Zone Warfare offers the most realistic milsim experience I’ve ever had in a video game. This game is brutal and is designed to test your patience. Everything from loading ammo to healing, and even the injuries, feels realistic in this game.
In GZW, there are two game modes. You can either play the full extraction shooter experience with PVP with other players. Or you can jump into a PVE-only server to play without getting shot by other players.
The game is still in early access on Steam, but it already feels well-polished, and it receives massive updates quite often.
2. Arena Breakout: Infinite
Arena Breakout: Infinite is another extraction shooter with milsim-style gameplay. Some folks classify this as a Tarkov clone, and yes, that’s true. But there are some things that are better in this game than Tarkov.
ABI is free to play, but without pay-to-win elements. While it uses pretty much the same mechanics as Tarkov, it has better graphics and animations than Tarkov. And I like the progression system in this game. Not to mention the abundance of loot.
That loot system in ABI is what separates it from GZW and Tarkov. It balances that realistic milsim experience for lootgoblins.
ABI just landed on Steam with its full release.
3. Delta Force
I feel a bit ashamed to say that I enjoyed Delta Force much more than any other game on this list.
Delta Force has two game modes, an all-out Warfare mode that’s similar to Battlefield and an Operations mode that offers a very casual extraction shooter experience.
The Operations mode in Delta Force feels less intense than other extraction shooters. It feels a lot like playing Call of Duty, but with more advanced healing and inventory mechanics. It has decent missions and progression. And includes cool skins to unlock as well.
Both Delta Force and ABI are Chinese games. But monetization is not pay-to-win; they are only for the battle passes and skins.
4. Incursion: Red River
If you like extraction shooters but hate the PVP aspect, this game is designed for you.
Incursion: Red River is a PVE extraction shooter developed by a small indie team. The game is still in early access and currently has two maps that feature completely different environments.
This game plays and feels just like any other extraction game and the only difference is you are playing against bots. It does have co-op for playing with friends. But for the challenge, I recommend playing solo.
5. Escape From Tarkov
We can’t talk about military shooters and extraction shooters without mentioning the father of them all. Escape From Tarkov is the game that birthed the extraction shooter genre.
Almost every other game on this list has copied at least one mechanic from EFT and some have copied the game entirely.
While it’s considered the most hardcore extraction shooter, EFT is starting to show its age. Since its beta release in 2017, the game has received massive improvements, but it still feels a bit janky and rough around the edges. The AI and gameplay still need work.
Escape From Tarkov 1.0 is finally coming to Steam. Or you can always get the game via the website.
6. Ground Branch
Ground Branch is another PVE-only milsim-style shooter that features realistic gameplay. This game does not have extraction-shooter mechanics or loot, but it offers an enjoyable gameplay experience with solid missions.
This game is also in early access. While it’s not as well-polished or smooth as most other games on the list, it’s ideal for enjoying quick sessions without having to deal with the frustrations of PVP or online elements. I’d highly recommend it to dad-gamers.
7. Active Matter
Active Matter is a fresh game that joined the ranks of extraction shooters. This game is not another Tarkov clone, it actually combines some cool elements inspired by other games like STALKER.
In this game, you gear up and dive into maps that are filled with anomalies and weird creatures like in STALKER games. In addition to dealing with these creatures, you also have to deal with NPC soldiers as well as other players too.
The game has a really impressive progression system with lots of missions and good loot to keep you playing over and over. It also has weird gravity-defying locations that offer mind-bending experiences.
The only downside to this game is that it comes from the developer behind games like War Thunder, which are known to be heavily monetized with pay-to-win elements. So it’s unclear what will happen to this game in the future. But right now, the game feels awesome.
Active Matter is available in early access via the official website. It’s coming to Steam in 2026.
8. Ready Or Not
Ready Or Not is not exactly a military shooter; it’s actually a SWAT-themed tactical shooter that features realistic weapons, missions, and gameplay.
When I need a break from milsims, I jump into Ready Or Not for a mission or two. It offers a more confined, mission-based experience that’s also quite engaging and fun.
Missions in Ready Or Not are short, so it’s the perfect game to jump into when you don’t have a lot of time to game.
Ready Or Not doesn’t have a loot system, but it has a progression system for unlocking weapons and attachments. It also has lots of maps with different settings.
9. BodyCam
BodyCam is an underrated game that deserves more attention. This game has one of the most realistic-looking graphics and gameplay I’ve ever seen. It basically gives you the POV of a body camera.
BodyCam started off as a PVP game, but it’s now slowly expanding into different genres. It now has game modes you can play against bots. And the developers are working on introducing a brand-new zombies mode as well.
What I love about this game is the level of realism you get to experience. Everything from the weapon reload animations to gunplay feels quite exhilarating.
10. Arma 3
Arma 3 is one of the most popular milsims out there. So why did I rank it so low on the list? Well, it’s personal preference.
Compared to other milsims like Gray Zone Warfare and extraction shooters like Arena Breakout Infinite, Arma 3 feels highly outdated. And it doesn’t offer the addictive and enjoyable experience those games do.
I prefer playing games that give me a sense of progression alongside realism. Most of all, I like games with good loot.
If you don’t care about those aspects in milsims, then you will enjoy Arma 3.
11. Ghost Recon: Breakpoint
Ghost Recon: Breakpoint has a niche community of players who enjoy roleplaying in the game, especially YouTubers and streamers.
This game has an okay campaign and some loot-based elements, but it’s not even close to being a milsim.
But I decided to include it here for beginners. Ghost Recon: Breakpoint is the perfect game for getting a small taste of what milsims look like, without being overwhelmed by all the mechanics that comes with them.
I should also note that Breakpoint is a third-person-view game, but its combat is in FPS view. There’s also a mod you can use to play the entire game in FPS view.
12. Black One Blood Brothers
This game features a PVE single-player experience with realistic military mechanics. The game has mixed reactions on Steam, with some claiming it to be immersive and fun while others claim it to be a mess.
However, gameplay videos of this game look decent. I haven’t played this game yet, but for the price, it seems well worth it for an early access game.
Which Military Shooter Is Best?
If you’re completely new to military shooters, play Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. If you enjoy it, give Delta Force a try. If you enjoy that game, you can level up to Arena Breakout: Infinite or Escape from Tarkov.
If you’re already familiar with milsims and extraction shooters, give Gray Zone Warfare a try. Tarkov and Arena Breakout are also perfect for you.
If you don’t have a ton of time to play games, Incursion Red River will allow you to play solo PVE missions without the anxiety of PVP. Active Matter is also pretty good.
