Summary
Tactical shooters have long been a popular sub-genre of FPS gaming, with many players preferring the intensity and high-stakes gameplay to regular competitive shooters. Some developers take things one step further and go the extra mile to add layers of authenticity to their games tomake them more realistic. Whether it’s with slower movement speed, longer respawn times, or gameplay mechanics that put an emphasis on teamwork and tactics, there are many ways in which developers seek to refine the tactical shooter genre to make it appealing to hardcore players while not becoming insurmountably difficult to newcomers.
While most tactical shooters are set in the modern era, it is certainly worth mentioning somegames set in historical periodssuch as World War 2 and the American Civil War. Though gameplay can be comparatively simple compared to a modern setting, the immersion these titles can provide is almost entirely unmatched within the multiplayer space. As the genre continues to grow in popularity, players can expect to see moretactical shooters with a focus on realism.
Updated May 23, 2025, by Andrew McLarney:Tactical shooters are continually evolving to create a sense of immersion like no other genre. With recent projects such asBodycamandReady Or Notreceiving high praise from their fans, developers have continued to work on their titles to bring fresh ideas and innovations into FPS games. While some may find the refined approach to realism distasteful, others see it as a great way to get an entertaining insight into the tactics and skills that are demanded of the world’s elite soldiers.
One of the First True Tactical Shooters
SWAT 4
Defend the streets with the tactical elite. Take the law into your hands and command the best - the last line of defense when things get nasty. Make split-second decisions with teammates depending on you, guns trained on you and lives at stake. You won’t be able to catch your breath…and you won’t want to.Command your elite team through 13 life-or-death missions where an unprecedented level of interaction with your squad makes SWAT 4 the most realistic tactical experience ever.Random enemy placement means the danger around every corner is never the same.The action is intense and limitless when you customize your missions or join online multiplayer with three 16-player modes and 13 co-op levels.Licensed weaponry like the Colt M4 Carbine, non-lethal innovations like the bean-bag shotgun and real-life SWAT technical advisors provide the highest level of authenticity.
Sierra Entertainment’sSWATseries was the precursor to many later tactical shooters, andheavily influenced the likes ofReady or Not,which came later. As a fireteam leader, players have to deal with a variety of situations, ranging from simple gas station holdups to a full-scale nightclub shootout.
Utilizing many different tools and gadgets, as well as team orders and versatile weaponry, players can deal with each scenario in a variety of different ways. Every corner has to be taken with caution in this unforgiving FPS.
In what iswidely considered the best game in the series,Rainbow Six Vegas 2puts the focus on squad-based gameplay and emphasizes cover mechanics above all else. On top of a great story, there are also a variety of entertaining ‘Terrorist Takedown’ and multiplayer modes.
One of the best aspects of the game is customization. Not only can players choose from a huge arsenal of weapons to tune their loadouts, but there is also a vast range of different outfits and armor for players to choose from.
Starting out as theRed Orchestraseries and later evolving intoRising Storm, Tripwire Interactive and Antimatter Games truly created a masterpiece here, which is fondly remembered by all who played the titles.
TheRed Orchestraseries takes place on the Eastern Front, whileRising Stormfocuses on the pacific and later the Vietnam War as well. Players can give commands, use vehicles, call in for support and much more in this intense tactical shooter.
Ubisoft’sGhost Recon Wildlandsis an open-world tactical shooter that gives players huge amounts offreedom and creative choicewhen it comes to approaching missions. Players can make use of a range of weapons, vehicles, and gadgets to take on the Santa Blanca cartel in an impressive and highly immersive recreation of Bolivia.
Its sequel,Ghost Recon Breakpoint,has a more futuristic theme, whileWildlandsremains gritty and realistic in comparison. A range of diverse environments combined with hundreds of different missions and objectives will give players hundreds of hours of entertainment, but they can also expect a fair challenge from the game’s many enemies.
Originally developed by Bohemia Interactive and later Codemasters, theOperation Flashpointseries features a number of tactical shooters dating back to 2001. Generally,Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Risingis considered to be the best, but unfortunately, the series has ground to a halt with only one release since 2009.
The games provide a nice balance of military simulation with fast-paced gun play, and they alsofeature vehicles heavily, with players often being required to travel across large, open maps. A series of disputes between the developers have somewhat killed the series, but it seems likely that many fans would welcome a comeback entry into the series.
Insurgency Sandstormwas one of the first multiplayer shooters to go all-in on the tactical realism aspect. With an emphasis on group tactics, weapon variety, and close quarters combat,Insurgency Sandstormstill holds up today as one of the better Gulf War games.
A variety of updates and expansions have kept the game fresh, without losing the original authentic and realistic feel that the game started out with. Few games demand quite so much attention and alertness asInsurgency Sandstorm, and it can be a total blast with friends, too.
Team 7’sHell Let Loosemay not quite reach the same levels of tactical authenticity as some other tactical shooters, but it certainly has many positive elements. Visually, it is one of thebest WW2 shooters around, and gameplay is very intense no matter which role players are taking on.
A variety of large maps and servers of up to 100 players lead to enormous battles, and players will need to use teamwork and intelligence to survive. WhileHell Let Loosedoes not have quite so many vehicles asSquadorARMA, there are still plenty of tanks, trucks, and artillery weapons for players to utilize.
Post Scriptum, which has since been renamedSquad 44, is a tactical shooter set during WW2 which largely centers aroundsquad-based team playand strategy. Players can take on a variety of roles from Commander right the way down to logistical operations like supplies and fortifications.
Combat is intense and consequential, with lengthy respawn times ensuring that every kill genuinely sets the opposition’s progress back. Much likeSquad,the game is home to a very welcoming and enthusiastic online community, making it very accessible for newcomers.
For a long time, very few games were able to compete withARMAwhen it came to the authenticity of both tactics and scale. With open-world settings the size of entire countries and tense, realistic missions,ARMAcan really be considered one of the first true military simulation video games.
A variety of technical issues have held the series back somewhat, but it still retains a largecommunity of dedicated followers, and multiplayer battles can be absolutely epic when servers are able to remain free of connectivity issues. The single player campaigns of each game still have plenty to offer, along with a plethora of mods and custom mission scenarios, each adding to the already immersive sense of realism spread throughout the series.
Escape From Tarkovis notorious for being one of the most punishing and difficult battle royale multiplayer shooters around. What makesEscape From Tarkova unique PvP experience is the high stakes of every game. Players are required to complete tasks and extract from areas while surviving against other players, and dying means that all equipped gear is lost forever.
While this formula can be quite unforgiving, particularly for newer players who are playing solo, it only makes success all the more satisfying when it is truly earned. Developers Battlestate Games have worked tirelessly to bring updates to the game and address player’s criticism since its beta release in 2017.
