Best Shooting Games Open World: Most Popular Games to Play
Finding good open-world shooting games can be tricky because a large map does not automatically make a game an open-world shooter. Some games, for example, focus primarily on RPG progression, tactical combat, cooperative gameplay, or a story-driven FPS campaign.
This guide compares popular titles using player reception, review volume, gameplay style, open-world characteristics, shooting mechanics, and campaign or multiplayer features. In addition, it includes dedicated open-world shooters as well as RPGs and tactical games where shooting plays a major role.
It also covers searches related to great first-person shooter games, shooting games like Call of Duty, old first-person shooting games, vintage shooting games, casual shooter games, and the most realistic shooter game.
Rating note: Steam user ratings and review counts can change over time. The ratings below refer to English-language Steam reviews available around the time of writing and should be treated as indicators of user reception rather than critic scores.
Shooting Games Open World Ranked by User Reception
The list below uses user reception as one comparison signal rather than treating review percentage as the only measure of quality. Instead, genre fit, shooting mechanics, world design, campaign structure, multiplayer features, and the role of shooting in the overall experience are also considered.
- Fallout: New Vegas — RPG exploration, factions, choices, and first-person shooting.
- Titanfall 2 — Fast movement, wall-running, Titans, and a focused FPS campaign.
- DOOM Eternal — High-speed combat, weapon switching, and demon battles.
- Cyberpunk 2077 — Open-world RPG exploration combined with shooting, quests, driving, and character progression.
- Metro Exodus — Survival, stealth, shooting, and large non-linear environments.
- Squad — Tactical multiplayer combat built around teamwork and communication.
- Borderlands 3 — FPS combat, loot, abilities, character builds, and co-op.
- Fallout 4 — Open-world exploration, shooting, crafting, settlements, and RPG progression.
- Ghost Recon Wildlands — Open-world tactical missions, vehicles, stealth, and co-op.
- Far Cry 6 — Open-world exploration, weapons, vehicles, and guerrilla combat.
However, these games do not all provide the same type of shooting experience. Some are traditional FPS titles, while others combine shooting with RPG systems, survival mechanics, or tactical multiplayer.
1. Fallout: New Vegas
User Rating: 96% positive based on 170,000+ English-language Steam reviews.
Short Description: Fallout: New Vegas combines first-person shooting, RPG progression, exploration, factions, dialogue, and player choice in a post-apocalyptic setting.
Plotline
The Courier is attacked while carrying a platinum chip. After surviving the attack, the Courier searches for the person responsible and becomes involved in the larger struggle for control of New Vegas.
Popular Characters
Mr. House, Benny, Caesar, Yes Man, Veronica Santangelo, and the Courier are among the game’s recognizable characters.
What Players Say
Players frequently praise its writing, player choice, faction system, characters, exploration, and replayability. In particular, the combination of role-playing and player choice gives the game a broader experience than a conventional FPS.
Best For: Players who want an RPG where shooting is part of a much broader open-world experience.
2. Titanfall 2
User Rating: 91% positive based on 120,000+ English-language Steam reviews.
Short Description: Titanfall 2 combines wall-running, fast movement, gunplay, giant Titans, and multiplayer combat.
Plotline
Militia soldier Jack Cooper becomes connected to the Titan BT-7274 and must work with BT to complete their mission.
Popular Characters
Jack Cooper, BT-7274, Captain Lastimosa, Blisk, and Sarah Briggs are important characters.
What Players Say
The campaign, movement system, weapon handling, level design, and relationship between Cooper and BT are commonly highlighted. As a result, the game is often relevant to players seeking a focused FPS campaign.
Best For: Players searching for single-player shooter games with a strong campaign and fast FPS mechanics.
3. DOOM Eternal
User Rating: 91% positive from 120,000+ English-language Steam reviews.
Short Description: DOOM Eternal focuses on aggressive movement, weapon switching, resource management, and extremely fast demon combat.
Plotline
Hell’s forces invade Earth, and the Doom Slayer fights through different environments to stop the invasion.
Popular Characters
Doom Slayer, Dr. Samuel Hayden, VEGA, Khan Maykr, and the Dark Lord are major characters.
What Players Say
Players frequently mention its speed, challenging encounters, weapon variety, movement, and combat system. Unlike an open-world shooter, however, DOOM Eternal concentrates much more heavily on structured levels and fast-paced combat.
Best For: Players who prioritize fast FPS combat over open-world exploration.
4. Cyberpunk 2077
User Rating: 89% positive based on 390,000+ English-language Steam reviews.
Short Description: Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action RPG combining shooting, driving, hacking, stealth, quests, exploration, and character progression.
Plotline
V is a mercenary whose life changes after a failed heist leaves them connected to the digital personality of Johnny Silverhand. From there, V searches for a way to survive while becoming involved in Night City’s conflicts.
Popular Characters
V, Johnny Silverhand, Judy Alvarez, Panam Palmer, Jackie Welles, and Adam Smasher are notable characters.
What Players Say
Players commonly discuss its world, characters, quests, exploration, customization, and combat. In addition, the combination of RPG progression and first-person shooting makes it different from a dedicated military FPS.
Best For: Players wanting an open-world RPG where shooting is one of several major gameplay systems.
5. Metro Exodus
User Rating: 87% positive among 34,000+ English-language Steam reviews.
Short Description: Metro Exodus combines FPS combat with stealth, survival, exploration, and large non-linear areas.
Plotline
Artyom and the Spartan Rangers leave the Moscow Metro and travel across post-apocalyptic Russia in search of a safer place to live.
Popular Characters
Artyom, Anna, Miller, Sam, Duke, and Damir are important characters.
What Players Say
Atmosphere, world-building, exploration, survival systems, and storytelling are frequently highlighted. Meanwhile, the game’s large non-linear areas provide more freedom than a strictly linear FPS campaign.
Best For: Players who want atmospheric shooting with survival and story elements.
6. Squad
User Rating: 84% positive based on 83,000+ English-language Steam reviews.
Short Description: Squad is a tactical multiplayer shooter focused on communication, teamwork, positioning, vehicles, and large battles.
Campaign and Gameplay
Unlike traditional story-driven FPS titles, Squad does not center on one protagonist or a conventional campaign. Instead, players take military roles and work with their squad to complete objectives.
Player Roles
Common roles include medic, rifleman, machine gunner, anti-tank soldier, and squad leader.
What Players Say
Team coordination, communication, tactical decision-making, and realistic-style combat situations are central to its appeal. Therefore, the game is more suitable for players who enjoy coordinated multiplayer than traditional single-player campaigns.
Best For: Players looking for a more realistic multiplayer shooter.
7. Borderlands 3
User Rating: 81% positive from 60,000+ English-language Steam reviews.
Short Description: Borderlands 3 combines FPS combat with RPG abilities, loot, character builds, colorful environments, and cooperative play.
Short Storyline
Four Vault Hunters travel between different worlds while searching for powerful Vaults and confronting the Calypso Twins and their followers.
Popular Characters
Lilith, Claptrap, Amara, Moze, Zane, and FL4K are recognizable characters.
What Players Say
Weapon variety, loot, abilities, shooting, and cooperative gameplay are among the commonly discussed strengths. In particular, its colorful presentation and loot-driven progression give it a different tone from military shooters.
Best For: Players looking for accessible casual shooter games with RPG and co-op features.
8. Fallout 4
User Rating: 81% positive from 183,000+ English-language Steam reviews.
Short Storyline
After leaving a nuclear shelter, the player searches the Commonwealth for their missing child while encountering factions, settlements, enemies, and branching choices.
Popular Characters
The Sole Survivor, Dogmeat, Nick Valentine, Piper Wright, Preston Garvey, and Codsworth are notable characters.
What Players Say
Exploration, settlement building, customization, quests, and shooting remain central parts of the experience. Furthermore, its open-world structure allows players to approach many activities at their own pace.
Best For: Players who want open-world exploration combined with shooting and RPG progression.
9. Ghost Recon Wildlands
User Rating: 77% positive from 41,000+ English-language Steam reviews.
Short Storyline
A team of Ghost operatives enters Bolivia to dismantle the Santa Blanca cartel. Players gather intelligence and eliminate targets across a large open world.
Popular Characters
Nomad, El Sueno, Karen Bowman, Nidia Flores, and Pac Katari play important roles.
What Players Say
The open world, vehicles, co-op gameplay, stealth options, and freedom to approach missions in different ways are frequently highlighted. Consequently, the game can appeal to players who want tactical shooting without giving up open-world exploration.
Best For: Players who want open-world tactical shooting with cooperative gameplay.
10. Far Cry 6
User Rating: 66% positive from nearly 13,000 English-language Steam reviews.
Short Storyline
On the fictional island of Yara, Dani Rojas joins a guerrilla movement fighting against Antón Castillo’s regime.
Popular Characters
Dani Rojas, Antón Castillo, Diego Castillo, Clara GarcÃa, Juan Cortez, and Chorizo are notable characters.
What Players Say
Players commonly discuss its large map, weapons, vehicles, exploration, and guerrilla-style combat. At the same time, its open-world structure gives players considerable freedom in how they approach activities.
Best For: Players specifically looking for a modern open-world FPS experience.
What Is the Most Realistic Shooter Game?
There is no single answer to the most realistic shooter game because realism can refer to different elements, including weapon behavior, movement, damage systems, communication, tactics, military presentation, and the consequences of player decisions.
Quick answer: Squad and Insurgency: Sandstorm are examples for players who place more importance on tactical positioning, teamwork, communication, and realistic-style combat than on fast arcade action.
However, realism can mean different things depending on the player. If it means combining tactical combat with a large open world, Ghost Recon Wildlands provides a different approach. Likewise, if realism means atmospheric survival and resource management, Metro Exodus offers another style of shooter experience.
Best First-Person Shooter Campaigns
For players searching for the best first-person shooter campaign, the right choice depends on the type of campaign they want.
For example, Titanfall 2 focuses on movement and a compact story-driven campaign. Meanwhile, DOOM Eternal emphasizes aggressive combat, while Metro Exodus combines shooting, survival, exploration, and atmosphere.
For a much larger RPG campaign with dialogue, exploration, choices, and character progression, Fallout: New Vegas and Cyberpunk 2077 combine shooting with broader role-playing systems.
Old First-Person Shooting Games and Vintage FPS Titles
Modern FPS games were influenced by old first-person shooting games such as DOOM, Quake, Half-Life, Duke Nukem 3D, F.E.A.R., Unreal Tournament, and Serious Sam.
These vintage shooting games remain useful reference points for understanding how FPS design developed. Although they generally use simpler systems than modern open-world shooters, their movement, weapons, level design, and enemy encounters helped shape later shooter design.
What Shooting Games Are Like Call of Duty?
If you’re searching for shooting games like Call of Duty, the most relevant alternative depends on which part of the experience you want.
- Titanfall 2 — fast movement and traditional FPS gunplay.
- Squad — slower tactical combat and teamwork.
- Insurgency: Sandstorm — tactical FPS gameplay.
- Ghost Recon Wildlands — open-world shooting and co-op.
- Far Cry 6 — open-world exploration and weapon-based combat.
These games cover different FPS styles. Therefore, they should not all be treated as direct Call of Duty replacements.
Casual Shooting Games vs. Realistic Shooters
Casual shooter games generally make shooting mechanics easier to understand and emphasize accessible action. For example, Borderlands 3, DOOM Eternal, and Far Cry 6 each provide relatively direct combat, although their gameplay systems are very different.
By comparison, realistic or tactical shooters place more emphasis on positioning, communication, weapon behavior, teamwork, and decision-making. Squad and Insurgency: Sandstorm are examples of this approach.
Meanwhile, Fallout 4 and Cyberpunk 2077 fit more broadly into the RPG category. Shooting is important, but quests, exploration, character development, customization, and world interaction are also major parts of the experience.
How This List Was Selected
The games were compared using several factors rather than one metric:
- Player reception and review volume
- Importance of shooting mechanics
- Open-world or large-map design
- Campaign or multiplayer experience
- Exploration and replayability
- Tactical or realistic gameplay systems
- RPG progression where relevant
- Relevance to common FPS search intent
Overall, this approach helps distinguish between games that have high user ratings and games that actually match a particular player’s preferred shooter style.
Conclusion
When comparing open-world shooting games, the right game depends on the type of experience you want.
For RPG-heavy open-world gameplay, Fallout: New Vegas, Cyberpunk 2077, and Fallout 4 combine exploration with shooting and character progression. In contrast, Ghost Recon Wildlands provides tactical open-world combat with a large map, vehicles, stealth, and co-op features.
For fast FPS action, Titanfall 2 and DOOM Eternal place heavy emphasis on movement and combat. Meanwhile, Metro Exodus adds survival and atmosphere, while Squad focuses on tactical multiplayer teamwork.
Players interested in classic FPS design can explore DOOM, Quake, Half-Life, and other old first-person shooting games. Similarly, those looking for shooting games like Call of Duty can choose between faster arcade-style FPS games, tactical shooters, and open-world alternatives depending on the features they value.
Therefore, instead of using a rating alone, consider the game’s world size, combat style, single-player campaign, multiplayer options, realism, progression systems, and overall gameplay loop.
You can also read about more low end games here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Best Open-World Shooters?
Examples of open-world shooting games include Fallout: New Vegas, Cyberpunk 2077, Fallout 4, Ghost Recon Wildlands, and Far Cry 6. Each combines shooting with open-world exploration differently.
Which Is the Most Realistic Shooting Game?
Squad and Insurgency: Sandstorm are examples for players who prioritize tactical combat, teamwork, positioning, and realistic-style gameplay. In comparison, Ghost Recon Wildlands offers a more open-world approach, while Metro Exodus emphasizes survival and atmosphere.
Which FPS Campaigns Are Worth Playing?
Titanfall 2, DOOM Eternal, and Metro Exodus provide different campaign experiences, ranging from fast movement and combat to survival-focused exploration. Additionally, Fallout: New Vegas and Cyberpunk 2077 offer broader RPG campaigns that incorporate first-person shooting.
Which Shooting Games Are Like Call of Duty?
Titanfall 2, Squad, Insurgency: Sandstorm, Battlefield, and Halo can appeal to players interested in different aspects of mainstream FPS gameplay. Ultimately, the most suitable option depends on whether you prefer speed, tactics, multiplayer, or campaign gameplay.
Are Old First-Person Shooting Games Still Worth Playing?
Yes. DOOM, Quake, Half-Life, and F.E.A.R. provide examples of classic FPS design. In addition, they help show how modern shooting games evolved from earlier approaches to movement, weapons, levels, and enemy encounters.
