8 Best Hunting Games, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• The Horizon series, like Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, combines a post-apocalyptic setting with hunting robots in a sustainable cycle of progression.
• Depth Hunter 2 offers a unique underwater hunting experience, with challenges such as hiding prey, marine predators, and the crucial factor of oxygen.
• Red Dead Redemption 2 not only includes hunting as a prevalent activity in the Old West, but also encourages players to pursue legendary animals for valuable parts and iconic outfits.

Not many would expect hunting and gaming to crossover in their audience. The former is a slow, strenuous trial requiring hours in the elements with little chance of reward. The latter is an indoor pastime with fast-paced entertainment and constant fun. Obviously, each has a bit more nuance, but the differences are still hard to ignore. Despite these differences, many game developers attempt to emulate the experience of hunting.

That’s why so many hunting titles exist. These usually design the whole game around the concept itself, but others simply make hunting into a pastime amid a grander adventure. At the same time, they may derive quality from how well they capture the real hunting essence or how they elevate the formula with high-concept additions. Whatever the case, these titles are worth tracking down.

Updated November 10, 2024, by Hamza Haq: Hunting has been a part of the human DNA for as long as the species has been alive, and games that scratch that ingrained itch will always have a market for them as they keep getting made. The best hunting games tend to be realistic, like a simulation that allows the player to immerse themselves in the hunt. However, there is also a demand for hunting arcade games because sometimes the urge is to just point and shoot.

8 The Horizon Series

Future Worlds, Primitive Hunts

One wouldn’t expect a post-apocalyptic world beset by robots to have hunting, but it’s a regular part of the Horizon games–Zero Dawn and Forbidden West. In these titles, the robots have taken the shape of dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts. Humans have little more than bows and arrows, so tackling the bots head-on is not an option.

That’s why Aloy–the series’ protagonist–has a wilderness background. Her training gives her a plethora of makeshift tools to outwit these metallic monstrosities. She might set an electric rope trap to immobilize the target; she could use rapid-fire darts or plasma bombs to erode its armor; she may even strap a scope to her bow to hone in on weak spots. She then harvests pieces of these machines to craft new armor and weapons. It’s a sustainable cycle of progression. Said cycle is the main draw of this world. That’s good since it’s what players will do most of the time. Hunting cyber-dinos to kill more cyber-dinos is infinitely more enticing than obligatory base battles and human enemies.

7 Depth Hunter 2: Deep Dive

Dangers Lurk Underwater

• Platform: Microsoft Windows
• Release Date: 20 August 2014
• Developer: Biart Company LLC

Most hunting games are land-based, but water has just as many types of wildlife. Depth Hunter 2 takes a deep dive into that aquatic cornucopia. With their trusty spear, players hunt various fish and underwater mammals. They can also find buried treasure. Netting these prizes is not a dip in the pool, however.

Depth Hunter 2 comes with all the challenges inherent to these environments. Swimming offers a greater range of movement, but it also means prey has more places to hide. Hunters must keep their eyes peeled, and they must do so without neglecting their own survival. Watch out for sharks and other marine predators, but oxygen is no less important. Overlooking this crucial factor obviously resulting in drowning, adding another factor to consider in every hunt.

Such factors bring welcome novelty to a storied subgenre. Depth Hunter sports the same care and attention as terrestrial tracking titles. It simply applies these traits to a mysterious yet exciting setting. Those bored with bagging land animals should jump (or dive) at the opportunity.

6 Red Dead Redemption 2

Embrace the Frontier Spirit

Among the most prevalent activities of the Old West was hunting. Both Red Dead Redemption games include it, but the sequel is infinitely more appealing in this respect. Players pursue quarry using tracks, droppings, blood trails, and other signs. The weapon used to kill it–bow or gun–determines the condition of the hide. Fans can then sell the parts or utilize them for crafting equipment or outfits. In fact, this is the only way to unlock several iconic getups. Thus, it encourages would-be cowboys to go for more challenging prey.

This comes in the form of legendary animals. As the name suggests, they’re a cut above the normal versions. Examples include a massive albino alligator, a speedy panther, or a monstrous bear. These are tough to track and even tougher to kill.

That makes them a worthy goal for anyone role-playing as a frontiersman. This system is all the more impressive since it’s not the main focus of RDR2. It’s entirely optional, but that doesn’t mean it’s an afterthought. These beasts are more formidable and elusive than any outlaw.

5 Far Cry Primal

Return to the Dawn of Humanity

For players who want to enjoy a hunting game but are not sold on the idea of a dedicated hunting simulator, Far Cry Primal is the answer. An action-adventure game in the famous Far Cry franchise, Far Cry Primal takes players back to prehistoric times when cavemen roamed the land and primitive weapons were all humanity had to fend off beasts like Sabretooth Tigers and Mammoths.

Hunting is done mainly by using lures to bait animals towards a trap or an enclosed space where the player can then use their weapons to finish the job. On top of being able to hunt beasts, it’s also possible to tame animals like the sabretooth and use them as companions to take into battle or as mounts to ride across the plains.

4 The Monster Hunter Series

The Hunt for Colossal Beasts

Anyone could see this entry coming from a mile away. Monster Hunter literally makes its name on killing animals. Those animals just happen to be fantastical creatures of mythical proportions. The consistently creative designs are not only impressive to look at, but they mix up the usual gameplay. Most monsters have an unusual appendage or behavior; hunters must adapt. That adaptability may also include a chase. In a welcome bit of authenticity, these animals don’t want to fight to the death. They might retreat to their lairs, so players must stay on their toes in every way. Those who do can expect rewards.

Each successful hunt yields valuable prizes. Monster parts fetch hefty prices at hunters’ posts. Alternatively, players can mold these components into new weapons and gear. In turn, they can pursue more imposing behemoths. It’s the same sustainability that inspired Horizon.

That said, Monster Hunter has a wider appeal. That’s not only due to the mechanics, but also the co-op capability. There’s an undeniable thrill of felling a colossal foe with friends.

3 Hunting Simulator 2

Master the Art of the Hunt

Hunting Simulator 2 is a simulation game that follows the life of a hunter as he sets out to hunt down the game in the wilderness. Animals roam an open-world map but can only be hunted by professionals who have the right tools for the job.

In addition to all the mainstays of a modern-day hunting sim, like a variety of different guns and tools, the game also allows players to bring along hunting dogs on their treks to bring back the game they shoot down. Fast travel is enabled, but the travel points are far enough apart that hunting anything requires a deep trek into the forest. Hunting mechanics are based in realism; animals run if they hear footsteps, walking is slow and laborious, and all hunts require patience and the ability to sit back and wait for something to happen.

2 Way of the Hunter

Track the Ultimate Game

• Platforms: PlayStation 5, GeForce Now, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Android
• Release date: August 16, 2022
• Developer: Nine Rocks Games

Way of the Hunter is a hunting sim that puts players in the role of brand-new lodge owner in the middle of the woods surrounded by hunting game. Think of it as a Stardew Valley start, but instead of a farm, the player is taking up the job of a hunter.

Way of the Hunter features photorealistic graphics, realistic habitats with a wide variety of animals to hunt, a huge map to explore, and a whole host of different guns to choose from. The hunt is not as simple as point-and-shoot. Players need to track the animals and follow them into their domain but remain lightfooted enough not to spook them, line up the perfect shot, and collect the trophy when all is said and done. It’s a patient sport that requires a slow and methodical approach.

1 theHunter: Call Of The Wild

The Art of Hunting Perfected

theHunter doesn’t have the spectacle of previous entries, but it’s easily the most authentic. It has all the mechanics that gamers have come to expect. Sprawling sandboxes make for enticing hunting grounds. On top of that, hunters have a slew of options in their arsenal: weapon types, lures, vehicles, tracking dogs, and more. These aspects make the game formidable in itself.

What helps theHunter stand out, though, is its sheer detail. Each animal has its own appearance and behavior, unique to even other members of its species. What’s more is that their senses are inherently more advanced than a human’s. As such, they can detect danger from a mile away. If players are downwind or step on a twig, they inadvertently trigger a fight-or-flight response. It’s difficult and frustrating to say the least.

However, that’s what makes the game so realistic. Hunters must observe conditions like wind direction and noise when approaching their targets. Forcing players to do the same means theHunter is all the more immersive. As far as hunting sims go, it doesn’t get much better.