Best Tactical Shooters Of All Time, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Tactical-based shooters require communication and teamwork for success in online gameplay.
• The inventory management in Escape from Tarkov is a standout feature in the game.
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
  offers a smart blend of tactical gameplay and first-person shooting.

The tactical shooter subgenre contains progressive gameplay that is continually developing. The genre often involves using multiple gadgets, breaching doors with a squad, or planning the attack method before a match starts. Routinely found in online tactical-based games is a need for communication.

Regardless of a player’s experience level with tactical shooter games, it’s never too late to delve into one of these hit games. It can be quite challenging to get into these titles (especially if players are too used to FPS titles where individual skill is more important than teamwork), but patient players who take their time to learn how the game works will be more than pleased with what these games have to offer when everything finally clicks into place.

Updated on November 26, 2024, by Mehrdad Khayyat: Playing tactical games reminds players why they are playing in a team and why it is important to communicate with each other. In tactical games, there are barely any superheroes who can do everything on their own. Games can be won much easier with good team coordination.

When communication comes into play, the joy of earning a victory or completing objectives surges significantly. Players work with each other closely to earn what they deserve, and in the end, it is a joy for every member, as every single contribution matters.

22 Gray Zone Warfare

Still in Early Access, Gray Zone Warfare is a promising extraction shooter that encourages team-play and a tactical approach without forcing players into PvP. The game offers a massive unified map with a set of multiple objectives to complete.

So, while players will need to deal with AI-controlled units to tackle the missions, they may also run into other player groups before extracting. So, it’s important to have support players who watch the entries while other teammates try to infiltrate the outposts. The only shortcoming of Gray Zone Warfare at the moment is the performance struggle.

21 Six Days In Fallujah

Recreating The Horrors Of An Urban Battle

Developed by getting consultancy from veterans who have been in the war against terrorists of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Six Days In Fallujah offers an intense, unforgiving experience about fighting against ruthless terrorists in a location that they know far better than the player!

An urban battle can always be tough due to all the hiding corners and complex tunnels that can be used by defenders to hide or flank the attacking units. This one, however, is based on real events, and that’s why Six Days In Fallujah is only suggested to the dedicated shooter fans.

The game only offers PvE, which can be played either solo or with friends within a squad.

20 Valorant

Hero-Based Competitive Shooter With An Abundance Of Strategies

Of course, Valorant never gives players the feeling of being in a war or a realistic battle, as it is a hero shooter with most characters featuring otherworldly abilities. That being said, the game still excels at delivering that tactical experience, where each player will have to communicate with their teammates if they want to win.

There are so many different strategies to try out in Valorant based on the map and the combination of heroes in each team, and that gives every match a different flavor. Valorant also features a Counter-Strike-style gunplay, which makes it even more popular among shooter fans.

19 Escape From Tarkov

Hardcore Extraction Shooter Featuring PvP And PvE

It’s worth noting that Escape from Tarkov isn’t widely available. It uses a unique launcher explicitly made for the game, along the lines of Fortnite. However, for those who can do so, it’s worth trying out.

The inventory management of Escape from Tarkov is one of its highlights. While the game is tactical-based, it has an inventory system similar to survival games like PUBG and Z1 Battle Royale. The game is still in its beta stage, which has been active since July 2017.

18 Hunt: Showdown 1896

Similar to Escape From Tarkov, Hunt: Showdown 1896 is also an extraction shooter featuring PvPvE maps, where players need to kill bosses, get the bounty tokens, and extract the map before other hunters reach them. Or, they can do it the other way! Wait for other players to kill the bosses and then raid the tokens from the players.

While Escape From Tarkov excels at recreating modern weapons, Hunt: Showdown 1896 does the same with the old weapons that belong to the 19th century. The game recently received a visual upgrade which makes the experience even more pleasing.

17 Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis

Lead Operation Squad In A Variety Of Tactical Missions

Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis was developed by Bohemia Interactive Studio and was first released in 2001 before being re-released in 2011 under the name ARMA: Cold War Assault. Bohemia Interactive Studio’s tactical shooter was the first in the Operation Flashpoint series and was considered to be a spiritual successor to Suma’s 1995 release Gravon: Real Virtuality, which was ported to PC by Bohemia Interactive.

Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis stood out in 2001 with its team-based gameplay, an abundance of drivable vehicles, and Real Time Tactics mechanics. It’s a shame that Bohemia Interactive and Codemasters ended up in legal battles over this IP, leading to the series slowly becoming less and less relevant over time as other better tactical shooters came to take its place.

16 Project I.G.I.: I’m Going In

Infiltrate The Facilities And Wipe Targets As A Lone Wolf

A unique tactical shooter that promotes stealth more than outright combat, Project I.G.I. is a game where a covert approach and sneaking into bases make for a tense time as players try not to mess up while using the wealth of tools in their arsenal. It’s a unique title that more people need to check out if they like tactical shooters and don’t mind something that feels more retro.

A single mistake can lead to catastrophic results, and full-on combat should be left for desperate situations and the like. It’ll take a few failures for players to get into the groove of the game, but Project I.G.I. can captivate tactical shooter fans in no time.

15 Hidden & Dangerous 2: Courage Under Fire

Recreating Real-Life Operations Of World War 2

Most tactical shooters let players approach enemies from the shadows instead of going all out with the shooting, which is why Hidden & Dangerous 2 is a gem that more players need to check out. Serving as an operative behind enemy lines is as tense as they come, and a single mistake can have horrid consequences for the player.

It’s important to be as covert as possible and not attract any unwanted attention. With the extensive suite of options, players have to accomplish their objectives, it’s easy to see why fans of tactical shooters will love what Hidden & Dangerous 2 brings to the table.

14 Insurgency Series

Multiplayer-Based Hardcore PvP Shooter In Mid-Size Maps

One of the most engaging tactical shooters around that will feel right at home for fans of Counter-Strike, the Insurgency series lets players join one of two groups and complete an objective while taking out the opposing squad. This makes for a great time as players coordinate their assault to ensure that the second team never even gets a chance.

Rounds are short and tense, forcing players to really hone their placement, shooting skills, and teamwork if they want to string together a bunch of wins. Trying to be a solo hero in the Insurgency series is strongly discouraged and will end a player’s winning streak in no time.

13 Star Wars: Republic Commando

Leading A Special Ops Squad In Clone Wars

When Star Wars: Republic Commando was released back in 2005, it was considered ahead of its time. Fast-forward to now, and the game is beginning to show age. This tactical-based first-person shooter deserves a remaster or remake from the ground up.

Players take on the role of a Republic commando, the leader of his elite squad. They can control party members to tactfully annihilate enemies. Despite its age, Star Wars: Republic Commando is an exceptionally unique Star Wars game worth playing for tactical-based game fanatics.

12 The Finals

Fast-Paced Competitive Shooter Known For Its Highly Destructible Environment

The newest live-service shooter on the market right now, The Finals combines everything that has worked well in this department to make for a shooting experience that is refined, competitive, and exciting. Made by several ex-DICE developers, The Finals does a great job of combining the great movement from Mirror’s Edge with the impeccable shooting of the Battlefield series.

Given how early the game is in its life cycle, some problems still hold The Finals back from reaching its true potential. Thankfully, given how positive people are about this game, it’ll take a spectacular catastrophe to stop this game from becoming one of the biggest successes in the modern live service market.

11 Payday 2

Lead A Team Of Heisters Either In Single-Player Or Co-Op Mode

For players who enjoyed Grand Theft Auto 5‘s heist content and would like to play new heists over and over, Payday 2 fits the description. This game was released in 2013 and can be purchased for a bargain on the Steam Store. The gameplay has hardly aged, so there’s little reason not to get into this four-player cooperative game.

Players step into the shoes of the original crew from the first Payday, using tactics to achieve unlawful objectives. Expect to visit Washington DC on a crime spree unlike any other game. Given how disastrous the launch of Payday 3 has been, fans are more than happy to stick with what works.

Third-Person Tactical Shooter With Single-Player Campaign And Multiplayer Modes

It is a shame that Sony shelved this franchise forever after a weak fourth and final installment that was released for PlayStation 3. The SOCOM franchise gained most of its glory on PlayStation 2, delivering a tactical shooter experience with varied gameplay mechanics based on the player’s military rank in the squad.

The campaign missions in the SOCOM series featured sandbox elements with mandatory and optional objectives to complete. The series also delivered multiplayer in most of its iterations, where players could either challenge themselves in PvP or team up to play the campaign missions in co-op mode.

9 Ready Or Not

Recreating SWAT Operations With Realistic Gunplay And Eye-catching Visuals

Taking on the role of a member of a SWAT team, players in Ready or Not need to be tactical and careful about their approach across a wealth of hostage scenarios. It’s important to be quiet and minimize casualties, with the act of killing innocents considered an instant failure.

The tense atmosphere and high-stakes gameplay of Ready or Not make it a great tactical shooter for fans to sink their teeth into. Fans who loved the SWAT games and are missing this franchise in gaming’s modern landscape will find Ready or Not to be an absolute blast.

8 Counter-Strike 2

Competitive FPS Shooter With A Long Learning Curve

Counter-Strike 2 is the latest entry in a series recognized for team cooperation. The series is going strong even now, with dedicated fans loving the sudden nature of this upgrade and how much fun the game is to play.

The game was lambasted at launch by fans for feeling like a step down in some ways, and the de-listing of CS:GO didn’t help things. Thankfully, it didn’t take too long for Valve to fix things and turn it into an excellent game where cheaters are the only thing stopping fans from truly enjoying the game.

7 SWAT Series

Experience Counter-Terrorism Operations In A Variety Of Situations

The SWAT series was first introduced in 1995, but it actually rose to fame when SWAT 4 was released by Vivendi Universal Games, who were still known as Sierra Entertainment at the time. The game was developed by first-person shooter experts Irrational Games (also known as 2K Boston), who are responsible for some of the most critically acclaimed shooters of all time, like System Shock 2 and BioShock.

As the name suggests, SWAT 4 puts the player in control of a SWAT team. They must complete tricky objectives such as rescuing a hostage while only using lethal force when necessary. It’s easier said than done, and it’s unheard of for players to repeat missions despite being at the final leg simply because of a single costly mistake.

6 Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Series

Simulating Counter-Terrorism Units In PvE And PvP Scenarios

When it comes to tactical-based shooting games, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six series takes the cake. It’s a smart blend of tactical and first-person shooting. The series is known for its slow-burn approach as rushing in blindly will end up in the player’s failure in most cases.

With Rainbow Six Siege, the series changed its direction from a PvE-focused approach to a PvP-based competitive shooter. The tactical core of the game is still there and close-quarter combat is still the main focus, but Siege introduced a hero-based shooter that somehow changed the scene for the possible next entries.

5 Brothers In Arms: Road To Hill 30

A Classic Tactical Shooter Set In World War 2

Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 was initially released in 2005. It was the first entry in the Brothers in Arms series, which would get a further ten entries within the next ten years. Road to Hill 30 takes place during World War II and, like SWAT 4, puts the player in control of a team.

Players control either one or two small teams that are either classed as Fire Team or Assault Team. The Fire Team specializes in suppressive fire, while the Assault Team is best used for flanking the enemy. Using teams efficiently is critical to getting through the many combat encounters in the game, which can be pretty challenging on higher difficulties.

4 Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Series

Leading The Operations With Modern Equipment

Ubisoft’s Ghost Recon series was first released in 2001. The series made a name for itself with the Advanced Warfighter entry. It was a huge hit with critics at the time, exemplified by the Xbox 360 version’s 90 Metascore. The game was ahead of its time with its excellent cover mechanics, which would become a significant feature of shooters throughout the seventh generation of home consoles, most notably in franchises like Gears of War and Uncharted.

With the release of Ghost Recon: Wildlands, the series took a new direction, delivering open-world maps and giving players more freedom in how to approach missions and objectives. The latest installment in the series, Breakpoint, experienced a rocky launch in the beginning, but Ubisoft’s continuous work on the game made it another worthy entry in the series over time.

3 Hell Let Loose

Simulating Massive World War 2 Operations In 100-Player Battles

For those who love to explore the World War 2 settings and operations, Hell Let Loose is a unique experience. It delivers hardcore, large-scale PvP battles with exceptional authenticity both in terms of map design and weapon design.

Players get to experience many different roles, from a simple rifleman to the commander of the entire team. Each role comes with a series of responsibilities and each player must dedicate themselves to those responsibilities in order to capture/defend the objectives and win the match.