Best Military Open-World Games

With its high-stakes action and strategy, the military genre of gaming seems like an obvious fit for an open-world setting. Entering expansive sandbox-type settings can allow players to more fully immerse themselves in the action of modern warfare gameplay.

With richly-detailed, often unpredictable environments to travel through, players get to enjoy more authentic and spontaneous recreations of armed conflict. Of the many games out there that blend military action and storytelling with open-world exploration, a select few stand out from the rest. The following games are listed based on their effective use of both genres to create a memorable, cohesive military gaming experience.

7 Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint

A Polarizing, High-Tech Action Experience.

This 2019 installment in the popular Ghost Recon series takes players to the land of Auroa. A series of Pacific islands, Auroa is owned by a tech billionaire selling advanced wares to the US government.

The action kicks off when a sinister former Ghost Lieutenant Colonel forcibly takes over the island. Needless to say, it’s up to the Ghost Recon team to take him down and save the day. Criticized for its glum plot and eclectic approach to action compared to its predecessors, Breakpoint still has a lot to offer players. Regardless, the game has many appealing features, including an intriguing new setting, an entertaining antagonist played by Jon Bernthal, and a wild DLC that crosses over with The Terminator. For Ghost Recon fans, this open-world military experience is worth the effort.

6 Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction

A Chaotic, Colorful Tour Through A War-Torn North Korea.

This underrated noughties hit provides a fun, often hectic take on open-world gaming. Players take the reins of a deadly mercenary sent in to deal with North Korean military aggression following a military coup in the country.

In charge of destabilizing the new regime, players can pursue their dangerous objectives as they see fit. The result is a variety of strategies to consider, from safety-conscious stealth and infiltration, to all-guns-blazing catastrophe out in the open. Between its wild, over-the-top action and cutting edge (for the time), sandbox-style gameplay, Mercenaries is an off-beat, effective open-world military experience.

5 Far Cry 4

An Explosive Civil War Game With A Memorable Villain.

The always action-packed first-person shooter series lands in the fictional country of Kyrat for its fourth outing. Nestled in the Himalayas, players are introduced to a Kyrat getting torn apart by civil war.

The conflict is between the nation’s Royal Army, fronted by diabolical dictator Pagan Min, and a rebellion known simply as the Golden Path. Needless to say, the civil war set-up ensures players get caught up in all kinds of military encounters and battles as the game wears on. With colorful characters, bloody action, and a thought-provoking plot inspired by the infamous Nepalese Civil War, this imaginative entry in the Far Cry series is a fascinating change of pace for military gaming fans.

4 The Division 2

An Atmospheric, Post-Apocalyptic Experience.

The high-stakes follow-up to The Division drops players into a dangerous, anarchic Washington D.C. The deadly Green Poison virus has caused chaos, leading to a bleak setting and a storyline of conspiracy and war for players to unravel.

The game’s remarkable gunfighting mechanics keep the tension levels high, as players tangle with a variety of militant threats in the area. The exploration of a rundown, war-torn Washington D.C. also makes for compelling fare, as players experience a grim, dark look at how quickly society can collapse in times of extreme crisis. Overall, with its slick action, dangerous missions, and compelling setting, The Division 2 is a masterful open-world military gaming experience.

3 Arma 3

A Challenging Military Game With An Enormous World To Explore.

When it comes to immersive, realistic military simulation gameplay, Arma 3 is arguably the best to ever do it. The game drops players into the massively detailed open-world setting of the fictional Mediterranean islands, Altis and Stratis.

The military action on offer is chock-full of remarkably realistic vehicle physics, eyebrow-raising ballistics, and complex combat mechanics. Exciting and difficult, Arma 3 puts players on a steep, no-mercy learning curve. For those that persevere, this hard-hitting military role-playing game is a masterclass in open-world action and exploration.

A Thrilling, Vengeful Epic In The Classic Series.

Soviet-occupied Afghanistan provides a chaotic, action-packed open world in this well-regarded Metal Gear Solid entry. Players take control of Punished “Venom” Snake, an elite-level mercenary seeking revenge for a near-fatal betrayal.

As is to be expected with the Metal Gear Solid series, The Phantom Pain showcases masterful stealth gameplay throughout. Providing players with considerable freedom by the standards of the franchise, it seamlessly blends exploration and discovery with its more violent, military action and suspenseful sneaking about. With a dramatic, dark narrative, and consistently sharp, tactical gameplay, The Phantom Pain is a one-of-a-kind open-world gaming experience.

1 Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands

For years now, the Ghost Recon series has stood tall as a benchmark for open-world military gaming experiences. Wildlands takes gamers into a richly-detailed, sprawling rendering of Bolivia.

The elite special ops squad the game revolves around are charged with dealing with a brutal drug war in the area. The game’s action benefits from its emphasis on quick-witted, tactical gameplay, making for addictive team-play fun. Better still, its extensive combat options ensure plenty of action-packed replay value. To top it all off, the visually stunning design of its open-world setting makes it a standout in this well-regarded series.