Open-World Games With Realistic Combat

Open-world games are among the most popular as players love the freedom of being able to go where they want, when they want, with the ability to mold their own experience. Most open-world games tend to feature combat in one way or another, but while many simply strive for fun, more immersive games try to offer their players realistic combat mechanics.

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From medieval games that base their combat mechanics on real history sometimes using treatises in their research, to games set in the present day with lifelike shooting, there are plenty of great open-world games with realistic combat.

Updated July 9, 2024 by Joe Grantham: There are many ways to achieve realistic combat in games, and it is rare for a game to cover all these aspects while still being fun. For example, a game could be considered to have realistic combat due to the implementation of a physics-based system, but to make fights longer and more fun, the developers might opt for less-than-realistic damage.

Nevertheless, such a game could still be considered realistic, and the opposite could also be said of a game with less accurate animations and controls, but brutally realistic damage, that encourages players to be more cautious or even use features such as stealth to avoid combat when possible. With this in mind, this list has been updated to include even more open-world games with realistic combat.

1 Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord

The Best Depiction So Far Of Large Medieval Battles

Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord is an open-world sandbox RPG set in a fictional medieval land, and while there is lots to do, most fans are drawn in by the large-scale battles, which can be comprised of both AI soldiers and online players. While making realistic battles is a hard task given that even experts don't know exactly how real medieval warfare played out, Bannerlord is arguably the best depiction, at least when it comes to open-world titles.

The game features everything players could hope for, from siege warfare and cavalry charges to third-person and first-person options that change the overall experience. When it comes to hand-to-hand combat, players can expect a directional combat system that has the depth and complexity to portray swordsmanship, while still being relatively easy to pick up. There is even a Realistic Battle Mod for those who desire more immersion.

2 Watch Dogs 2

Getting Caught & Resorting To Gun Fights Is Just As Deadly As It Would Be In Real Life

In games, films, and TV, protagonists are usually very hard to hit, and even when they do get hit, their wounds are rarely fatal. This is where Watch Dogs 2 differs, especially in the realistic difficulty setting which many players swear by. This is because, if players are caught hacking or sneaking around, combat will usually ensue and a single bullet received will often result in death.

This is not to say that players can't fight their way out of a corner, but instead, when they do, it will feel like a great accomplishment after minutes spent on edge. Being locked into a gunfight in Watch Dogs 2 feels incredibly intense and is a stark contrast to similar games such as GTA 5 and RDR2, which while great for other reasons, often leave players feeling invincible in a way that can get repetitive.

3 Ghost Of Tsushima

Combat Inspired By Historical Japanese Fighting Stances Where Patience Is Key

While the combat in Ghost of Tsushima isn't completely realistic and does have its flaws, it does a much better job than most other samurai games of using historical fighting stances. As one of the best games set in Japan, players must defend the island of Tsushima against the invading Mongols, formidable foes to say the least.

Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most beautiful and scenic games, the combat is equally pleasing to the eyes and is all about patience and outsmarting the enemy, allowing Jin to study the stances of his enemies to go in for swift and decisive strikes.

4 TheHunter: Call Of The Wild

Take The Wind & Behavior Of Animals Into Account Before Firing

TheHunter: Call of the Wild is by far the best hunting game available on the market and as a simulator, it has extremely realistic combat with guns that feel just as powerful as they do in real life. Players must also take the wind into account before firing, as well as understand the nature of their prey.

The fact the game has stunning graphics and sound effects, also helps players immerse themselves in realistic hunting. However, it is the movement and behavior of the animals themselves that help make combat so realistic in TheHunter: Call of the Wild​​​​​.

5 Dying Light 2

Realistic Physics & AI

Dying Light 2 has some of the most realistic combat, with more realistic physics and reactions from the zombies. Even though the game features sci-fi weapons and abilities, they feel real and immersive. Of course, the game's iconic drop-kick is not the best example of this, but is nonetheless extremely fun to use.

Human enemies such as bandits also offer realistic fights, respecting the player and dodging rather than just running into the warm embrace of death like opponents in other games.

6 Arma 3

An Authentic Depiction Of Modern War On Both The Small & Large Scale

Arma 3 is a strategic military sandbox game that happens to be one of the best war games of all time and also has extremely realistic combat. The game is massive and aims to bring immersive and authentic modern warfare to players who are then able to use the tools provided to create their own experiences and stories.

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7 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow Of Chernobyl

A Single Bullet Will Often Result In Death For Players

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is a dark and brutal open-world survival game that gets combat just right. In the unforgiving former exclusion territory near the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, players must survive by thriving, never appearing weak, and often this involves taking down mutants or thugs with whatever weapon they can get their hands on.

Each weapon hits hard, but the enemy hits harder and unlike other games where players will simply heal over time, a single bullet can mean death in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. If players don't have a bandage to hand to stem the bleeding.

8 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

First-Person Medieval Combat Where More Than One Enemy Is Often Overwhelming

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is easily one of the best medieval games of all time, and as a game that prides itself on historical accuracy, it is no surprise that it also features realistic combat. The combat is inspired by Historical European Martial Arts or HEMA and unlike other forms of media that depict medieval knights cutting through armor like butter, players will have to be much more patient and wait for openings.

Even in the later stages of the game when protagonist Henry has honed his martial prowess, players will find that they can rarely take on more than two opponents at once unless they themselves are fully armed fighting against unarmored opponents. Combat in KCD is all about stances and guard positions, rather than just mindless slashing.

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