Ghost Recon: Breakpoint has been out for a few years, and while its reception was mixed, Ubisoft's tactical open-world shooter still has its positives. In fact, the Ghost Recon franchise alone has been one of the few to keep the tactical shooter genre alive. Now, we're not going to pretend that the most recent iteration in the series has stayed completely true to its routes, but behind its massive Ubisoft open world is the blueprint for a good tactical shooter.
Still, if someone loved Breakpoint — or at least wanted to — there are a lot of games to tickle their fancy. Whether it's because of the big open world, or the strong tactical gameplay, there are titles that have both in plentiful supply. So, with that in mind, here are some of the best tactical shooters like Ghost Recon: Breakpoint.
Updated on February 6, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Ghost Recon: Breakpoint is one of the most engaging tactical shooters that players can get lost in. The strategy involved in taking out enemies is oddly hypnotic, and players who get invested in this gameplay loop will be more than elated with the act of taking down waves of enemies after struggling to down a single group in the early goings. Fans of Breakpoint would love to check out more games in the same vein that promote a tactical approach to a firefight.
15 Insurgency: Sandstorm
A Team-Based Tactical FPS With A Focus On Pulse-Pounding Close-Quarters Combat
Insurgency: Sandstorm
- Released
- December 12, 2018
- Developer(s)
- New World Interactive
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Tactical
It's disingenuous to call Insurgency: Sandstorm a realistic version of Counter-Strike, but this comparison does make it clear what the game is all about. Players are a part of either the Security team or Insurgents, striving to take each other out in breakneck combat scenarios.
It's important to strategize and take out the opposing team to attain victory. Insurgency: Sandstorm may have its caveats, but fans will easily overcome its faults and come to enjoy one of the best tactical FPS games on the market right now.
14 Hell Let Loose
A World War 2 FPS Where Tactics Play A Bigger Role Than One's Shooting Skills
Hell Let Loose
- Released
- July 27, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Black Matter
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
The fun that players can have in Hell Let Loose requires a while to attain. Players must go through a grueling learning phase early on where they get accustomed to the realism this experience strives to deliver.
Once players get used to that, they must learn to function as a team and formulate strategies to take out their opponents. Failing to do so will lead to embarrassing deaths that can suck the joy out of a game that's really entertaining when everything falls into place.
13 Squad
A Team-Based Coordinated Assault Is Imperative To Be Victorious
Squad
Squad-based gameplay is a huge part of most tactical shooters, and it should be obvious that this title is no exception. Players should be well-versed in how to coordinate as a team if they want to excel in Squad.
Best Tactical Shooters With A Focus On Realism
There is a wide variety of shooters out there for players to choose from, and that includes tactical shooters with impressive levels of realism.
Selecting the best combination of classes in a nine-man squad is imperative to secure a victory. It may take a few games to get into the groove of things, but players who give Squad a chance will be enthralled by its engaging gameplay loop in no time.
12 Ready Or Not
Players Step Into The Role Of A SWAT Officer In Sensitive Missions Where Planning Is Important
Ready or Not
- Released
- December 13, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Void Interactive
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, FPS
Those who are looking for something tactical and rooted in the "real world" should check out the Early Access title, Ready or Not. This in-depth and tactics-based first-person shooter has players venturing out alone or joining forces via cooperative play to handle a series of situations as members of SWAT. There are multiple issues to tackle, with events like raids, hostage situations, bomb defusing, and active shooters.
Anyone looking to step into the shoes of a SWAT officer and handle some of the things that they may be called to deal with on a daily basis could learn a lot from Ready or Not. It may not be superbly realistic to the real-world job at the end of the day but it's a solid tactical shooter that is showing a lot of promise.
11 Payday 2
Carrying Out Bank Heists And Planning Assaults Is The Name Of The Game
Payday 2
- Released
- August 13, 2013
- Developer(s)
- Overkill Software
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
- Genre(s)
- FPS
One of the most engaging parts of tactical shooters is the idea that players need to be as planned and calculated as possible to carry out their mission. This is a concept that extends to Payday 2, although players may have a much easier time with "staying alive" than they would in other games thanks to its fairly arcade-style approach to combat. The tactics and planning stage in Payday 2 comes from the idea that players are roleplaying as criminals and must use their wits and skills to pull off successful heists on stores, compounds, and banks.
Payday 2 offers a lot of replayability thanks to its extensive amount of content and the fact that players can play online, cooperatively with other players makes the game even more entertaining.
Payday 3 is also available, and its gunplay is generally an improvement. That said, it is stripped down compared to its predecessor.
10 Escape From Tarkov
A Realistic Tactical Shooter Where Players Must Plan Their Movements Carefully
Escape from Tarkov
- Released
- November 15, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Battlestate Games
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Extraction Shooter, Survival
There is something supremely entertaining and invigorating about winning a tactical shootout. Those who play Rainbow Six: Siege know how exciting it can be to pull off a particularly difficult win against an opposing team, but the Operators in Siege have access to some pretty fantastic equipment, as well as their own subset of abilities. Anyone who wants the same hard-as-nails tactical fight against other players but is looking for something that's purely gunplay-based might find a home in Escape from Tarkov.
The Battle Royale is incredibly tactical, with players using their wits, skills, and whatever equipment they can find to escape from areas overrun by players and AI.
9 Sniper Ghost Warrior 3
A Tactical Approach And Avoiding Direct Combat Is Paramount To The Player's Success
Sniper Ghost Warrior 3
Developed by CI Games, the Sniper Ghost Warrior franchise doesn't have the best reputation, but it does get the tactical aspects of the genre right. The third entry in the series, which was released in 2017, offers a big open Soviet Georgia map that allows players to explore and attack. Though some budget issues hold it back from feeling like a living breathing world, it does offer a lot of choice in how missions are accomplished.
As the first open-world entry in the series, there are tons of side-quests available to work through as well. This means there's also a lot of variety in terms of what needs to be done during missions, so the game hardly ever gets boring. Players just need a little bit of tolerance for cheesy writing and less-than-stellar visuals.
8 Tom Clancy's The Division 2
A Looter Shooter Where Engagements Can Be Surprisingly Tactical
Tom Clancy's The Division 2
- Released
- March 15, 2019
- Developer(s)
- Massive Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
If players like that typical Ubisoft gameplay style, then Tom Clancy's The Division 2 should already be in their collection. Released in 2019, this online multiplayer-focused shooter with RPG elements offers massive locations to explore and fight in. But it's not all shoot and loot; In fact, the core combat gameplay does feature a healthy dose of tactics. Positioning is increasingly important on the battlefield and if someone is playing with a group, squad management will play a big role too.
Mix in an interesting story that sees the fall of mankind thanks to a smallpox outbreak, and the result is a pretty solid title that's begging to be played for hours on end.
7 Gears Of War 5
Taking Cover And Strategically Taking Out Opponents Is Imperative To Survive Some Tough Shootouts
Gears 5
- Released
- September 10, 2019
- Developer(s)
- The Coalition
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
When gamers think about Gears of War, most probably think of burly men with incredible bass in their voice shooting Lovecraftian monsters with guns that feature chainsaws if they get too close. For the most part, that's correct, however, the revolutionary cover-based combat that most games have been copying since the first game's release on the Xbox 360 is probably the best part. Gears of War 5 offers that tried and true gameplay but makes everything feel that much bigger with a pseudo-open world that allows for some exploration, but offers some fantastic strategical elements that feel both familiar and new at the same time.
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One could argue that this is the best game in the franchise, and they'd have a point. At the very least, it's the most polished, and the first to take a step forward in terms of gameplay evolution.
6 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
A Popular Tactical Shooter Where Tactics And Squad Management Is Imperative To Gain A Victory
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
- Released
- December 1, 2015
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Amazon Luna, Stadia, PC
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
While Ghost Recon has always been the "tactical" franchise under the Tom Clancy umbrella, Rainbow Six offered a tinge of that mixed with more squad-based gameplay. Siege gives players everything they could want from the Rainbow Six side of things while giving players a dash of that much-desired tactical gameplay by allowing gamers to set up defenses and attack strategies similar to what some game modes of Counter-Strike have offered for years.
With a strong online community and some inspiring gameplay, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege bridges the two franchises in a way we never saw coming, making it feel unique compared to what we've played from either series.