Far Cry started as a small franchise for Ubisoft, but once Far Cry 3 hit, everything changed. The tropical setting, the co-op, the story, the skill system, and, of course, the gunplay, made it a fun escapism fantasy. After that, the Far Cry series became a tentpole release for Ubisoft for a number of years, including mainline games, spinoffs, remasters, and DLC.
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The last game was Far Cry 6 in 2021, and a new one may be on the horizon soon. While that’s up in the air, players can look to these open-world games instead, as they have some pretty killer gunplay too. They may not do everything better than the Far Cry games, but they definitely have more engaging shooting mechanics or have a variety that makes them unique.
Borderlands 4
A Gun For Every Occasion
Borderlands 4
- Released
- September 12, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Borderlands 4 certainly has more guns than any Far Cry game, and while more is not always necessarily better, it’s the spice that keeps Borderlands fans happy. In this latest entry, players finally get an open world to explore as they take one of the four characters, each with three distinct class trees, around. Players can embark on quests, both main and side, which typically involve blasting enemy raiders or soldiers full of cartoony holes. This is a loot-based game, so all guns are randomized in terms of their stats and bonuses; however, players can expect to know what to expect based on the manufacturers.
For example, Daedalus guns typically allow players to swap between different firing styles, like burst or automatic. Maliwan, on the other hand, always has elemental-based ammo. As for gun types, players can find pistols, rifles, shotguns, rocket launchers, and more, along with sub-weapons like grenades. Each character’s skill trees can typically aid in gunfights in some way, which is true for Far Cry games with skill trees, too, but Borderlands 4 has more variety going on. Variety is pretty much what Borderlands 4 wins with, as there is a character build and weapon set out there for every first-person shooter fan.
Cyberpunk 2077
Decking Out Your Cyber Tech
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
What Cyberpunk 2077 does better than most open-world games, including RPGs, is offering players diverse character builds. Players can customize their character’s looks and then further expand their identity through cybernetic implants, which are costly, but they can make a world of difference in combat. Cybernetics also allows players to tackle missions in several ways, from hacking through terminals to get access through back entries, to gaining gun skills that can enhance their weapon handling and thus allow them to gun down guards like they were nothing. In terms of controls, each pistol, shotgun, and so on feels great in first-person.
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It’s up to the player how they want their character, V, to perform in the game. As Cyberpunk 2077 does take place in a futuristic cyberpunk setting, players also get the benefit of futuristic guns, which can blast different types of ammo even if they just look like jacked-up versions of standard guns. The rarer weapons demonstrate the wackiness of the world, including a smart gun that can talk to players and auto-aim bullets at targets. The strange levels don’t hit quite as hard in Cyberpunk 2077 as the guns found in Borderlands 4, but they are certainly more unique than anything a Far Cry game has to offer.
Halo Infinite
Master Chief Goes Open
Halo Infinite
- Released
- December 8, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- 343 Industries
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
The Halo series became the crown jewel of console first-person shooters with the release of Halo: Combat Evolved for the original Xbox in 2001. Bungie proved themselves to be masters of the craft with good weapon choices and solid controls that put all other console shooters to shame. Even though Bungie has moved on, primarily to the Destiny series, 343 Industries does a good job at keeping the quality alive. Halo Infinite is their latest entry, and it’s the first game that implements an open-world design. While the open-world setting is not as memorable as other open-world shooters, including Far Cry games, the controls are what really matter to Halo fans.
Master Chief is an absolute beast on the battlefield who can wield any weapon he comes across, like kinetic Marine weapons ranging from rifles to shotguns. There are also plenty of Covenant weapons that fans have fallen in love with, like the Needler, and watching those spines shoot out and explode is a sight that never gets old. Even reloading can create a sense of calm, as Master Chief always makes it look so simple and smooth. Among these entries, Halo Infinite is definitely the game with the best feel when it comes to shooting down alien scum.
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
It Takes An Army Village
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
- Released
- September 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action, Open-World
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is a third-person shooter, but it’s more of a stealth game at heart. As Venom Snake, players can opt into missions and explore open environments for smaller goals or bigger ones, but either way, players will typically have free rein. Along the way, they can search camps for research material or supplies that they can attach to balloons and send back to Mother Base, Snake’s HQ. Players have the option to knock out enemies with CQC, which is a type of martial arts, or they can stab them with a knife for a stealth kill. There are various lethal guns as well, from rifles to pistols, and they all handle pretty well for a Metal Gear game, as this entry has the finest controls.
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There are also various guns that can put enemies to sleep, and the reason to deal non-lethal damage is for recruitment purposes. Players can send enemies back to Mother Base, via balloons, to break their spirit and raise them as their own. Soldiers can then be assigned to various tasks at Mother Base, like weapon and gadget research, which is how players can get the best gear. Because players get a say in how they craft their weapons, this adds another layer to the gunplay, as it’s always fun to research and then test out new weaponry. While Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is a stealth-focused game and one where players should rarely get into high-octane gun battles, it’s hard to deny how fun it can be when players do let loose and gun enemies down. Also, as a stealth game, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain has Far Cry beat easily.
Tom Clancy's The Division 2
Squad Up
Tom Clancy's The Division 2
- Released
- March 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Tom Clancy's The Division 2 is another Ubisoft game that rivals their own Far Cry franchise. There are many Tom Clancy games with excellent shooting, but for the sake of variety, Tom Clancy's The Division 2 is a great choice because it’s another third-person example. The original game took place in a quarantine zone over New York City, and this time the battle has marched into Washington, D.C. It’s up to players, as members of The Division, to keep the peace among warring factions in this quarantine zone. It’s a loot-based game, so players will always be striving for the best stats and rarities when it comes to weaponry between various rifles and pistols.
There is a type of class system as well, which enables characters to unlock skills and gadgets in skill trees. In firefights, players can head for cover and either pop off rounds while hiding or hop out and get a few shots in before hiding again. Firefights can be intense alone, as enemies can come from all sides, but with a full squad of four in co-op, missions will be easier. The team-based tactics and the pure adrenaline rush players can get from being pinned down add to the excitement of the gunplay as if they truly were secret agents tasked with keeping the country safe.
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