Summary
Shooters come in many forms, from arcade arena combat to cover-based movement, and from realism to sci-fi surrealism.Tactical shootersare a sub-genre all to themselves, asking players to approach the game patiently, with the expectation of realistic mechanics and a quick death if shot.
Even this niche of shooters has its variations, with many hardcore mil-sim shooters opting forlarge-scale online battles likeSquadandHell Let Loose. These tactical shooters, however, all deliver that patient, tactical gameplay in a single-player setting. These arethe best tactical shooters PC players can play offline.
Ghost Recon Wildlandstakes thetactical shooter seriesinto the open world, a move that’s not always beneficial to pacing, but certainly gives players a large playground in which to carry out tactical missions. The shooting action is third-person and cover-based, augmented by a competent stealth system and military gadgets like drones.
It’s not the most realistic feeling of the tactical shooters here, opting for smooth-flowing shooting action that benefits from tactical planning, but doesn’t always require it. That said, there’s a lot of offline content for players to get through, including co-op, since players can play with AI teammates.
Released in 2003,Hidden & Dangerous 2was a tactical shooterahead of its time. The game focuses on the behind-enemy-lines operations of the British SAS during WW2. As such, it makes use of stealth and infiltration systems in its first and third-person gameplay.
There are disguises, real-time map planning, voice commands for the player’s four-man squad, and the ability to take prisoners of war. There are a lot of complex systems going on, on top of the game’s realistic shooter mechanics. It even included some real-time strategy-like segments, really pushing the boundaries of what tactical shooters offered at the time.
TheARMAseries is what many gamers think of when they hear the term tactical shooter.ARMA 3, still the most recent mainline entry in the franchise, offers the most extensive and varied version of thismilitary simulation-style tactical shooter.
ARMA 3has an impressive single-player campaign, with the option for co-op, that comprises multiple mini-campaigns and missions. Objectives range from solo infiltration and espionage to commanding troop maneuvers to win battles.
There are also vehicles, scuba equipment, underwater weapons, and more than 50 weapons, all with varying attachments. All of these mechanics are underpinned by the game’s simulation style, with an attention to detail and realism that meansARMA 3more than holds up for modern players.
When it comes totactical shooters,SWAT 4is a classic. The squad-based tactical command, mission planning, and police protocol adherence set many of the standards that developers use as a touchstone for what a police-simulation tactical shooter game should feel like.
Building on the previousSWATgames and theirPolice Questpredecessors,SWAT 4puts players in the role of SWAT team leader, with two tactical squads to command. The gameplay focuses on non-lethal apprehension and penalizes players for excessive use of force.
For players who want the feeling of planning out a mission and guiding their squads to victory, few games give the same feeling of tactical control asSWAT 4.Thanks to some (mostly) well-designed friendly and enemy AI, the game is still a joy to play offline today.
TheSniper Eliteseries takes a different approach to most tactical and simulation shooters, focusing on a story-driven campaign and a lone protagonist often facing overwhelming odds. The sniper-sim elements are undeniably deep, though, andSniper Elite 5in particular lets players dial up or down the simulation and realism aspects to achieve their desired balance.
Campaign missions feature a mix of stealth and open combat, and let players approach objectives in a free-form way within sandbox levels. Tactical planning is encouraged over open firefights, and players will generally have an easier time if they can take out key targets and plan traps before revealing their position.
Despite an extremely troubled development cycle, the 2023 release ofSix Days in Fallujahhas been well received by fans of mil-sim tactical shooters. The game features tactical squad command in real-life-inspired situations, taken from the accounts of soldiers and civilians who were directly involved in the Iraq War.
The realism translates to the look and feel of the gameplay as well. Environments are well realized and weapon and ballistic effects are well simulated. The game captures the danger of operating in hostile territory, forcing players to be aware of threats from all directions, secure areas before proceeding, and be alert at all times.
Ready or Not,by developer Void Interactive, is seen by many as the spiritual successor to theSWATseries. Like those games, it tasks players with taking charge of aSWATteam. Players can command their squads in first-person tactical shooter missions, focused on non-lethal take-downs and arrests.
This game takes that idea one step further by having players manage aSWATunit. NPC characters have psychological states and can die in the field. It’s up to players to keep their squad alive and their psychological health maintained to perform well on missions.
Ready or Notis a great-looking game, heightening the realism. The tactical squad-based gameplay is essential to success, too. The game and its enemy AI are challenging enough to effectively punish players who don’t play methodically and make use of their squad.
Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30stands out in many players' memories for takinga different approach to WW2shooters. As the first game in theBrothers in Armsseries, it set the precedent for the tactical squad-based gameplay thereafter. Developers Gearbox were quoted at the time as saying they wanted to take a more mature, less theatrical approach to WW2 storytelling in games.
This paid off. It wasn’t the only tactical shooter around in 2005, yet compared to the averageMedal of HonororCall of DutyWW2 story at the time, it certainly struck a unique tone. The squad commanding gameplay was well-realized, too.
Commanding two squads was relatively simple, even given the gamepad controls it was designed for. The game makes sure to reinforce the idea of pinning and flanking enemies to the player, creating tactical opportunities to do so, and discouraging the player from lone-wolfing by giving them unreliable, semi-realistic aim. Despite its age,Brothers in Arms:Road to Hill 30still holds up as a worthwhile tactical experience.
