When it comes to first-person shooters with an emphasis on grounded and tactical action, “Call of Duty” is still king. Originally starting as a World War II shooter, “Call of Duty” transformed from a “Medal of Honor” clone to a yearly success for Activision. Since then, the series has shifted into modern warfare at different hotspots around the globe while retaining its explosive sensibilities. The franchise’s sweeping single-player campaigns are complemented by frenetic online multiplayer modes, with the <a href="https://comicvibe.com/10-best-reality-tv-shows-like-love-is-blind/” title=”10 Best Reality TV Shows Like Love Is Blind”>best “Call of Duty” games balancing both experiences expertly.
Of course, there are plenty of other first-person shooters around for those looking for more gunplay action. From other tactical shooters to titles that offer an engaging online multiplayer experience, FPS fans are eating well these days. We’re highlighting the most enjoyable of the bunch, games that bring fresh dimensions to the FPS genre along with a healthy amount of spectacle. These are the five best video games like “Call of Duty,” each reveling in intense first-person shooter action.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Let’s start with the biggest outlier on this list: “Halo: The Master Chief Collection,” which was originally released in 2014 for the Xbox One. The compilation includes the first-person shooter titles in the series through “Halo 4,” even games that don’t star Master Chief, like “Halo 3: ODST” and “Halo: Reach.” Updated with a more modern presentation, the collection features the single-player campaign and multiplayer experiences for each title in full. After the “Master Chief Collection” overcame a disastrous launch, it became the definitive release in the entire series.
What “Halo” has in common with “Call of Duty,” other than clearly providing first-person shooter action, lies in its multitude of features. Both franchises have epic single-player campaigns largely built around bombastic set pieces and both pride themselves on providing especially sweeping finales. But multiplayer is really where the comparisons are the most noticeable, with a variety of objective-driven modes and challenge missions to play online. If you’re a “Call of Duty” fan who also likes sci-fi games, then look no further than “Halo: The Master Chief Collection.”
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
The venerable “Rainbow Six” series shifted to online gameplay with “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege,” which launched in 2015. Like previous entries in the series, there is a strong emphasis on teamwork and coordination as squads alternately raid or defend fortified locations. To play up this dynamic, the game features largely destructible environments to keep defenders on their toes. Ubisoft has maintained support for “Rainbow Six Siege” for years, including adding Sam Fisher as an operator to let fans play as the fan-favorite “Splinter Cell” protagonist.
“Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege” makes this list because of its online gameplay aligning with “Call of Duty.” While many of its levels are not as sweeping as the Activision franchise, “Rainbow Six Siege” also places a prominent focus on relatively grounded tactical action. The action escalates intensely and the more a team coordinates, the better the overall experience is, which mirrors the “Call of Duty” experience. One of the best tactical online shooters around, “Rainbow Six Siege” stands as the arguable pinnacle of the series.
Hell Let Loose
Launched in 2021, the World War II online shooter “Hell Let Loose” is set in the European and North African theaters of the war, with players choosing from 14 different soldier classes. Online matches see up to 100 players, divided equally across Axis and Allied factions, battling across large maps directly inspired by actual WWII battles. Player communication is key to battlefield coordination, with players identified as officers able to give wider commands than lower-ranked troops.
“Call of Duty” started out as a WWII shooter, and “Hell Let Loose” fills the void it left behind as it shifted to modern warfare. The game has steadily updated its online experience since its launch, all while maintaining an eye for detail in authentically bringing its historical skirmishes to life. The creators of the franchise are currently developing a Vietnam War-set spin-off, which is slated for release in 2026, but OG “Call of Duty” fans will no doubt prefer the original, which drops players right into the thick of a WWII battle.
Counter-Strike 2
Another game that favors online multiplayer over a single-player experience is “Counter-Strike,” which has been a primarily PC-based staple since 1999. The franchise’s latest title is “Counter-Strike 2,” which was released as a free-to-play game in 2023, replacing “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.” Gamers play as either terrorists or counter-terrorists, with the latter trying to stop the former from launching an attack. What distinguishes the game from its predecessors are additional variants to its usual gameplay modes, including deathmatches instead of objective-based action.
“Counter-Strike” is one of the most straightforward tactical multiplayer first-person shooter series around and that continues with “Counter-Strike 2.” Since its launch, the game has added more content and refinements through regular updates, expanding greatly on the foundation laid by “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.” It leans into what has always worked in the series, wisely not messing with that appeal but actually improving upon it. The latest and greatest in the venerable franchise, “Counter-Strike 2” is an all-killer, no-filler tactical FPS experience.
Battlefield 6
With the negative buzz around its latest installment, “Call of Duty” should be worried about “Battlefield 6” reclaiming popularity that it ceded to the Activision franchise. Marking a resurgence for the long-running Electronic Arts series, the 2025 online-only game takes things back to the basics after the 2021 sci-fi title “Battlefield 2042.” With a more grounded and serious tone, the game’s set in the near-future, with NATO forces battling a private military company in hotspots around the world.
“Battlefield 6” offers an expansive online multiplayer experience that’s regularly updated, and the frenetic gameplay and aesthetics will have “Call of Duty” players ready to jump ship. Yes, it’s been well documented that “Battlefield 6” lost 90% of its peak playerbase, though it remains an entertaining experience and one that’s still actively supported by EA. A thrilling revamp and course correction for the series, “Battlefield 6” has the most in common with current “Call of Duty” games.
