The Tom Clancy name is synonymous with political and military thrillers, not just for the novels he wrote and the many movies and shows based on them, but also when it comes to video games. One particularly popular Tom Clancy video game series is “Tom Clancy’s The Division,” which began in 2016. The game, along with its 2019 sequel, takes place in a United States that’s rebuilding after surviving a devastating contagion. These games take place in open-world environments in major American cities as the player characters restore order through third-person shooter action.
For fans of “Tom Clancy’s The Division,” there are plenty of other shooter games set in open-world environments. Whether it’s games that also place an emphasis on squad-based teamwork or tactical titles that have players completing objectives and steadily reclaiming territory, we’re highlighting our favorite similar games. Each of these titles are well worth a look — preferably with friends playing cooperatively online, in most cases. These are the five best video games like “Tom Clancy’s The Division,” putting their own twist on open-world shooter fun.
Red Faction: Guerrilla
In an ambitious change to the series, “Red Faction: Guerrilla” takes its sci-fi action into an open-world experience. The 2009 game centers on Alec Mason, an engineer who arrives on Mars and joins the titular freedom fighter movement against the Earth Defense Forces. The game takes advantage of largely destructible environments, letting players use this as an offensive tactic to consider. Like its predecessors, the game also features a robust competitive multiplayer component with several different modes to try out.
“Red Faction: Guerrilla” is the only entry in the series to feature an open-world scope, which is a bit of a shame. The game uses this shift well, to the point where its follow-up “Red Faction: Armageddon” reverting back to linear levels feels like a big step back for the franchise. “Guerrilla” is also the first entry in the series to adopt a third-person perspective, like “Tom Clancy’s The Division,” a change that’s also organically staged. The last great installment in its series, “Red Faction: Guerrilla” lives up to most of its ambitious changes.
Far Cry New Dawn
Ubisoft’s “Far Cry” series has revolved around open-world first-shooter gameplay for decades, with many fans feeling “Far Cry 4” is the best in the franchise. But the 2019 spin-off title “Far Cry New Dawn” is the entry that feels the closest to “Tom Clancy’s The Division,” at least thematically. A sequel to “Far Cry 5,” the game follows on one of the possible endings of its preceding game, which saw the world devastated by nuclear warfare. “New Dawn” has survivors in Montana try to rebuild civilization in their own small way, with the player character defending them from the rampant lawlessness in the region.
“Far Cry New Dawn” admittedly uses a lot of the elements from “Far Cry 5,” albeit transposing them to a post-apocalyptic premise. That change in tone and creative direction is more than enough to make the game feel like more than reheated leftovers, but an underrated spin-off in the franchise. This narrative makes the open-world environment feel harsher than usual while that sense of progress seems all the more visible. Bringing a lot of interesting ideas to what “Far Cry” can be, “New Dawn” provides some offbeat post-apocalyptic fun.
Halo Infinite
After the lukewarm response to “Halo 5: Guardians,” the Xbox franchise went in a different direction with its 2021 follow-up “Halo Infinite.” The first open-world game in the series, the campaign has Master Chief and a company of UNSC battling the Banished on the Zeta Halo ring. After claiming forward operating bases around the environment, Master Chief can receive reinforcements and loadouts on gear and vehicles to help him finish the fight. This open-world environment also comes with plenty of other objectives, from assassinating high value targets to discovering lost audio logs and Forerunner relics.
With its expansive scope, it takes quite a long time to beat the “Halo Infinite” campaign, and certainly for those looking to complete every objective that the map has to offer. The game is definitely a big step in the right direction, and its accompanying multiplayer modes are as fun as ever. But the transition to an open-world experience is a laudable experiment that doesn’t feel forced or like too much of a departure from prior games. Bringing the series back to the basics with some new tricks, “Halo Infinite” subtly tweaks what the franchise can be.
The First Descendant
South Korean studio Nexon developed and published the 2024 title “The First Descendant,” a sci-fi looter shooter. The game takes place on the futuristic planet Ingris, which has been overrun by a monstrous race known as the Vulgus and the towering Colossi. Players choose from a variety of Descendants, gifted soldiers each with their own unique abilities that can be improved upon. Players are deployed in progressively more difficult open-world maps, each with their own missions, either operating alone or able to jump in and out of teams online.
When it launched in July 2024, critics observed that “The First Descendant” had room to grow and, in the two years after its launch, it has grown considerably. More than just adding new Descendants and weapons into the mix, the game has added seasonal missions with their own rewards, all with a can’t beat free-to-play price. Like “The Division,” players steadily drive back the Vulgus in the various game maps, with this progression punctuated by Colossi battles. Easy to sink countless hours into, “The First Descendant” and its updates keep us coming back for more.
Dying Light: The Beast
Polish developer Techland mixes open-world exploration with first-person horror in its “Dying Light” series, which began in 2015. The series’ latest installment, 2025’s “Dying Light: The Beast,” is a direct sequel to the original game, featuring the return of protagonist Kyle Crane. After being genetically experimented on against his will, Kyle gains a variety of superhuman abilities that grow progressively stronger. Armed with these new powers, Kyle seeks revenge for those who messed with him in a remote alpine community.
Even with its direction into superhuman action, “Dying Light: The Beast” still brings plenty of horror and tension to its experience. As with prior games in the series, whenever the sun goes, zombies become considerably more dangerous, keeping players on their toes. The game’s new setting is also a big improvement, both incredibly detailed and feature-rich to stay entertained between missions. Perfectly accessible for players who haven’t touched the previous games, “Dying Light: The Beast” is a return to form for the series.
