Looking to recapture the exhilarating essence of hunting amidst untamed forests? Prepare to embark on this adventure through our list of the best hunting games.
The art of hunting, an age-old pursuit, once propelled adventurers into forests to track and hunt wild creatures with purposeful intent. In antiquity, survival and sustenance were the driving motives behind these endeavors. As society evolved, the motivations expanded to encompass entertainment, resources, and trophies.
Yet, venturing into the wilderness, tracking animals, lining up a shot, and claiming a triumphant kill demands a boldness that not all can muster, but gaming technology has made the impossible possible. Even if you’re not a fan of “the great outdoors,” you can do so in these video games. Not only are hunting games entertaining, but they also offer practical benefits as they often require you to understand animal behavior and master stealth and patience. Similarly, in hunting games, you often encounter realistic hunting scenarios, which encourage players to develop strategies for tracking and locating animals.
When you have something that moves fast or looks like a T. Rex in front of you, what do you think about? The hunt? If so, you are certainly going to find our list of best hunting games interesting.
Hunting Simulator 2
Most hunters will tell you that the greatest thrill is not just the hunt but wandering the vast wilderness in search of the perfect prey. Hunting Simulator 2 will grant you this experience in game form. Here, you will have three different regions to explore. You can walk through the lush fields of Colorado, wade through the Texas desert, or travel to Europe and wander through its forests!
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Hunting Simulator 2 - PlayStation 4 (PS4) |
$30.91 |
Buy on Amazon |
With a total of six square miles to hunt, you will have plenty to do and plenty to search for! Of course, you will also have to work on your side to catch your prey. This includes outfitting your hunter with the best weapon and gear to get the job done. Hunters can equip themselves with weapons and equipment from well-known manufacturers, take a hunting dog as a companion – in general, and go on an adventure in full combat readiness. Without a doubt, this is a PC simulation game you can’t afford to miss!
Developer: Neopica
Publisher: Nacon
Release Year: 2020
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
The main campaign of Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak has you protecting a village from a monstrous rampage. Then, you will set off to stop the problem at the source by hunting all the monsters you see! True to the nature of the game, you will collect items and materials to build better armor and weapons.
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Monster Hunter Rise - Nintendo Switch | $27.99 | Buy on Amazon |
When you are done with the main game, the Sunburn DLC brings more adventures, monsters, and fun. If you want to hunt monsters but feel more inclined towards a realistic take, then Monster Hunter: World would be your best choice. It has a perfectly refined gameplay that appeals not only to fans of RPGs but also to hunting fans, as there is a lot to do to eliminate each creature.
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Year: 2021
TheHunter – Call of the Wild
TheHunter: The Call of the Wild aims to do one thing — put you in a realistic hunting scenario in the game world. The game’s environments have been constructed to recreate the wonder and beauty of nature and make it feel like a thriving entity. They even say you are not a “visitor” to this place. You are a living part of the world, and your actions affect it.
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TheHunter Call of the Wild - 2019 Edition (Xbox One) | $114.28 | Buy on Amazon |
Arguably, the best part of the game is that you don’t have to hunt alone. Instead, you can bring your friends via online play and have a hunting party! There are plenty of species to hunt in the title, so work together and win your dream prize! Every foot of the world’s 256 square kilometers has been made using Apex, the technology created by Avalanche Studios over a decade of developing explosive action-hunting games.
Developer: Expansive Worlds
Publisher: Avalanche Studios Group
Release Year: 2017
Way of the Hunter
Way of the Hunter is a co-op shooter game in which players have access to vast areas full of various games – dozens of animal species with a realistic behavior model. The game offers a change of day and night, as well as weather conditions, a reliable simulation of ballistics and damage, and a large selection of equipment, including equipment from real-life manufacturer.
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Way of The Hunter for PlayStation 5 |
$19.50 |
Buy on Amazon |
The also gives you the ability to fine-tune the difficulty – from using various virtual assistants to completely turning off the interface. Finally, the game is also suitable for those who do not want to harm animals: such players can arm themselves with a photo gun and arrange a photo hunt.
Developer: Nine Rocks Games
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Release Year: 2022
Red Dead Redemption 2
We’re pretty sure that you’re not thinking of Red Dead Redemption 2 when looking at the best hunting games. However, Rockstar has a penchant for ensuring that they cover each and every aspect of whichever era takes their fancy in a particular game.
While RDR2 is known mostly for other aspects, the hunting in the game is quite well-made. First off, Arthur has to eat in order to survive in the American wilderness. The one way to get food? Hunting, of course! Secondly, you’ll have to track the animals, set bait, and understand the areas in which they can be found.
You can’t simply go and hunt with a gun, either. Doing so would ruin the meat and pelt, leaving you with less food and a pelt that won’t be worth much, either in terms of crafting or selling. So, you can either kill them with a bow or knife. Of course, with bigger animals like the bear, you’ll have to track them and take them down with your gun!
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Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4) |
$25.95 |
Buy on Amazon |
Finally, you’ll have to go through water or be away from the wind’s direction. Otherwise, the animals will have your scent. Considering how detailed the hunting in the game is, who’s to say that this can’t be classified as a hunting game?
Developers: Rockstar Studios
Publishers: Rockstar Games
Release Date: October 26, 2018
TheHunter Classic
For lovers of realistic hunting, there is no better video game on the market than TheHunter Classic. Its expansive, realistic environments are a feast for the eyes, and you will struggle to explore every inch. Each animal is almost unique, leaving it up to the player behind the scope to choose which animal will yield the best loot.
With every step your character takes, leaves and twigs will break, potentially signaling your existence to wildlife. Moreover, TheHunter Classic also offers endless customization as you perfect your weapons. You can upgrade cartridges, scopes, stocks, barrels, and much more.
Developer(s): Expansive World & Avalanche Studios Group
Publisher(s): Expansive World & Avalanche Studios Group
Release Year: 2009
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Depth Hunter 2: Deep Dive
We’ve talked mostly about hunting on earthy terrains. But, there’s just as much wildlife (and more) in the depths of water. This is what Depth Hunter 2: Deep Dive tries to capture in this game. You won’t be hunting with guns here, but modern spears and similar weapons.
Of course, to make things more realistic, you’ll have to deal with your oxygen levels and watch out for marine predators. Since the ocean floor is enormous, the challenge is increased as some fish can swim extremely fast, while others camouflage themselves against the environment.
Apart from the depth hunting, you have the option to find collectibles and treasure on the sea floor. This will help you upgrade your equipment to hunt bigger marine wildlife. This game isn’t a walk in the park or a swim in a pool (see what we did there?). You’ll have to keep your wits about you when diving into the depths of the Mediterranean Sea!
Developers: Biart Company LLC
Publishers: Biart Company LLC
Release Date: August 20, 2014
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
The Fisherman – Fishing Planet
If you are looking for a more aquatic form of hunting through fishing, The Fisherman – Fishing Planet is an excellent choice. Not only is it in-depth regarding gameplay, but it’s also completely free to start.
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The Fisherman: Fishing Planet (PS4) - PlayStation 4 | $59.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Players obtain fishing licenses to travel to such unique areas as Missouri, the Czech Republic, or Alberta. You must participate in sport fishing competitions, evolving your equipment with rods, lines, and other items from real brands. You collect money in the game and can equip your character with various existing products. Customizing every detail is possible, but you will need to start at the bottom.
Developer: Antiproto Studios
Publisher: Antiproto Studios
Release Year: 2020
Prehistoric Hunt
Prehistoric Hunt is a game about dinosaur hunting: players go to a world inhabited by prehistoric creatures and start fulfilling hunting contracts alone or with friends.
The action occurs on a large territory with a complex terrain inhabited by various dinosaur species, from herbivorous herd animals to solitary and dangerous predators. The more successfully the players complete the tasks, the more modern weapons become available to them, and with it, the more opportunities to catch the most formidable monsters.
Developer: Antiproto Studios
Publisher: Antiproto Studios
Release Year: 2020
➡️ Check it out on Steam.
Predator Hunting Grounds
Predator: Hunting Grounds is an asymmetric multiplayer in which four players will control soldiers, and one player will control the Predator. The game tries to mimic the tension and action of the 1987 movie The Predator, featuring the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger and his squad of mercenaries in a remote Central American jungle.
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Predator: Hunting Grounds (PS4) |
$39.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
The game does a decent job of recreating the same sense of tension and desperation that the classic movie did. Hearing the alien’s distinctive sound and knowing its presence, without being able to see where it came from, is unique and terrifying, and at this point, being separated from your group is a certain death sentence, forcing players to work as a team to kill the monster or delay it until they manage to get away. Controlling the Predator is a fantastic and unique experience. In tight moments, the monster can climb trees and quickly flee. Like soldiers, the Predator is entirely customizable.
Developer: IllFonic
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release Year: 2020
Cabela’s: The Hunt Championship
Cabela’s: The Hunt Championship is designed for true connoisseurs of virtual hunting for big games. The developers promise that exercises with Cabela’s will even prepare us for the real hunt.
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Cabela's: The Hunt Championship Edition - Nintendo Switch |
$32.00 |
Buy on Amazon |
Just as in reality, in this game, before shooting prey, you must first find and lure it: carefully examine the tracks, familiarize yourself with the terrain and habits of the hunted animal, choose the correct (leeward) side of the approach, suitable bait, and so on. The nuances here are dark, but this is exactly what attracts the attention of dedicated hunting enthusiasts to Cabela’s: The Hunt Championship.
Developer: Saber Interactive
Publisher: Planet Entertainment
Release Year: 2018
Wrapping Up
The world of hunting games goes beyond animals and takes you to uncharted territories where you have to deal with monsters and prehistoric creatures. So, grab your consoles and get straight into the hunt.
If hunting games aren’t your thing, but you still want to experience good shooting mechanics, don’t forget to check out our list of the best FPS games!
