The open-world genre represents the highest level of freedom in gaming, and when combined with FPS action, the result is an immersive experience that sees players shooting their way across expansive landscapes and battling to survive. When it comes to difficulty, it is tough to balance fair and fun gameplay with engaging combat, but there are a few games out there that manage to achieve a high level of challenge while also offering a large world for players to explore.
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There are realistic military battlefields that see players fighting others in a test of skill and wits, post-apocalyptic warzones filled with horror and destruction, and many more brutal environments out there that really push the limits of what's possible in an open-world FPS.
Arma 3
Virtual Battlegrounds That Feel Closer To Reality
Arma 3
- Released
- September 12, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Bohemia Interactive
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Tactical
Arma 3 stands as the definitive open-world military simulator, immersing players in an environment that replaces spectacle with strategy and where impatience is quickly punished. Set across massive Mediterranean islands, the game blends sandbox freedom with authentic combat physics, pushing players to factor in everything from wind to fatigue to bullet drop to succeed.
Unlike most shooters, Arma 3 puts a much bigger emphasis on understanding its deeper mechanics rather than just raw aiming ability. There’s no forgiving aim assist or regenerating health, which ensures that every bullet that lands leaves a mark. It's the ultimate test of discipline and endurance, heavily rewarding players for biding their time and striking when the moment is right, but penalizing those who overstep their limits.
Metro Exodus
Pushing Through The End Of The World
Metro Exodus
- Released
- February 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
Metro Exodus pushes players to their limits with its brutal mix of survival horror and tactical shooting. The post-apocalyptic Russian landscape is strikingly beautiful, filled with all manner of creatures and enemies that each present their own challenges for players to overcome. Resources are scarce, and combat is incredibly unforgiving, meaning that one missed shot could easily spell immediate death.
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What truly makes the game so hard is how it induces a feeling of desperation in the player. Players aren't soldiers with endless ammo supplies, but survivors clinging to hope in a collapsed world. That lack of security makes every encounter feel chilling, whether it's with a group of bandits or a giant mutated monstrosity.
Far Cry 2
No Chance For Safety
Far Cry 2
- Released
- October 21, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Open-World
Far Cry 2 is a gritty FPS adventure that leans heavily into realism in ways that few other games have even attempted. Set in a chaotic African nation, the player is a mercenary caught between warring factions, but enemies are the least of their problems. Players need to manage weapon degradation, fight off malaria, and ration supplies, creating a true sense of struggle in every single moment.
The game really goes out of its way to punish the player for poor planning or sparse preparation, providing few moments of calm to recover from the action. With such a brutal world to explore and an army of intelligent enemies waiting to fight back, even veteran gamers will have a hard time making it through to the end unscathed.
7 Days To Die
A Perpetual Loop Of Undead
7 Days to Die
- Released
- June 28, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
7 Days to Die drops players into a decaying, zombie-infested world where survival is never guaranteed. The open world serves as a sandbox for creation, as players can slowly build up a pretty sizable fortress to defend against the incoming hordes. The difficulty comes from the time constraints and a lack of abundant resources, forcing players to scavenge whatever they can as fast as possible to even have a chance of making it through the night.
Unlike most open-world games, 7 Days to Die is a slow war of attrition that ensures that every session has just as much danger as the last. Failure is nearly inevitable, and with no real completion goal in sight, players simply need to hold on for as long as they can. There are no easy ways out, and often just a single path to shoot at until the bullets run dry.
Rust
One Sound Is All It Takes
Rust
- Released
- February 8, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Facepunch Studios
- Genre(s)
- Survival
Rust is an intense PvP battleground that requires constant attention and an unmatched level of game knowledge to succeed. Players spawn in with virtually nothing and are forced to hunt, break, and build makeshift structures just to survive the early stages. As players progress, their bases become even more complex, with defenses and doors that can only be destroyed with the right explosive equipment, meaning that even at their safest, players are never truly secure.
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The game follows the same pace as the players on the map, and the amount of action and intensity depends a lot on how bloodthirsty the other survivors are. There are no shortcuts to success, only slow grinds to reach that geared-up state and the hope that the players will spot their enemies first, and not the other way around.
SCUM
Chaos On Another Level
SCUM
- Released
- June 17, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Survival
- Platform(s)
- PC
SCUM takes the concept of open-world survival and pushes it into brutal, hyperrealistic territory. The world is a sprawling landscape that serves as the setting for a game show, with players needing to manage everything from their metabolism to their body temperature, all while fighting off anyone and anything that stands in their way.
The sheer number of systems that need to be adhered to is insane, requiring a nearly inhuman amount of attention to stay on top of everything. In terms of the combat, players will need to have their wits about them, as not only do they have to shoot down other players, but also dozens of mechs, bears, zombies, and more, in what is easily one of the hardest open-world survival games ever made.
DayZ
Zombies Are The Least Of Your Problems
DayZ
- Released
- December 13, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bohemia Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Survival
DayZ transforms the zombie apocalypse into a haunting experiment in human survival and morality. Spawning into a vast, desolate world, players face hunger, disease, and the constant threat of both the infected and other survivors. With no guarantees or safety nets, every encounter is filled with a need for caution. Trusting a stranger can lead to salvation, or just as likely, a bullet to the head.
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The tension comes not just from zombies, but from the unpredictability of human behavior. The undead become more of an obstacle to the main game of managing resources and keeping watch for any approaching players who could be good or evil. With permanent death and no easy ways back, a single decision can mean a complete reset of progress and a reminder that people will do anything just to survive.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow Of Chornobyl
Every Movement Could Result In Death
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
- Released
- March 20, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- GSC Game World
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Survival Horror
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl is a masterclass in atmospheric brutality, blending first-person shooting with survival horror in a radioactive wasteland. The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is the perfect setting for a decimated open world full of mutants and death, and the gameplay is just as bleak as the setting, demanding that players navigate the world with caution, as any unseen anomaly could wipe them out in a second.
The Zone itself becomes the biggest enemy. With so much darkness and a lack of safe zones, players will often have to venture out for long periods at a time, praying that they make it back alive. It's as much about courage as it is about skill, because players will need to contend with both grotesque enemies and environmental hazards, many of which are non-optional and need to be conquered to progress.
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