Best Tactical Games in 2023

Today I break down the top 10 best tactical shooters on the market using a scoring system for statistical results and why I like them. These games are a staple in the industry and have a very hardcore Niche following. This list is curated based on my preferences and is subject to change depending on the individual.
SAVS Discord - / discord
Ready or Not Discord - / discord

[@livingbanana1970]

Why isn't ready or not on this list?

[@savvyplaysgames]

It is.

[@livingbanana1970]

God damn. I must be deaf and blind cause it is. Sorry@@savvyplaysgames

[@savvyplaysgames]

All good my guy! Thanks for watching

[@USA_is_a_Republic]

@@livingbanana1970 Vodka will do that to you lol. Been there! ;)

[@Borukhai]

lol a skiped intro too

[@ChongiFishing]

I have 1400 hours in Arma 3, 1000 of those come from single-player Antistasi, beating it is one of the hardest things I've ever done in gaming. Conquering a 270 kilometre island with a bolt action rifle against main battle tanks and attack helicopters is exhilarating and brain rotting at the same time.

[@DieselsAndGuns]

Just wanted to say i was blown away to see you only had 1.7k, your content is up to par with the larger channels. I enjoyed the video, so thank you. The only thing i can say is, id like to see which concoles the game is on when you list the game and number on top left. Keep it up man.

[@savvyplaysgames]

I appreciate that!

[@totallymojo]

1600hrs in Arma 3 here. I've made a ton of missions for my small group of gamers, before life got in the way and we had to disband. For the best experience you want the mods: ACE3 for realism, RHS for gear and ACRE (or TFAR) for radio simulation. After that, all you need is to join a milsim community (preferably one that is not 110% serious play).

[@Saint300Sparta]

Do they have offline bots you can practice with? I got a steam deck and I could get Call of Duty, but I prefer more like rainbow six games where you peak around corners and you move slowly and it’s more realistic.

[@FatFroggers]

​@@Saint300Sparta Yes Arma 3 has bots you can set up missions with. Anything from infantry to vehicles and aircraft. You can set them up to do many things, the possibilities are almost endless.

[@Saint300Sparta]

@@FatFroggers sweet! Sounds awesome

[@idontgetscared]

Love this list. I agree with a lot of it. My favorite is ghost recon breakpoint. It’s a really solid tactical shooter especially on PC with fps mod and some lighting enhancements, no hud and highest difficulty.

[@october001]

About 1300 hrs in Arma3 and sometimes I just like to load up a map and practice flying. Anyway, came from Arma2 (thousands of hours there too), to Arma3 and now playing more and more of Arma Reforger. Some would say Reforger is a test bed of technologies that will eventually make their way into Arma4, and that may be true, but it's very much playable as-is, right now.

[@S0vi3trapids_or_happyboi]

as an fyi for new players joining IS is that the studio is shutting down so it is unknown at the time if servers will be still up (most likely) and if content will still be rolling (at the minor pace it’s at already) I’ll edit this to keep you guys updated

[@indigenoustruthspeaker3129]

I would like a tactical military war shooter in single player game offline experience

[@Darkclaw86]

Every ARMA title has a single player campaigne (Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis now ARMA: Cold War Assault, ARMA, ARMA 2 and even ARMA 3). Iron Front: Liberation 1944, where you can play as Sovjets or German, based on the same engine as ARMA 2. Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad has some kind of a singlplayer campaign(it's basicly the multiplayer maps with a kind of progression of the Stalingrad conflict, as Sovjets or Germans, so yes you can win Stalingrad as a German soldier). And maybe the older Ghost Recon games before Wildlands in some cases. And yes, those are the only large scale military tactical shooter with a single player experience I know, besides special ops/forces and anti terror tactical stuff, in cqc enviroment or gernally in smaler scale (in the terms of a few soldiers/unit without other arms of services).

[@savvyplaysgames]

PREACH.

[@RachelMiddleton-wk3qe]

Great video, thanks for the suggestions, im gonna try some of these

[@MalikShaunte]

Great Vid... Please do a VR version of this!!

[@TheButterAnvil]

Good stuff. Subbed, keep it up

[@savvyplaysgames]

Thanks for the sub!

[@patartheconsumerofpizzarol806]

Also if ur on console like me, get arma reforger, its soooooooo much better than sandstorm on console, if you use a usb M&K it works, also the mods allow you to do whatever you like, plus great ai.

[@NokdMrk]

Rainbow six siege is now a rushing game (99%)

[@Callumdowson]

To true, I quit that 3 years ago now

[@S.P.A.T6590]

Fr like I still play it but there’s no tactical strategy in it anymore

[@Rolocky]

⁠@@S.P.A.T6590there isn’t, it’s just charge the enemy before they charge you.

[@rlrihards948]

The fate every multiplayer game faces. These kids don't care about fun tactical experience, they just want that dopomine hit. Every MP becomes a CoD.

[@bastrixer]

Yes, rush and kill, it is nothing tactical about it anymore, nor does the game award you for being tactical. Rarly see someone saying the hostage, defusing the bomb etc...people litterly run after the kill instead of defusing. Also they nerf every trap to make it easier. But they have had 10 years to make it more tactical, they choosed not to.

[@Darksuynz]

Insurgence sandstorm is really realistic, the most realistic military game on console probably

[@KnjazNazrath]

I liked Wildlands until I didn't. Can't really say why. Suddenly the game just felt like "a game" and I couldn't shake it. Then I was told Breakpoint was no longer the buggy mess 'twas on launch, so I tried it out. Really liking it. They're basically the same game, and I'm not usually one for class systems in an fps but I just thumb it out 'cause it's what i wanted Wildlands to be. What's the difference? I still can't put my finger on it.

[@latewizard301]

Is that a Monolith patch? idk what i feel about that tbh...

[@KnjazNazrath]

Spoken like a true Freedumb follower @@latewizard301

[@d3relict]

after a while it's easy to see all the mechanics behind Wildlands enemies, and learn how they cheat (they get your location even if you detonate a c4), so you can easily lose immersion, but the world is vivid, and a nice place overall to be in. Breakpoint enemies are much better, especially if you go with ghost mode and unleveled weapons (and futher hurting yourself by turning on injuries, limiting medkits, turning off most of the hud, etc), but the world is empty and soulless, and the story was basically just a line to pull me through various missions, i felt no attachment to any of the characters at all. Recent updates brought AI teammates to the game, but they lack the lifelike chatter Wildlands had. I found breakpoint to work best if you go solo with max realism, and only switching difficulty to easy when you have to endure the rare arcade-y missions.

[@havreus5929]

@@latewizard301 ZA MONOLIT!

[@savvyplaysgames]

I think they both offer something unique and it depends on what atmosphere you enjoy more. Personally I prefer Wildlands but I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the Ghost experience.

[@PrinceMauriceTV]

Arma 3 is the reason I got into PC gaming in 2014. It's definitely still a beast

[@brianmclaffin]

I am addicted to Tarkov, Arma 3 was too much for me. Will have to try some others on this list.

[@o.m.4483]

Arma was designed for military use. Simulation!!!! That's why is a little complicated

[@whateverd]

@@o.m.4483yeah, the army has the buy the dlc to complete training😂

[@6lutsn6lory]

Are you larping on tarkov 😂😂😂😂 average 12.12 player

[@natefelicio]

how do you feel about tarkov these days? I haven't play it since las year

[@brianmclaffin]

@@natefelicioI actually stopped playing since last wipe. The whole 6 month wipe thing kinda kills it for me.

[@trapper7954]

I’m also hyped for Grey zone Warfare, it is still in development but it looks amazing already! It is a bit like Escape From Tarkov but open world…

[@ides0745]

Honestly Ghost Recon Wildlands and Ghost Recon Breakpoint are 2 completely different games. If you want larger scale firefights, Wildlands. If you want larger map, more realism, and much better stealth, Breakpoint is the way to go.

[@Wagenheber69]

I started playing Arma like 1,5 years ago and I didn't have fun. It was so hard to understand all the mechanics and stuff and I didn't even know what to play in arma. The hardest thing in the beginnig is to find a server to play on or friends to play with. So I bought a friend of me Arma 3 and now we are playing it regulary. It is so much fun just experimenting in some coop missions. It's also relatively easy to create your own mission. Even though I am still a beginner, I can offer you my help to get started, if you want to :D

[@christianbruch896]

whats your steam? im in the exact situation you describe and need someone to show me around so to say.

[@Wagenheber69]

@@christianbruch896 " Beherzte Bratwurst " is my Steam

[@dmknght8946]

I spent hours playing arma (antistasi mod is the only reason i play). The game engine has too many issues. Small issues but enough to destroy the fun for me. Most of them are the brain dead AI, performance issues or sometime physic logics.

[@creativegamer5782]

What gamemodes you guys guys play, I am new to arma 3 none of my friends plays it and I am wondering what gamemode could I play only with the people on the server

[@KO-gu6wp]

Ground branch has been in development way longer than 5 years, i remember the dev team working on it like 15 years ago during the rainbow six raven shield days.

[@XxTavoRxX]

Interesting take, i agree with a number if your choices, i used to play exclusively on console so some of those choices werent an option. I just recently bought a pc that can actually handle games and dl'd ground branch and RoN ... I do want to try squad and arma but i dont have a large pool of friends to play with so i am limited in gaming, and single player is much easier with console in wildlands for instance. Anyway, thank you for your insights in to these games

[@shipuden97]

i have 150 hrs in arma and none of my friends like it but im always having a blast. I didnt understand the game until I got into Invade and Annex gamemode... you basically squad up over the mic, get transported by the pilot and then complete objectives against AI while led by whoever is a squad leader. You get to learn some military language as theres plenty of vets playing the game. Its a good game, but you need to find that gameplay that helps you understand what the game is about

[@joggerino3284]

Hell Let Loose is great. Can recommend, especially when you have friends to play with you regularly and you like to communicate.

[@tonnyhuy2869]

but it very expensive, rather buy squad is better

[@joggerino3284]

@@tonnyhuy2869 bought it for €

[@ruben6778]

@@tonnyhuy2869 They are exactly the same price, I find Squad better yet for me HLL is more enjoyable

[@zaneversetti6346]

Man i honestly enjoy your content. I would love to see more operator vids

[@savvyplaysgames]

On it!

[@LazloArcadia]

I've heard that Arma 3 has a large modding community that can turn your game into a zombie shooter (for example), as well have allowing you to play in conflicts at different points in history such as Vietnam, WWII, or more modern conflicts.

[@CallMeMilenko]

Steam currently has Arma 3 base game on sale for 7.49 :D

[@leodgm]

Great video. Very informative. I have been loving “Arma 3” but I have been stuck on the “drone mission” and can’t seem to go over it. Anyone has a solution for it?

[@jamesmcmahon7837]

Vids on here show you how to get past this mission kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3mbiX9shcaAZsUsi=MWxasfBIwqPK2if_ 👍🏼👍🏼

[@vn20230]

"In my opinion, Hell Let Loose is the pinnacle of large-scale WW2 games" bro forgot about battlefield 1, THE ww2 fps

[@bonkheadgaming]

battle felid 1 just isnt as realistic

[@Ach7aRYAN]

In my opinion, you should have more subscribers and likes. very good video bro

[@itsMBWAAA]

black one: blood brothers!! Made by one guy and is excellent! Has soooo many features and one of my most important aspects of any single player game: a campaign mode coming soon!

[@perialis2970]

Out of topic, think large scale wars games should be cheaper, may be even free, with good marketing so they can have a big playerbase.

[@XspimaX]

Red Orchestra 2 :D and OFP as my avatar of course :D

[@picure]

Only if you can turn off the ai voice-lines in ground branch. Every time the ai say i see enemy, it really takes away the immersion

[@immortalghost443]

Breakpoint too is a great game if you love Wildlands

[@Vladimir-wh5hs]

One thing I love about Siege that would be amazing if something similar was incorporated in other games it the destruction system, being able to blow a hole in a wall and run through or shoot holes through a wall with a shotgun is just amazing.

[@savvyplaysgames]

Environmental destruction is always a warm welcome an FPS games

[@edwardhalbrooks7571]

Yea for aure

[@MrPaelleon]

Hi, If you are still interested in playing ArmA, I'm playing the serie since 2001 when it was born as Operation flashpoint. Maybe I can help you.

[@amiddleton42]

I’d be down

[@RackTheMilesWelding]

As a man who has over 12,000 hours in Arma 3, I can attest to its #1 spot, but be prepared for the worst frustration when it comes to keeping your RAM free and the graphics drivers regularly updated.

[@KB-xf4nn]

12,000 hours BRO WHAT THE FUCK!!?

[@kwabat5389]

what do yu mainly play? I am a beginner and am kind of lost

[@halfbrokerising]

Ok, I know this video is older, but I am looking for game like the old school game called MAG on the PS3 if anyone remembers that but on PC. There hasn't been something like that in awhile that I've come up on. If anyone can point me in the direction of something similar I would appreciate it. I have SQUAD and been looking at ARMA 3 but it looks a bit much.

[@takticaltoaster3122]

Hey guys I don’t know if he forgot about this but there is a game called operator try and play it

[@Mmmmmm-ej6ji]

What was the game you were playing in the intro 😅

[@CallMeMilenko]

Did I hear a little bit of depression in how you said "Escape From Tarkov"? LOL

[@savvyplaysgames]

Yessir. If you know you know.

[@CallMeMilenko]

@@savvyplaysgames Yep, I feel it every time I mention the game to a friend.

[@BlueNoteGaming_]

I agree with the choice of Arma but I'm still not gonna touch it again. Maybe one day lol

[@GuardianHa]

The other downside for Rainbow 6 is how unforgiving the community is toward new players. They don’t care if you’re new. You WILL get quick peek-headshotted as soon as you turn a corner through a small hole cause they have a Mira.

[@ghatak580]

Americas Army proving grounds for me, i spent 7000 hours in it..

[@Asteroffical]

What was the game shown in the intro?

[@Keezybaby249]

Man I just started playing arma 2022 man I missed out

[@yassou2886]

Ready or Not

[@djspikeone]

Could recommend also game called "Zero Hour"

[@savvyplaysgames]

Almost made the list. Honorable mentions next time.

[@Rick3_dot]

insurgency is where its at!! Game is dumb punishing but we have a great community

[@watchurkillcamnl7980]

Hey i Just got a pc and was thinking of tarkov can anyone tell me more with what he means with the cheaters in tarkov?

[@savvyplaysgames]

Google ESP Tarkov

[@michoghorra4490]

yo these games aren't that bad i also like the fact that most of them is less then 20gb

[@jefamoroso]

Don’t miss Decimated!

[@taomahNEGEV]

Ready or Not beats them all.

[@Mmmmmm-ej6ji]

Ehhh depends honestly. Ready or not is fun but with people if yup play it by yourself you’ll get bored pretty fast

[@Michaelanderson1985]

Love the list, not necessarily the order. Non Mil sim games like BF and COD made me want to go to war saying its cool. Then this year I purchased Insurgency Sandstorm and then quickly changed my mind War is Madness and that game is brutal.

[@descree7]

yup, the sound design makes weapons scary and a death by them terrifying

[@RandomUser-tj3mg]

Battlefield also makes you hate war. Did you even play battlefield

[@dhruvster10]

@@RandomUser-tj3mgmodern day battlefield is trash.

[@shipuden97]

insurgency is still a very much arcade game, you still senselessly run around killing people and hitting respawn all the time. It's the most entry-level tactical military game. Still fun though

[@flipflop8989]

So I’m new to pc gaming and want a good shooter but I have zero want to be playing with a keyboard and mouse so I don’t know

[@dxniiello]

0:1 - 1:30 what is this game?

[@cytokinestorm3074]

Squad is amazing

[@wheelzandgillz]

Ive yet to find any game that has your optic and rifle/pistol off center, when you shoulder a rifle or bring your pistol up to sights its not exactly centered inbetween your eyes or your chest. Only time this centered optic/sights applies is when youre shooting with one eye closed, I know good and well 99% of people in this line of work arent clearing rooms/buildings with one eye closed 😂😉😉

[@descree7]

ground branch has exactly what you're looking for. with a setting called eye bias. if you set it to %100 camera is moved to right eye, which centers the sight but if you find that unrealistic just dont.

[@savvyplaysgames]

Amen, ground branch is as good as it gets imo

[@wheelzandgillz]

@Descree7 Imma have to buy it for the winter then! Im not entirely sure how that would look in game since theres that overlay that happens naturally in your eyes that your brain takes care of and favors your dominant eye, it will be nice to see how it gets implemented in this game!

[@descree7]

@@wheelzandgillz well it's of course still just one camera so nothing like real life. but at least the detail is there.. the only way to really get the brain overlay you're talking about is VR

[@wheelzandgillz]

@Descree7 shhh I dont need to buy more PC sh!t lol is VR really that much "better"/immersive?

[@aimbutt6954]

are there any free ones?

[@nataliaorepole6602]

Yes.This games are great❤

[@Ax_Pacheco]

Brooo and Ready or not??

[@Gargamel_0]

Tarkov and stalker Escape from pripyat are my fav

[@aaronmcdaniel6297]

I’d say that breakpoint is by far more tactical than wildlands.

[@richardslater3737]

Wholly would recommend squad

[@TiGroKe]

Ready or Not?

[@pondypandylit7942]

Watch the video

[@tripst1ck]

honestly i like arma i just dont know how to join any servers and i have no clue how to play as a team in it

[@Lexxal_]

Try getting into a Clan for Arma 3. That's the optimal way

[@savvyplaysgames]

I might have to do that.

[@ChrisWizzerd]

I knew Arma 3 would make #1 here 😂 im still waiting for Arma 3 to come to console. You had some good pix here but i dont PC game😢

[@comgetit1]

My Child, you must join PCMR

[@AG-lt9ff]

I wish ready or not would release on ps5

[@koriia]

Arma 3 is still optimized poorly, the only way to enjoy arma 3 (most modded servers) is if you have a cyber pc from the decepticons. I love the game but its not fun to roam for 30 minutes while enduring stutters and fps never being higher than 50.

[@Murderface666]

If you're complaining about paying for a game that's $29.99 today, trying imagining paying $60 game in the 1994. If we were to adjust for inflation, games would be $126 today. So in all actuality, they games you buy today are at a huge discount.

[@radekseky4571]

Ghost Recon Breakpoint is the best military power fantasy any game can offer. With its Realism mode the tactical gameplay and immersion is excellent and and unmatched by any other game in this sandbox 3rd person genre.

[@lifewithhonordiewithglory1835]

But its dead, I like the gameplay much more then wildlands, but tje World in wildlands waa S so much better

[@radekseky4571]

@@lifewithhonordiewithglory1835 I think open world Ghost Recon should have both, some villages full of people as well as vast open spaces of terrain. Only that would allow for ultimate roleplay possibilities. The map in Breakpoint allows for much better immersion in feeling like you're on an actual patrol through the mountains in the middle of nowhere. That is quite missing in Wildlands, with the next outpost *always* visible in the horizon.

[@trillaG313]

I love both breakpoint and ghost recon. That was until I got a pc and experienced the arma 3 powerhouse, it’s a milsim. I’m whine breakpoint but with the ability to make your own senarios and not be confined to a single island

[@babyrage4582]

Well I've played all these games and I just want a new oje

[@etv-game]

Great

[@krishutch3d]

Door kickers is half of the original rainbow 6 games. . Sandstorm is the only tactical fps game left on console. . Rainbow 6 is a gadget shooter. . I can’t play most battle Royale games, you play for half an hour then hit one cheater that makes it all feel pointless.

[@tabuadagames919]

OPERATION HARSH DOORSTOP (free squad like game)

[@doom3crazy]

I feel like ready or not deserves a mention

[@davisterisboss3387]

It was the #2 spot...obviously didnt watch the video 9:21

[@js-pu6nj]

It didnt have a timestamp, bad on him for not making it but its in there

[@lambrettaking472]

No Ghost Recon Breakpoint surprised, to me the best tactical shooter going ATM.

[@UnrealK9999]

have you played wildlands? there is a huge difference

[@lambrettaking472]

@@UnrealK9999 TBH no thought I'd get through Breakpoint first it's my go to game at the moment had an xbox one s given to me a few weeks ago and getting a small selection of games together all though I play other games always come back to Breakpoint

[@frantotti9754]

The best game in your list is R6S, it is just need time to learn it.

[@8atsquatch]

Even though I no longer play eft it is an amazing game. Hacking is its downfall.

[@___KaH0tika___]

I have more than1000 hours of arma. The best milsim ever thx to its mod support and community.

[@savvyplaysgames]

The replay value on that game is just insane.

[@user-ud9rn7dw6q]

No game on this list has a patch on wildlands period Play it and see immersion good story you can do so much ordering team mates drones etc..😃

[@rodjoe1665]

Where is the GRB?

[@narvol503unique]

Rainbow Six Siege instead of Ready or Not? Really? This is a April fools or something?

[@cathalreilly7813]

Bro insurgency sandstorm lobby's r like bo2

[@_556ms]

i can really recommend WW3 if you like tactical yet a bit faster attack gameplay and its completely free

[@adanpiumpium2613]

And has a 24 hour peak of 800 players, a total banger and a hidden jewel ran by a lovely team of devs who did not in any way screw their backers

[@scenes3177]

@@adanpiumpium2613 lovely devs ? They messed up the game and bring it to death .... Wake up fanboy

[@adanpiumpium2613]

@@scenes3177 Do you know how to read? I'm clearly being sarcastic

[@savvyplaysgames]

I have spent some time on WW3. Wish I had more people to play it with.

[@key5614]

why does blud think sandstorm should be 20 or less but is fine with groundbranch or doorkickers price lol

[@lawlzxc]

Gotta disagree with Squad. Your Squad lead will constantly complain about Cmdr. not doing his job and listen to nothing.

[@giolove6472]

what is the first game that appeared?

[@savvyplaysgames]

Ground Branch.

[@TomasaurusREKT]

I knew I'd already own them all dammit.

[@NZobservatory]

Hell Let Loose? I love it, but for a tactical WW2 shooter you need Post Scriptum. HLL is more of an 'every man for himself' run 'n' gun game.

[@faramund9865]

Disagreed.

[@scenes3177]

@@faramund9865 OP is right, technically summer 2023 is HLL at it worst since the sprinting speed boost update. PS die because the bad devs not because of the game itself, i love HLL too but its gonna be a long time before T17 make their amend. Squad recently got it right again, far better as a tactical shooter / milsim imo

[@skutterbuster666]

Ah, i see your a man of class and taste....ARMA 3 #1 is correct I have 2000hrs currently....its brilliant.

[@DarkthroneGaming]

I mean breakpoint is a great option but not listed here lol..

[@savvyplaysgames]

Top Ten.. maybe if we did top 11? 🤔

[@thestriker553]

Why was ghost recon breakpoint not included but wildlands was?

[@XxTavoRxX]

A lot of the player base that loved Wildlands were quite disappointed in breakpoint, I am one of those. But he did say this was HIS list so he clearly didn't like it as much as Wildlands either

[@thestriker553]

@@XxTavoRxX im more disappointed in wildlands, for example due to the lootboxes

[@jrock5430]

insurgency sandstorm is best played on modded PVE servers.

[@usmclucas]

I go for Tarkov.

[@latewizard301]

Ground Branch is alright, but it's only fun for a few minutes and then becomes really boring...

[@tombstone8438]

cant believe you didn't recommend ready or not

[@d1ssolv3r]

it was #2 bro

[@adamlach6572]

ZERO HOUR - 10/10 game, and not as realistic but still Easy Red 2.

[@Reizmann23]

Best tactical game 2023 is Escape from tarkov☠️