TOP 6 Best Hunting Games of All Time

by Mike Alexander / Top Lists, Articles / 03 Jan 2023

As far as video games go, the hunting genre might be one of the most diverse in the entire industry. Depending on the game, your hunting might consist of skulking through forests with a rifle, stepping into the skin of a giant predator, or tracking down and slaying massive monsters of all different kinds. With such an array of styles and mechanics, it can be difficult to narrow down which hunting games are the best since many of them are not at all alike. But, if you’re looking for the greatest games that feature hunting in any capacity, you’ll find quite a few of them on this list of the Top 6 Best Hunting Games of All Time. If you’re ready to hunt some prey either for fun or for survival, then get ready to track some game, and let’s get started!

Depth

If you’ve ever been deep-sea diving, you know that the threat of nearby sharks can be a stressful thing to manage when you have so many other things to keep track of. The developers at Digital Confectioners thought it would be a good idea to amplify that fear by making an asymmetrical hunting/horror game where three players take on the role of divers and one player becomes a massive, man-eating shark. As the divers search the briny deep for treasure armed with pistols and spearguns, the shark player can select one of 7 different species to ruin their day. A gun will only be so helpful when a shark is barreling toward you at high speed.

Hunting Simulator 2

The sequel to one of the most fully-featured hunting games is here with Neopica and Nacon’s Hunting Simulator 2. Explore vast hunting grounds of 6 square miles in Colorado, Texas, and Eastern Europe as you hunt 33 different species of animal. Equip yourself with over 160 pieces of official hunting equipment from recognizable brands like Browning and Winchester. You can even have a hunting companion in the form of a labrador retriever, a pointer, or a beagle. All of the best equipment and companions in the world won’t help you if you don’t have the right tactics, however. Advanced animal AI requires the use of real hunting tactics and careful aim so you don’t ruin your trophies.

The Isle

While the last game was about hunting as a sport, this next game is about hunting for survival. In The Isle by Afterthought LLC., you’ll embody a prehistoric predator or its prey and live the life of a dinosaur. There are many different dinosaur species to choose from, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. However, one thing they all need in order to grow in size and strength is to feed. Carnivores will need to stalk and conquer other dinosaurs to eat them, and herbivores will need to find and eat plants. The massive open world is full of all different kinds of terrain that will either help or hurt your hunting, and it’ll take all of your species’ abilities to continue to thrive on this harsh island.

TheHunter: Call of the Wild

Developed and published by Expansive Worlds, TheHunter: Call of the Wild is another ultra-realistic hunting game. You’ll be dropped into extravagantly rendered biomes all over the world and study the many animal inhabitants of each place. It’ll be up to you to study and track each one, there is minimal hand holding in this game. Make a judgment call based on the appearance and behavior of your targets, and take the shot. If you want to go hunting with friends, TheHunter: Call of the Wild also has an array of multiplayer options that enable both cooperative and competitive gameplay.

Red Dead Redemption 2 / Red Dead Online

While not explicitly a hunting game, Red Dead Redemption 2 features some of the most in-depth hunting mechanics of any game released in the past decade. Track all kinds of animals big and small, airborne or grounded, and use the correct gun or weapon to take them down without damaging their pelts or meat. Unlike most other hunting games, the carcass of your prey will not go to waste. You can keep and cook the animal’s meat to survive on, and use their hides to craft special clothing and accessories.

Monster Hunter: Rise

Japan’s take on the hunting genre is suitably stylish and anime-flavored, as you would expect. The Monster Hunter series has evolved over time from being a tedious hunting simulator set in a fantasy world, to an awesome action game with intuitive hunting mechanics and an incredible multiplayer community. The latest game, Monster Hunter Rise, adds tons of new mobility and combat mechanics that make hunting the massive monsters you’ll face infinitely more fun. And, with the game’s expansion, Sunbreak, due out shortly, now is a good time to jump in and get your hunting on!

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Mike Alexander

Mike has been playing video games since he was able to hold a controller, having been fascinated by Sonic 2 on his mom’s Sega Genesis. That fascination and passion for the art form has grown exponentially nearly 30 years later, and he doesn’t see that fading away anytime soon.
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