Escape from Tarkov is widely considered the best extraction shooter game ever made. It has spearheaded the growth of the genre over the last ten years, and no game that has been released to compete against it has come close. It’s one of the most challenging games you’ll ever play, but some gamers appreciate that. In this list, we’re breaking down the best games like Escape from Tarkov, to give you an idea of who is trying to compete against this pioneering title.
If you’ve been hunting for a new Tarkov alternative or a game like Tarkov that’s not as tough, read on – we’ve got every title you need below.
What Are The Best Games Like Tarkov?
If you want to invest time and effort in learning a new extraction shooter, you’ll be ecstatic to know that there are many games like Tarkov out there. This list represents the best alternatives you’ll find anywhere online in 2024.
5. Incursion Red River
Incursion Red River is a single-player and co-op extraction shooter with no PvP combat but plenty in the way of engaging gameplay and entertaining value for money. It was released in early access in April 2024, allowing players to take on a Vietnamese adventure, dodging bullets and seeking loot either with friends or alone.
It’s a great extraction shooter with some sumptuous visuals, but it’s nowhere near as polished as the competitors out there. That’s because it’s still an alpha product – but it’s getting there and if you invest now, you’ll be getting in early.
Related: When is Escape from Tarkov 1.0 Being Released?
4. Hunt: Showdown
Hunt: Showdown was first released in 2018, and it remains a popular enough game today. In Hunt, players are tasked with entering an open-world environment, fighting against other players and AI-based opponents, completing tasks, collecting bounties, and then extracting successfully from the map.
Does that sound similar? It’s a different aesthetic entirely, but it’s one of the best Tarkov alternatives.
3. Level Zero: Extraction
Level Zero: Extraction is a shooter that’s played by some of Tarkov’s most prominent content creators. It’s more supernatural than Escape from Tarkov, but it’s a dramatically similar title as a whole. In Level Zero, players must survive against human enemies and monsters, which adds a unique twist to the typical extraction operating model.
It’s an early access game that was released in August 2024, which makes it one of the newest and best games like Escape from Tarkov on the market right now. It’s only available on PC, though.
2. Arena Breakout Infinite
Arena Breakout Infinite is such a similar game to Tarkov that the developer was accused of ‘ripping off’ Battlestate Games in numerous ways. Those allegations were thrown out, though. Left in their place is a phenomenal extraction shooter that tops Escape from Tarkov in many ways. It looks phenomenal on screen and plays well, too.
In ‘ABI’, players are tasked with exploring various maps, securing the best loot, and winning fights against human and AI enemies, which is where the similarities to Tarkov start to creep in. If you’re looking for a brilliant Tarkov alternative in 2024, don’t sleep on Arena Breakout Infinite.
It’s also the only game on this list that’s free to play, so that’s a huge win.
1. Gray Zone Warfare
Gray Zone Warfare is the perfect game like Tarkov for anyone wanting to scratch that tactical shooter itch. It’s not exactly an extraction shooter, but it’s remarkably similar to Escape from Tarkov in many ways. It features a gameplay loop that sees players deploy into a wide area, loot and kill to their heart’s content, complete tasks, and then successfully get back to their camp to bank their loot.
It differs in many ways, too. There isn’t a time limit, it’s an open-world game, and it’s more about the tactical shooter experience than the extraction shooter experience. It’s a solid game that was released in early access in 2023 by MADFINGER Games, and it skyrocketed in popularity.
It’s brutally realistic and deeply immersive, and it has enough meat on the bones to keep the average Tarkov fan engaged for hours on end. There’s no doubt that it’s one of the best games like Escape from Tarkov.
Related: Is Gray Zone Warfare Worth It?
What do you think? Are there any other games that should have made this list?
