Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® similar games & best alternatives

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S • 2023

Should you play it?

Experience a visceral Campaign or assemble your team in the ultimate online playground with multiple Special Ops challenges and a mix of Multiplayer maps and modes.

What works
  • Engaging and cinematic campaign
  • Robust and skill-based multiplayer
  • High-quality graphics and sound
  • Weapon customization and progression
  • Crossplay and active community
Things to keep in mind
  • Large installation size (~160-220gb)
  • Short campaign length
  • Presence of cheaters in multiplayer
  • Spec ops mode less polished and less popular
  • Some technical bugs and crashes reported

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Contractors Showdown : ExfilZone

  • Battlefield 4™

  • Lost Rift

  • Gears 5

  • Blood Strike

  • Company of Heroes - Legacy Edition

  • Predator: Hunting Grounds

  • Pirate Fighting Simulator

  • Bean Battles
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • SHRAPNEL

  • Worbital

  • AQtion
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Competence

    Gears 5
  • Competition

    Cards and Castles
  • Escapism

    PAYDAY 2

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Fellowship, Status, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy, Value.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    3

    "Players have freedom to choose weapons and tactics, with modifiers and difficulty customization allowing personal control over gameplay experience."

    Capsule for El Paso, Elsewhere El Paso, Elsewhere

    "Players have freedom to customize weapons and loadouts, choose multiplayer modes, and select difficulty in campaign, indicating moderate autonomy."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "The game offers challenging combat, skill-based multiplayer, and progression systems that reward player effectiveness and mastery."

    Capsule for Gears 5 Gears 5

    "Game offers skill-based multiplayer, challenging campaign modes (e.g. Realism difficulty), and progression systems that reward mastery."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    4

    "Strong multiplayer focus with ranked modes, tournaments, and leaderboards; players compete against others and strive for rank."

    Capsule for Cards and Castles Cards and Castles

    "Strong multiplayer focus with ranked modes, leaderboards, and competitive play; players compare skills and compete against others."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players report habitual play and long sessions, motivated by progression, unlocks, and ongoing updates."

    Capsule for We Need To Go Deeper We Need To Go Deeper

    "Many players report habitual play and long multiplayer sessions; some grind for unlocks and achievements."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    2

    "Co-op mode exists and playing with friends enhances fun, but core gameplay is competitive."

    Capsule for Rock of Ages Rock of Ages

    "Co-op Spec Ops mode exists but is less popular and sometimes frustrating; multiplayer mostly competitive but some teamwork."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Weapon customization and loadout choices allow some creative approaches, but gameplay is mostly predefined."

    Capsule for Metal Wolf Chaos XD Metal Wolf Chaos XD

    "Weapon customization (Gunsmith) allows creative loadouts; limited creative building or modding reported."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    3

    "Competitive multiplayer involves exerting superiority over opponents; some reports of toxic behavior exist."

    Capsule for Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour

    "Competitive multiplayer includes exerting superiority over others; some reports of toxic behavior and cheating."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use game as stress relief and immersive distraction from real life."

    Capsule for PAYDAY 2 PAYDAY 2

    "Players use game for stress relief, distraction, and immersive experiences away from real life."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -3

    "Most players engage voluntarily for fun and interest; some feel pressure from grind but generally intrinsic motivation."

    Capsule for Closers Closers

    "Most players engage voluntarily for enjoyment; some feel pressure from community or grind but generally intrinsic motivation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players try different weapons, combos, and tactics; some experimentation encouraged within combat mechanics."

    Capsule for Evil West Evil West

    "Players try different weapons, tactics, and game modes; some experimentation in multiplayer and campaign."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    1

    "Campaign missions and multiplayer maps offer some new areas to discover, but mostly familiar or repeated environments."

    Capsule for Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3 (2011) Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3 (2011)

    "Campaign offers some new environments and mission variety; multiplayer maps are familiar but varied."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Some character customization and weapon choices allow for self-expression, but no extensive avatar personalization."

    Capsule for NINJA GAIDEN 4 NINJA GAIDEN 4

    "Customization of characters and weapons supports self-expression; no major avatar or environment modding."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    -2

    "Game emphasizes realistic military combat and tactical shooter mechanics rather than imaginative or fictional fantasy."

    Capsule for Incursion Red River Incursion Red River

    "Game emphasizes realistic military scenarios and grounded story, less on imaginative or improbable fiction."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    2

    "Community and multiplayer co-op exist but many players also enjoy solo play; some social connection but not a primary focus."

    Capsule for Dragonkin: The Banished Dragonkin: The Banished

    "Community exists around multiplayer and co-op; some social interaction but also solo play common."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills in strategy, unit management, and learn game mechanics through campaign and multiplayer."

    Capsule for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Anniversary Edition (Classic) Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Anniversary Edition (Classic)

    "Players develop skills in shooting, tactics, and progression systems; campaign and multiplayer offer learning challenges."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for War Thunder War Thunder

    "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement; not designed for passive or background play."

    Capsule for Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement; not typically used for background or passive play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    1

    "Some social interaction with friends in multiplayer, but limited evidence of deep emotional connections."

    Capsule for Finnish Cottage Simulator Finnish Cottage Simulator

    "Some social interaction and friendships form in multiplayer; limited evidence of deep emotional connections."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    2

    "Players lead their party by choosing abilities and strategies, but no evidence of multiplayer leadership roles."

    Capsule for The Metronomicon: Slay The Dance Floor The Metronomicon: Slay The Dance Floor

    "Some players take leadership roles in multiplayer teams; no strong evidence of dominant leadership mechanics."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Robust progression system with unlockable weapons, skins, battle passes, and challenges motivating continued play."

    Capsule for Combat Master: Season 5 Combat Master: Season 5

    "Robust progression systems with weapon unlocks, levels, and achievements motivate continued play."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    1

    "Some players find flow and catharsis in gameplay, but overall intensity and competition create tension."

    Capsule for Rivals of Aether Rivals of Aether

    "Some players find flow and catharsis in gameplay; others experience tension from competitive modes."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    4

    "High-quality graphics, sound design, and immersive environments provide strong sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

    "High-quality graphics, sound design, and immersive effects provide strong sensory stimulation."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    3

    "Recognition through leaderboards, ranks, and multiplayer reputation motivates players."

    Capsule for Company of Heroes 2 Company of Heroes 2

    "Recognition through ranks, achievements, and multiplayer reputation motivates players."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Campaign mode offers narrative immersion with characters and plot, enhancing engagement."

    Capsule for Rising Lords Rising Lords

    "Campaign offers engaging narrative and character interaction; story is a significant motivator for some players."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Multiplayer and some campaign missions require tactical thinking and planning."

    Capsule for Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare® (2007) Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare® (2007)

    "Multiplayer and campaign require tactical thinking, planning, and problem solving."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Players enjoy suspense and excitement from risk and combat outcomes."

    Capsule for Wizards Wizards

    "Players enjoy suspense, risk, and adrenaline from firefights and challenging missions."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    0

    "Mixed opinions on price versus content length; some find it worth the cost, others suggest waiting for sales."

    Capsule for Superliminal Superliminal

    "Mixed opinions on value; some find it worth price especially on sale, others find it expensive for content length."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Game centers on combat, shootings, and criminal violence as core gameplay elements."

    Capsule for Mafia II (Classic) Mafia II (Classic)

    "Game centers on combat, shooting, and destruction; violence is a core gameplay element."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    2

    "Some avoidance of failure and overcoming threats, but low emphasis on survival mechanics."

    Capsule for BAIONLENJA BAIONLENJA

    "Modes like Survival and Realism difficulty emphasize threat avoidance and resource management."

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Last update: 01/06/2026