13 Dark games like DayZ that you should try

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We filtered the 34 games similar to DayZ down to the 13 that fit the “Dark” category. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, The Culling and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to DayZ.

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GenreShooterSubgenreBattle Royale

The best dark games like DayZ

13 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to DayZ. Each one has been evaluated across 26 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

iRank80

GenreShooterSubgenreBattle Royale

MultiplayerCo-opPvPOnlineMeleeTacticalRangedNarrativeDarkHorrorFirst Person

Steam👍 79%· 41KIGDB80· 11OC81· 161

Year 2019Dev Infinity Ward · ActivisionOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Both are battle royale shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and battle royale tension

≠ Its own twist: historical setting, setting modern and single-player focus, while skipping survival mechanics

GenreShooterSubgenreBattle Royale

MultiplayerPvPCo-opMeleeRangedDarkNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 57%· 17KRAWG👍 18%· 102

Year 2016Dev Xaviant · Xaviant GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Xbox · Linux

✓ Same family of battle royale shooters: shooter, survival mechanics and battle royale tension

≠ Stands apart with competitive edge, crafting mechanics and free to play, while skipping adventure storytelling

Details →

Steam Xbox

#3Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

iRank78

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreTactical FPS

MultiplayerCo-opPvPOnlineMeleeTacticalRangedDarkNarrativeHorrorFirst Person

Steam👍 80%· 22KIGDB77· 9OC75· 161

Year 2020Dev Treyarch · ActivisionOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ If you enjoyed DayZ, expect shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Stands apart with historical setting, single-player focus and offline, while skipping survival mechanics

Details →

Steam Xbox PS

#4Call of Duty: Vanguard

iRank70

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreTactical FPS

MultiplayerCo-opPvPOnlineMeleeTacticalRangedDarkNarrativeHorrorFirst Person

Steam👍 67%· 4.1KIGDB75· 8OC72· 153

Year 2021Dev Sledgehammer Games · ActivisionOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Shared with DayZ: shooter, first-person shooting and horror tension

≠ Where it differs: brings historical setting, single-player focus and offline, while skipping survival mechanics

GenreShooterSubgenreFPS

MultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeRangedDarkNarrativeHorrorPost-ApocalypticFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 67KRAWG👍 87%· 1.7KMC89IGDB85· 7

Year 2008Dev Valve Software · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ If you enjoyed DayZ, expect shooter, first-person shooting and survival mechanics

≠ Stands apart with single-player focus, while skipping adventure storytelling

Details →

Steam Xbox

#6Call of Duty®: Black Ops III

iRank85

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreTactical FPS

MultiplayerCo-opOnlineMeleeRangedTacticalDarkNarrativeHorrorFirst Person

Steam👍 91%· 42KRAWG👍 84%· 1.9KMC81OC79· 99

Year 2010Dev Raven Software · Square EnixPlaytime ~9hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Shared with DayZ: shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings historical setting and single-player focus, while skipping survival mechanics

GenreShooterSubgenreFPS

MultiplayerCo-opOnlineDarkNarrativeOpen WorldPost-ApocalypticHorrorExplorationFirst PersonThird Person

Steam👍 72%· 138KIGDB51· 14OC54· 149

Year 2018Dev Bethesda Game Studios · Bethesda SoftworksOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Shared with DayZ: shooter, first-person shooting and deep RPG systems

≠ Stands apart with setting scifi, single-player focus and base building, while skipping adventure storytelling

GenreShooterSubgenreFPS

Co-opMultiplayerOnlineRangedMeleeDarkNarrativeHorrorPost-ApocalypticFirst Person

Steam👍 95%· 69KRAWG👍 59%· 856MC72IGDB68· 5

Year 2009Dev Tripwire InteractivePlaytime ~5hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Shared with DayZ: shooter, first-person shooting and survival mechanics

≠ Stands apart with setting scifi, single-player focus and skill tree progression, while skipping adventure storytelling

GenreShooterSubgenreBattle Royale

MultiplayerPvPCo-opOnlineRangedMeleeTacticalDarkOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 75%· 99KRAWG👍 35%· 383

Year 2018Dev Tencent GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Same family of battle royale shooters: shooter, battle royale tension and survival mechanics

≠ Stands apart with third-person shooting, MOBA team gameplay and single-player focus, while skipping adventure storytelling

GenreShooterSubgenreBattle Royale

MultiplayerPvPOnlineCo-opRangedMeleeDarkOpen WorldPost-ApocalypticHorrorExplorationFirst PersonThird Person

Steam👍 56%· 203KRAWG👍 7%· 66IGDB66· 4

Year 2018Dev Daybreak Games CompanyOn PC · PS

✓ Same family of battle royale shooters: shooter, survival mechanics and battle royale tension

≠ Its own twist: third-person shooting, free to play and early access, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam PS

#11Z1 Battle Royale: Test Server

iRank43

GenreShooterSubgenreBattle Royale

MultiplayerPvPOnlineCo-opRangedMeleeDarkOpen WorldPost-ApocalypticHorrorExplorationFirst PersonThird Person

Steam👍 56%· 203KRAWG👍 7%· 66IGDB66· 4

Year 2018Dev Daybreak Games CompanyOn PC · PS

✓ Same family of battle royale shooters: shooter, survival mechanics and battle royale tension

≠ Its own twist: third-person shooting, free to play and early access, while skipping deep simulation

GenreShooterSubgenreBattle Royale

MultiplayerOnlinePvPCo-opRangedMeleeDarkOpen WorldExplorationFirst PersonThird Person

Steam👍 61%· 17KRAWG👍 15%· 114

Year 2017Dev Free Reign EntertainmentPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Same family of battle royale shooters: shooter, adventure storytelling and survival mechanics

≠ Stands apart with third-person shooting and free to play, while skipping deep simulation

Details →

Steam

#13Black Squad

iRank55

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreTactical FPS

MultiplayerOnlinePvPCo-opRangedMeleeTacticalDarkFirst Person

Steam👍 76%· 81KRAWG👍 23%· 240

Year 2017Dev NS STUDIO · NEOWIZPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Like DayZ, it's known for shooter, first-person shooting and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Its own twist: historical setting, single-player focus and free to play, while skipping survival mechanics

Details →

Steam

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