11 Narrative games like DayZ that you should try

Games like DayZ · Find similar →

We filtered the 34 games similar to DayZ down to the 11 that fit the “Narrative” 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.

iRank60/ 100

Did you find what you were looking for?

GenreShooterSubgenreBattle Royale

The best narrative games like DayZ

11 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

MultiplayerCo-opPvPNarrativeSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationFirst PersonThird Person

IGDB83· 5

Year 2020Dev Epic GamesOn Xbox · PS4 · Switch

✓ Both are battle royale shooters — sharing shooter, battle royale tension and deep simulation

≠ Where it differs: brings offline, single-player focus and free to play, while skipping first-person shooting

GenreShooterSubgenreBattle Royale

MultiplayerPvPCo-opRangedTacticalMeleeNarrativeFirst Person

Steam👍 47%· 324KRAWG👍 38%· 319IGDB69· 9OC65· 158

Year 2021Dev Electronic Arts DICE · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~8hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the battle royale shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe casual, historical setting and setting modern, while skipping survival mechanics

Details →

Steam Epic Xbox

#11Hired Ops

iRank52

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreTactical FPS

MultiplayerOnlineCo-opPvPRangedTacticalMeleeNarrativeFirst Person

Steam👍 68%· 16KRAWG👍 28%· 32

Year 2016Dev Absolut SoftPlaytime ~2hOn PC

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

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

Details →

Steam

Explore games similar to DayZ by category

Rankings in the same genre

Best Battle Royale Games Best Shooter Games