23 Simulation games like Zero Hour that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

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We filtered the 39 games similar to Zero Hour down to the 23 that fit the “Simulation” category. Sniper Elite III, Sniper Elite 5 and Arma 3 top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Zero Hour.

iRank65/ 100

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GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

The best simulation games like Zero Hour

23 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Zero Hour. Each one has been evaluated across 16 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.

#1Sniper Elite IIIClosest overall match

iRank75

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineTacticalStealthMeleeOpen WorldHistoricalFirst Person

Steam👍 82%· 28KIGDB68· 12OC70· 61

Year 2014Dev Rebellion Developments · 505 GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

✓ Same family of immersive sims: shooter, first-person shooting and deep simulation

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, dark, oppressive atmosphere and exploration and discovery, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from Zero Hour: tone.

It predates Zero Hour by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Setting100World100Game mode87Visuals70

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineStealthMeleeTacticalOpen WorldHistoricalFirst Person

Steam👍 84%· 29KIGDB81· 7OC78· 114

Year 2022Dev Rebellion DevelopmentsOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the immersive sims cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and third-person shooting

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, dark, oppressive atmosphere and ranged combat, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from Zero Hour: tone.

Genre100Setting100World100Combat94Game mode88Visuals70

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Steam Epic Xbox

#3Arma 3

iRank80

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

MultiplayerSoloCo-opOnlineTacticalMeleeOpen WorldHistoricalFirst Person

Steam👍 90%· 293KRAWG👍 75%· 399MC74IGDB73· 5

Year 2013Dev Bohemia InteractivePlaytime ~16hOn PC

✓ Same family of immersive sims: deep simulation, first-person shooting and shooter

≠ Where it differs: brings sandbox freedom, sandbox world and ranged combat, while skipping strong narrative focus

Arma 3 is an open-world tactical shooter with RPG elements and a heavy focus on realism. The game is set on fictional Greece-themed islands in the near future during the war between NATO and Iran. In the campaign mode you take on the role of Corporal Ben Kerry, who takes part in this conflict.

It predates Zero Hour by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Setting100Game mode88Combat62World56Visuals55

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Steam

#4Arma 2

iRank84

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalMeleeStealthOpen WorldHistoricalFirst Person

Steam👍 84%· 2.1K

Year 2009Dev Bohemia Interactive Studio · 505 GamesOn PC

✓ Fits the immersive sims cluster, with deep simulation, shooter and first-person shooting

≠ Its own twist: sandbox freedom, dark, oppressive atmosphere and sandbox world, while skipping strong narrative focus

Where it drifts furthest from Zero Hour: tone.

It predates Zero Hour by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Setting90Visuals89World78Game mode72

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Steam

#5Insurgency: SandstormClosest on visuals

iRank82

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

MultiplayerCo-opSoloOnlineTacticalMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldHistoricalFirst Person

Steam👍 85%· 132KIGDB77· 6OC79· 58

Year 2018Dev New World Interactive · Focus EntertainmentOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the immersive sims cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: dark, oppressive atmosphere, punishing difficulty and offline, while skipping third-person shooting

Where it drifts furthest from Zero Hour: tone.

Genre100Setting100World100Visuals100Combat75Game mode74

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Steam Epic Xbox

#6Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad

iRank93

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

SoloMultiplayerTacticalStealthMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldHistoricalFirst Person

Steam👍 93%· 38K

Year 2011Dev Tripwire InteractiveOn Linux · PC

✓ Both are immersive sims — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: turn-based strategy, punishing difficulty and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping third-person shooting

Where it drifts furthest from Zero Hour: game mode.

It predates Zero Hour by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Setting100World100Visuals100Tone50

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Steam

#7Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis

iRank83

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalMeleeOpen WorldHistoricalFirst Person

Steam👍 80%· 6.2KIGDB90· 1

Year 2001Dev Bohemia Interactive Studio · CodemastersOn PC

✓ Fits the immersive sims cluster, with deep simulation, shooter and first-person shooting

≠ Its own twist: sandbox freedom, sandbox world and exploration and discovery, while skipping third-person shooting

It predates Zero Hour by 23 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Setting100World80Combat76Visuals73Game mode72

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeTacticalOpen WorldHistoricalFirst Person

Steam👍 71%· 2.5KRAWG👍 12%· 34MC70

Year 2009Dev U.S. ArmyPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of immersive sims: first-person shooting, shooter and deep simulation

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, ranged combat and exploration and discovery, while skipping third-person shooting

Check Out the latest installment "America's Army: Proving Grounds" Download AA3 Today and Become a Member of the elite America's Army Team! America's Army fans and new players alike can now experience America's Army 3, the official U.S.

It predates Zero Hour by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Setting100World100Visuals100Game mode69Combat62

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Steam

#9Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

iRank61

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeTacticalOpen WorldHistoricalFirst Person

Steam👍 69%· 2.5KRAWG👍 25%· 172MC76IGDB79· 5

Year 2009Dev CodemastersPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the immersive sims cluster, with first-person shooting, shooter and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, ranged combat and exploration and discovery, while skipping third-person shooting

Dragon Rising is the second installment of Operation Flashpoint series, though its plot bears no connection to the previous game. The game is set on Skira, a fictional Northern Pacific island with huge oil reserves. China annexed the island, provoking a military conflict with Russia and the US.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against mostly positive for Zero Hour.

It predates Zero Hour by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Setting100World100Visuals100Game mode70Combat60

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Steam Xbox PS

#10SquadClosest on tone

iRank80

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

MultiplayerPvPTacticalMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldHistoricalFirst Person

Steam👍 81%· 237KRAWG👍 75%· 114IGDB83· 2

Year 2020Dev Offworld IndustriesPlaytime ~7hOn PC

✓ Fits the immersive sims cluster, with first-person shooting, shooter and deep simulation

≠ Stands apart with turn-based strategy, ranged combat and setting modern, while skipping third-person shooting

Squad is a 50 vs 50 multiplayer first-person shooter that aims to capture combat realism through communication and teamplay, emphasizing both strong squad cohesion mechanics as well as larger scale coordination, tactics and planning.

Genre100Tone100World100Visuals100Setting68Combat60

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Steam

#11Thief II: The Metal Age

iRank93

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

SoloStealthMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldFirst Person

Steam👍 94%· 2.1KIGDB90· 1

Year 2000Dev Looking Glass Studios · Eidos InteractiveOn PC

✓ Fits the immersive sims cluster, with deep simulation, shooter and first-person shooting

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, dark, oppressive atmosphere and ranged combat, while skipping third-person shooting

Where it drifts furthest from Zero Hour: setting and game mode.

It predates Zero Hour by 24 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Visuals100Tone77Combat67Game mode20

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Steam GOG

#12Hunt: Showdown 1896Closest on game mode

iRank76

GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action

MultiplayerCo-opPvPSoloOnlineTacticalMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldHistoricalFirst Person

Steam👍 74%· 272KRAWG👍 74%· 317MC79IGDB75· 5OC80· 9

Year 2018Dev CrytekPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Like Zero Hour, it's known for first-person shooting, shooter and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: survival mechanics, roguelike runs and horror tension, while skipping third-person shooting

Savage, nightmarish monsters roam the Louisiana swamps, and you are part of a group of rugged bounty hunters bound to rid the world of their ghastly presence. Banish these creatures from our world, and you will be paid generously—and given the chance to buy more gruesome and powerful weapons.

Where it drifts furthest from Zero Hour: tone.

Game mode100World100Visuals100Setting64Combat60Genre50

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Steam Xbox PS

#13X Rebirth

iRank35

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

SoloMeleeOpen WorldFirst PersonDark

Steam👍 44%· 7.3KRAWG👍 23%· 40MC33IGDB39· 1OC31· 13

Year 2013Dev EgosoftPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Same family of immersive sims: deep simulation, shooter and first-person shooting

≠ Its own twist: real-time strategy, sandbox freedom and turn-based strategy, while skipping third-person shooting

Collector's EditionThis Collector's Edition of X Rebirth includes the following items: DLC: The Teladi Outpost DLC: Home of Light (new!) Soundtrack Volume 1 (MP3) Exclusive: Soundtrack Volume 2 (MP3) Optional download: X - The Space Opera - Per Musica ad Albion (Video) Bonus download with artworks and X encyclopedia The bonus content will be placed in your X Rebirth installation folder: ...

Where it drifts furthest from Zero Hour: tone and setting.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against mostly positive for Zero Hour.

It predates Zero Hour by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Visuals100World42Combat30Game mode20Tone0

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Steam GOG

#14Thief: Deadly Shadows

iRank81

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

SoloStealthMeleeNarrativeOpen WorldFirst Person

Steam👍 81%· 2.6KRAWG👍 77%· 230MC85IGDB83· 2

Year 2004Dev Ion Storm · Square EnixPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the immersive sims cluster, with deep simulation, shooter and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, horror tension and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping first-person shooting

Thief 3: Deadly Shadows is a stealth-action game developed by Ion Storm Inc. It is the third installment in the Thief franchise. The game is set in a Steampunk world that resembles both the middle ages and the Victorian era. Besides that, there are several fantasy elements in the game.

Where it drifts furthest from Zero Hour: setting and game mode.

It predates Zero Hour by 20 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100World100Visuals71Tone70Combat67Game mode20

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Steam GOG

#15NBA 2K21

iRank54

GenreActionSubgenreImmersive Sim

MultiplayerSoloCo-opOnlinePvPMeleeNarrativeOpen World

Steam👍 42%· 39KRAWG👍 46%· 93MC72OC68· 84

Year 2020Dev Visual Concepts · 2K GamesPlaytime ~19hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are immersive sims — sharing deep simulation, strong narrative focus and open world exploration

≠ Its own twist: sports simulation, competitive edge and offline, while skipping shooter

With extensive improvements upon its best-in-class graphics and gameplay, competitive and community online features, and deep, varied game modes, NBA 2K21 offers one-of-a-kind immersion into all facets of NBA basketball and culture - where Everything is Game.

Where it drifts furthest from Zero Hour: visuals and combat.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mixed, against mostly positive for Zero Hour.

Genre100World100Game mode91Tone42Combat27Visuals0

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Steam Epic Xbox

Complete list of simulation games like Zero Hour

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Zero Hour, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.