Best Hunting Games to Play in 2024

Patrick_Yu

Hunting simulators offer players the thrill of tracking and capturing prey in realistic and immersive environments, blending strategy, patience, and skill. These games go beyond mere shooting mechanics, often incorporating detailed ecosystems, animal behavior patterns, and ethical hunting practices to create a comprehensive and engaging experience. Whether you're navigating the wild terrains of the American West or pursuing mythical creatures in fantastical worlds, hunting simulators provide a unique blend of adventure and realism. In this article, we'll explore some of the best hunting games to play in 2024, each offering distinct and captivating hunting experiences. 

1. Red Dead Redemption 2

Despite being an action-adventure game based in a Western cowboy-esque setting, Red Dead Redemption 2 excels in its hunting mechanics, offering an immersive and nuanced experience that enhances the game's overall richness. The developers at Rockstar Games meticulously crafted the hunting system to mirror the complexity and realism of real-life hunting. Players must approach animals carefully to avoid detection, utilize various baits to attract specific prey, and select the appropriate weapons to ensure a clean kill without damaging the valuable pelts. The inclusion of predator and herbivore baits, cover scent lotions, and the ability to craft potent baits add strategic depth to the hunting process. The game features over 200 different animal species, including 16 legendary animals, each with unique behaviors and habitats, creating a vibrant and dynamic ecosystem. The advanced AI system generates wildlife interactions that can lead to unexpected encounters, such as seeing bucks fighting or a cougar hunting an elk. 

Detailed animations of skinning and plucking showcase the game's commitment to authenticity, with Arthur Morgan's hands often covered in blood during the process. Resources gained from hunting can be sold to butchers, the trapper, or fences, with prices varying based on the quality and type of the item. Legendary pelts and trophies can be crafted into special clothing items, trinkets, and talismans, providing tangible incentives for hunting. The game also emphasizes ethical hunting, with penalties for animal cruelty and over-hunting, adding a moral dimension to the gameplay. The variety of hunting tools, from bows and knives for stealth kills to scoped rifles for long-range hunting, allows players to tailor their approach based on the animal they are targeting. Additionally, the ability to undertake hunting missions with fellow gang members enriches the gameplay, making hunting an integral and highly rewarding aspect of Red Dead Redemption 2. This intricate system, combined with the game's stunning visuals and realistic animal behavior, ensures that hunting is not just a side activity but a deeply engaging and essential part of the player's journey.

2. Way of the Hunter

Way of the Hunter by Nine Rocks Games offers a fresh and realistic take on the hunting simulator genre, aiming to compete with the long-dominant The Hunter: Call of the Wild (COTW). This game blends ethical hunting practices with a sandbox experience, narrating the story of a grandson taking over his grandfather's hunting business. While the narrative, delivered through letters, is somewhat basic, it effectively frames the core gameplay. The focus on ethical hunting is commendable, guiding players to adhere to hunting rules. 

Way of the Hunter excels in tracking animals, emphasizing signs like trampled paths and chewed trees instead of obvious markers. Hunting requires patience and strategy, especially on higher difficulties where animals have realistic senses. Animals can spook and run away from up to 200-300 meters if you're not crouching. For those seeking a more casual experience, the Hiker mode adjusts the difficulty, making it easier for newcomers to enjoy the game. 

The game shines in its shooting mechanics, offering a variety of rifles and realistic ballistics. The available maps—US, US Alaska, South Africa, and Romania—are beautifully crafted, each providing vast and diverse hunting grounds. Nez Perce Valley (USA) and Transylvania (Romania) are particularly expansive, each covering 100 square kilometers, while Alaska and Africa are 64 and 75 square kilometers, respectively. The graphics are stunning, capturing the essence of nature with photorealistic landscapes and a brilliant sense of scale. The guns and equipment are licensed and true to life, enhancing the authenticity of the experience. 

The animal spawning system is dynamic, with animals randomly spawning the first time you load the game and subsequent spawns yielding younger animals. This encourages players to nurture herds and patiently wait for animals to grow into five-star trophies, making the map constantly evolve and change. The game also features a compelling storyline with excellent voice acting, comics, and music, adding artistic depth to the missions. 

Despite some minor technical issues, Way of the Hunter remains an exceptional hunting simulator. Running at 1080p can sometimes cause a grainy effect on distant objects, but this can often be resolved with engine.ini tweaks. Performance can vary depending on the system, with high-end setups providing the best experience. However, the game is visually stunning and delivers a top-class hunting experience that is both challenging and rewarding. 

Overall, Way of the Hunter is one of the best hunting simulators available, offering a raw and immersive hunting experience. While it may have a limited amount of content of COTW, it provides a more realistic and thoughtful hunting experience. COTW remains a better option for those seeking easier gameplay and more content, but for those looking for a challenging and authentic hunting simulator, Way of the Hunter is the game to choose.

3. Prehistoric Hunt

Prehistoric Hunt offers an engaging dinosaur hunting experience that stands out in the genre. Released in early access in 2020, it has garnered mixed reviews but shows significant promise due to its consistent updates and developer support. Players begin with basic weapons like a 1911 pistol and a World War II rifle but can unlock more powerful firearms, such as a 50 cal and a 700 nitro, through a progression system that rewards successful hunts with credits. The game features a vast, varied map, providing diverse terrains for exploration and strategic hunting. 

The gameplay involves tracking and hunting various dinosaurs, including dangerous species like T-rex, Utahraptor, and Giganotosaurus. Players can complete specific contracts and missions, adding goals and structure to their hunting expeditions. The inclusion of a multiplayer mode, supporting up to 12 players on the same server, allows for collaborative play, enhancing the game's appeal. 

Additional features include a tracking system for following dinosaur tracks, loot crates that offer valuable resources like ammo and health packs, and fast travel options to move quickly across the map. Despite the graphics not being top-tier, the game's mechanics and active developer support, which consistently adds new content and improvements, make it a compelling choice for hunting enthusiasts. The blend of unique theme, rewarding progression, and ongoing enhancements ensures a dynamic and enjoyable hunting experience.

4. Hunting Simulator 2

Hunting Simulator 2 is a game that blends the excitement of hunting with the convenience and comfort of simulation gaming. The game provides a realistic hunting experience with a variety of licensed firearms and outdoor gear from well-known brands like Winchester and Browning. Players can hunt in six different locations, each with unique geography and wildlife, across Colorado, Texas, and Europe. The inclusion of canine companions, each specialized for tasks like retrieving or tracking, adds depth and utility to the gameplay. The game emphasizes strategic hunting, with mechanics such as wind direction and proper gun caliber selection playing crucial roles. Despite the lack of a mission structure, the game offers a relaxing yet engaging experience, punctuated by the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of a successful shot. The quality-of-life features, such as fast travel and easy retrieval of downed game, enhance the overall enjoyment. Hunting Simulator 2 succeeds in capturing the essence of hunting while making it accessible and enjoyable for players who prefer the virtual outdoors.

5. theHunter: Call of the Wild

theHunter: Call of the Wild stands out as a hunting game worth playing for several compelling reasons. First and foremost, its graphics and immersive environments are unmatched. Players are transported to beautifully crafted landscapes, from the snow-capped mountains of the Yukon to the mangrove forests of Northern Australia. The attention to detail in these environments makes for a visually stunning and deeply engaging experience, drawing players into the game's world in a way that few other games can. 

The game's story mode offers another layer of depth, providing well-researched and varied narratives that enhance the hunting experience. While these stories are often behind a paywall, they are generally considered worth the investment. Missions range from combating anthrax in Siberia to assisting wardens in the Rocky Mountains, adding a meaningful context to the player's actions and making each hunt feel purposeful. 

Continuous updates from the developers, Expansive Worlds, ensure that the game remains fresh and exciting. For over six years, the game has received regular content and quality-of-life updates, demonstrating a strong commitment to the community. This ongoing support helps keep the game relevant and engaging, providing new challenges and features for long-time players. 

One of the significant advantages of Call of the Wild is its frequent sales, which make it accessible to a broader audience. Players can gradually build their game library by purchasing the base game and expansions over time. This approach allows for a more manageable financial investment and encourages new players to join the community. 

The game also boasts a vast variety of animals and tools, contributing to its replayability. With nearly 20 hunting areas and a wide range of hunting equipment, including bows, shotguns, rifles, and more, each hunt can feel unique and challenging. This variety ensures that players remain engaged and can continuously refine their strategies and skills. 

Moreover, the community surrounding Call of the Wild is generally positive and supportive. While there are instances of negativity, as in any online game, the overall atmosphere is one of camaraderie and mutual assistance. Many players have formed lasting friendships through their shared love of the game, adding a social dimension that enhances the overall experience. 

In summary, theHunter: Call of the Wild is a hunting game worth playing due to its stunning graphics, engaging story mode, continuous updates, frequent sales, vast variety of animals and tools, and a supportive community. These factors combine to create a rich and rewarding hunting experience that appeals to both casual players and hardcore enthusiasts.

6. Monster Hunter: World + Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

Monster Hunter: World and its expansion Iceborne are hunting games that have captivated players with their enormous monsters, immersive environments, intricate gameplay mechanics, and extensive content. In Monster Hunter: World, Capcom has created expansive, living ecosystems that feel alive and vibrant even without the player's involvement. The game’s design encourages players to engage deeply with its intricate systems, from crafting and upgrading gear to mastering the unique combat styles of 14 different weapon types. This level of detail and customization ensures that each hunt feels unique, challenging players to continually adapt and refine their strategies. The seamless transition between different biomes and the detailed tracking mechanics, such as the Scoutflies, enhance the immersion, making each hunt feel like a dynamic and rewarding experience. 

The expansion Iceborne takes the solid foundation of the base game and builds upon it, introducing a new story almost as extensive as the original and set in a fresh, snow-covered landscape. This expansion brings nearly as many new monsters as the base game, each with unique behaviors and challenges that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. The introduction of Master Rank missions and gear significantly elevates the difficulty and excitement, providing players with new, more powerful equipment and skill combinations to experiment with. The quality-of-life improvements, such as more accessible crafting and enhanced customization options, make the experience more enjoyable, ensuring that players can dive straight into the action without unnecessary grind. 

Both Monster Hunter: World and Iceborne are praised for their stunning visual design and complex AI behavior, making each monster encounter feel like a strategic dance. The move from handheld to console and PC has allowed for more detailed and seamless environments, showcasing Capcom’s artistic prowess. The addition of multiplayer features enhances the cooperative aspect of the game, allowing players to join forces for more epic hunts. Despite some minor frustrations with certain game mechanics, the overall depth, variety, and continuous stream of new content and systems keep players engaged. Monster Hunter: World and Iceborne together offer a rich hunting experience that is both challenging and immensely satisfying, making them worth playing for any hunting enthusiast. 

For fans of the Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter Wilds is set to release in 2025. Be sure to mark your calendars!

Happy hunting

Whether you're tracking down legendary animals in Red Dead Redemption 2, experiencing the prehistoric thrill in Prehistoric Hunt, or mastering the complex ecosystems of Monster Hunter: World and Iceborne, the hunting games of 2024 offer unmatched excitement and realism. For the best gaming experience, consider upgrading to the Acer Nitro or Acer Predator series laptops. These powerful machines are designed to handle the most demanding games with ease, providing stunning graphics and smooth performance. You can purchase the Acer Nitro and Acer Predator series laptops directly from the Acer Store to elevate your hunting adventures to the next level.

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