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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

41 Games with a historical setting like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 that you should try

Games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 · Find similar →

We filtered the 50 games similar to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 down to the 41 that fit the “Historical” category. Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Star Wars: Battlefront II and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

NextGameLike83/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreTactical FPS
Tags
CasualNarrativeSoloMultiplayer
Year 2011Dev Sledgehammer Games

Quick answer

Within the “Historical” category, the closest game to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is Call of Duty: Black Ops II — scoring 92/100 on our similarity scale. Star Wars: Battlefront II and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands follow close behind.

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The best games with a historical setting like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

41 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Each one has been evaluated across 14 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.

1

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

92
NGL84
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Closest overall match
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
MultiplayerSoloCo-opOfflineOnlineMeleeTacticalNarrativeHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2012Dev Treyarch · ActivisionOn PlayStation 3 · PC

If Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 worked for you because of strong narrative focus, melee combat and historical setting, the same is here. The common ground extends to co-op play and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is tone and setting: dark, oppressive atmosphere and a sci-fi setting.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Setting45Tone44
2

Star Wars: Battlefront II

87
NGL89
Star Wars: Battlefront II
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
MultiplayerSoloCo-opOfflineMeleeTacticalHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2005Dev Pandemic Studios · LucasArtsOn PC

What carries over from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is melee combat, historical setting and multiplayer gameplay. The common ground extends to a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting: a sci-fi setting.

Genre100Combat100Game mode93Visuals71Setting31
3

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands

87
NGL76
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands
Closest on setting
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineTacticalMeleeNarrativeHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2017Dev Ubisoft Paris · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

Its point of contact with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is strong narrative focus, tactical combat and historical setting. Both also lean on single-player focus and a first-person view. The distance is in tone — its own ground is third-person shooting and open world exploration.

Released 6 years after Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Genre100Setting100Game mode79Combat75Visuals71Tone59
4

Call of Duty: World at War

86
NGL88
Call of Duty: World at War
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineOnlineTacticalMeleeHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2008Dev Treyarch · ActivisionOn PlayStation 3 · PC

On paper it is what Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is — tactical combat, historical setting and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds a first-person view. They part company on tone and setting: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Combat78Setting58Tone0
5

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

86
NGL69
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
SoloMultiplayerOfflineCo-opMeleeTacticalNarrativeHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2016Dev Infinity Ward · ActivisionOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

If Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 worked for you because of strong narrative focus, melee combat and historical setting, the same is here. To that it adds a first-person view and single-player focus. They part company on setting and tone: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

Released 5 years after Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode93Tone25Setting19
6

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

84
NGL90
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineOnlineMeleeTacticalNarrativeHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2009Dev Infinity Ward · ActivisionOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Mac

It shares the essentials of what Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 does: strong narrative focus, melee combat and historical setting. Both also lean on a first-person view and single-player focus. The distance is in tone — its own ground is stealth mechanics and PvP competition.

Genre100Setting100Visuals100Game mode95Combat78Tone59
7

Call of Duty: Vanguard

81
NGL70
Call of Duty: Vanguard
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineOnlineMeleeTacticalNarrativeHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2021Dev Sledgehammer Games · ActivisionOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

Shelved next to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for good reason: strong narrative focus, melee combat and historical setting. Both also lean on co-op play and a first-person view. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

Same studio: Sledgehammer Games.

Genre100Visuals100Game mode92Combat89Setting63Tone26
8

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

80
NGL78
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineOnlineMeleeTacticalNarrativeHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2020Dev Treyarch · ActivisionOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

Shelved next to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for good reason: strong narrative focus, melee combat and historical setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is tone and setting: dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

Released 9 years after Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Genre100Visuals100Game mode92Combat84Setting58Tone22
9

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

78
NGL73
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
SoloMultiplayerOfflineCo-opMeleeTacticalHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2014Dev Sledgehammer Games · ActivisionOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

It shares the essentials of what Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 does: melee combat, historical setting and single-player focus. To that it adds a first-person view. They part company on setting: this one brings a sci-fi setting.

Same studio: Sledgehammer Games.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode93Setting50
10

Call of Duty: WWII

77
NGL73
Call of Duty: WWII
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineTacticalMeleeNarrativeHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2017Dev Sledgehammer Games · ActivisionOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

If Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 worked for you because of strong narrative focus, tactical combat and historical setting, the same is here. The common ground extends to multiplayer gameplay and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is tone and setting: dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

Same studio: Sledgehammer Games.

Genre100Combat100Visuals100Game mode93Setting66Tone22
11

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

77
NGL92
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeTacticalNarrativeHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2007Dev Infinity Ward · ActivisionOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Mac

Genre puts it alongside Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and so does strong narrative focus, melee combat and historical setting. To that it adds co-op play and a first-person view. They part company on tone and setting: this one brings a contemporary setting.

Genre100Visuals100Game mode89Combat78Setting69Tone60
12

Commandos 2: Men of Courage

76
NGL87
Commandos 2: Men of Courage
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
Co-opSoloMultiplayerTacticalMeleeHistorical
Year 2001Dev Pyro Studios · Merge GamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · PS · Xbox

With Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 it shares tactical combat, historical setting and co-op play. Where the two diverge is visuals: an isometric view.

It predates Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Setting100Combat74Game mode72Visuals0
13

War Thunder

73
NGL67
War Thunder
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
MultiplayerSoloCo-opOnlineTacticalMeleeHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2013Dev Gaijin EntertainmentPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Its point of contact with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is tactical combat, historical setting and multiplayer gameplay. Both also lean on a first-person view. The distance is in setting — its own ground is a contemporary setting.

Genre100Combat80Game mode77Visuals70Setting49
14

Medal of Honor: Frontline

73
NGL93
Medal of Honor: Frontline
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
OfflineSoloMultiplayerTacticalMeleeHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2002Dev EA Los Angeles · Electronic Arts

What brings it close to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is tactical combat, historical setting and offline play, and the two track each other on genre, combat and setting. Both also lean on a first-person view.

It predates Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Setting100Visuals100Game mode76
15

Medal of Honor: Rising Sun

72
NGL40
Medal of Honor: Rising Sun
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalMeleeHistoricalFirst Person
Year 2003Dev EA Los Angeles · Electronic Arts

It shares the essentials of what Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 does: tactical combat, historical setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on a first-person view.

It predates Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Setting100Visuals100Game mode71

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Explore games similar to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 by category

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Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 look-alike but simply the best Tactical FPS Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Shooter Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.