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Best Hunting Games

The best hunting game on PlayStation is theHunter: Call of the Wild, with Way of the Hunter close behind and Hunting Simulator 2 rounding out the top three. These are the games I reach for when I want something slow and chill: tracking an animal through quiet woods, reading the wind, taking one careful shot. I kept the list to real hunting games and left the fantasy monster hunts off it. Every pick is weighed against what players actually say, not just critic scores.

Pip Larkspur avatarPip LarkspurAI author personaReviewed by Ugur Saritepe
How we rank games

Updated Jul 26, 2026

Top Picks

theHunter: Call of the Wild™
#1 Pick

theHunter: Call of the Wild™

★ 4.3Mixed
Way of the Hunter
#2

Way of the Hunter

★ 4.0Mixed
Hunting Simulator 2
#3

Hunting Simulator 2

★ 3.4Good

Discover Games

6 games found

1theHunter: Call of the Wild™
Best overall

theHunter: Call of the Wild™

4.3(40,487)2017
PS+ ExtraPS Plus ExtraESRB Teenmodern
MixedReview analysis

Overall player feedback on 'theHunter: Call of the Wild' reflects a divide between those who greatly enjoy the immersive hunting experience and realism, and others who criticize the game for its heavy reliance on DLCs and slow gameplay mechanics. Players appreciate the game's graphics and hunting mechanics, but many express frustration with perceived greediness in its monetization strategy and issues with animal behavior in-game.

Why it's here: This is the hunting sim to start with, and it is not close. The reserves are enormous and the tracking loop, blood trails, wind direction, calls and simulated ballistics, is the most convincing on PlayStation. Reviewers flag the honest catch: the free game is a slice, and the best reserves and weapons sit behind a wall of DLC. Go in expecting to buy in, and it rewards slow, patient play more than any other pick here.

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2Way of the Hunter
Best realism

Way of the Hunter

4.0(2,200)2022
Co-op: 4ESRB Teen
MixedReview analysis

Overall, player feedback on 'Way of the Hunter' shows a significant divide, with many praising its graphics, realism, and immersive gameplay, while a notable number of reviews criticize its optimization issues, inconsistent animal behavior, and bugs. While some players express deep enjoyment and connection to the game, others voice strong dissatisfaction, especially in comparison to other hunting simulators.

Why it's here: The most modern-feeling hunt here, built around a genuine ballistics model and an anatomy-based damage system that makes a clean shot feel earned. It also ships a story campaign, which none of the others bother with. Player reviews are split on performance: they praise the realism but report frame drops, patchy animal behavior and a tutorial that leaves you guessing. If you want the deepest shooting mechanics and can ride out the rough edges, it is the connoisseur's pick.

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3Hunting Simulator 2
Best for variety

Hunting Simulator 2

3.4(3,027)2021
PS+ TrialPS Plus PremiumESRB Teen
GoodReview analysis

Overall player feedback for Hunting Simulator 2 is largely positive, with many players praising its realistic hunting mechanics, varied environments, and the inclusion of a canine companion. However, some players express frustration over the game's pacing and repetitive elements, highlighting that it can feel tedious at times.

Why it's here: The pick if you want range: several continents, dozens of species, deep gun and gear customization, and a trainable hunting dog that none of its rivals offer. Player reviews land positive overall, with the fair warning that the pacing is slow and long stretches of walking pass with no encounter, and a few animal models look their age. Buy it for the breadth and the companion dog rather than the pace, and it is a comfortable, content-rich hunt.

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4Hunting Simulator

Hunting Simulator

3.4(2,000)2017
ESRB Teen
MixedReview analysis

The player feedback for Hunting Simulator is highly polarized, with a significant divide between praises for its graphics and enjoyable gameplay, and strong criticisms about crashes, poor design choices, and overall dissatisfaction with core gameplay mechanics. While some players enjoy its relaxation and hunting experience, many others find it frustrating and buggy, leading to a poor overall impression for a notable portion of users.

Why it's here: The older, cheaper entry from the same studio, and it shows. Twelve environments and dozens of species give it plenty to shoot, and on sale it is an easy impulse buy for a casual afternoon. Reviews are polarized, though: the same players who enjoy the relaxed hunting report crashes, thin mission design and shallower systems than the sequel. Grab it only if the price is right and you have already worn out the better sims above it.

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5Predator: Hunting Grounds
Best multiplayer

Predator: Hunting Grounds

4.0(1,600)2024
ESRB Mature 17+
MixedReview analysis

Player feedback on "Predator: Hunting Grounds" shows a divide between those enjoying the experience of playing as a Predator or Fireteam member and those frustrated by game balance issues, bugs, and a dwindling player base. While many praise its fun mechanics and fan service elements, others lament its lack of support and matchmaking struggles.

Why it's here: The odd one out and the only multiplayer hunt on the list: a 4v1 where a fireteam runs a mission while one player stalks them as the Predator. When a match clicks it delivers real tension and heavy franchise fan service. The reviews are honest about the cost, though: balance tilts toward the Predator, the player base has thinned so matchmaking drags, and bugs linger. Best enjoyed with a full squad of friends rather than solo queue.

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6Deer Hunting Camp
Best budget pick

Deer Hunting Camp

3.6(100)2025
ESRB Teen
GoodReview analysis

Overall, players have a very positive view of Deer Hunting Camp, praising its realistic hunting experience, map building capabilities, and immersive gameplay. However, some users have raised concerns about technical issues and the current state of the game's mechanics, suggesting that while it has great potential, improvements are necessary. Featured reviews highlight both deep enjoyment of the game and frustrations with specific aspects.

Why it's here: A small budget sim with one genuinely fresh idea: you build and manage your own deer grounds, then hunt them across the seasons. Players who bought in rate it warmly for the land-management angle and the attention to deer behavior. Be clear-eyed about the state of it, the reviews note clunky movement, dated visuals and bugs like deer failing to spawn on custom maps. A low-cost pick for the map-building hook, not a polished showcase.

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About Hunting Games

Hunting games on PS5 and PS4 come in two flavors, and this list covers one. There are real hunting sims, where you scout, stalk and take an animal cleanly, and there are fantasy hunts like Monster Hunter that are action games wearing a hunting coat. I stuck to the sims, plus one asymmetric multiplayer hunt, Predator: Hunting Grounds, for people who want something different. The genuine standouts are theHunter: Call of the Wild and Way of the Hunter, both slow open-world sims with good ambient sound and no timers rushing you. The rest of the catalogue is mostly budget shovelware, which is why the shortlist stays small. For every game here, we read and summarized player reviews from Steam and the PlayStation Store into what players consistently praise and consistently complain about.

Curated by Ugur Saritepe. Rankings weigh aggregated player ratings and review sentiment collected from Steam and the PlayStation Store, with catalogue data from IGDB. How we rankPlayStation StoreSteamIGDB

Hunting Games Compared

  • theHunter: Call of the Wild™
    Best overall★ 4.3 / 5PS Plus Extra

    Massive open reserves and the deepest tracking systems, sold with a steady stream of paid DLC add-ons.

  • Way of the Hunter
    Best realism★ 4.05 / 5

    A tighter simulation with true-to-life ballistics, an anatomy-based hit model and a story mode the others skip.

  • Hunting Simulator 2
    Best for variety★ 3.39 / 5PS Plus Premium

    Its standout feature is a trainable hunting dog that tracks wounded animals across several continents of terrain.

  • Hunting Simulator
    ★ 3.43 / 5

    The older, budget-priced first entry, with twelve environments and dozens of species but shallower systems than the sequel.

  • Predator: Hunting Grounds
    Best multiplayer★ 4.05 / 5

    An asymmetric four-versus-one where a fireteam runs missions while one player stalks them as the Predator.

  • Deer Hunting Camp
    Best budget pick★ 3.57 / 5

    A low-cost deer sim where you build and manage your own hunting grounds across changing seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most realistic hunting game on PS5?
theHunter: Call of the Wild and Way of the Hunter are the two most realistic hunting games on PS5. Way of the Hunter leans hardest into the sim side with true-to-life ballistics and animal behavior, while theHunter: Call of the Wild has the bigger world and the largest player following. Both run on PS5 and PS4.
What is the difference between theHunter: Call of the Wild and Way of the Hunter?
theHunter: Call of the Wild is the bigger, more relaxed one, with many reserves and a steady stream of paid add-ons. Way of the Hunter is the tighter sim, with a story mode and a deeper shooting model, though players report more performance hiccups. Pick theHunter for content and calm, Way of the Hunter for realism.
Do you need PS Plus to play hunting games?
No, most are standalone purchases. If you have PlayStation Plus, theHunter: Call of the Wild is included on the Extra tier and Hunting Simulator 2 on the Premium tier, so you can try them without buying. The rest, including Way of the Hunter and Predator: Hunting Grounds, are bought separately.
Can you play hunting games in co-op?
Yes, several do. theHunter: Call of the Wild supports online play for up to eight hunters, and Way of the Hunter and Hunting Simulator both offer online co-op for smaller groups. Predator: Hunting Grounds is the multiplayer standout, a four-versus-one where a squad hunts, or is hunted by, one player as the Predator.
Is theHunter: Call of the Wild free?
No, it is a paid game, though it comes free with PlayStation Plus Extra. The recurring complaint in player reviews is the cost of its downloadable reserves and weapon packs, which stack up if you want the full experience. The base game still holds plenty of ground to hunt before you spend more.

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