Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like DCS World Steam Edition (2026)
Every game below overlaps with DCS World Steam Edition on things players said about it rather than on our opinion of what feels alike. Each entry shows what it matched on, so you can throw out the ones matching on the part you did not care about.
The short version
- Closest match: Iron Front: Digital War Edition, which both open world, war and strategy.
- DCS World Steam Edition is tagged Simulation, Flight, Free to Play, Military, Multiplayer, Realistic, VR, War by Steam players. Those tags are what the matching runs on.
- 24 games qualify, each with at least fifty player reviews behind its sentiment figure.
- 6 are free to download, so you can test the resemblance yourself at no cost.
How these were matched
Steam tags carry the most weight, because players apply them and they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Souls-like, Atmospheric and Cozy exist as tags and as nothing else, which is exactly the vocabulary this question needs. Formal genres count for less, themes and a shared studio for more.
Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are thrown out before matching. Nearly everything is tagged Singleplayer, so matching on it is matching on nothing. That cutoff is computed from the catalogue rather than fixed, so it moves as the catalogue grows.
All 24, closest first
- 1
Iron Front: Digital War Edition
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 11 player tags including War, Military and Tanks; released around the same time (2012).
Command your own troops, man authentic weaponry and take to the sky in deadly warplanes.
Iron Front: Digital War Edition at a glance Released 2012 Studio X1 Software Player sentiment 59% positive of 869 Price $14.99 WarMilitaryTanksFirst-PersonRealisticSimulationFPSShooter
- 2
ARMA 2
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 10 player tags including Simulation, Military and Realistic; released around the same time (2009).
Building on 10 years of constant engine development, ARMA II boasts the most realistic combat environment in the world. It models real world ballistics & round deflection, materials penetration, features a realtime day/night cycle and dynamic wind, weather and environmental effects.
ARMA 2 at a glance Released 2009 Studio Bohemia Interactive Player sentiment 84% positive of 2,114 Price $2.59 SimulationMilitaryRealisticFPSStrategyShooterWarFirst-Person
- 3
America's Army: Proving Grounds
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 10 player tags including Free to Play, FPS and Military; released around the same time (2013).
America’s Army: Proving Grounds is the official game of the U.S. Army and part of the highly acclaimed America’s Army game series. This free military game focuses on small unit tactical maneuvers and puts you to the test in a wide variety of new America’s Army maps and AA fan favorites.
America's Army: Proving Grounds at a glance Released 2013 Studio U.S. Army Player sentiment 79% positive of 11,051 Price Free Free to PlayFPSMilitaryShooterFirst-PersonWarRealisticSimulation
- 4
America's Army 3
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 10 player tags including Free to Play, FPS and Military; released around the same time (2009).
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. Army game.
America's Army 3 at a glance Released 2009 Studio U.S. Army Player sentiment 71% positive of 2,481 Price Free Free to PlayFPSMilitaryWarSimulationRealisticShooterFirst-Person
- 5
Argo
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 10 player tags including Free to Play, Shooter and FPS; released around the same time (2017).
Jump straight into combat in this official standalone FREE total conversion of Arma 3. Argo is a hardcore tactical first-person shooter, in which you fight across unrestricted terrain, and where a single bullet is all it takes. Master your craft to rank up and become (in)famous on the battlefield.
Argo at a glance Released 2017 Studio Bohemia Interactive Player sentiment 51% positive of 10,824 Price Not listed Free to PlayShooterFPSWarFirst-PersonRealisticMilitaryMassively Multiplayer
- 6
Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Simulation, Military and Realistic; released around the same time (2010).
Three years after the conflict in Chernarus, portrayed in the original Arma 2, a new flashpoint explodes in the Green Sea Region. Coalition forces led by the US Army are deployed to Takistan to quickly restore peace and prevent further civilian casualties.
Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead at a glance Released 2010 Studio Bohemia Interactive Player sentiment 92% positive of 22,247 Price $3.99 SimulationMilitaryRealisticStrategyShooterFPSWarSandbox
- 7
WWII Online
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 10 player tags including Flight, FPS and Shooter.
WWII Online is a massive, persistent free-to-play MMO FPS driven entirely by players. Fight as Army, Air, or Naval forces and earn Victory Points to access more units. One global server. No scripts. Real outcomes. No zones. Huge world (300,000 km²). ENLIST NOW!
WWII Online at a glance Released 2023 Studio Cornered Rat Software Player sentiment 51% positive of 3,800 Price Free FlightFPSShooterFree to PlayMassively MultiplayerSimulationStrategyFirst-Person
- 8
ARMA 3
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Military, Shooter and Simulation; released around the same time (2013).
Experience true combat gameplay in a massive military sandbox. Deploy with a wide variety of single- and multiplayer content, a massive arsenal of modern weapons and vehicles, and limitless opportunities for content creation. Authentic, diverse, open - Arma 3 sends you to war.
ARMA 3 at a glance Released 2013 Studio Bohemia Interactive Player sentiment 90% positive of 294,969 Price $29.99 MilitaryShooterSimulationRealisticFirst-PersonFPSWarStrategy
- 9
Arma: Cold War Assault Remastered
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Simulation, Military and Strategy; released around the same time (2011).
The genre-defining military sim that began as Operation Flashpoint (2001), now a modernized, 64-bit, cross-platform build for Windows and Linux, with its engine released as open source. Over 2 million copies sold. The Cold War battlefield of Everon and Nogova, remastered for today's hardware.
Arma: Cold War Assault Remastered at a glance Released 2011 Studio Bohemia Interactive Player sentiment 80% positive of 6,445 Price $4.99 SimulationMilitaryStrategyFPSWarShooterRealisticFirst-Person
- 10
Gear Up
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Free to Play, Shooter and Tanks; released around the same time (2015).
Feel the adrenaline as you control your unique tank in multiplayer arcade action! Build your ultimate war machine from over a million different combinations. Now, will you go for the rumbling caterpillar tracks or the crawling spider legs?
Gear Up at a glance Released 2015 Studio Doctor Entertainment AB Player sentiment 75% positive of 8,339 Price Free Free to PlayShooterTanksWarSandboxMassively MultiplayerStrategySimulation
- 11
Squad
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Military, Realistic and FPS.
Squad is a tactical FPS that provides authentic combat experiences through teamwork, communication, and realistic combat. It bridges the gap between arcade shooter and military realism with 100-player battles, combined-arms warfare, and base building.
Squad at a glance Released 2020 Studio Offworld Player sentiment 81% positive of 242,753 Price $39.99 MilitaryRealisticFPSShooterWarFirst-PersonMassively MultiplayerStrategy
- 12
Squad 44
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 9 player tags including FPS, Simulation and Military.
Team up and join the frontline in Squad 44, the most authentic tactical WW2 shooter. Experience ruthless realism with an immense arsenal of faithfully recreated weapons and vehicles across massive WW2 battlefields.
Squad 44 at a glance Released 2018 Studio Offworld Player sentiment 74% positive of 25,436 Price $19.99 FPSSimulationMilitaryRealisticMassively MultiplayerWarStrategyFirst-Person
- 13
Day of Infamy
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 8 player tags including FPS, War and Realistic; released around the same time (2017).
Experience close-quarters battles in iconic WWII settings. Defend the line, storm the beach, torch the enemy, or use a radio to call in fire support. Day of Infamy is a teamwork-oriented shooter that will keep you on your toes and coming back for more with its diverse game modes and authentic arsenal.
Day of Infamy at a glance Released 2017 Studio New World Interactive Player sentiment 82% positive of 22,100 Price $14.99 FPSWarRealisticShooterMilitaryFirst-PersonStrategySimulation
- 14
World of Tanks Blitz
Why it matched: both war and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Tanks, Free to Play and Shooter; released around the same time (2016).
Blow off steam and tank turrets in a free-to-play online 7v7 tank shooter! Drive hundreds of tanks, from museum classics to "did-that-ever-exist?" specials, in quick 5 to 7-minute brawls packed with metal mayhem. Play solo or team up with a friend and enjoy smooth action even on modest hardware!
World of Tanks Blitz at a glance Released 2016 Studio Wargaming Group Limited Player sentiment 78% positive of 153,269 Price Free TanksFree to PlayShooterFPSStrategyMassively MultiplayerWarMilitary
- 15
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 8 player tags including FPS, Military and Simulation; released around the same time (2009).
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising is a game about a fictitious conflict on one of the Sakhalin islands.
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising at a glance Released 2009 Studio Codemasters Player sentiment 69% positive of 2,475 Price Not listed FPSMilitarySimulationFirst-PersonShooterRealisticWarStrategy
- 16
Steel Ocean
Why it matched: both war and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Free to Play, Massively Multiplayer and Military; released around the same time (2015).
It is a free-to-play shooting game.You may choose 6 types of warships used in the WWII to play PvP and PvE naval battle. Start the voyage with your warships and fight for the honor of your fleet!
Steel Ocean at a glance Released 2015 Studio Changyou.com Limited Player sentiment 69% positive of 4,451 Price Not listed Free to PlayMassively MultiplayerMilitarySimulationWarStrategyShooterFirst-Person
- 17
Heroes & Generals
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 8 player tags including Free to Play, FPS and War; released around the same time (2016).
Shoot, blow sh!t up, fly or bark orders in the ultimate Free-to-Play, large scale, multiplayer, shooter experience. Thousands of players in multiple battles fighting one massive war of nations. The first to capture 15 cities takes the glory.
Heroes & Generals at a glance Released 2016 Studio TLM Partners Player sentiment 68% positive of 141,628 Price Not listed Free to PlayFPSWarShooterFirst-PersonMassively MultiplayerStrategySimulation
- 18
Ravenfield
Why it matched: both war and strategy; shares 9 player tags including FPS, War and Shooter; released around the same time (2017).
Fight upon the Ravenfield together with your Blue allies! Take down those pesky Reds using helicopters, tanks, guns, and active ragdoll physics!
Ravenfield at a glance Released 2017 Studio SteelRaven7 Player sentiment 97% positive of 79,971 Price $17.99 FPSWarShooterMilitarySandboxFirst-PersonStrategySimulation
- 19
Day of Defeat: Source
Why it matched: both war and strategy; shares 9 player tags including FPS, Shooter and Military; released around the same time (2010).
Valve's WWII Multiplayer Classic - Now available for Mac.
Day of Defeat: Source at a glance Released 2010 Studio Valve Player sentiment 92% positive of 23,601 Price $9.99 FPSShooterMilitaryWarFirst-PersonRealisticStrategyMassively Multiplayer
- 20
War of Rights
Why it matched: both war and strategy; shares 9 player tags including War, Realistic and Simulation.
War of Rights is a first person multiplayer game featuring massive 400 player battles with a focus on historical authenticity, teamplay and immersion. It is set during the perilous days of the American Civil War, in the Maryland Campaign of September, 1862.
War of Rights at a glance Released 2018 Studio Campfire Games Player sentiment 88% positive of 15,040 Price $29.99 WarRealisticSimulationMilitaryFPSStrategyFirst-PersonShooter
- 21
Insurgency: Sandstorm
Why it matched: both open world, war and strategy; shares 8 player tags including FPS, Realistic and Shooter.
Insurgency: Sandstorm is a hardcore tactical FPS built on lethal close-quarters combat and ruthless intensity. Every bullet count, every step matters, and teamwork is your only path to survival in the brutality of modern warfare.
Insurgency: Sandstorm at a glance Released 2018 Studio New World Interactive Player sentiment 85% positive of 133,079 Price $29.99 FPSRealisticShooterMilitaryFirst-PersonWarSimulationMassively Multiplayer
- 22
GROUND BRANCH
Why it matched: both war and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Realistic, Military and FPS.
From one of the developers behind the original Rainbow Six® and Ghost Recon® games, comes a thinking-man's first-person shooter featuring in-depth character and weapon customization. Take your time. Think ahead. Get the job done.
GROUND BRANCH at a glance Released 2026 Studio BlackFoot Studios Player sentiment 84% positive of 24,908 Price $23.99 RealisticMilitaryFPSShooterSimulationFirst-PersonWarStrategy
- 23
Hell Let Loose
Why it matched: both war and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Shooter, Realistic and FPS.
Join the ever expanding experience of Hell Let Loose - a hardcore World War Two first person shooter with epic battles of 100 players with infantry, tanks, artillery, a dynamically shifting front line and a unique resource based RTS-inspired meta-game.
Hell Let Loose at a glance Released 2021 Studio Expression Games Player sentiment 82% positive of 149,565 Price $49.99 ShooterRealisticFPSWarMilitarySimulationFirst-PersonMassively Multiplayer
- 24
War Thunder
Why it matched: both war; shares 10 player tags including Free to Play, Simulation and Flight; released around the same time (2012).
War Thunder is the most comprehensive free-to-play, cross-platform, MMO military game dedicated to aviation, armoured vehicles, and naval craft, from the early 20th century to the most advanced modern combat units. Join now and take part in major battles on land, in the air, and at sea.
War Thunder at a glance Released 2012 Studio Gaijin Entertainment Player sentiment 71% positive of 779,529 Price Free Free to PlaySimulationFlightVRWarMilitaryTanksMassively Multiplayer
Common questions
What game is most like DCS World Steam Edition?
Iron Front: Digital War Edition, on the evidence we have. It both open world, war and strategy. That is a statement about overlap, not a promise you will like it as much: two games can share every tag and still feel different to play.
How is "similar to DCS World Steam Edition" decided?
By overlap on the tags Steam players applied to each game, the formal genres, the themes both sit in, and whether the same studio made them. Tags carry the most weight because players write them, so they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are ignored: matching on "Singleplayer" is matching on nothing. Every entry below shows exactly what it matched on.
Are these ranked by quality?
No. They are ordered by how much they overlap with DCS World Steam Edition. Where two games overlap equally, the better received one goes first, but that only moves a game a place or two. Each entry shows its own player sentiment so you can weigh that separately.
Do you get paid for these recommendations?
No. The order is computed from tag and genre overlap and nothing else. No placement here can be bought, and a game appearing high on this page is a statement about resemblance rather than an endorsement.