The Last Big WWII Shooter Game Released 8 Years Ago (and We Need to Go Back)

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Shooter games are becoming increasingly similar. Battle royale titles are everywhere, and we’re seeing a lot of futuristic and modern shooters with visually impressive but often shallow environments. Long-time fans of the genre notice that the historical weight and sense of real-world conflict that used to make shooters stand out are disappearing. While new games look great, their worlds often feel artificial and lack a sense of authenticity. Players are transported to futuristic settings or generic cities, but it rarely feels like they’re participating in a meaningful or historically significant battle.

Eight years ago, Call of Duty: WWII offered a return to historical authenticity. It featured realistic weapons, maps, and a campaign firmly grounded in the realities of World War II, focusing on close-quarters, ground-based combat. The game’s story, settings, and even minor details vividly recreated the era, offering a more immersive experience than the futuristic settings often found in shooters. It successfully captured the feeling of fighting in a pivotal moment in history, rather than a fictional, imagined world.

Modern Shooters Are Losing the Historical Edge

Shooter games used to be heavily inspired by history, focusing on realistic settings like World War trenches and war-torn cities. But lately, many new releases—even big-budget ones—prioritize exciting gameplay features over historical accuracy. Battle royale and sci-fi themes are now much more common, leaving behind the authentic settings that older players remember fondly. This change is a noticeable and somewhat disheartening trend for those who grew up enjoying historically-based shooter games.

Let’s look at Battlefield 6’s REDSEC as an example. While the game is visually stunning and plays well, it doesn’t quite feel connected to a real historical setting, even though it’s set in the modern day. The maps and weapons look current, but the overall world lacks the depth and feeling that made World War II shooters so memorable. It’s exciting to see how polished the game is, but it doesn’t feel like you’re truly entering a living, breathing time and place – and that’s its biggest weakness.

Players who grew up with realistic, historical shooters feel something is missing in today’s games. The excitement of experiencing iconic battles like D-Day or the siege of Stalingrad wasn’t just about fun – it felt like connecting with real history. Many modern shooters don’t offer that same immersive feeling or connection to the past, and it’s a void that needs to be addressed. While historical shooters used to be common, they’ve become rare, and the balance has shifted too much.

Call of Duty WWII and the War Modern Games Left Behind

With so many new shooters focusing on futuristic settings, Call of Duty: WWII is a welcome return to historical accuracy and reminds us what made these games special. The environments, from Paris to the French countryside, are incredibly realistic, making the battles feel truly powerful. Everything – the maps, the weapons, and the campaign itself – is based on historical events, allowing players to feel like they’re experiencing a real moment in time, not just a made-up war. For players who enjoy historical shooters, it offers a gritty and immersive experience that’s often missing in today’s games.

The game’s single-player campaign truly immersed you in the experience, which is what a great Call of Duty story should do. It wasn’t just about running through random levels; you felt like you were part of intense moments – storming beaches, navigating destroyed towns, and experiencing the confusion of war. While it had the dramatic style typical of Call of Duty, the campaign still felt realistic in its scope and impact. Each mission felt important, whether you were desperately defending a position or leading a large-scale attack. The multiplayer mode continued this feeling of realism, with environments like bombed-out streets and fortified villages. These weren’t just visually appealing; they were carefully designed to reflect historical settings, creating a level of authenticity rarely seen in today’s shooters.

As a long-time fan, I still think about COD: WWII as a perfect example of how good historical shooters can be when they really commit to the setting. It totally proved that you don’t need all the futuristic gadgets – no jetpacks, laser guns, or crazy parkour – to make a really fun and memorable shooter. What WWII showed us is that a strong focus on real events and believable locations is enough to completely pull you in if it’s done right. Now, I really think it’s time for more games to revisit those important historical conflicts and let players experience what those battles actually felt like.

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2025-11-02 20:12