Even though theCall of Dutyseries thrives with its multiplayer modes, the games wouldn’t be the same without its cinematic, rollercoaster-like single-player campaign modes. From its early days, when the games were set during the Second World War, showing off epic set pieces like the Storming of Stalingrad in the firstCall of Dutyor the now-iconicAll Ghillied Upmission when the series shifted to the modern day withCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
Though shortlived and linear, the single-player campaigns offer memorable Summer blockbuster moments that few games can match. These are other games from various genres that feature epic set pieces and incredibly cinematic moments that fans ofCall of Duty’scampaign modes will appreciate.
Updated July 05, 2025, by Michael Llewellyn:Even if fans ignore the multiplayer, the Call of Duty series features terrific campaign modes for fans of cinematic action. The games often provide memorable moments that rival big-budget Hollywood blockbusters. The campaigns can be short-lived, but other great games offer similar thrill rides from start to finish. This list is updated with more games that have that blockbuster feel.
Their fantastic Horizon games showcase Guerilla Games' talent for cinematic action games.Killzone: Shadow Fallis no different. It’s a sci-fi first-person shooter with visuals, set pieces, and animations that stand the test of time. Players take on the role of a Shadow Marshal named Lucas Kellan as he takes part in a war against the Helghast.
The level design is excellent as it drops the straightforward linearity of its predecessors, opting for more open missions with several ways the player can complete a mission, via stealth or brute force. Fans ofCall of Duty’scinematic set pieces will appreciate the sky gliding into a warzone as an example of the manystandout moments inKillzone: Shadow Fall.
Max Payne 3is a gritty action shooter putting players in the shoes of the titular Max. The story is set in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with Max fighting through nightclubs, hotel lobbies, and the favelas. The combat is brutal, fast-paced, and stylish, as it implements slow-motion bullet time in the style of a John Woo film ofThe Matrix.
Every battle with Max’s enemies feels like cinematic set pieces, as Max singlehandedly takes on gangsters and corrupt cops, and uncovers a black market organ theft ring.Max Payne 3screams Summer blockbuster while providing a fitting finale for one of gaming’s most iconic characters. Remedy, the developers of the first twoMax Paynegames areremaking them with the financial backing of Rockstar Games.
Even though its predecessor didn’t feature a single-player campaign,Titanfall 2was developed by former members of Infinity Ward who worked on theCall of Dutyseries. There is enough here to separate it fromCoD,but it features comparable and fantastic set pieces but superior level design and missions.
Titanfall 2is a buddy-cop story with mechs and some of thebest shooting mechanicsin the genre. However, the game’s story will stay with players far longer than Activision’s military shooter. There hasn’t been a sequel, but its spirit continues with the online shooterApex Legends.
Like theCall of Dutyseries,Battlefield’sbread and butter is the multiplayer. However,Battlefield 1’s collection of six single-player War Story campaigns set during the First World War deserves mention as being some of the best in the series' history. It shines on the PC, but the game holds up beautifully on the last-generation systems.
Battlefield 1features brilliant and cinematic set pieces that show off the power of the Frostbite Engine. The War Stories center on different characters and scenarios that offer varied gameplay, from stealth missions to operating tanksset on the frontlines of The Great War.
Spec Ops: The Line’ssingle-player mode is a military shooter loosely based on the novellaThe Heart of Darknessby Joseph Conrad, which also inspired the movieApocalypse Now,starring Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando.Spec Opsis set in Dubai and sets the scene for some of the most cinematic moments in the genre.
The ambitious title creates moments of morality and choice that few games match when it comes to the atrocities of war. There are four endings and a thought-provoking twist that questions the rationalization of one’s actions in combat.Spec Ops: The Linewasn’t a commercial success, but fans owe it to themselves to play this gem if they want a mature shooter with the cinematic flair to match its story.
A stealth game is the polar opposite of what theCall of Dutyseries usually offers. However, one of the most iconic set-piece missions in the franchise is All Ghillied Up, a tense stealth-based mission executed to perfection.Tom Clancy’sSplinter Cell: Blacklistfeatures many scenes of a similar nature and plenty of cinematic action to make players feel like they are super soldiers.
Fans ofCall of Duty’sstory will enjoy Sam Fisher’s fight against an advanced terrorist organization called The Engineers. The voice work is terrific, with an exceptional performance from Eric Johnson (SmallvilleandVikings)taking over the role of Sam Fisher, and Carlo Rota (24andTrue Lies)is outstanding as the antagonist, Majid Sadiq.
The influence of theCall of Dutyseries was unavoidable afterModern Warfarebecame a huge success. This was evident withGhost Recon: Future Soldierramping up epic shootouts and cinematics. However, players who tried to use a run-and-gun strategy would pay the price with its challenging missions.
Players must use strategy and elements of surprise tactics to take down enemies. Combined with story-based set pieces,Future Soldierwas a balanced military shooter that offered the best of both worlds and is arguably more cinematic than the series' latest open-world offerings withWildlandsandBreakpoint.
TheGears of Warseries is a third-person shooter that defined the cover shooter mechanics that are so popular now. It merges high-octane action set pieces with science-fiction horror themes similar to theAlienandPredatorfilms. LikePredator,it features 1980s-style muscle-bound action heroes outmatched and outsized by their enemies.
The series’single-player missionsfeature iconic cinematic scenes on par with theCall of Dutycampaigns. The bloody underground sequences fromGears of War 2with the team fighting their way out of a monster’s stomach are epic and grotesque.Gears of Waris a must-play for fans of cinematic action.
TheUnchartedseries may be the king of cinematic action adventure. Taking inspiration from theIndiana Jonesseries, players take on the role of aglobe-trotting adventurerand treasure hunter named Nathan Drake. The series features several iconic set pieces, like the cargo plane, the shootout on horseback fromUncharted 3,or the fight with Rafe inUncharted 4.
Several set pieces throughout the series make players feel like they are playing the role of an action hero in a Summer blockbuster. The developers at Naughty Dog have mastered the balance of thrilling gameplay and cinematic action set pieces, with each title getting more grand with every sequel.
