How to Create a FPS Game Like Call of Duty?

Being a game lover is not easy when choosing games between different genres can be tough. But FPS gaming, which elevates your action experience to a whole new level, is the most popular of all. With their excellent graphics and action, well-known games like Far Cry and Call of Duty have made a name for themselves in the market.

These days, creating such games calls for strict coding guidelines and designs that may rival Call of Duty’s intensity. This guide will show you how to make first-person shooter games like Call of Duty, from lifelike mechanics to a massive version.

As a result, becoming a developer or player necessitates having a huge idea and learning the fundamentals of games like Call of Duty, which might help you make a useful and original game.

What is FPS Game Development?

FPS means First Person Shooter games that bring action to a whole new level. Let’s say Call of Duty, the most famous FPS game, brings top-notch experience and has set high standards for all other gameplays. The popularity of the game is rising day by day, making the  FPS genre more famous.

Games like Call of Duty have multiple game modes with single-player campaigns and missions. Similarly, for such game development, creators must come up with unique tactics and strategies to overcome and meet the standardized rules. Every action, whether it is the engaging solo campaign or the chaotic matches, is designed to provide immersion and replayability.

Why do Players Search for Games like Call of Duty?

Interestingly, Call of Duty does not cater to all players. Some players might just need a change of scenery regardless of Call of Duty’s success. Many players search for games akin to Call of Duty to experience new story arcs, sci-fi instead of modern warfare, or even WWI, or new and exciting gameplay.

People may not want to spend money on COD titles or might simply prefer mobile games available free to play versions. Then there is platform availability. A good number of gamers seek Call of Duty-like games on PC, mobile, or even cross-platform experiences that do not restrict them to console ecosystems.

What are the Top Key Features of FPS Games Like Call of Duty?

There are lots of main features for games that come with high standards and features. Below are the reasons why you should opt for such games.

1. Cross-Platform Consistency

Most players want to have the same experience whether they are on PC, console, or mobile. This includes unique:

• UI/UX designed for input methods (keyboard/mouse vs touch)
• Gameplay balance between all platforms
• Cloud or account system for centralized save and progress retrieval

2. Competitive Multiplayer

Include interesting PvP modes like Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Free for All. Also, include Ranked Leagues and seasonal ladders for dedicated players.

3. Customizable Loadouts and Progression

COD-like games are driven by personalization. Include unlockable weapons, skins, attachments, and skill trees. This encourages long-term player engagement and monetization.

4. Realistic Graphics and Audio:

Gamers expect high-quality visuals even from mobile devices, along with 3D audio. Employ shaders, soft, realistic lighting, and occlusion for engaging audio environments.

How to Develop FPS Games Like Call of Duty?

Developing a game like Call of Duty requires patience, responsibility, and a team of professionals to bring ideas into reality. A clear game development stages structure must be constructed. Guides must be determined for game mechanics and monetization.

What Should Your Game Design Document (GDD) Have?

As any game developer, your GDD will be foundational. You must include:

• Core game mechanics (shooting, health systems, movement, etc.)
• Game modes (multiplayer, battle royale, campaign, etc.)
• Narratives/story (characters, story arcs, and factions)
• Monetization (battle passes, skins, DLC)
• User experience (UX) and User interface (UI)
• Game-defining parts (engine, server architecture, platforms)

It’s like a Bible for assorted disciplines — for devs, but also for investors, artists, and marketing teams.

Putting Together the Right Game Development Team

Such professional teams can help different colleagues to focus on vast strategies to bring ideology to life.

• Game Designers draft the game mechanics and features, and then critique the system balances and tackle the level layout puzzles.
• Unity/Unreal Developers add the physics and mechanics of the game and integrate the gameplay with networking.
• 3D Artists & Animators design characters, realistic weapons, and immersive environments.
• Visual Designers craft HUDs, menus, buildings, and overall experiences for the players.
• QA Testers allow room for areas to search and improve the bugs while making sure the games are accurate.
• Project Managers schedule the timelines while making certain that the goals for every sprint and the entire team’s workflow are coordinated.

Whether you build parts of your work in-house or outsource your work, productivity hinges on the clarity of every person’s assigned tasks.

Build References Early and Maybe More than Once

Get started with something called rapid prototyping as soon as planning is completed. Quickly gather your strategies to start developing and testing your game, like shooting or reloading stuff, and assist in finding enjoyable items. Use placeholder assets, if necessary, but what is most important is how the game feels.

Picking the Correct Tools and Technologies

You will need to think about:

• Unrealistic Game Engines (Unity and Unreal)
• Control Systems like Git
• Management Tools like Jira and Trello
• Multiplayer Services framework like PlayFab and Photon
• Analytical Tools like Unity Analytics and Firebase

This is the array of technology that will impact your game development process, speed, multiplayer expansion, and post-launch analytics.

Clearly Define Your MVP Goals Before Scaling

It is ever so easy to go after the “COD killer” idea from the very first day, but the most intelligent studios start with the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) — that is, a simple, yet playable, build that has the core gameplay features. This gives the opportunity to test with users, validate the demand, and get feedback or funds before going into full production.

Which Game Engines Are Best When Making Games Like Call of Duty?

Selecting the most fitting engine can be the most vital of all your options. Today’s most popular first-person shooter titles utilize either the Unreal Engine or the Unity platform. Both are equally capable of advanced 3D visualization and spatial physics simulation.

Unreal Engine 5 especially allows for attractive multiplayer first-person shooter options and also ultra-high definition graphics. For developers considering Unity, the engine’s capabilities create as seamless a development progression for both mobile and computer target platforms.

Your project parameters, your team’s capabilities, and how they overlap with the tools available will be the key factors in engine selection.

What Game Mechanics Should You Include to Mimic COD’s Gameplay?

One of the many reasons people love Call of Duty is the seamless and easy mechanics. It’s no wonder that people find it easy to learn. The balance of having a Mastery Curve instead of a Learning Curve is key.

1. Movement and Gunplay Fluidity

A player’s sliding, sprinting, crouching, and ADS should be responsive and easy to learn.

We need to feel the recoil of the gun, the slow, clunky feel of the gun, and the ergonomic reload, all mechanized.

2. Loadouts and Perks

Players are able to tailor and mold their preferred playstyle with COD’s customizable loadouts that include exclusive guns, killstreaks, and unique perks. Your game is able to offer a unique depth of customization to allow your players to enhance their strategy and personal investment.

3. Progression and Unlock Systems

Players are still excited and enthusiastic to play with the XP-based rewards of seasonal cosmetics and available unlocks. Having the perfect balance of grind and reward will absolutely improve retention.

4. Time-to-Kill (TTK) and Hit Feedback

Declining TTK best be uniform. Detection and accuracy of contact should be attained at all costs. Players should be notified visually and audibly of ‘hit’ contact through some form of interface.

5. Killstreaks and Scorestreaks

Killstreaks have become a sought-after feature in COD. It can introduce and intensify gameplay drama while also rewarding expert players. If well done, drone strikes, UAVs, and even EMPs can be tactically rewarding.

What’s The Importance of Storyline & World Building in a COD-like Game?

We all know that the multiplayer mode of Call of Duty is popular and played worldwide, but the single player mode is also like a film in a game. Players are interested to learn the story of the game through the different plots, made-up characters, or conflicts, and are also emotionally attached.

For your shooting game, it is very beneficial to enable players to personalize their game world. Especially in single player mode, there must be a captivating story lineup, levels, characters, maps, and locations to engage the players.

World-building and other narrative components should be incorporated.  While having them might be good, it increases the likelihood that your game will become a franchise instead of just another Marine shooter.

How Would You Go About Monetizing a Call of Duty-style game?

You can easily make money with games of such high standards, only you have to choose wisely. Moreover, it needs to be done accordingly to avoid interruption within the games. This strategy can easily help you center on your balance and reward players with enjoyment.

1. Free-to-Play with Cosmetic Microtransactions

This is the dominant model used in modern shooter games. The sale of gaming skins, weapon wraps, emotes, voice packs, as well as some visual customizations that do not change gameplay, is preferred.

2. Battle Passes

Players spend a lot of time completing a battle pass, gaining a sense of achievement. Continued revenue is driven by increased engagement. Pass completion sells various drawn-out tiers with exclusive skins and rewards — hosting XP boosters to ensure continued gameplay.

3. Premium Currency

Players spend real-world money to purchase digital currency that can be used to buy in-game purchases. They must maintain complete clarity and transparency in pricing, avoiding the concept of Loot boxes unless it is under regulation.

4. Paid Expansions or DLC

The core game can either be free or very affordable; the expansion packs and other content that enhance the game can be purchased at a fee. Additional content like Narrative expansion packs and or multiplayer map packs can be added to the game at a small fee.

What Are The Best Games Like Call of Duty in 2025?

The Call of Duty games in 2025 have matched the breathtaking gameplay and multiplayer, tactical FPS action of other top games. If it is inspiration or entertainment you want, there is no shortage of FPS games. Here are the best alternatives to Call of Duty in 2025:

1. Battlefield 2042

Timelessly updated, Battlefield 2042 still allows larger-than-life battles and destructible environments, which truly help it stand out from Call of Duty. It also trades COD’s fast pace for open-world mayhem and intense vehicle battles.

2. Escape from Tarkov

This game is an FPS simulator. Tarkov specializes in high-stakes and punishing mechanics. This game rewards those on the hunt for something other than arcade-style gunplay. The punishing mechanics and high-stakes loot add to the Tarkov experience. The game is designed for hardcore lovers who enjoy something more in-depth than arcade gunplay.

3. Apex Legends

This game had some new things added, like character-based systems and flowing movement. This new unofficial battle royale game from Respawn Entertainment is like the others because the gunplay is just as smooth. The game is put in competition because of the polish and monetization compared to the other battle royale games.

4. Warface

Warface offers some mechanics like right to movement, class-based systems, and a customizable loadout. This game is a great option for those looking for a softer budget for an FPS game.

5. PUBG: Battlegrounds

The movement capabilities in the game are not as insane as others, but that is because PUBG is more tactical than others. This game is still loved by PC gamers as it adds to the gunfight and survival tension.

How Much Does it Cost to Develop a Game Like Call of Duty?

Like most other AAA games, the cost to develop a game like Call of Duty is in the tens of millions. The more cost-effective option is for indie game developers, who are able to create just as compelling games using outsourcing, modular assets, and streamlining core game mechanics.

The target price approximations are:

• $50,000 – $150,000 for indie-level shooters
• $500,000+ for mid-tier cross-platform games
• $10M+ for AAA-quality experiences

Your costs will depend on the size of your team, the time it takes to develop, the technologies used, and the money used for marketing.

Why RevolGames Must Be Your Partner

If you want to develop a game like Call of Duty, then you definitely require a team of developers who know both technology and creativity. That is where RevolGames helps you.

With decades of experience in developing outstanding games like Call of Duty that merge high-quality visuals with the best gaming experiences.

From initial idea explaining to post customer support and updates, RevolGames takes care of everything with accuracy, which ensures your title stays ahead among all the other best Call of Duty similar games in the industry. Partner with RevolGames to build an FPS experience that defines the next era of gaming.

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