5 Games with the Most Realistic Tracking Systems

Modern games have mechanics that let you dive deep into epic stories, explore vast worlds, and even unlock powerful rewards. One of the coolest features found in some games is tracking—following footprints, clues, or trails to hunt your prey or solve mysteries. While some games nail it and make tracking an absolute thrill, others don’t quite hit the mark. But today, we’re all about the best of the best. Here are five games with the most realistic and fun tracking systems!

5. TheHunter: Call of the Wild

The Ultimate Realistic Hunting Experience

TheHunter: Call of the Wild delivers an insanely realistic tracking system that will test your patience and precision. You’ll track animals in a beautifully designed wilderness by spotting footprints, droppings, and broken branches. But be careful—one wrong move and you’ll scare your prey away!

What makes this game even more intense is the importance of accuracy. A clean shot can bring down your target in seconds, while a poorly placed hit might send you on a long chase. If you’re looking for a game where hunting feels as real as it gets, this one’s for you.

4. Monster Hunter: World

Simple, Fun, and Monster-Tastic

In Monster Hunter: World, hunting is the name of the game. While the tracking system here is more straightforward than others on this list, it’s still fun. You’ll follow footprints and environmental clues, all while using your map to help close in on your massive, ferocious prey.

This system is all about keeping the thrill without bogging you down in too much complexity. So, if you want to hunt towering monsters without overthinking it, Monster Hunter: World keeps things exciting and fast-paced.

3. Horizon Zero Dawn

High-Tech Tracking in a Post-Apocalyptic World

Tracking takes a futuristic twist in Horizon Zero Dawn. As Aloy, you’ll use her Focus device to identify the paths of mechanical creatures in a stunning post-apocalyptic world. Depending on how stealthy you are, these machines can be hunted or avoided, and the tracking system helps you stay one step ahead.

This game is all about planning and strategy, using Aloy’s tracking skills to outsmart your enemies and keep yourself safe from the lurking dangers. Whether you’re hunting down machines or trying to escape them, Horizon Zero Dawn makes tracking feel slick and satisfying.

2. Red Dead Redemption 2

Wild West Hunting Done Right

Red Dead Redemption 2 doesn’t just let you explore the vast American frontier—it gives you an incredibly immersive hunting experience. Playing as Arthur Morgan, you’ll track animals by studying their footprints, droppings, and more. The attention to detail is astonishing, and hunting becomes a rewarding (and sometimes dangerous) pursuit.

From hunting small critters to chasing down legendary predators like alligators and bears, tracking in Red Dead Redemption 2 feels like you’re truly living in the Wild West. Slow and steady wins the hunt, but beware: some prey may be hunting you back!

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Geralt’s Witcher Senses Take Tracking to the Next Level

In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, tracking is a core part of the game, and Geralt’s Witcher Senses make the experience both magical and intense. You’ll follow footprints, blood trails, and scents to locate monsters, solve crimes, and uncover the secrets of the vast and dangerous world around you.

While Geralt’s supernatural senses might be a bit beyond what real hunters use, the game’s tracking system still feels grounded in realism, offering an incredible experience. Whether you’re chasing down a terrifying beast or solving a murder mystery, The Witcher 3 makes tracking an integral part of the journey.

These games show that tracking systems can take your gameplay to new heights, adding a thrilling layer of strategy and immersion. Whether you’re hunting animals or monsters or even solving mysteries, these tracking mechanics will keep you hooked from start to finish!