Games Like Payday 3 – Play While Waiting For The Servers To Load

Payday 3 is a great first-person shooter with adrenaline-pumping action that simply hooks you in and never lets go. To top it off, the game features an immersive narrative that has captured the hearts of many players. If you’re a fan of first-person shooters with high stakes, action and cooperative gameplay and want to try out similar titles to Payday 3, you’re in luck. In this curated list, we’ll explore the top 7 games, like Payday 3, that share the same heart-pounding action that gamers love. 

7. Halo 3

If you’re a fan of old-school first-person shooter games, you’re going to love Halo 3. Released in 2007 by Bungie, it quickly gained traction as one of the few FPS games on the Xbox 360 console. Just like Payday 3, Halo 3 also supports multiplayer gaming. With an amazing story, the game is known for providing a fitting conclusion to the Halo arc that players have been solving since 2011.

The fun thing about Halo 3 is that Bungie added tons of new features not available in the previous versions, such as new vehicles and weapons you can use. It also has a unique aspect of vehicular combat that you won’t find in many first-person shooters. With its multiplayer feature still running, fans can still enjoy playing the game with 3 of their friends. However, if you are looking to dive into the campaign, you’re in for an amazing time.  

6. Call of Duty: Black Ops II

You can’t call yourself a real first-person shooter enthusiast if you haven’t played Call of Duty games at least once in your life. While not all games released by the franchise are instant hits, Call of Duty: Black Ops II is definitely one worth checking out. Quite similar to Payday 3, this Activision classic really brings out the FPS essence alongside the story mode experience with its branching storylines.

COD: Black Ops II is your standard run-of-the-mill FPS game with unmanned aerial vehicles, jet fighters, robots, and many more. The standout factor, however, is that any choice you make in the campaign affects how the story progresses further. So be sure you know what you’re doing. If you are the type of player in Payday 3 who likes to complete heists with guns blazing, the adrenaline-pumping action of COD will take your breath away.

5. Far Cry 5

One of the more recent games on the list, Far Cry 5, is a first-person shooter released in 2018 by Ubisoft. Similar to Payday 3, Far Cry 5 was an extremely anticipated game in the FPS community. It definitely proved its critics wrong with its outstanding storyline and amazing gameplay.

The story revolves around the Project at Eden’s Gate, a doomsday cult that has taken over the country. Players must battle through enemy soldiers and deadly wildlife to reach and take down the cult leader, Joseph Seed. You’ll have tons of side quests alongside the main quest line, as well as a co-op multiplayer and competitive multiplayer mode.

The interesting part about Far Cry 5 is the wide array of weapons they introduced, including but not limited to melee weapons and explosives. The game also features a recruitment system called ‘Guns for Hire’ to build an alliance with your locals, so what’re you waiting for?

4. Destiny 2

If you loved completing heists in Payday 3, consider trying out Destiny 2. This game features both a multiplayer ‘shared-world’ environment as well as PvP and PvE modes. If you’re into RPGs and MMOs but want to get into the FPS scene, this is an ideal game for you.

There are three basic classes in Destiny 2, including Hunters, Warlocks, and Titans. Depending on the class you choose, you’ll have access to different sub-classes you can choose from. The game also has on-the-fly matchmaking, meaning you’ll constantly be matched with different teammates. Up for a challenge? Give Destiny 2 a try.

3. Left 4 Dead 2

Zombies are a staple in first-person shooters, and when it comes to doing them justice, Left 4 Dead 2 stands as the definitive game. This 2009 first-person shooter developed by Valve is a sequel to Left 4 Dead but has a heavy emphasis on cooperative gameplay rather than PvP multiplayer gameplay. If you love playing with your friends and taking on the enemies Payday 3 throws at you, this Left 4 Dead 2 is right up your alley.

In this game, you must go through a series of campaigns with different sub-campaigns. You’ll be matched with 3 other ‘Survivors’, each carrying one item from five categories: primary weapons, secondary weapons, throwable weapons, major medical supplies, and minor medical supplies. Use these items to get to the safe house on each level, making your way through a horde of zombies.

2. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

Rainbow Six Siege is a FPS classic published by Ubisoft. First released in 2015 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One, it was later also released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/XS in 2020. This game resembles Payday 3 quite a lot since it comprises environmental destruction as well as cooperative play between players.

When starting out, players can choose from a variety of operators, each having different attributes, weapons, and nationalities. Your main goal changes depending on the game mode, like defusing a bomb or rescuing a hostage, but there will always be two teams: the attackers and the defenders. You can choose from 9 game modes overall: Hostage, Bomb, Secure Area, Tactical Realism, Training Grounds, Situations, Outbreak, Arcade, and Seasonal Events.

1. Team Fortress 2

Team Fortress 2 is the last game on our list, and it needs no introduction. With almost a million reviews on Steam and still holding a 9/10 rating, Team Fortress 2 is a world-renowned first-person shooter that doesn’t look hyperrealistic or flashy, but Valve really outdid themselves with the gameplay. For those who enjoyed Payday 3, you’ll love this FPS as well.

Players join a team, RED or BLU, and play as one of nine character classes. Each character has its own set of characteristics, including weaknesses, strengths, and weapon sets. There’s a team-based environment where players play for an objective like Attack/Defend, Capture the Flag, Control Points, King of the Hill, and Payload. Communicate with your team to dominate every match.

The unique part about Team Fortress 2 is that it is played competitively in multiple leagues around the world.

If you’re trying out Payday 3, make sure to check N4G for its guides and walkthroughs. From walkthroughs on the No Rest For The Wicket Heist, Dirty Ice Heist, to dissecting the bugs and crashes in the game, you’ll find everything here.