10 Most Realistic Missions in Video Games

The core of every video game lies in its mission. While some may be less challenging, leaning more towards whimsicality and absurdity, others go above and beyond to deliver true-to-life tasks. Meanwhile, some are enigmatic enigmas, resulting in sheer frustration yet offering immense gratification once you master their technique. 

Every video game has an objective the player is expected to see through to either unlock rewards, rank high on the leaderboard, or revel in the glory of being the first to conquer its trials.  If you crave games with realistic missions and not abstract concepts, this article is for you. Here are the ten most realistic missions in video games. 

10. Red Dead Redemption Mission – Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most critically acclaimed video games by Rockstar Games. This game's attention to detail and amount of surrealism are mind-blowing, making them its biggest selling points. Aside from that, the missions and tasks take you on an unforgettable odyssey in the lawless and rugged Old West. 

The Red Dead Redemption mission stands out, not for being named after the game but for its poignant quests that tug at your heartstrings. The mission starts with a rescue and ends with the Van Der Lir gang splitting up, reminding you that all good things must end. 

9. Clean House – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Activision's 2019 Modern Warfare was a swift attempt by the publisher to get the game back to warfare logic, earning it the title of an impeccable remaster of the 2007 game. This comes after the release of Call of Duty 4, which fell short of embodying the true spirit of battle. Within the realm of Modern Warfare lies a mission that stands unparalleled in its authenticity—the legendary “Clean House”. 

In this mission, you are an elite operative in a high-stakes raid on a terrorist's fortified safe house. Everything about this quest screams unexpected danger, with lethal adversaries lurking. Moreover, the level is heavily immersive and intense, from using night vision to carefully deducing between the terrorists and the innocents. Brace yourself for an experience that plunges you deep into the trenches of realism.

8. Bone Appetite – Mafia: Definitive Edition

Mafia: Definitive Edition does an exceptional job of recreating the unending feud between crime families in the 1930s. A period where an imminent attack could happen anywhere and anytime. This is the premise of the game's most realistic mission, “Bone Appetite.”

Don Salieri goes to his favorite restaurant for a quick bite but gets served a barrage of bullets for dessert. About a dozen men in hats are shooting up the place. Playing as Tommy Angelo, you must discern the best way to get your boss out unscathed. There's no way for you to approach them head-on. This is where your wits come into play. As the right-hand man to the world’s toughest mafia boss, what would you do?

7. A Normal Life – Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

Despite Uncharted 4 having the most intense and far-from-reality quests, some of its missions remind us that the characters are your average Joes. The “Normal Life” mission takes Drake down memory lane. You get to explore his attic, full of relics from previous missions. 

The level has interactive elements where you pick up a toy gun and exercise your aim on different targets. Downstairs, you can play a classic round of Crash Bandicoot on the PS1. Basically, the mission reveals what a normal being does when they're not busy scavenging the world for treasures. 

6. Paperchase – The Witcher

Collecting your money from the bank should be seamless. A simple walk in, and then you walk out. But what if the bank assumes you're dead, and you have to prove them wrong? It opens up a Pandora's box of form-filling. This is what you get from the fantasy-based action-adventure game.

The premise is simple, Geralt has completed a task, and his sub-quest is to collect his reward stashed in the bank. Here's where reality sets in. First and foremost, you have to consider the bank's operating hours. You can't be too early or too late. Next, once in, the teller asks you to get a Permit A38. This begins a series of back-and-forths that oddly remind you of frequent doctor visits.

5. Thunder Run – Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3 unleashes an intense series of multiplayer gun battles that raises the bar. Its “Thunder Run” mission is particularly spectacular. The single-player campaign has you playing as Jonathan Miller. 

Your mission is to destroy the enemy as the 1st Tank Battalion and rescue Henry Blackburn's troops. You can fire on the enemy using the M1A2 Abrams and A-10 Thunderbolts via an MAV drone. Of course, being a battlefield, you can't miss minefields; this is where you can scout the grounds on foot. 

4. LAX International Airport – Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow

Since the early days of James Bond, super spies have followed the logic of completing one-person jobs. No matter how absurd or impossible the mission may sound, they always get the job done. Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow takes you on a stealth mode adventure as Sam Fisher. While some of its missions tip more toward the unrealistic yet immersive spy adventure, the “LAX International Airport” mission is genuinely riveting. 

A group of terrorists plans to attack the US by releasing a deadly strain of smallpox. The only way to take them down is by sneaking up on them without being detected. Easier said than done, right? 

3. Hat Trick – Medal of Honor: Warfighter

A neat way of adding surrealism to a game is by basing it on real-time events. Medal of Honor: Warfighter's Hat Trick is inspired by the real-life rescue of Captain Richard Philips in the 2009 Maersk Alabama Hijacking. It's the same event that inspired the movie Captain Phillips.

The mission is straightforward; you must take down Somali pirates with a hostage on a lifeboat. The fate of the hostage lies in the balance, so you can't be too hasty in your actions. You have to wait for the right time to strike the marauders.  

2. The Finish Line – Hitman World of Assassination

Hitman takes the crown for providing challenging scenarios to eliminate your target. Well, isn't this a day in the life of a skilled hitman? You must use your wits to find the right opportunity to make a hit. “The Finish Line” mission presents this exact challenge. 

The quest takes place in Miami during a race. One of your targets is a racer, making her difficult to reach. Remember, you must be inconspicuous, so shooting her off the road is not an option. How would you do it if you were a hitman?

1. Fairfax Residence – SWAT 4

And the most realistic mission award goes to ‘Fairfax Residence' in SWAT 4. The game has the most hardcore tactile missions, where sudden death lurks just around the corner. In the mission, you lead your troop through a building to find a single serial killer. In most shooter games, you always have more than one target. Also, taking out one guy with an entire troop of heavily armed officers is a walk in the park. But the game proves otherwise.

Moreover, you can't go around shooting everyone. The house's environment doesn't make things easier with so much clutter. You must be agile and eager to defuse any situation that presents itself.

So, what's your take on our picks for the most realistic missions in video games? Let us know over our socials here or in the comments below.