How to Develop a Game Similar to Escape From Tarkov

Who doesn’t love shooter games? I personally love spending time on these games. Escape from Tarkov is the best-known game for its realism, intensity, and technical depth. With the growing demand for this, it is not only among the players but also among the entrepreneurs. They seek to develop these games to stand out from the crowd.

In this blog, we will walk you through the basic steps of developing a game like Escape from Takov. And other than this, you will get to know the top similar games like Escape from Tarkov. The cost of developing this game and whatnot. So, without wasting time, let’s just dive into this blog. 

How to create a Game like Escape From Tarkov?   

How to make a video game? Creating a game like Escape from Tarkov requires a blend of technical team, creative world-building, and player-centric mechanics. It’s different from traditional shooters; Tarkov-style games emphasize realism, tactical decision-making, and risk-versus-reward gameplay loops. Below is the detailed breakdown of the whole development process: 

1. Research and Planning 

Without detailed market research, you cannot develop a game like Escape from Turnkey. You need a great research and development team that analyzes the gaming market. This step defines: 

• Core gameplay pillars (survival, extraction, PvPvE)
• Player progression systems
• Combat realism and ballistics simulation
• Risk-reward loot mechanics
• Open-world map scale and variety

2. Technical Aspects 

Escape from Tarkov is a well-known game for its action and dynamic weapons, from armor penetration to recoil physics. To achieve similar authenticity, focus on: 

• Realistic weapon handling and recoil patterns
• Authentic ballistics trajectory and hit registration
• Damage modeling (limb, stamina, bleeding, fractures)
• Sound propagation and directional audio
• AI enemy factions with adaptive behavior

3. Open-World & Environmental Design

For shooting titles, the gaming landscape should be vast and engaging, and should justify the whole game era. All these things are responsible for holding a player towards a game and result in a positive user retention rate. This also includes:  

• High-detail urban and wilderness zones
• Dynamic weather and day-night cycles
• Interactive objects and destructible elements
• Line-of-sight considerations for sniper gameplay

4. Backend Architecture & Networking

If I had to choose a game to play, then first I would check the network for low latency in a game, and then I would prefer a game with a smooth network. And if you are a developer, then backend systems are non-negotiable. Key components include: 

• Dedicated multiplayer servers
• Anti-cheat protection
• Real-time syncing and matchmaking
• Cloud-based inventory and progression management

5. Art Animation and Game Design

Whenever I personally search for a game, I always look for a game that has a captivating gaming environment, attractive art animation, and, of course, realistic audio for immersion. And some other things I notice in a game  are: 

• High-quality 3D character and weapon models
• Motion-captured animations
• Authentic weapon sounds and ambient environmental audio
• UI/UX that supports tactical gameplay
• Polished aesthetics build trust and elevate gameplay quality

6. Testing and Launch 

This is the final stage of a game, where it is all set to launch in the gaming market. In this step, an experienced team of quality analysts checks the final product and approves the launch team. The QA testing is done for: 

• Network stability
• Combat balancing
• Performance optimization
• Exploit and cheat prevention

The List of Top Games Like Escape From Tarkov

Unlike games with the best storylines, Escape from Tarkov is a tactical FPS with high-intensity gameplay. Several other games share similar mechanics, player progression systems, and technical depth. Knowing about these games helps understand market expectations, competitor strengths, and the evolving demand for hardcore survival shooter game development. I will walk you through the top games similar to Escape from Tarkov. 

Game Name	Release Year	Game Engine	Similar Features to Tarkov	Why It Matters for Developers
Call of Duty: Warzone (DMZ Mode)	2022	IW Engine	Extraction-based missions, squad-based gameplay, realistic weapons & recoil, PvPvE encounters	Shows how AAA studios handle multiplayer and co-op shooter game mechanics and real-time sync
Hunt: Showdown	2019	CryEngine	High-risk extraction, permadeath progression, directional audio, tactical stealth	Demonstrates advanced realistic combat and ballistics in game dev and atmosphere design
DayZ	2018 (Standalone)	Enfusion + Real Virtuality Hybrid	Open-world survival, injury system, loot-based progression, player-driven encounters	A key reference for open-world environment design for shooter games
PUBG Battleground	2017	Unreal Engine 4	Realistic ballistics, open terrain combat, tactical engagements	Helps understand large-scale hardcore survival shooter game development principles
The Cycle: Frontier	2022	Unreal Engine 4	Sci-fi extraction shooter, PvPvE, resource gathering, faction progression	A strong example of modern extraction loops with early access community feedback, game dev inputs
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Series	2007–	X-Ray Engine	Bleak environments, survival mechanics, story-rich tactical combat	Influences tactical shooter game development company strategies for atmospheric shooters

What are the Technologies Used to Develop Games Like Escape From Tarkov? 

Behind every top-notch game, there is a support of a powerful, scalable, and flexible tech stack used to create such games. Since Tarkov-style games demand realistic physics, expansive environments, server-side persistence, and advanced multiplayer logic, the technology choices you make will directly impact performance, cost, and long-term maintainability.

List of Preferred Game Engines 

Engine	Why It’s Ideal for Tarkov-Style Games
Unity	Excellent for modular survival systems, weapon customization, and cross-platform publishing. Efficient for mid-sized extraction shooters.
Unreal Engine 5	High-end graphics, Nanite, Lumen, robust physics, and AAA-quality environments, perfect for realistic ballistics and tactical shooters.
CryEngine	Known for unmatched realism, environmental lighting, and large-scale open worlds, ideal for advanced open-world environment design for shooter games.

Backend & Multiplayer Architecture

A Tarkov-style shooter is a game that heavily relies on servers because of its PvPvE encounters, progression systems, and inventory sync. It’s a truth that every game requires a strong backbone technology to gain user retention, as every player craves for a game with no latency. 

• Node.js / GoLang for fast real-time server logic
• Photon, PlayFab, or Mirror Networking for multiplayer sessions
• AWS / Azure / Google Cloud for scalable server clusters
• Dedicated server orchestration using Kubernetes or Docker
• Anti-cheat frameworks (Easy Anti-Cheat, BattlEye) for fair matchmaking

Database and Inventory Systems 

The database and the inventory systems are crucial for a game. As the extraction shooters need a steady player inventory, stash systems, trader interactions, and raid-specific data logs. Some of the best databases for the games are: 

• MongoDB – Great for dynamic inventory structures
• PostgreSQL – Ideal for transactional data and stats
• Redis – For caching player state during raids
• Elasticsearch – For analytics, logs, and matchmaking metrics

Open World Environment and Rendering Tools

If you wish to design a Tarkov-inspired map, then it generally requires a sophisticated combination of world-building artistry and advanced rendering technologies. Since extraction shooters rely heavily on tactical movement, sightlines, environmental storytelling, and realistic visual cues, your world-building pipeline must support high-density assets without compromising performance. Some of the environmental design tools are: 

• Quixel Megascans – Hyper-realistic assets
• SpeedTree – Advanced vegetation systems
• World Machine / Gaea – Terrain generation
• Substance Painter & Designer – Material realism

UI/UX and Animation Tools 

The UI/UX and immersive audio enhance the gaming experience for the players. The Tarkov-style extraction includes seamless UI/UX design, immersive audio cues, and lifelike character animation to maintain realism and tactical awareness. 

• Adobe XD / Figma – Inventory and HUD design
• FMOD or Wwise – Tactical audio, indoor/outdoor sound variations
• Motion capture (Vicon, Rokoko) – Realistic character animations
• Blender, Maya, 3ds Max – Weapons, gear, and character modeling

QA, Deployment & Live Ops Tools

Before launching the game into the market, the team of quality analysts checks the game completely, and they provide positive or negative feedback to the players. The QA process includes:  

• CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitHub Actions)
• Bug tracking (Jira, ClickUp)
• Analytics platforms (GameAnalytics, Firebase)
• A/B testing tools for balancing weapons and loot systems
• Crash reporting tools (Backtrace, Sentry)

What is the Cost of Developing a Game like Escape From Tarkov? 

The cost of games like Escape from Tarkov depends on various factors, like the technologies used, features, team size, and development timeline. Below is the detailed breakdown of the cost. Let’s get to know them. 

Game Size	Description	Estimated Cost
MVP Extraction Shooter	Basic mechanics, 1-2 maps, limited weapons, simplified AI, mid-level graphics	$150,000 – $300,000
Mid-Level Tarkov-Style Game	Realistic ballistics, 3-5 maps, advanced AI, weapon customization, backend servers, better graphics	$400,000 – $900,000
AAA-Quality Game Like Escape from Tarkov	Full feature set, large maps, deep survival mechanics, advanced ballistics, live-ops, 100+ weapons, premium graphics	$1.5M – $5M+

Cost Distribution by Development Stage

Development Stage	Cost Range
Game Design & Pre-Production	$20,000 – $80,000
Art & Animation	$70,000 – $500,000+
Programming (Gameplay + Backend)	$80,000 – $600,000
Environment Design (Maps & Assets)	$50,000 – $400,000
Audio Engineering	$10,000 – $150,000
QA & Testing	$20,000 – $150,000
Live Ops & Post-Launch Updates	Ongoing monthly cost: $5,000 – $50,000

In the Dilemma of Creating a Game Like Escape from Tarkov: BR Softech Can be Your Perfect Partner

While creating a game like Escape from Tarkov, choosing the right game development partner is crucial. Tarkov-style extraction shooters require high-level expertise in hardcore survival shooter game development, realistic physics, backend engineering, open-world design, and live-ops execution. BR Softech has more than 13+ years of experience in game development and stands out as a trusted and experienced tactical shooter game development company that delivers scalable, high-performance solutions tailored to your vision. 

What we offer:

• Expertise in Complex Shooter Mechanics 
• Specialized in Multiplayer & Backend Development
• Advanced Open-World & Environment Creation
• End-to-End Production Capabilities

Wrapping Up 

Creating a top-notch game like Escape from Tarkov is a time-consuming process. From designing dynamic environments and implementing advanced ballistics systems to building scalable multiplayer infrastructure, every phase requires accuracy, expertise, and a deep understanding of modern player expectations. 

With an accurate tech stack for shooter game development, strong creative direction, and a well-planned production roadmap, you can bring a world-class extraction shooter to life. Whether your goal is to create a mid-core multiplayer survival game or a full-scale AAA tactical shooter, choosing experienced partners makes all the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)