The tribological behavior and microscopic morphology of Cr2O3-TiO2 thin films produced by magnetron sputtering are thoroughly examined in this work. A thorough analysis was conducted to determine how various Ar: O2 flow ratios (80:20, 85:15, 90:10 and 95:5) affected the films microstructure, mechanical characteristics and tribological performance. Various characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ball-on-disk wear testing, were employed to examine the microstructural features that contributed to the films’ mechanical durability. The results indicated a clear correlation between the gas flow ratio and tribological properties. Specifically, the thin films deposited at an Ar: O2 ratio of 85:15 exhibited the best tribological performance, with a notably lower friction coefficient (0.41) and superior wear resistance (wear rate 4.3 × 10− 6 mm³/N·m), making this ratio the optimal choice for achieving enhanced tribological behavior. The superior performance at this ratio is attributed to the formation of a denser and more refined microstructure, as observed in the cross-sectional and surface morphology analyses. These findings highlight the capability of magnetron sputtering to produce high-performance thin films through precise control of the Ar: O2 flow ratio.