Sniper Elite 5

With so much to do, collect, and kill, I don't know how I'll be putting down Sniper Elite 5 any time soon.

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"Sniper Elite 5" is a sniping and tactical third-person combat game set in France, 1944. Players take on the role of elite marksman Karl Fairburne, working with the French Resistance to uncover and stop a secret Nazi project, Operation Kraken. The game features immersive real-world locations, an improved traversal system, and an enhanced kill cam for unparalleled sniping.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 14,633 reviews

story735 positive mentions

stability354 negative mentions

story
3,695 mentions
20 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in "Sniper Elite 5" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it to be generic and lacking depth compared to previous installments. While some appreciate the engaging missions and the ability to approach objectives in various ways, others criticize the narrative as predictable and uninspired, often serving merely as a backdrop for gameplay. The final mission, in particular, has been noted as disappointing, being significantly shorter than expected and failing to provide a satisfying conclusion to the campaign.
- “One of my favorite games (along with SE4) with interesting storylines, a good choice of combat or stealth style playing (or a mix of both) and replayability.”
- “The story is enjoyable, and the various old-time French locations are immersive.”
- “The narrative is both engaging and emotionally resonant, weaving a story of espionage and intrigue against the backdrop of World War II.”
- “The previous versions are much better in terms of story, creativity, etc. The gameplay hasn't changed at all and still some bad physics (enemy movement, interaction with environment, ...) exist, and only new maps are introduced.”
- “The campaign's story is absolute garbage and the maps are a mixed bag.”
- “The story feels forced, the voice-acting and cutscenes are soulless and monotone, and they replaced the ability to throw an infinite amount of rocks as a distraction tool with... glass bottles.”
gameplay
1,765 mentions
33 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Sniper Elite 5 has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the core sniping mechanics and the introduction of new features like the invasion mode, which adds a unique twist to the experience. However, criticisms have been directed at the game's stealth mechanics, which some find inconsistent and less rewarding compared to previous entries, as well as issues with AI behavior and traversal mechanics. Overall, while the game maintains the series' signature gameplay, it has been noted that it feels more like an iteration of Sniper Elite 4 rather than a significant evolution.
- “There's a fair amount of content, satisfying RPG/upgrade mechanics, and a lot of incentives to not only rush through the game as fast as possible, but complete most of the objectives in these small open-world-ish campaign missions.”
- “The game offers well-designed maps and levels, a somewhat deep weapon customization system, and satisfying gameplay with lots of entertaining ways to kill the enemies.”
- “The gameplay shines beyond compare.”
- “The detection mechanics in Sniper Elite are worse than those in many lower-tier games.”
- “Mechanics are garbage, flinchy NPCs, awkward movement, bad AI and pathing.”
- “The gameplay felt mundane, and the protagonist lacked the authentic feel of a true sniper, resembling more of an 'invisible' soldier akin to Hitman.”
graphics
1,553 mentions
53 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics in Sniper Elite 5 have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals and detailed environments that enhance the immersive experience. However, some players noted that the graphics can feel dated compared to modern standards, with issues like graphical glitches and subpar character animations detracting from the overall quality. While the game showcases significant improvements over its predecessor, Sniper Elite 4, it still faces criticism for not fully utilizing the potential of current hardware, leading to a varied reception among players.
- “The graphics are stunning, the environments are gorgeous and heavily detailed, and the enemies are smart.”
- “The graphics are absolutely beautiful and the French countryside setting adds greatly with luscious flower fields, pristine castles, hanging gardens, war-torn streets, and mysterious German bunkers to name a few.”
- “Making tremendous strides in both technology and visuals, Sniper Elite 5 can stand amongst the likes of its AAA contemporaries with gorgeous, realistic environments and visuals.”
- “The graphics are a step up (which doesn't mean much).”
- “The graphics are worse than Sniper Elite 4, how is that possible?”
- “It's a lackluster parade of missed opportunities wrapped in the thin veneer of modern graphics, proving once again that not all upgrades are for the better.”
stability
380 mentions
6 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The stability of Sniper Elite 5 has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting a variety of bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay. Common issues include freezing, graphical glitches, and erratic AI behavior, leading many to describe the game as feeling unpolished and reminiscent of an early access title. While some players have experienced minimal problems, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial fixes to improve its stability and performance.
- “No glitches so far... 84 hours played.”
- “The game is bug free, and the missions can be replayed several times.”
- “Runs great on PC with all graphic options on maximum.”
- “This was originally a positive review, however, the bugs, glitches, and overall problems have been getting exceedingly bad lately.”
- “The game suffers from multiple limitations as well as being a bit buggy: enemies showing up, looking away for a second, then looking back but they are not there?”
- “I tried to refund this game because of all of its glitchy, buggy, half-baked and little thought-out mechanics coming together as a whole to make something unsatisfying.”
replayability
220 mentions
50 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability through its expansive maps, multiple infiltration points, and various difficulty settings, allowing players to approach missions in diverse ways. While the campaign may feel repetitive at times, the addition of cooperative play, a PvP invasion mode, and numerous collectibles enhances the overall replay value. However, some players noted that the campaign's structure and certain mechanics could limit long-term engagement compared to previous titles in the series.
- “The game has a good amount of replayability as you can go through missions trying different routes and techniques.”
- “With highly replayable missions stuffed full of secrets and side quests, a clever new PvP invasion mode, full campaign co-op, and a ton of unlockables and multiplayer modes to dig into, this is a hugely entertaining offering that's sure to delight long-term fans and new recruits in equal measure.”
- “The developer’s dense French sandboxes are hugely replayable, and look fantastic to boot.”
- “The campaign loses a bit of replayability, especially because your level is capped at 40.”
- “It's fun for one playthrough, but prepare to be frustrated if you want replay value, especially if you want to complete the challenges.”
- “Being constantly invaded and getting killed over and over is a poor excuse of an attempt at replayability.”
music
154 mentions
31 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in "Sniper Elite V" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it underwhelming compared to previous entries in the series, particularly "Sniper Elite 4." While some appreciate the attempt at unique themes for different levels and the atmospheric integration of music with gameplay, others criticize it for being repetitive, generic, and lacking the epic quality of earlier soundtracks. Overall, the consensus leans towards disappointment, with many players opting to turn off the music for a more immersive experience.
- “Different themes for the different levels is an awesome touch, and I really appreciate the more organic way the music changes based on the alert state of the enemies, over 4 which was often far too explicit in its music and audio cues.”
- “The music feels right for the time period and fits perfectly.”
- “Absolutely would recommend this game, the series just gets better, fantastic graphics, excellent gameplay and the best music yet.”
- “The soundtrack seems to be on a never-ending loop of monotony, while the voice acting delivers lines with all the emotion of a malfunctioning robot.”
- “I had to turn the music off in this game. I have never turned off game music before in any other game.”
- “The music is crap, or at least on the first level it is; it's nice at first but it's the same loop over and over and over......”
humor
134 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it delightfully absurd and filled with dark comedy, particularly through humorous character descriptions and over-the-top scenarios like x-ray kills. While some appreciate the comedic elements in gameplay and cutscenes, others feel the humor can be hit-or-miss, often relying on glitches and exaggerated tropes. Overall, the game offers a blend of intentional and unintentional humor that keeps players chuckling, even amidst its flaws.
- “I swear, I burst out laughing when Hitler yelled 'give me some room you buffoons' to the soldiers who were following him.”
- “The fact that the game with x-ray exploding testicles has non-lethal takedowns is so funny to me.”
- “You'll find yourself chuckling at the sheer absurdity of trying to care about a plot that seems more interested in mocking you than engaging you.”
optimization
131 mentions
34 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its solid performance and smooth graphics on various systems, while others report significant issues such as stuttering, crashes, and poor texture quality, particularly on mid-range hardware. Many users noted that the game struggles with performance, especially at higher settings, and that optimization appears to be lacking, especially for AMD CPUs and lower-end systems. Overall, while some players enjoy a well-optimized experience, a substantial number face frustrating performance problems that detract from gameplay.
- “Issues/optimization – Sniper Elite 5 is very well optimized for the PC and ran well on my system.”
- “Rendering is well optimized, constant 60fps on RTX 3070 @1440p.”
- “Large highly replayable maps, great gun customization, excellent optimization, and many quality-of-life improvements... definitely my favorite Sniper Elite yet!”
- “Bad graphic optimization; I have a mid-high range GPU and it won't allow the textures above the lowest level, making it look like a PS2 game unless you have a high-end GPU.”
- “Even after attempting the many fixes posted all over the internet, this is more poorly optimized than an alpha state game.”
- “On top of all of this, keep in mind this game released months ago and it's still just as badly buggy now as it was then with incredibly poor optimization and crashes still happening abundantly.”
atmosphere
78 mentions
54 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive depiction of wartime France, with detailed level design, evocative music, and realistic sound effects that enhance the experience. However, some players note inconsistencies, with certain maps lacking the same atmospheric depth, and a desire for stronger narrative elements to complement the setting. Overall, the game successfully captures the gritty essence of World War II, making it a compelling environment for stealth gameplay.
- “The landscapes are a testament to the developer's commitment to recreating the atmosphere of wartime France.”
- “Each level feels incredibly lived in, with the smallest world details contributing to different atmospheres for each level.”
- “You are experiencing everything from a German war factory to the Atlantic beachhead of Normandy, the occupied Austrian Alps, to the French countryside akin to Operation Market Garden, all militarized by the German occupation of the area and it was just so completely atmospheric.”
- “Great game, good mechanics and graphics but lacking atmosphere in most of the maps, especially in the U-boat bunker.”
- “Sniper Elite 5 feels like an abandoned theme park (looks good but no atmosphere).”
- “Lame aesthetic: the aesthetic of the previous games, the cute tutorial cards, the atmosphere, the UI, the HUD, the menus, it's all been stripped out, the game now looks like a generic multiplayer shooter with all of the little artistic quirks and style sucked out of it giving a bland appearance.”
grinding
78 mentions
4 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
51 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to unlock weapons, collectibles, and achievements. While some improvements have been made to reduce grindy challenges, many still feel that achieving 100% completion demands excessive grinding, leading to frustration with the game's design. Overall, players suggest that engaging with the game fully may require a considerable investment of time, likening it to needing "a second life" for grinding.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Overall, get it on a sale like I did. For 30 bucks, I can take part in the actual fun sniping, but man do these levels just grind my gears with how frustrating and tedious their design is.”
- “Some trophies are unnecessarily grindy, e.g., getting 50 ghost kills on a pistol that can't have a silencer.”
- “Having to search enemy bodies for ammo and items is one of the more tedious and annoying things one can do in a game.”
monetization
58 mentions
5 % positive mentions
19 % neutral mentions
76 % negative mentions
The monetization model of Sniper Elite 5 has been widely criticized as excessively greedy and akin to a cash grab, with many reviewers noting that downloadable content (DLC) feels low-effort and is priced unreasonably high for the limited content provided. Players express frustration over the increasing number of ads and the necessity to purchase multiple season passes for features that should have been included in the base game. Overall, the monetization practices detract significantly from the gameplay experience, leading to a perception of the game as incomplete and exploitative.
- “Rebellion continues to make great games but really bad business practices with downloadable content and throttling the amount of features players get for further monetization.”
- “Short version, no BS: the game is quite good aside from the horrible monetization practices!”
- “Feels definitely better than microtransactions.”
- “Overall, the worst offense SE5 makes is monetization.”
- “It's been pretty obvious that Rebellion has been on a cash grab spree since Sniper Elite 4 was released, but this truly takes the cake as the magnum opus to their greed.”
- “The game looks and feels much less complete than its predecessors and is a testament to how far Rebellion has fallen as a company, as it seems to be much more of a cash grab than a genuine attempt at a game.”
emotional
40 mentions
85 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the depth added by personal details discovered about enemies, which enhances the gameplay experience. However, many criticize the overall narrative as boring and lacking emotional resonance, often comparing it unfavorably to previous titles in the series. While some moments are engaging, the general sentiment leans towards disappointment in the story's execution and emotional impact.
- “It adds an emotional dimension to the gameplay that can be both engaging and thought-provoking.”
- “The personal details you discover about enemies while using binoculars adds an emotional dimension that deepens the gameplay experience.”
- “The narrative is both engaging and emotionally resonant, weaving a story of espionage and intrigue against the backdrop of World War II.”
- “Boring story line, unbelievable/unlikely characters (you know what I mean), too easy, really buggy, dumb AI, and average graphics.”
- “Not even better graphics, a boring story, and insanely priced DLCs.”
- “Boring story.”
character development
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being underdeveloped, leading to a lack of emotional investment in the missions, which often feel repetitive and disconnected. Despite the atmospheric design of the missions, the absence of a cohesive narrative or meaningful character arcs diminishes the overall experience.
- “The story and character development still feel too underdeveloped, making every mission blend together in an unending series of contextless kill cams and sometimes cringe-worthy voiced one-liners.”
- “It's kinda sad, because the missions themselves are incredibly atmospheric, but there is no overall arc, character development, or story choices to make you care.”