Sniper Ghost Warrior 3

The best Sniper Ghost Warrior title to date, the third instalment in CI Games popular sharpshooter series gets enough right to finally elevate the series into the orbit of its peers.

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Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 is a first-person tactical shooter game set in a modern-day open world. As a Marine sniper, players must navigate rugged terrain, locate enemies, and use tactical strategies to complete missions. The game features a rich storyline, customizable weapons, and the freedom to play as a sniper, ghost, or warrior.

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Reviews

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,029 reviews

story391 positive mentions

stability365 negative mentions

The game features good maps with a nice variety and reasonable missions.
Fun sniping mechanics that allow for strategic gameplay and multiple approaches to missions.
The graphics are decent, and the game provides an immersive experience with its environments.

The story is hard to believe, with poor voice acting and a predictable plot.
The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with movement and checkpoints.
Long loading times and a lack of manual save options can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.

story
2,212 mentions
18 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The story in "Sniper Ghost Warrior 3" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it predictable and clichéd, often likening it to a low-budget action film. While some appreciate the emotional elements and the backdrop of a brother's search amidst geopolitical conflict, others criticize the dialogue and character development as weak and unengaging. Overall, the narrative serves primarily as a vehicle for gameplay, with many players suggesting that the mechanics and sniping experience overshadow the story itself.
- “I am very proud of the team and their ability to create 3 separate open worlds along with a full storyline and side missions for us to enjoy.”
- “The story is a good cheesy ham-fisted tale of espionage in Eastern Europe but still remains entertaining and fun as a backdrop to what is basically a very atmospheric open world sniper sandbox.”
- “The story is decent, but I felt the game ended rather abruptly, and truth be told, there were many instances where I was barely paying attention to the story at all.”
- “The story is poorly written, the dialogue is bad, and the voice acting is terrible.”
- “The story is generic, the enemies all look the same, and the map is bland.”
- “The story is laughably bad with amateurish writing and dialogue, the likes of which you might see in a low-end Steven Seagal action movie.”
gameplay
845 mentions
36 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Sniper Ghost Warrior 3" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its sniping mechanics and tactical approach, which offer a satisfying challenge for players who enjoy long-range combat. However, criticisms highlight issues such as repetitive mission design, clunky controls, and numerous bugs that detract from the overall experience. While some players find the open-world elements engaging, others feel they are poorly implemented and fail to enhance the gameplay, leading to a sense of frustration rather than enjoyment.
- “The core sniping gameplay is fantastic, offering a truly satisfying challenge.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and I've had no crashes thus far; all in all, I don't have any bad takes on this game.”
- “The sniping mechanics are really addicting and immersive, and the map looks incredible.”
- “Open world is dead and not engaging at all, NPCs are not even able to be interacted with, points of interest offer so little as reward for time spent doing them that doing them is actually hindering your gameplay.”
- “The gameplay feels rather last gen and the graphics, while ok and often atmospheric are not certainly on par with most modern titles.”
- “The game fails to engage the player with its mechanics, its environment, or its story.”
graphics
557 mentions
48 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful environments and overall visual quality, particularly due to the use of the CryEngine. However, several users highlight significant optimization issues, leading to performance problems and graphical glitches that detract from the experience. While some find the graphics satisfactory for a game of its age, others feel they are outdated and not on par with contemporary titles, particularly in cutscenes and character models.
- “The graphics are amazing, gameplay is amazing!!!”
- “Graphics are great, the environment is large and vibrant.”
- “The graphics are fantastic, and the weapons are beautifully made.”
- “This game came out in 2017, but trust me, the graphics make you feel like you are playing a game from the 2000s.”
- “The graphics are terrible (on a brand new $3000 gaming rig).”
- “The graphics are a bit odd; it seems as if the developers worked on the guns for 7/8 of development and then they went and got foliage from some game from 2010.”
stability
372 mentions
2 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many players experienced game-breaking issues, frequent crashes, and frustrating gameplay interruptions, leading to a consensus that the game feels unfinished and poorly optimized. While some found enjoyment in the core mechanics, the overwhelming presence of technical problems has left a negative impression on the game's stability.
- “Runs great on my i5 2400 and RX 570.”
- “Played on a Dell 7000 i7 laptop; runs great, amusing game.”
- “It runs great on my system with no bugs or other issues.”
- “Technical issues: unfortunately, the game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches.”
- “This game is a buggy mess; go near the edge of the map and it crashes!”
- “The programming appears to have been poor and incomplete and despite 4 years since release, there are loads of bugs, glitches and game-breaking events.”
optimization
201 mentions
13 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
44 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering, low frame rates, and frequent crashes, even on high-end systems. While some players have managed to achieve decent performance with specific tweaks, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, detracting significantly from the experience. Despite its impressive graphics, the optimization problems have left many feeling frustrated and unable to fully enjoy the gameplay.
- “The game has very optimized performance in my playthrough of max settings and an average of 85fps.”
- “I can see that a lot of people complain about bugs, frame rate and overall performance, I faced no performance related issues whatsoever playing this game.”
- “Great graphics and usually runs smoothly on my decent PC.”
- “The team chose to make this game with the CryEngine, a brave decision, as the game has pretty good graphics, but it comes at the cost of the game also having terrible optimization.”
- “It's a fun game, but it's just such a broken and unoptimized game.”
- “The game's biggest sin by far is the horrendous optimization; it runs like absolute garbage.”
music
174 mentions
30 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmospheric and culturally authentic Georgian soundtrack, particularly the loading screen song, while others find it repetitive and annoying, especially during long loading times. Many users express a desire for a more diverse selection of tracks, criticizing the limited radio options and the inability to customize music choices. Overall, while the soundtrack has its moments, it often detracts from the gameplay experience due to its repetitiveness and the prominence of a single track.
- “The soundtrack is surprisingly good, with a melancholic Eastern European vibe.”
- “Good thing the song that plays during the loading screen is an absolute banger, because the loading takes forever.”
- “The music is sweet at first, and the outdoor scenery, although gloomy (feels like Chernobyl), is pretty nice.”
- “Loading screens take forever, music is awful and ruins immersion, the game is riddled with bugs even after all this time, and the mechanics are designed to slow you down so that the game feels longer than it is, because you spend 80% of your time traveling or trying to traverse the ground with the clunkiest movement and aiming mechanics of all time, and then 5% actually having fun sniping.”
- “Oh my and the music... I don't mean to offend Georgian culture or whatever, but the same song on loading over and over is very annoying.”
- “Excessively long load times, with a mind-numbing soundtrack (no matter how ethnically accurate, it turns into droning after about 3 minutes).”
humor
48 mentions
98 % positive mentions
-4 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional comedy and absurdity, with players finding amusement in broken mechanics, over-the-top animations, and hilariously bad voice acting. While some moments are genuinely funny, such as bizarre character interactions and ridiculous dialogue, the overall execution often leads to groans rather than laughs, making it a "so bad it's good" experience for many. Despite its flaws, players appreciate the comedic value in the game's shortcomings, suggesting it can be enjoyable if approached with the right mindset.
- “It's so funny I won't even ask for a refund.”
- “The most hilarious part of this game is that sometimes male civilians make sounds like females and vice-versa.”
- “Some of the scenarios and acting are so silly that it ends up being genuinely hilarious.”
- “It's not funny, it's just sad :-)”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
- “I expected humor, but it was more cringeworthy than comedic.”
grinding
39 mentions
3 % positive mentions
15 % neutral mentions
82 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, often requiring excessive time investment to unlock new content or progress. Players report that the open world and various mechanics, such as climbing and looting, contribute to a frustrating experience, compounded by bugs and poorly designed missions. While some appreciate the potential for enjoyment, the overall sentiment leans towards grinding feeling like a chore rather than an engaging part of gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This results in inevitable boredom after grinding for a while.”
- “The open world experience doesn't make it more compelling; it makes it more tedious.”
- “The gameplay itself isn't terrible, but the minor annoyances, wasted potential, tedious main quest, and severe bugs end up ruining the experience.”
atmosphere
35 mentions
69 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and detailed environments, effectively capturing a gritty and eerie ambiance that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the atmospheric elements such as lighting, sound design, and the sense of solitude in the expansive open world, although some note that the story can be cheesy and the gameplay may feel repetitive. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's enjoyment despite some criticisms regarding content and AI.
- “The environment is truly detailed and immersive, and the atmosphere fits the game really well.”
- “The lighting and overall atmosphere outside and inside can be really good and immersive, especially when you are in the dark slaughterhouses or cabins, or running through the forest or on top of snow mountain cliffs.”
- “The atmosphere and fog that rolls in makes you feel like a beast is coming for you.”
- “It's that B-movie schlock that breaks the immersion and atmosphere because of how laughable it is.”
- “The atmosphere is meh.”
replayability
16 mentions
19 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is highly inconsistent among players. While some appreciate the varied gameplay and improved mechanics that offer multiple approaches to missions, many others criticize the lack of story replay value and the inability to replay missions, leading to a perception of minimal replayability. Technical issues, such as frequent crashes, further diminish the incentive to revisit the game.
- “The best single player campaign ever made, best looking campaign and most replay value out of any game ever made.”
- “Varied, beautiful scenery, plenty of objectives and a lot of ways to accomplish your missions make it one of the most replayable shooters out there.”
- “Aside from this, the game is a vast improvement, much less sequenced, much more spontaneity and replay value as sniper or ghost or warrior means that you get to explore each section differently.”
- “But note: a major issue is the game constantly crashes; it made it hard to finish the game, and for me, it takes away nearly all replay value.”
- “Good gameplay but has almost no replayability once you beat the game.”
- “Any replay value this game has is lost with no ability to replay missions or restart the campaign.”
emotional
15 mentions
60 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has been largely criticized, with many reviewers describing the story as boring and poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience. While some elements, like the sniping mechanics, are praised, the disjointed narrative and lackluster voice acting undermine any potential emotional impact, leaving players feeling disconnected and unengaged. Overall, the game's emotional depth is seen as weak and unconvincing, failing to resonate with players.
- “It has a great sniping mechanic and an emotional story following a US Marine as he battles Georgian separatists, trying to find his missing younger brother all the while.”
- “The exposition in this game is all over the place, it can't decide between Rambo and American Sniper. Just after the first main mission that ended with a heartfelt and difficult cutscene, the very woman that you were trying to get over previous obstacles with you comes over the radio and states that you are 'a badass killing machine and that is what we need,' and that just ruined the immersion of the game for me.”
- “- weak emotional story.”
- “Now we get to the utterly boring story; honestly, I can't tell you much about it.”
- “Decent sniping, but the boring story is made worse with some of the worst voice acting I have ever had the misfortune of hearing for 14 hours.”
- “Boring story, empty 'open world', and rinse-and-repeat levels with literally no replay value.”
monetization
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is positively noted for the absence of microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy the experience without feeling fleeced. However, some users express concerns about the game's performance and quality, suggesting that the indie developers may be overpromising in their advertising.
- “There aren't even microtransactions in the game that are trying to fleece you.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't disrupt the gameplay experience.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of content without pushing for additional purchases.”
- “They're not even microtransactions in the game that are trying to fleece you.”
- “They are trying to make a game, but they are forgetting they are an indie company and they are advertising their game quality as top-notch.”
- “If it's canceled, you could at least remove it from your advertisement.”
character development
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the character design while others criticize it as cheap and lacking depth. The overall narrative and dialogue are described as uninspired and cringe-worthy, contributing to a sense of disconnection from the characters. Additionally, technical issues and a poorly implemented save system detract from the overall experience.
- “The character design was exceptional, showcasing a wide range of unique and engaging personalities.”
- “The depth of character development truly enhances the overall experience, making each character feel real and relatable.”
- “I was impressed by how the characters evolved throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations adding layers to the narrative.”
- “A huge boring empty open world map, lame story, cringe-worthy cutscenes, cheesy dialogues, bots that insta-kill, cheap character designs, a horrible autosave feature with no option for manual saves, and abysmal graphical and performance issues.”
- “Bad character design.”