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Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist a good single player game with a spectacular co-op and multi-player component.
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist Game Cover
76%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
74% User Score Based on 8,876 reviews
Critic Score 77%Based on 8 reviews

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Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist Game Cover

About

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist is a single player and multiplayer tactical shooter game. It was developed by Ubisoft Toronto and was released on August 22, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

In Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist, stealth-action takes center stage as you hunt down terrorists threatening the United States. As agent Sam Fisher, you'll use a variety of weapons, gadgets, and stealth techniques to complete missions and defeat enemies. The game features a dynamic "Blacklist" system, where the stakes get higher as terrorist attacks increase in frequency, demanding quick and strategic thinking.

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Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist screenshot
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist screenshot
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist screenshot
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist screenshot
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist screenshot
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist screenshot
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist screenshot
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist screenshot
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist screenshot
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist screenshot
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist screenshot
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74%
Audience ScoreBased on 8,876 reviews
story1k positive mentions
stability179 negative mentions
  • Engaging stealth mechanics that allow for multiple playstyles (Ghost, Panther, Assault) and encourage experimentation.
  • Strong graphics and sound design that hold up well even years after release, creating an immersive experience.
  • Varied mission design with a mix of tactical gameplay and action, providing a satisfying experience for both stealth and action fans.
  • Frequent crashes every 20-30 minutes, significantly disrupting gameplay and immersion.
  • Mandatory Ubisoft Connect login required to play, which can be frustrating and inconvenient, especially with server shutdowns affecting content access.
  • Removal of multiplayer and co-op features due to server shutdowns, limiting replayability and access to certain missions.
  • story
    3,831 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Splinter Cell: Blacklist" is generally described as engaging but somewhat predictable, following a typical Tom Clancy narrative involving a terrorist organization threatening the U.S. Players appreciate the variety of missions and the ability to approach them in different ways—stealthily, lethally, or with brute force—adding to the game's replayability. However, many reviewers note that the story lacks depth compared to earlier entries in the series, with some characters feeling one-dimensional and the overall plot being seen as cliché. Despite these criticisms, the game's mechanics and mission design are praised, making it a solid entry in the franchise for fans of stealth action.

    • “The story is surprisingly well put together.”
    • “The story was engaging and, to my surprise, avoided the usual clichés, making it even more compelling.”
    • “The story is gripping and keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.”
    • “The story is extremely basic: there's a bad guy doing bad things — neutralize him. Nothing fancy, but it works as a reason to start the mission.”
    • “The characters are extremely unlikable and one-dimensional, and the cutscenes/story are so obnoxiously focused on making sure they move on to stay within the seconds-long attention span the game expects its audience to have that nothing gets explained or worked on in any depth.”
    • “The story is predictable, but well acted, and well done. However, this does have a drawback - later in the campaign, half the mission you switch to an FPS mode, stealth shooter hybrid... something that just felt wrong the entire time I was playing it.”
  • gameplay
    1,650 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist" has been widely praised for its blend of stealth, action, and tactical elements, allowing players to choose from various playstyles such as ghost, panther, and assault. Many reviewers noted the fluid mechanics, engaging mission design, and the return of classic stealth features, while also incorporating modern gameplay elements from previous titles. However, technical issues, including frequent crashes and bugs, have marred the experience for some players, detracting from an otherwise solid gameplay foundation.

    • “A step forward from Splinter Cell: Conviction as the game delivers a mix of stealth, action, and tactical gameplay, giving you the freedom to choose between a variety of distinct playstyles, including stealthy infiltration, lethal precision, all-out combat, or a hybrid of all three.”
    • “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist delivers a thrilling return to the roots of stealth action while embracing modern gameplay elements that add depth and variety.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly immersive, with a perfect blend of action and stealth mechanics.”
    • “The biggest flaw with this game, however, is how it changes the core gameplay philosophy from the original games.”
    • “While I personally like that going all out with guns blazing and making a fuss with every elimination is an option and not the only way to complete the game, I felt that a lot of the soul of Splinter Cell was lost in order to allow this branching of gameplay possibilities.”
    • “The gameplay, although technically retaining many aspects of the originals (i.e., stealth), has been changed so that you can Rambo through the levels if you want, which isn't what Splinter Cell is about.”
  • graphics
    649 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players noting that they still hold up well for a title released in 2013. While some reviews mention occasional bugs and crashes, particularly on newer graphics cards, the overall visual quality, including lighting and detail, is praised as impressive for its time. Players appreciate the aesthetic design and fluid animations, although some feel that certain elements appear dated compared to modern standards.

    • “The graphics, voice acting, sound effects, background music, and most importantly gameplay are all top notch.”
    • “For a 2013 release, the graphics still hold up remarkably well.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, animations of characters and their mouths are at a very high level, and the environment looks beautiful.”
    • “The game keeps on crashing on newer graphics cards (not sure about older ones) and I really wish I could give this game a chance, but with the constant crashes, I had to refund it.”
    • “But the unexpected crashes to desktop, which can be fixed, but it's shocking that they've never been patched, along with graphic bugs during cutscenes where character models are just missing, are the kinds of things that prove this is an undeniable Ubisoft product.”
    • “The graphics look worse than the previous entry.”
  • stability
    190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, glitches, and bugs that significantly disrupt gameplay. Many players express frustration over the time spent troubleshooting issues, with some deeming the game nearly unplayable due to its technical problems. While a few users note minor glitches that don't detract from the overall experience, the consensus is that the game suffers from severe stability issues that need urgent attention from the developers.

    • “Great game, runs great on Steam Deck, graphics are amazing, even for 2024's standards.”
    • “The gameplay is nice and smooth with little to no glitches.”
    • “It looks great, it runs great, and it plays great.”
    • “Good game but glitches/bugs and crashes ruin the experience, unoptimized to the core.”
    • “The game is also buggy, and even if you get rid of the crashing problem like I did, I still saw things like enemies stuck in one place running or allies not moving causing missions to break.”
    • “This game is so buggy it makes a Bethesda game look polished, so janky it makes you feel like you're controlling a plate of drunk jello, not a special forces operative.”
  • replayability
    176 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse playstyles (ghost, panther, assault), multiple difficulty levels, and engaging level design that encourages experimentation. Players appreciate the variety of approaches to missions, as well as the inclusion of co-op and competitive multiplayer modes, which further enhance replay value. However, some reviewers noted that the absence of certain multiplayer features and a linear story detracted from the overall replayability experience.

    • “The level design supports multiple approaches, giving each mission excellent replay value.”
    • “The co-op and multiplayer modes add tremendous replay value.”
    • “The gameplay is really fun and the fact they give you multiple ways to play through the campaign definitely does add replayability.”
    • “However, the absence of online features, particularly the spy vs. mercs mode, detracts from the game's replayability.”
    • “The campaign is relatively short, but has some degree of replayability if you mess around with playstyles, gadgets, and difficulty.”
    • “Co-op is a lot of fun, and while I might see you doing each level a few times, I can't see the long-term replayability sticking.”
  • optimization
    143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, bugs, and performance issues, particularly on certain hardware configurations and operating systems. While some users experienced smooth gameplay and good graphics, others noted significant stuttering and frame drops, leading to an overall perception of poor optimization, often rated around 3-6 out of 10. Despite these issues, some players found workarounds that improved performance, suggesting that the game may run adequately on lower-end systems with adjustments.

    • “The game runs smoothly: stable framerate, minimal bugs.”
    • “Good optimization for low specs PC.”
    • “The optimization is extremely good too.”
    • “Good game but glitches/bugs and crashes ruin the experience, unoptimized to the core.”
    • “The game has terrible optimization; it crashed 3 times in 90 minutes.”
    • “Frequent crashes, optimization isn't great (20 fps drops with a GTX 1070).”
  • music
    114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and gameplay experience, particularly in relation to different playstyles (stealth, assault, etc.). While some players found the soundtrack engaging and fitting, others criticized it for lacking the memorable quality of earlier entries in the series, particularly noting that it doesn't reach the heights of Amon Tobin's compositions from previous games. Overall, the music is seen as a solid but not standout aspect of the game, with some tracks resonating well while others felt forgettable.

    • “The atmosphere and music pull you in completely.”
    • “A fantastic, high-energy soundtrack that complements the action.”
    • “Great gameplay, best Splinter Cell game to date; the music score is perfect as well.”
    • “The soundtrack is weak.”
    • “The music is brutal and not engaging, but rather it enhances the stress.”
    • “The decent orchestral soundtrack of Splinter Cell: Conviction has been replaced by some bland electronic bass dross - all noise and no soul.”
  • humor
    79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players lamenting the absence of the dry wit and sarcasm that characterized earlier installments, particularly from the original voice actor, Michael Ironside. While some found moments of humor in glitches and character interactions, the overall tone is described as bland and humorless, lacking the engaging banter and comedic elements that fans cherished. The new voice actor's portrayal of Sam Fisher is often seen as too serious and robotic, further detracting from the game's comedic potential.

    • “Sam looks so hilariously angry before each mission.”
    • “One hilarious bug in which Sam jumps out of a subway and stylishly walks out of the level.”
    • “The co-op missions and character development, along with well-thought-out humor and plot make this one to remember and talk about for ages.”
    • “The writing is just abysmal, feels like a cross between a tropey action movie and an unfunny sitcom.”
    • “Blacklist was marketed as a return to form after betraying fans with Conviction - instead, it's a half-decent stealth-action cover shooter that steals more from contemporary action games than anything titled Splinter Cell; Sam is charmless, the tone is bland, stereotypical, and painfully unfunny, and every character is a bore.”
    • “Not a lot of jokes in Blacklist, but I really like when not a lot of jokes in a game, but a lot of them show up at the right time and right place; at least it's better than not funny jokes every minute.”
  • atmosphere
    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, with effective use of lighting, sound, and detailed environments that enhance the stealth experience. Many reviewers highlight the tension and realism created by the audio design and level aesthetics, although some express disappointment in the absence of the darker, more intense atmosphere found in earlier titles. Overall, the game successfully combines solid graphics and engaging gameplay with a compelling atmosphere that draws players in.

    • “The atmosphere and music pull you in completely.”
    • “Lighting and shadow effects, crucial for a stealth game, are implemented effectively, contributing to the immersive atmosphere.”
    • “Game atmosphere is achieved really well, with the game's audio dropping in loud ambient sounds and changing style based on guard proximity, it's really efficient at raising the tension involved in how close you are to being discovered.”
    • “The only thing I could maybe say is to lean more towards the environment design language, dark atmosphere, and slower pace of the original trilogy.”
    • “Lack of Ironside, horrible forgettable music, painfully unappealing level design, horrible casting choice for Sam (20-year-old sounding kid) and overall the game just lacks the ambience and atmosphere that was present in all other SC titles.”
    • “It doesn't have the same polish, the same sleekness, or the same atmosphere... hell, it doesn't have the same soul.”
  • grinding
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a tedious experience, often requiring significant time investment to unlock upgrades and gear. While some players find the grinding rewarding, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of the tasks and the necessity of third-party services for certain modes. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a double-edged sword, providing depth but also leading to a sense of monotony.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The upgrade system is grindy garbage and the story is entirely stupid.”
    • “All the grinding to unlock gear is now a big waste of my time.”
    • “The game makes concessions to modernity with two unwelcome additions: grinding money to buy equipment and easy-mode DLC, which gives you access to unique medium-tier gear from the start.”
  • emotional
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the freedom to approach missions stealthily without engaging enemies, many feel that the absence of Michael Ironside's iconic voice as Sam Fisher diminishes the emotional depth and connection to the character. The story is often described as boring and lacking in emotional engagement, leading to a less impactful experience compared to previous titles in the series. Overall, while the gameplay offers moments of satisfaction, the emotional resonance is seen as lacking, particularly for long-time fans.

    • “The story seriously made me feel like I was stopping something big, like I was the main character.”
    • “Some levels you can pass completely without interfering with anyone at all, which made me quite happy and made me feel I got my money's worth.”
    • “This game made me feel like a complete badass!!!”
    • “Boring story; it could be because of the characters. I couldn't make myself finish the game. This is the first Splinter Cell I have not completed.”
    • “I highly recommend buying this game, but only if you can get past playing through a predictably boring story.”
  • character development
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is generally present but varies in depth, with some players finding it lacking compared to their expectations. While there are moments of growth and compelling narratives, many reviews suggest that the focus leans more towards gameplay than on intricate character arcs. Overall, the character development is seen as a mixed bag, with some appreciating it while others feel it falls short of delivering a rich storytelling experience.

    • “There was character development from almost all angles, and both you and the big bad felt powerful in their respective roles.”
    • “The narrative remains compelling, with well-crafted missions and character development.”
    • “The co-op missions and character development, along with well-thought-out humor and plot make this one to remember and talk about for ages.”
    • “Character development should have been the main focus, yet expectations are not fully met.”
    • “Voice acting was nothing special, as well as the character development.”
    • “Not much character development for Sam and the gang.”
  • monetization
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players expressing frustration over pervasive microtransactions and the feeling that the game is a cash grab. Users lament the shift from a more straightforward gaming experience to one heavily influenced by in-game purchases and advertisements, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the absence of microtransactions in certain aspects, the overall sentiment reflects a discontent with the current monetization practices of the studio.

    • “This game also has a better upgrade system that hasn't been influenced by microtransactions that recent games have.”
    • “It is nice to come back to the world where microtransactions were not a thing.”
    • “Gameplay was smooth, though co-op kinda breaks the in-game purchases.”
    • “I hate the whole money-grabbing 'editions' and in-game purchases and all of that crap Ubisoft sold their souls for.”
    • “They simply hate their customers: buying a game from them isn't enough because they have to collect our email and our data and show us their ads.”
    • “The studio's once-bright reputation has been clouded by the emergence of contentious microtransactions, a perceived lack of originality in certain games, and internal problems that have an impact on workplace culture.”
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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 8 critic reviews
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20h Median play time
90h Average play time
11h Main story
28h Completionist
7-60h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 45 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist is a tactical shooter game.

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox One, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 11 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 28 hours to finish. On average players spend around 90 hours playing Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist.

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist was released on August 22, 2013.

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist was developed by Ubisoft Toronto.

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier, Hitman: Absolution, Hitman Absolution, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and others.