Sniper Elite: Resistance Review – A Tactical Thrill That Plays It Safe

Rebellion's latest entry, Sniper Elite: Resistance, sticks to its tried-and-true sniping formula while offering new content.

A New Protagonist and Familiar Storyline

For the first time in the series, Karl Fairburne steps aside, making room for British SOE agent Harry Hawker. Set parallel to the events of Sniper Elite 5, Resistance follows Hawker as he aids the French Resistance in foiling a secret Nazi superweapon project. While the narrative serves its purpose, it doesn’t bring anything particularly memorable. The writing remains functional, and the villains feel more like generic bad guys than compelling antagonists.

Gameplay and Mechanics

The stealth and sniping mechanics in Resistance remain rock-solid, continuing the tactical depth that the series is known for. Ballistic physics still play a major role, requiring players to factor in wind, bullet drop, and positioning to make perfect long-range shots. The infamous X-ray kill cam is back in all its gory detail, though for some longtime players, the novelty may be wearing off.

Level Design and AI Behavior

Resistance sticks closely to the open-ended sandbox design, allowing players to choose their approach—whether it’s setting up the perfect sniper’s nest or sneaking through enemy strongholds with silenced weapons. However, the AI’s behavior remains inconsistent, and cover-based combat can still feel clunky, making some close-quarters encounters frustrating.

Visuals and Performance

One of Resistance’s strengths is its impressively designed maps, each featuring multiple paths, hidden entrances, and vantage points. The French countryside, dense towns, and enemy fortifications all offer a sense of freedom and tactical variety. However, some levels feel too familiar, with assets and locations borrowed from previous games. Reusing elements from Sniper Elite 5 diminishes the sense of discovery that made earlier entries exciting.

Progression and Replayability

While these features add variety, they don’t significantly evolve the gameplay. The skill tree remains identical to Sniper Elite 5, failing to offer new progression incentives.

Technical and Visual Presentation

Visually, Resistance holds up well with detailed environments and smooth animations, though it’s far from a technical powerhouse. Players may experience inconsistent traversal mechanics, with some objects being climbable while others inexplicably are not. There are also minor AI glitches and animation bugs, though nothing game-breaking.

Final Verdict

If you love Sniper Elite, Resistance delivers exactly what you expect—but little else. The core gameplay remains strong, and the open-ended missions still offer satisfying tactical depth. However, recycled assets, a lack of meaningful innovation, and occasional clunky mechanics prevent it from standing out as a true evolution of the series.

Sniper Elite: Resistance is a fun, well-crafted tactical shooter that sticks to what the series does best. However, its lack of innovation, recycled content, and minor technical flaws hold it back from being a truly great sequel. For newcomers, it’s an excellent entry point, but longtime fans may find it a bit too familiar.

Available Platforms: PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.