Sniper Elite: Resistance Review

Sniper Elite: Resistance is a third-person tactical shooter developed and published by Rebellion Developments. It builds on the mechanics of Sniper Elite 5, improving its mix of stealth, precise shooting, and open-ended level design. What stands out most is the return of cooperative gameplay. While playing solo and taking out enemies one by one is fun, coordinating attacks with a teammate to clear an entire base is even more satisfying.

With new environments, additional mechanics, and the free-form gameplay we’re all accustomed to, I wanted to see if Sniper Elite: Resistance would reach the heights that its predecessor did or would simply be more of the same. Spoiler: I had a great time.

For the first time in the series, players don't control Karl Fairburne. Instead, British SOE agent Harry Hawker takes the lead. The story unfolds alongside the events of Sniper Elite 5, following Harry as he heads to occupied France. His mission is to work with the local Resistance to stop the Nazis from developing a powerful new weapon that could shift the war in their favor.

Of course, the story has never been Sniper Elite's strong suit, and Resistance doesn't change that. The characters are forgettable, the writing is basic, and the voice acting is average at best. But none of that really matters because Sniper Elite is all about gameplay—large, detailed maps that encourage creative playstyles and stealth tactics. And in that department, Resistance excels. Like its predecessor, each mission takes place in a new environment, and exploring these areas is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the game.

The game does a decent job of making its historical setting feel real, with impressive details that bring each location to life. Moving through these environments is also engaging, whether you're sneaking around a town's outskirts, scouting with binoculars, or taking the perfect long-range shot. That classic Sniper Elite experience—carefully planning an approach before executing a flawless attack—is delivered in full force.

Sniper Elite: Resistance’s game stays fresh by offering diverse locations, from heavily guarded dams to small villages covered in darkness. The way each area is structured means no mission ever feels repetitive. Another major strength is the variety of gameplay choices. Every mission includes side objectives, collectibles, and other optional content, and the game gives players full freedom to complete them in their own way.

Most situations allow for multiple solutions. Whether infiltrating a building, eliminating a high-value target, or distracting a guard, there's rarely just one approach. This has always been a major strength of Sniper Elite, and Resistance carries on that tradition.

Exploring is fun because there's always something to discover. Hidden paths lead to main mission areas, secret locations contain extra objectives, and listening in on enemy conversations can reveal useful intel. Weapon customization is also deep, with workbenches allowing players to tweak scopes, muzzles, stocks, and other attachments. If you take your time, each map can take two or more hours to fully explore, and it always feels rewarding.

Players can take down enemies lethally or non-lethally, and optional tasks remain entirely up to the player. Personally, I found the most enjoyment in hunting down those side missions. They encouraged me to explore every corner of the map while also boosting my confidence—and my XP.

The mission variety in Sniper Elite: Resistance is excellent. From towering Nazi structures to elegant French mansions, the game offers a wide range of locations to explore. Some missions felt especially large, but by the fourth mission, titled "Collision Course," I was pretty immersed. At one point, I spent nearly 30 minutes in a single spot, using a perfect vantage point to pick off enemies without them even realizing where I was. The feeling of eliminating every enemy before even stepping foot into the area was enjoyable.

That said, it took me some time to get into the flow of the game. Resistance is intentionally hands-off in its approach. While there is a tutorial level and the game occasionally provides hints, it never fully explains certain mechanics. For instance, decoys and various mines aren't introduced in any meaningful way. However, once I figured everything out—especially after unlocking workbenches—the experience became much smoother.

One of the better aspects of the game is weapon customization. Players can unlock different scopes, stocks, and other attachments to fine-tune their guns. The user interface constantly rewards you for skilled play, with notifications for achievements, medals, and ribbons popping up throughout the campaign.

There are a few minor bumps holding it back from being a perfect game. Foremost, having both binoculars and focus mode shared on one button can become a real annoyance. Often, I'd use my binoculars when I simply wanted to switch off-focus mode, even when I wasn't in a hectic battle. Likewise, Hawker drops a weapon when taking out an enemy, and sometimes a weapon isn't even necessary. It's infuriating to have a weapon taken out that could have been useful.

Sniper Elite: Resistance has the same problems as Sniper Elite 5. Moving around can feel slow and clunky, especially when trying to take cover or interact with the environment, like climbing or vaulting. I've also noticed a few small animation glitches.

And why does Hawker randomly drop his special weapon after a melee kill? The game doesn’t even let you know when it happens; it can be really frustrating.

The silver lining, at least, is that the new shooting feels nice. The new shooting mechanism is effective, and all of the weapons have increased accuracy and responsiveness. Evidently, sniping is my go-to activity in-game. Measuring out distance and timing my shot perfectly, and then getting my slow-motion X-ray kill cam, is cool to watch every time.

Resistance includes Sniper Elite 5's multi-player options, such as Invasion mode, co-op campaign play, and player vs. player competition. I enjoy single-player campaigns a lot, but having well-thought-out multi-player battles is even a bonus for me. Having new things to discover is always neat.

The new Propaganda Missions, small challenge packs, have been added to the game. They target aspects of the gameplay, such as sniping and sneaking undetected. I don't require them, but I appreciate them for providing additional enjoyment. 

There are various objectives for each mission, such as taking out an enemy in a specific period of time. Scoring well requires speed, accuracy, and avoiding damage. Unfortunately, I didn't do particularly well in these challenges, but they provided a fun break from the main campaign. A good part about these missions is that you can use characters other than Harry. Having variety in characters creates a new experience whenever you do decide to switch characters. 

Sniper Elite: Resistance doesn't make many changes to the series, but it isn't supposed to. Rebellion's World War II series is about sound, alternative gameplay, and efficient fighting, not Hollywood dramatization. Resistance adheres to that premise but doesn’t do anything extra special to stick out. Based on the solid base of Sniper Elite 5, Resistance is a title you shouldn't decide to skip out on if you’re looking for a fun, reliable shooter.