Sniper Elite 5 is already shaping up to be one of the most interesting games of 2022 and is the studio Rebellion Developments' biggest hit so far both critically and commercially. In a year that's already been graced with greats like Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West that's no small feat. Along with the Hitman Trilogy, the Sniper Elite series has helped contribute to the reemergence of the stealth action genre making a comeback in recent times.
The series adapted open-world maps with Sniper Elite 4, but it's with Sniper Elite 5 that they take the feeling of sandbox freedom to the next level in this World War 2 set franchise, Players once again take on the role of elite sniper assassin Karl Fairburne. This time he has more tools at his disposal and the RPG-like skill progression system is even deeper than before. However, before setting off on their journey as WW2-era silent assassins players should use these beginner tips to guide them.
7 Turn Off Invasions
One of the best and most interesting new features in Sniper Elite 5 compared to its predecessors are the Axis Invasions. These are Dark Souls-like mechanics where one player can invade another's mission as an enemy sniper to earn rewards. However, this is a feature best saved for more experienced players, or at least those familiar with a map when replaying a mission.
Sniper Elite 5 is already a challenging game with surprisingly clever artificial intelligence that works hard to flush out Karl from hiding. As a result, having an invading player thrown into the mix can complicate matters even further. With that in mind, it's a much better idea to play through each mission without the added stress of avoiding or hunting down another challenger until one is ready and leveled up their character, so one can take the fight to invading players.
6 Take Your Time
Without the pressure of having Invasions active, players are encouraged to explore, plan and strategize at their own pace. This makes for a much more enjoyable open-world sandbox experience.
Finding everything a map has to offer can take time, especially as there is more than one way to complete a mission and take down a target. Don't rush or panic, simply use the open-world experience and take everything in as there is always a way around or an alternate escape route for Karl to use.
5 Save As Often As Possible
Thankfully, Sniper Elite 5 has a good autosave feature that will allow players to easily recover their progress without too much effort. However, it's still a good idea to manually save as often as possible if one is wanting their progression through a mission and execute the gameplan as effectively as possible.
Sniper Elite 5's world reacts organically to the actions that the player makes and soldiers that are on alert can be tricky to overcome. It should be said, however, don't get too bogged down by aiming for perfection when the game is still new. There is always a way out of a gunfight and the game offers enough replayability to come back and try something new after leveling up Karl's skills.
4 Don't Be Afraid To Make Mistakes
The recent games in the Sniper Elite series have a lot in common with the Hitman franchise. The levels are very open and there are lots of ways to approach missions. One can even use their environment to create diversions or make assassinations seem like a freak accident.
Just like the Hitman games, Sniper Elite 5 is designed to be played and replayed by fans. This is thanks to multiple challenges on offer and optional tasks in each mission. This is why it's best to get a feel for the mission and environment before worrying about being a perfectionist. Where Sniper Elite 5 improves over its predecessors is that it's designed in a way to make it just as fun for the protagonist to fight his way out of a tough situation. So, simply just playing the game, exploring, and enjoying it the first time without putting any pressure on oneself is the best way to approach this stealth actioner.
3 Use The Binoculars
The enemies in Sniper Elite 5 can often be difficult to spot in some of the darker missions. Players can use the scope on their rifle to seek out enemies, but it's quicker and more accurate to use Karl's binoculars and can be accessed by pressing the R3/RS button.
The binoculars have a good zoom function, and it's easier to tag enemy soldiers, especially if players are having trouble finding them. Highlighting the enemy soldiers will also give a bit of background information on them too.
2 Use Sub Sonic Ammo And Noise Distractions
Unsurprisingly, a game where the protagonist is an elite sniper has a focus on stealth. Even though Sniper Elite 5 has multiple ways for Karl to fight his way out of difficult scenarios the best way to fight back is by using the tactical and stealthy approach.
Two of the best ways to ensure that Karl stays hidden are using Sub Sonic ammunition and loud noise distractions to mask his gunfire. The Sub Sonic ammo fires bullets with lower sound output, but be aware that they can still be heard if enemy soldiers are too close. Using loud explosions and loud noises in the distance to time Karl's sniper shots will ensure that he stays hidden and in most cases shouldn't alert other soldiers within the vicinity of the target.
1 Use The Vantage Points
There are several vantage points on the maps in Sniper Elite 5 that can be revealed by intel. These vantage points offer the player a great way to scope out an area on the map, tag enemies, and plan their mission.
These vantage points are also a good way to avoid the gaze of vigilant enemy soldiers when scoping an area or target. Furthermore, for players that want to tackle the Axis Invasions, vantage points along with the telephones are a great way to find them before they find the player's character.
Sniper Elite 5 is available now for the PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S