The Best Sniper Games (2024)

The single-player mode in military shooters like Call of Duty and Battlefield offers fun and cinematic run-and-gun experiences. However, these titles are fast-twitch Michael Bay movie-like experiences that require little thought or patience. The stealth shooter genre is the perfect antithesis of cinematic shooters and run-and-gun blasters like DOOM.

Not only are these sniper games that reward patience, timing, and stealth, but the mission design can often provide gamers with more varied experiences. Taking out opponents from an unseen location and slipping away unnoticed is an empowering experience for those who love the genre.

Updated June 6, 2024 by Michael Llewellyn: Most stealth and espionage games offer multiple ways to complete a mission, but there is something more satisfying about taking down enemies from a distance and creating scenarios where the targets unwittingly move into position for the kill. This list includes more games where players can take on the sniper role and sneak away unnoticed.

1 Splinter Cell: Blacklist

An Accomplished Stealth Game With Good Sniping Opportunities

Splinter Cell: Blacklist is one of the most polished and best-looking stealth games available. Players take on the role of Sam Fisher, an elite special ops soldier who can take down enemies in multiple ways. While players most likely utilize his hand-to-hand takedowns and silenced pistols to clear out enemies, there are several good opportunities for sniping, like on the Opium Farm mission.

Sam can use lethal and non-lethal rifles to snipe enemies at a distance while staying silent and completing his missions. Blacklist holds up as one of the best-looking games in the genre, with stunning animations and challenging artificial intelligence. Every takedown feels satisfying on the more challenging levels.

2 Starfield

Solid Sniping Mechanics In This Sci-Fi RPG

Launched as one of the biggest console exclusives for the Xbox Series X/S, Starfield is a science fiction RPG mechanically similar to Bethesda's previous work with The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series. As expected, Starfield offers players multiple ways to play and take down enemies. However, eliminating enemies using stealth and sniping is the most satisfying form of combat available.

Putting skill points into Stealth, Marksmanship, Sharpshooting, and Sniper Certification makes the player's character a deadly force to be reckoned with in Starfield. However, if players include the Chameleon trait through skills or a mirrored space suit, they will feel like the hunters from The Predator movies.

3 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Take The Silent Approach With Stealth And Sniping

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a cyberpunk-themed action RPG where the player has multiple choices for playing style. Players can covertly take down enemies with special attacks that can subdue or kill enemy guards. The brutal approach is satisfying. However, Deus Ex is at its best when using stealth, sneaking up on and taking down enemies with a scoped weapon.

Several missions take place indoors, but the environments are large, with several enemies patrolling strategically for the player to take down. The enemy AI is surprisingly adept, but they do follow patterns that can be studied for the best approach. Whether players utilize a lethal or a non-lethal approach, Deus Ex has the right tools for the job.

4 Crysis Remastered

Excellent Use Of Sniping In A Stunning Open World

First launched in 2007, Crysis was the gold standard for graphical performance, usually requiring an expensive PC to get it working at an acceptable level. Thankfully, that is no longer the case, and it runs nicely on last-generation systems. It is still a good-looking game compared to modern titles like Far Cry 6.

Like the Far Cry series, Crysis is at its best when players execute enemies with the wealth of stealth mechanics provided by the protagonist's super suit. The sniping is excellent and more satisfying, thanks to the enemy soldier's awareness on the battlefield. The large environments offer several methods and opportunities to scope and eliminate enemies. The AI is challenging and works together in trying to bring the protagonist down. Played, right, Crysis offers enough abilities and powers to make the player feel like they are the apex predator in still-stunning environments in the game.

5 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas

Still One Of The Best Tactical Shooters Available

Rainbow SixSiege is currently a popular online shooter but is unrecognizable compared to its source material and even less so when factoring in Rainbow Six: Extraction, which features aliens. There is no single-player story mode in Siege. and Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 was the last entry to feature a proper story mode inspired by the Tom Clancy novel, it holds as an espionage action game making players feel like they are members of an elite team of soldiers.

Playing as a member of an elite tactical unit called the Rainbow Six, there are many opportunities for taking out bad guys and terrorists from long range. Getting a headshot using night vision or thermal scopes is incredibly satisfying. Despite their age, the Rainbow Six Vegas games are arguably more gratifying and fun than the multiplayer-only spinoffs. Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 offers more of the same with improved mechanics like a run feature and better AI and co-op commands. The sequel has a story that focuses on Logan Keller's team with events that occur before during, and after the end of the first game.

6 Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2

Snipe Enemies In An Urban Jungle

Unlike Rainbow Six, the Ghost Recon series maintained the single-player story mode. Players can play with an AI team or cooperatively with friends. However, in providing a vast but empty open-world environment, the series lacks the focus of the Advanced Warfighter series. The larger mission areas are large enough for players to utilize their surroundings, pick enemies off from a distance, and order their squad to use similar tactics.

Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 is often regarded as the best in the series with its tactical combat in urban environments. The stealth mechanics are satisfying. Quietly taking out enemies at night using night vision and a sniper rifle feels immense. Picking off enemies one by one in an intense battle makes the player feel like they are part of an elite unit.

7 Far Cry 6

Snipe Enemies And Vehicles Across A Beautiful Landscape

At launch, Far Cry 6 was criticized for being more of the same, but in many ways, it was a culmination of Far Cry's best bits into one game. It dropped many irritating aspects and streamlined them into a more rewarding experience.

Furthermore, the implementations of stealth and sniper mechanics are the best in the series. Many rifles in the game can be modified and upgraded into sniper-like weapons. Dedicated sniper rifles have exploitable strengths and weaknesses. As a result, guns feel unique and different, adding a sense of weight and feel.

8 Hitman VR

Immersive Sniping Through The Eyes Of Agent 47

Launched alongside the PS4 version of Hitman 3, PSVR owners could play Hitman VR using the PSVR headset. The VR version does not cut any corners, and the open world is still a sandbox for players to execute their strategies and plans.

As a result, using weapons like the sniper rifle feels more immersive than ever, making the player feel even more like a secret agent. Movement can feel janky, but sniping targets in VR is an exceptional experience that brings the world of Hitman to life in a real first-person experience.

9 Sniper Elite VR

Get Up Close And Personal In VR

Sniper Elite VR puts the players back into the Italian setting of the fourth in the game series. This time, players are participating as members of the Italian Resistance. The throwaway story is B-movie level, but the action, open levels, and sniper mechanics are superb.

Sniper Elite VR has an accessible arcade-like feel compared to the console version, as it rewards the player for their creativity and stylish kills. More importantly, handling the rifle is accessible to all and feels natural and satisfying. PSVR owners also benefit from using the Aim Controller, which adds a layer of almost unparalleled immersion.

10 Cyberpunk 2077

Become A High Tech Sniper In This Stunning Cyberpunk Universe

Cyberpunk 2077 has been subject to quite a bit of criticism for its complicated launch issues. However, many of those issues have been fixed, and players can have a relatively trouble-free and immersive experience to enjoy the brutal combat system with amazingly unique weapons.

Some of the best weapons in the game are the sniper rifles, which offer players a great way through the game if they prefer a more stealthy approach. The Breakthrough sniper rifle, for example, can shoot through concrete walls, and the Ashura Smart sniper even fires guided missiles that can seek out headshots automatically. The expansion, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty takes the espionage-like approach even further with one of the best spy stories in modern gaming, making stealth and sniping even more within the story.

11 Star Wars: Battlefront 2

Defeat The Empire's Stormtroopers With Stealth And A Scoped Rifle

Star Wars: Battlefront 2 showcases how great a game can be when the developers support it and listen to fan feedback after its initial launch issues. Now, Battlefront 2 is a game that fans of the Star Wars franchise keep coming back to with the multiplayer, but its surprisingly good single-player mode is also worth playing.

Some of the most impressive weapons in Battlefront 2 are the sniper rifles. They are unique to the Star Wars universe. Whether playing the campaign or the multiplayer, getting good with a sniper rifle will make one a force to be reckoned with.

12 Battlefield 5

World War 2 Sniping On An Epic Scale

Developed by the same team behind the Star Wars: Battlefront series, Battlefield 5 is a stunning first-person shooter set during the Second World War. The single-player mode is one of the best in the series. But as always, the depth is found in the multiplayer.

The maps are vast, and there are usually a lot of other players fighting it out, so using a sniper rifle to take them is a lot of fun for sneaky and stealthy types. Using a sniper rifle in combat takes a lot of practice, but when mastered, it can make any player a significant threat — especially in Battlefield 5’s Battle Royale mode, Firestorm.

Polished Stealth And Sniping Mechanics In An Open World

Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes acted as a standalone prologue to The Phantom Pain and was significantly shorter than the main game. However, for many fans of the series, the focused missions and replay value provided by Ground Zeroes is considered a superior stealth experience.

This is further echoed in the sniping mechanics in-game and watching enemies down the sight of the scope in the torrential rain. Watching the enemy soldiers go about their business and engage in conversations added a sense of immersion that fans of Metal Gear loved. Of course, the excellent sniping mechanics work brilliantly in the larger open world of The Phantom Pain, but the missions aren't as well-crafted as Ground Zeroes.

14 Sniper Ghost Warrior 3

Pure Stealth Game With Precise Mechanics

Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 is an open-world game that struggled at launch due to several bugs and glitches that plagued the game. Thanks to some patchwork from the developers, Ghost Warrior 3 is a better experience now.

The story plays out like another straight-to-DVD sequel to the Tom Berenger and Billy Zane Sniper film series. Luckily, the gameplay carries the narrative. The sniping saves the game above all else and is set in a visually impressive modern-day backdrop of the jungle using the powerful CryEngine. However, those expecting an arcade-like experience should know that Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 is a challenging game with realistic sniping mechanics and a steep learning curve.

15 GoldenEye 007

Classic Old School Sniping As James Bond

Goldeneye 007 was developed by Rare and released exclusively on the Nintendo 64 in 1997. The game puts players in the shoes of James Bond and loosely follows the film of the same name. It was one of the first games to popularize stealth mechanics on modern consoles.

The sniper rifle was one of the first weapons implemented in Goldeneye's stealth mechanics. It remained one of the most satisfying weapons in the game and gave players a feeling of empowerment that one should feel when sniping enemies from a hidden location. Players can use the sniper rifle from the opening level taking down enemy guards on the bridge without being detected, at the time, this experience felt revolutionary on a console.

16 Far Cry 5

Take Down Dangerous Cult Members With A Sniper Rifle

The Far Cry series has always supported all styles of gameplay. Whether it is running and gunning or being silent and stealthy, it is the stealth that is by far the most satisfying and rewarding experience.

Of course, the sniping experience in Far Cry 5 is one of the most expertly implemented in a Ubisoft title. Using the AR-CL is one of the best all-around sniper rifles and weapons. The AR-CL will be a mainstay in the player's arsenal once they can equip a scope and silencer. Approaching an enemy stronghold or building from the forest and sniping enemies without being detected is one of the best experiences in the game.

17 Sniper Elite V2: Remastered

Linear But Classic Second World War Sniping

The original Sniper Elite V2 was launched in 2012 by Rebellion Developments and was a direct sequel to the World War 2 set Sniper Elite. The sequel takes place during the 1945 Battle of Berlin, and the player is in the shoes of an American Sniper. The remaster has updated visuals, frame rates, and additional characters from the Nazi Zombie Army DLC launched in 2019.

The Sniper Elite games are notably budget titles compared to AAA military stealth games like Metal Gear Solid 5. However, the stealth and sniping mechanics are up there with the best in the genre. The main difference is that the player is limited to using antiquated weaponry compared to the high-tech hardware that Solid Snake or Sam Fisher would use. Instead of silenced weapons, players need to mask their gunshots by timing their shots with environmental distractions and noises.

18 Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands

A Massive Open World With Lots Of Sniping Opportunities

Ghost Recon: Wildlands was developed by Ubisoft, a studio that created the Far Cry, Splinter Cell, and Rainbow Six series. Their experience with open-world games that feature stealth and sniping is on full display with this title.

Wildlands feels like a Ubisoft greatest hits compilation by featuring elements from their other games and throwing them together in one title. Not everything clicks together perfectly, and the world is somewhat empty, but the sniping and stealth elements work very well, and picking off enemy soldiers from a distance is very satisfying.

19 Sniper Ghost Warrior: Contracts

A More Polished Ghost Warrior Experience

Sniper Ghost Warrior: Contracts is the fourth entry in the series. It is playable on the PlayStation 4, Xbox, and PC, and instead of using the open-world structure of its predecessors, the game opts for mission-based scenarios.

Despite the more focused structure, the missions are still designed to be semi-open and provide players with a lot of freedom to approach targets. The realistic bullet physics and the need for precision and timing make Contracts one of the most hardcore sniper experiences available.

20 Ghost Recon: Breakpoint

A More Reactive World And The Perfect Playground For Sniper Fans

Ghost Recon: Breakpoint received heavy criticism at launch for its bugs and a lack of features compared to its predecessors. However, as a game, it improved with updates, patches, and story-based DLC.

The vast open landscapes provide fantastic opportunities to take down opponents with sniper rifles in different weather and terrain. There is a good variety of sniper rifles, scopes, and other modifications to satisfy fans of using such hardware. The environments don't feel as empty, and players can utilize stealth in creative ways such as using mud to hide from enemy soldiers.