Giovanni Colantonio - gamebastion.com

It’s a bit unfortunate that the Sniper Elite series is still as enjoyable as it is. You’d think that after 11 entries, tearing Nazis limb from limb with lead would get old. How often do we need to keep reliving a World War II power fantasy, anyways? But in a sobering present day where Nazism still rears its ugly head, the series will always be a source of catharsis for those who want a safe way to vent their frustrations.

And so here I am again in 2024, this time shredding Nazis in Sniper Elite: Resistance. Set to launch on January 30, 2025, the latest entry in developer Rebellion’s ultraviolent third-person shooter franchise is Sniper Elite 6 in everything but name. It’s another World War II adventure that turns enemy lines into a bloody immersive sim where stealth rules. In my first hands-on demo, I was dropped into a mission for some very familiar action. And while that might be something to critique in another series, I can’t say that taking down Nazis in the most brutal ways possible still doesn’t have a sick charm that I need right now.

Lock and load, again

For my demo, I was dropped into a basic infiltration mission. With three guns on my back and some healing items in tow, I’d need to sneak into a city and make my way toward a building at the heart of it. It’s a long journey that takes me through weaving city streets and lots of optional buildings that I can explore to find guns, intel, and collectibles. How I get there is up to me — as is how I decide to deal with any Nazis in my path.

• Sniper Elite 5 turns World War II into an immersive sim

While I control a deadly sniper, I’m quickly reminded that the opposing army can tear me apart with ease if I slip up. In the very first stretch of the level, I’m dropped into a small field full of grass that I can hide in. After botching a stealth kill as I learned the PC controls, I was suddenly swarmed with soldiers, who tore me to bits. Each time I alerted an enemy during an attempt, I

Giovanni Colantonio