Sniper Elite 5: Which Difficulty Should You Choose?

If you’re a stealth veteran, or someone new to the genre, Sniper Elite 5 is a great way to break onto the scene. You’ll be able to choose how you play, either eliminating enemies out of sight and out of mind or go in guns blazing. No matter how you play, you’ll be in for a good time as you trek through 1940s France in its full visual splendor.

However, even though you’ll be hiding in the shadows for a good part of your journey, you may still find yourself getting found more often than you’d like, so you’ve got to be ready to bring down your enemies as they close in on you. Let’s take a look at the different difficulty options that the game has to offer, and see which may be the best for you!

Difficulty Options in Sniper Elite 5

As you enter into the world of Sniper Elite 5, you’ll be granted the ability to choose your difficulty level. All of the difficulty levels add small changes, so let’s go into what each of them has to offer.

Civilian (Very Easy)

If you are new to the shooter genre, or the stealth genre, this will allow you to play the game with very few negative repercussions. You’ll be able to take a shot straight on, not have to worry about the wind taking your bullet away, and you’ll be able to revive your co-op partner without having to worry about a medkit or any other materials. If you’re here to enjoy the story and want to breeze through the game, this will be your best choice.

Cadet (Easy)

You’ll notice that enemies are starting to see you a bit more often, and the wind may start to move your bullets as you take the next step up the difficulty ladder. You’ll have to be a bit more careful, as your noises are noticed more often, and you’ll find it harder to continue nailing all of your shots. While still a nice pace, you may find yourself running into a few more snags in this mode.

Sharpshooter (Medium)

The perfect middle ground of the game, you’ll have to adjust for wind, make sure you’re keeping to the shadows, and start to ration your ammunition a bit more in Sharpshooter difficulty. A great way to enjoy the story and the gameplay, you’ll need to make sure that you’re playing with a bit more strategy now. Try this mode for some challenge, and to prepare yourself for what could come in the online multiplayer modes.

Sniper Elite (Hard)

This is when things start to get more unforgiving. You’ll notice parts of your HUD are missing, you’ll find it harder to come across ammunition and health items, and enemies will catch on to your actions quicker than ever. You’ll need to prepare before you go into a battle, rather than running and gunning your way to victory. If you’re looking to hone your skills, Sniper Elite mode is the spot for you. Not completely unforgiving, but you’ll need to be on your toes to take down your foes.

Authentic (Very Hard)

If you’re looking to put yourself in harm’s way alongside Karl, you’ll want to take advantage of the Authentic difficulty. You’ll need to adjust for the slightest touches of the wind, to avoid your bullets from careening out of the path of your enemies’ skulls. You’ll also find very little ammunition, making every shot count. If you are taking part in co-op play, you’ll also need to use one of your valuable med-kits to save your partner. Make sure you’re ready, as your HUD will be almost invisible at this point, and you’ll need to make sure you’re prepared in every sense of the word.

Make sure to put your skills into consideration as you take the plunge into Sniper Elite 5. If you’re new to the series, giving this game a try on Civillian or Cadet is the best plan of action. After you have experimented with the way that the world works around you, bumping it up to Sharpshooter could be your next move up the ladder. Since you’ll get to experience the drop of the bullet, and wind effects more in this mode, it makes the game a little more challenging, without feeling unfair. If you want to show off what you’re made of, and think you’ve got it in you, Sniper Elite and Authentic will offer the most bang for your buck if you’re looking to hone your skills.

Make sure that you’re checking out our ever-expanding guides for Sniper Elite 5, to keep up with what’s coming to the game. If you happened to pre-order the game, you’ll be able to find out how to redeem your extra bonuses, or if you’re looking to play with friends, you can discover if cross-play exists in the game. Give it a try on Xbox Game Pass if you’re curious about this game, as it is a Day One install!

Sniper Elite 5 is available now for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Series X|S.