Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts

Five memorable missions for the sneakiest stealth fans, inspired by the Hitman series. You'll love the variety of ways to complete your mission to take out your targets. And always remember that stealth is the game's heart and soul. We loved the hi-tech mask that lets you scan your surroundings to spot and analyse items and routes, and mark your targets...

Get ready to experience life as an elite sniper in Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts, the latest instalment in the series that set a new standard in sniper games. If you're looking for a deep tactical adventure that demands precision and delivers the adrenaline, then this is the game for you.

The first thing that struck us about Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts was that the game returns to its roots. The developers have left the open world behind to place the game in enclosed, but extensive, sandboxes. And it was a good decision, serving to make the game smoother and more technical. There's no more wandering around forever; you can just concentrate on your mission and your target.

The developers have also shunned complex plotlines in favour of standalone missions, just like in the Hitman games. You'll be steeped in the world of contract killing, where each objective begins with a briefing, and where communication is limited to your conversations with your operator. It will remind you of Agent 47's missions, with targets to eliminate, objectives to accomplish, and challenges to beat.

Our favourite part? The huge variety in valid tactics. The maps are huge and complex, giving you free rein to try different strategies and tactics. Whether you prefer stealth infiltration or accurate long-range fire, the game leaves it up to you. Secondary objectives add an additional dimension to each mission, pushing you to explore more ground an develop your own strategies to pull them off.

We liked the extremely demanding gameplay, especially on higher difficulty levels. A single mistake can cost you the mission, but it is precisely this tension that makes each and every mission so exciting.

Our advice? When you're aiming your shot, your character's breathing causes your sights to move. It doesn't make much difference at short range, but it does when you're firing from a distance. To control it, press and hold Shift (the default button) to hold your breath. Your character can only hold their breath for 3-4 seconds, so it's best used when you're just about to fire and you've taken care of all the other preparations. It's as if you were taking a deep breath before making a precision shot!

In technical terms, the game really shines with its beautifully designed environments and detailed models. It's total immersion whether you're in the wide-open spaces of snowy Siberia or in more complex environments.

It's true that the story here is secondary, but that's not why you play Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts anyway. It's for the experience of being an elite sniper, and that's where the game excels. You can choose to play your own way, whether you're a stealth master or a crack sniper.