Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege review

Rainbow Six Siege is the most tactical shooter here. Ubisoft's Steam page describes 5v5 rounds where defenders reinforce walls, set barricades and traps and watch cameras, while attackers scout with drones, breach defenses and rappel through windows. Destruction is the core tool: you open walls to create new sight lines. The game now offers free access to Quick Match and Unranked with a selection of operators, and a clearance level path teaches the basics before tactical play. Ubisoft cites a community of over 80 million players, and English Steam reviews are Very Positive at 81%. The limits are clear on the same page: Ranked, Siege Cup, more operators and cosmetics require payment. It is also the hardest game to pick up, which pulls its ease score down. Steam's age check stopped our price check, so the paid edition price is marked pending.

Who it is for

Patient players who like planning, intel gathering and breaking walls to win rounds.

Price

Free access to Quick Match and Unranked; see vendor pricing for paid editions (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• 5v5 attack and defense rounds
• Reinforce walls, set traps and use surveillance on defense
• Observation drones, breaching and rappel entries on attack
• Destruction that opens new lines of sight
• Clearance level path for new players

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free access to Quick Match and Unranked
• Strength: Very Positive on Steam: 81% of 826,549 English reviews
• Strength: Ubisoft cites a community of over 80 million players
• Weakness: Ranked, Siege Cup and extra operators need payment
• Weakness: Hardest game on the list to learn
• Weakness: Store page sits behind Steam's age check, so we could not verify the USD price as page text

Key facts

• Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Released on Steam: December 1, 2015
• Steam reviews: Very Positive, 81% of 826,549 (English)
• Minimum RAM: 8 GB

Where it ranks

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege is No. 9 in our Best First-Person Shooters verdict.