If you've heard people talk about "the Siege game," they almost always mean Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege — Ubisoft's hugely popular tactical 5v5 first-person shooter. Instead of the run-and-gun pace of most shooters, Siege is about teamwork, information and outsmarting the other side: one team attacks a fortified room while the other defends it, and almost every wall, floor and door can be blown apart in the process. This guide explains exactly what the Siege game is, how a match works, and how to get started.
Siege first launched in 2015 and has been updated continuously since, growing into one of the most-played competitive shooters in the world with a large esports scene. You don't need to know its full history to enjoy it, though — what matters is understanding the four ideas below that make Siege different from every other shooter.
1. A 5v5 tactical shooter: attackers versus defenders
At its core, Rainbow Six Siege is a round-based shooter where two teams of five fight over one objective inside a building. One team plays as Attackers, trying to break into a fortified room, and the other plays as Defenders, trying to lock it down and hold them off. Teams swap sides partway through the match, so everyone experiences both roles.
The pace is deliberate and tense. Players usually have a single life per round, so a careless push can end your game in seconds. Communication, sound cues and map knowledge matter just as much as your aim, which is why Siege is often described as a "thinking person's shooter."
2. Operators: unique characters with special gadgets
You don't play a generic soldier in Siege — you pick an Operator, a named character with their own weapons, speed and armor rating, and one signature gadget. There are dozens of Operators, split between Attackers and Defenders, and each gadget changes how you approach a round.
Some Operators carry breach charges to blow open reinforced walls, others deploy cameras and drones to gather intel, place bulletproof or electric shields, or set traps that slow and damage anyone pushing through. Picking the right combination of Operators with your teammates — and countering the enemy's picks — is a huge part of the strategy.
3. Destructible walls, floors and ceilings
The feature that truly sets Siege apart is its destruction. Almost every surface in the game can be damaged or destroyed. Attackers can blow a hole in a wall to create a new line of sight, shoot out a floor to drop a grenade onto defenders below, or breach a ceiling to attack from above.
Defenders fight back by reinforcing key walls with metal panels, barricading doors and windows, and using gadgets to deny those breaches. Because the layout of a room can change moment to moment, no two rounds ever feel exactly the same — you're constantly reshaping the map around you.
4. How a round plays out, and the objective modes
Each round has two phases. During the short prep phase, defenders reinforce walls and set traps while attackers fly drones around the building to scout enemy positions. Then the action phase begins, attackers move in, and the round is won by completing the objective or eliminating the other team.
Siege has three main objective modes that decide what you're fighting over:
- Bomb — attackers locate and defuse one of two bomb sites while defenders protect them.
- Hostage — attackers extract a hostage to safety while defenders keep them in place.
- Secure Area — both teams fight to control a room holding a biohazard container.
5. Where to play and how to get started
Rainbow Six Siege is available on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, with cross-play supported between platforms. You can buy the game outright, and Ubisoft regularly runs free weekends and trial periods where you can try it at no cost before deciding.
If you're brand new, start with the in-game tutorial and the single-player Situations to learn the maps and Operators at your own pace. From there, casual or Unranked playlists are the best place to find your feet before stepping into competitive Ranked play. You can find the latest editions and offers on the official Rainbow Six Siege website.
Tips for understanding Siege quickly
- Think information first. Drones, cameras and sound tell you where enemies are. Knowing this is often more valuable than a fast trigger finger.
- Reinforce the right walls. On defense, fortify the walls that protect your objective rather than every wall in the room.
- Watch your angles. Because surfaces break, a "safe" spot can suddenly become exposed. Keep checking new holes and openings.
- Play with a team if you can. Siege rewards coordination, so even basic callouts make a big difference.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Siege game the same as Rainbow Six Siege?
Yes. When players say "the Siege game" they're referring to Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, the tactical 5v5 shooter developed and published by Ubisoft.
Is Rainbow Six Siege free to play?
The full game is typically a paid title, but Ubisoft often runs free weekends and limited free trials so you can try it before buying. Check the official site for current offers.
Is Siege a hard game for beginners?
Siege has a steeper learning curve than many shooters because of its gadgets, destruction and one-life rounds. Starting with the tutorial, Situations and casual playlists makes it much more approachable.
What platforms can I play Siege on?
Rainbow Six Siege is available on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, with cross-play between platforms so you can group up with friends on different systems.
What makes Rainbow Six Siege different from other shooters?
The combination of unique Operators with signature gadgets and near-total environmental destruction. You constantly reshape the map by breaching walls, floors and ceilings, which makes every round play out differently.
Final thoughts
So, what is the Siege game? It's Rainbow Six Siege — a tactical, team-based shooter where five Operators attack a fortified objective and five defend it, all on maps you can literally tear apart. Once you understand the attacker-versus-defender setup, the gadget-driven Operators, the destructible environments and the round-based modes, the rest comes down to playing, learning the maps, and improving with your team.
