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Stealth games that are worth trying for their stories alone

Stealth games that are worth trying for their stories alone

Highlights

  • Stealth games offer players an immersive narrative and encourage repeated playthroughs to gain a deeper understanding of characters and missions.
  • Hitman 3 and Deus Ex show how stealth gameplay enhances storytelling by immersing players in a world of espionage and sci-fi conspiracy.
  • Games like Alien: Isolation and Dishonored 2 combine compelling narratives with stealth mechanics, offering exciting stories for both fans and newcomers.



While stealth gameplay is tailor-made for video games, their propensity to tell amazing stories is a surprising but welcome development for gamers. By encouraging players to engage with the world, to be cautious and observant, stealth video games foster a strong attachment to each character and each storyline. In doing so, they can produce some of the best video game stories out there.

Some titles require players to replay missions repeatedly to gain a better understanding of the world. Other games offer a cinematic tour de force, with each mission peppered with top-notch cutscenes to contextualize the next infiltration. Stealth video games are a surprising but effective avatar for great storytelling that shouldn’t be overlooked.

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6 Hitman3

The captivating world of assassination


Superficially, Hitman3 doesn’t seem to be a game with much of a story. However, the design encourages players to replay levels over and over again, which is actually tailor-made for the stealth genre and is an innovative way of telling a story. Players are unlikely to grasp all the details of their objectives, locations and missions on the first playthrough. But after repeated attempts, the player becomes more adept and masters amazing stealth strategies, and the world slowly takes shape.

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In the role of Agent 47, Hitman3 and its closely linked predecessors tell a spy story in which friends are few and intrigue is a matter of politeness. The World of Assassination trilogy features many crazy characters, dramatic twists and a surprisingly emotional conclusion.

5 Deus Ex: Humanity is divided

Cybernetic stealth action


The Deus Ex Franchise is known for its sprawling, espionage-infused conspiracy stories and Deus Ex: Humanity is divided is no exception. Players can invade any scene with a big gun and go wild. However, the game generally encourages stealth gameplay (especially to discover the game’s many hidden details) and killer takedowns as the calm, composed and collected protagonist Adam Jensen.

Best of all, the story is full of real gems for those looking for sci-fi conspiracy thrillers. Its lore reaches deep into this future dystopia that offers profound implications for the world we live in. Although it ends somewhat abruptly, Deus Ex: Humanity is divided is a worthy successor to the Deus Ex Mantel, and it might be the only entry into the franchise that players are likely to get for some time.


4 Alien: Isolation

Hide from the horror

For fans of the Foreigner Franchise, Alien: Isolation is a real treat, as evidenced by its profound influence on the latest film. By portraying the titular Xenomorph as a massive threat that can’t be killed, only delayed, the game fills every corridor and every action with dread as the killing machine gets ever closer.

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The game also has a great story, which is a little too long, but a worthwhile addition to the ongoing Foreigner franchise. It goes even deeper into the world, delving into the life of Ellen Ripley’s daughter and what she was doing when her mother disappeared. It’s a real treat for fans. Plus, new players don’t need to know anything about the original franchise to enjoy the game, making it an ideal entry point.


3 Dishonored 2

Whale oil and outsiders

Building on the solid foundation of Dishonored, Dishonored 2 offers a much larger game. Players can play as either Corvo, the protagonist of the first game, or the new character Emily, the heir to the royal throne.

In contrast to the gloomy settings of the first game, it takes place in sunny Karnaca. Dishonored 2 tells a story of decay and betrayal in a world of magic and technology. Through the game’s memorable missions, including one of the best levels ever, the story becomes ever deeper. The result is a fascinating finale that, for now, marks the end of the Dishonored Franchise as a whole.


2 Assassin’s Creed 2

The Renaissance of Camouflage

The Assassin’s Creed Franchise has a somewhat patchy history when it comes to telling coherent stories. However, most agree that Assassin’s Creed 2 marks a special highlight in Assassin’s Creed a storytelling art that may never be surpassed.

As players reenact the life of Ezio Auditore in Renaissance Italy, they are led on a life-long, conspiracy-theory-fueled journey through the city-states of Italy to find the killers responsible for the deaths of Ezio’s family. This journey is filled with incredible characters, stunning locations, and unbelievable assassinations, and culminates in an action sequence so bizarre it simply has to be unforgettable.


The Stealth Storytelling Watch Text

More than any other franchise that Metal Gear Solid Games are known for their intricate, complex and unbelievable stories. Metal Gear Solid 3 is the pinnacle of that reputation. It tells a story inspired by old James Bond films set during the Cold War and delivers some of the best characters in gaming history. And that’s without even mentioning the genre-defining boss battles.

The best part is that it is not necessary to Metal Gear Solid Play to understand what happens in the game as it takes place at the beginning of the timeline. With a remake in the pipeline, this is undoubtedly the best story stealth video games have to offer.


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