Classic stealth games make you loathe being spotted. A lot of them will even fail your mission and send you to the last checkpoint if you are compromised.
There is a time and place for that kind of game, but the binary approach to gameplay gets old fast.
These games are masterpieces of game design, delivering strongstealth sections that have enjoyable combatmechanics to fall back on.
Because, let’s face it, sometimesgoing loud and proudis too much fun to pass on.
8Sniper Elite 5
Off With Their Head!
Sniper Elite 5
The fifth installment in theSniper Eliteseries takes you behind enemy lines in occupied France.
Thanks to major improvements to movement mechanics,Sniper Elite 5feels likeAssassin’s Creed, except your days are spent blowing Nazi brains up.
The X-ray camera makes long-range kills extremely satisfying, butthe open-level design makes close combat sequences excitingrather than frustrating.
It’s so exciting, in fact, that you might “accidentally” sound the alarm to have some fun with it.
7Ghost of Tsushima
Even Samurais Go In Loud Sometimes
Ghost of Tsushima
The stealth ofGhost of Tsushimalooks deceptively simple at first, but as the stakes rise, so does the need to sneak by unless you want a full camp descending on you.
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Ghost of Tsushimagives youa lot of toolsto assassinate enemies without being discovered, but it also lets you have a good time if you blow your cover.
The AI could use some work to make its movements more fluid, but the level design and unrivaled cool factor make it easy to look past that.
A Clean Job Is A Job Well Done
WhileHitman 3is all about putting your target in the forever box and then bailing,the game incorporates pretty robust combat mechanics that make it pass for a tactical shooterif you take the messy approach.
You get a solid selection of weapons to work with, and levels that pack a lot of guards to get around and enjoy the toys available.
Yes, ideally, your missions go smoothly, and younever have to fire a shot,but let’s face it, how often does that happen?
5Ghost Recon Breakpoint
An Essay On Modern Warfare
Ghost Recon Breakpoint
This is adeeply flawedgame with arough launchand a setting that falls short ofGhost Recon Wildlands, but the gameplay is so good that it becomesone of the best tactical sandboxes out there.
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Ghost Recon Breakpoint’s combat aims for a near-future sweet spot, where you are using current weapons but get to fight both average soldiers and unmanned killing machines.
The game has robustweapon customization, lots of gadgets, and a challenging enemy AI that makes every engagement fun.
4Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Futuristic Gun Galore
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Cyberpunk 2077may have been a hit, butDeus Explayers have been enjoying the hellscape of a futuristic dystopia for a lot longer.
Deus Ex: Mankind Dividedhas amazing weapon customizations, and puts that to good use by offering youbusy combat sequences that punctuate the refined RPG gameplay.
The combat inDeus Exrewards you for using the cover system rather than moving to avoid being shot, so pick your cover, unless you want to become scrap metal.
3Metro Exodus
When Tunnel Rats Go Outside
Metro Exodus
Metro 2033andMetro Last Lightgave you the full sewer rat experience, but the gameplay often felt too linear and canned despite the brilliant plot.
Metro Exodusbroke fromthe script, offering open-world maps, scarce ammunition, and beautiful gunsmithing.
The gunplay inMetro Exodusfeels extremely satisfying, and it is paired with strong AIthat stays mobile and puts down suppressive fire.
Most missions can be solved stealthily, but going loud is a joy (until the bullets run out).
2Splinter Cell Blacklist
Gunnery In Motion
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist
Working for the Fourth Echelon is a great way to earn air miles, but only Sam Fisher is really cut for this kind of work.
The stealth implementation inSplinter Cellis the stuff of legends, but the franchise progressively improved its combat mechanics.
Splinter Cell Blacklisthasa smooth combat flow that few games have managed to recreatein over a decade that it has been out.
The ability to bury a knife in an enemy with one hand while blasting his buddy with an FN 5-7 over the victim never gets old.
1Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
A Homicidal Playground
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Hideo Kojima’s final work in theMetal Gearseries may not have lived up to his expectations, but the game cemented its place as the most epic stealth combat game ever.
What makesMetal Gear Solid Vso special is how much freedom it gives you.you may give enemies all sorts of horrible, creative deaths, and even enlist the help of a dog to help you with your dirty deeds.
There are some less-than-savoryMetal Gearheritage mechanics that hopefully theMetal Gear Solid 3remake willimprove upon, but the experience is so fun that you can easily overlook any gripes.
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