The Square Enix Games With The Best Stealth Gameplay

Square Enix is one of the biggest companies in the video game industry, even if their recent history has been a bit rocky. While Square is mainly known for JRPGs, their international ventures have led to them tackling mainstream genres popular in the West.

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This includes elements of the stealth genre that are rife in some of their games that target the Western market. It was a short-lived venture, but fans were more than happy with the multi-faceted gameplay of these games and how staying undetected was a viable option to take out their foes.

7

Tomb Raider

The Lara Croft Reboot Kicked Off On A Strong Note

The Tomb Raider reboot was something many fans were anxiously waiting for, excited to see this iconic archaeologist in the fledgling years of her career before she became an accomplished tomb raider. After being shipwrecked on an island, Lara Croft must deal with the islanders who will waste no time killing her off if she’s spotted.

This makes stealth invaluable in the game if players don’t want to expose Lara to the dangers that await her. Taking out enemies using her trusty bow along with some good old-fashioned stealth takedowns is something that players will have a great time pulling off over and over again.

6

Thief

Despite Its Failings, The Stealth Gameplay Is Very Solid

Thief

Systems

Released

February 25, 2014

The Thief reboot could’ve been a special return to form for Garrett, letting a new generation of gamers understand why fans love this classic stealth series. However, in a bid to ride Dishonored‘s hype, 2014’s Thief failed to stand out as a unique title and disappointed most players.

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However, even its biggest detractors had to admit that Thief‘s stealth gameplay was one of its strongest aspects. Taking out enemies from the shadows and entering areas without being detected is a thrill that players will enjoy and may just make up for the lackluster story and Garrett’s lackluster characterization.

5

Rise Of The Tomb Raider

Improved Upon The Stealth Systems Present In The First Game

After her harrowing adventures in 2013’s reboot, Lara Croft returned with a bang in Rise of the Tomb Raider. This entry expanded the open-ended areas present in the first game of the Survivor trilogy to let players enjoy a game that gave them more options in combat.

Players will go through numerous enemy encounters where both stealth and combat are viable. Of course, there’s something inherently satisfying about taking out foes from the shadows, especially with the marginally improved stealth systems compared to the 2013 game.

4

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Adam Jensen’s Introduction Is Also One Of His Most Compelling Adventures

Deus Ex fans couldn’t believe that a new game in the series would finally reach their console of choice. Human Revolution took place well before the original game, with nano-augmentations being far from widespread, as most people relied on mechanical augments instead.

Adam Jensen is a cool protagonist who can use intense takedowns to eliminate enemies without making any noise. Maintaining energy levels by eating protein bars felt silly, but the game made up for it with its impeccable style, faithful stealth gameplay, and eye-catching combat.

3

Shadow Of The Tomb Raider

Lara Has More Options To Hide From Her Enemies

Systems

Released

September 14, 2018

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

The final game in the Tomb Raider Survivor trilogy pulled out all the stops to let players enjoy the biggest and boldest game in the series. While the lack of innovation prevented Shadow of the Tomb Raider from being a runaway hit, fans didn’t mind as long as they got to enjoy controlling Lara moments before she hit her prime.

3:17

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The addition of underwater gameplay does wonders to make stealth more layered and viable than ever before. Getting the drop on enemies after emerging from a body of water is fun every single time, with players feeling like stealth experts as they take out every enemy in an encounter without raising any alarms.

2

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

The Stealth Is As Captivating As Ever

Systems

Released

August 23, 2016

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

While Deus Ex: Mankind Divided‘s unnecessary monetization and incomplete story frustrated fans, they were willing to deal with these issues as long as the core gameplay was solid. Thankfully, the title was more than competent in this regard.

The enjoyment players had from sneaking around and getting the drop on enemies was exceptional, especially if players smacked them through a wall or took out two hostiles in one go with Adam Jensen’s many augmentations. While things could go south and players could be roped into a high-stakes firefight in no time, they had enough options in combat to come out unscathed even after being spotted.

1

Hitman

Agent 47’s Collaboration With Square Enix Sowed The Seeds For The Fantastic World Of Assassination Trilogy

Stealth

Third-Person Shooter

Systems

IO Interactive got a chance to reboot the Hitman series, with Square Enix acting as publisher. This led to players being treated to a unique stealth game where every level released as one episodic chapter of the complete game. Fan reception to this approach was mixed back in the day, but it helped every level feel fleshed out, as players had numerous options to take on their foes.

Square Enix wiped their hands clean of this studio later on, but IO were thankfully saved by Warner Bros., who gave them the resources they needed to develop Hitman 2. The company eventually garnered a massive fanbase, with the World of Assassination trilogy boasting a massive player count that is downright impressive and shows how important the Hitman reboot was, letting players enjoy excellent stealth gameplay in a game with the iconic Agent 47 at the helm.

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