Open-world gaming has progressed by leaps and bounds over the past decade. The simple act of exploring a sandbox isn't enough for a game to ingratiate itself to most fans these days. Gamers are now expecting some form of action-packed gameplay to keep themselves occupied.
Most open-world games pair straightforward combat with stealth mechanics to add more gameplay loops for fans to enjoy. In some cases, sneaking around is so much fun that players prefer taking out enemies silently instead of getting in an opponent's face. For players who love the stealth approach, these titles are a perfect fit.
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These open-world games do offer a main story campaign to complete, but their settings are so immersive that exploration almost always takes priority.
5 Watch Dogs 2
Players Have Many Options When It Comes To Stealth
Watch Dogs 2
- Released
- November 15, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action, Adventure
Watch Dogs 2 addresses the many complaints fans had over the first game, most of which were legitimate. Aiden's story was too dark, the hacking mechanics weren't utilized to their fullest extent, and prioritizing action-packed combat went against the idea of being a hacker who can debilitate enemies without leaving a trace.
This is something fans can enjoy in Watch Dogs 2. The sequel adopts a more jovial tone, gives players non-lethal options, and makes a player's hacking skills more viable in stealth. This incentivizes players to fight from the shadows, especially since combat isn't all that interesting, since players just interact with basic third-person shooting gameplay.
4 Assassin's Creed Syndicate
Combat Is Somewhat Floaty, But Stealth Is Satisfying
Assassin's Creed Syndicate
- Released
- October 23, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
It's a shame that Assassin's Creed Syndicate's low sales marked a turning point for the franchise, since most people would agree that Victorian London is one of the most tantalizing settings fans of the series can enjoy. Both Jacob and Evie Frye are great characters to control, and most people will ultimately prefer controlling the latter, since she's more adept in stealthy situations. Problematic gender norms aside, there are many reasons Evie Frye is more fun to control than her reckless brother.
While combat is fun in its own right, it feels like a pale imitation of the Arkham games and lacks the smooth animations that made Rocksteady's titles so much fun to play. It almost feels janky to engage with the combat loop for too long. Instead, most players prefer going invisible as Evie once players unlock her ultimate skill, allowing her to stay hidden even though enemies are staring right at her, which is more entertaining than fans would assume.
3 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Direct Combat Is Possible, But Stealth Is Where The Game Shines
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
- Released
- August 23, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
The approach to an open-world hub in the form of Prague helps Mankind Divided stand out. It's a shame that poor executive decisions led to the conversations around the game surrounding its rushed release, microtransactions, and an unfinished ending. Players who manage to look past these issues will enjoy a tight gameplay loop that lets Adam Jensen shine in both stealth and combat.
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When players get worn out by the intensity of an open-world story campaign, these relaxing side activities are there to give them a break.
While cover shooting and close-range takedowns are fun to execute, any Deus Ex fan will attest that stealth is where these games shine. Mankind Divided is no exception. Players can land hard-hitting takedowns from the shadows, hack machines to aid them instead of enemies, and use silent weapons to efficiently take out opponents. These are just some of the many ways stealth is a blast to engage with in Mankind Divided.
2 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
There's A Reason Players Gravitate Towards A Stealth Archer Build
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
Skyrim is notable for many things, and promoting player freedom is a huge reason why players went gaga over this title. Players can become warriors, mages, thieves, or combine the best qualities of different classes to become more powerful than ever. Stealth received a major upgrade in this title from previous Elder Scrolls games. Players loved to shoot enemies from the shadows to enjoy the Sneak Damage bonus, which can potentially one-shot enemies.
This eventually leads to players becoming stealth archers who prefer sneaking once they detect enemies nearby. It has become such a popular Skyrim play style that people make jokes about it and have to make a conscious effort not to revert to the same build that they all gravitated towards during their first playthrough. Sure, using magic and bursting into hostile areas with powerful melee weapons is fun in its own right, but stealth archery is so efficient that players will miss seeing enemies drop one by one as they fail to figure out where their mysterious assailant is hiding.
1 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Stealth Is The Bread-and-Butter Of This Open-World Experience
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
- Released
- September 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action, Open-World
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is one of the best video games ever made, and it's a shame that Kojima left the company before he could finish the title's story. However, players who want to engage with the gameplay side of things will love what The Phantom Pain brings to the table. The stealth gameplay is more refined than ever before and gives players a ton of options to mess around with when sneaking around enemy bases.
Using decoys to distract enemies, sneaking around in Snake's iconic cardboard box, and taking out enemies before they raise the alarm is a huge part of what makes stealth in The Phantom Pain so special. Sure, there are encounters where players are forced into direct confrontations, but these moments aren't too frequent and don't take away from the immaculate stealth gameplay that makes every mission a joy to undertake.
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