While no doubt many stealth game devotees are looking forward to titles like Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Dark Souls 3, there are some lovely upcoming indie offerings which also cater to our more shadowy, unscrupulous desires. The original Thief and Metal Gear Solid games are highly regarded classics because they paved the way for an alternative approach to gaming which rewarded players for methodical planning and cunning ingenuity – without resorting to action heavy combat. Players were secretly craving something different, they just didn’t know it yet. Here are four upcoming stealth games that are a breath of fresh air from the growing pool of MOBA’s, shooters and MMO’s.
1. Styx: Shards of Darkness
Embraced by many fans as a ‘pure’ stealth game, Styx: Master of Shadows introduced us to a 2,000 year old goblin with a penchant for sneaking, looting and assassinating in deathly silence. Two years later, developers Cyanide Studios have unveiled new information regarding its sequel, Styx: Shards of Darkness, which boasts new moves, improved character agility and broad, expansive worlds ‘with an emphasis on verticality’. The game’s newest screenshots showcase brand new locations (including a lofty mountain city) but still retain the beautiful dark fantasy theme captured in Master of Shadows. The plot of Shards of Darkness kicks off where Master of Shadows ends; Styx is coerced into infiltrating the Dark Elf City known as Körangar, proving that there’s no rest for the wicked.
Source: PC Gamer
2. Wildfire
Thanks to a successful kickstarter campaign last year, this fiery stealth platformer that grants players control of a rare, latent ability that could come straight out of X-Men or X-Files (take your pick) is currently blazing through its alpha stages. When the gift of manipulating fire is unexpectedly bestowed upon you, a deadly army of intelligently designed swordsmen, archers and vicious animals emerge to pursue you and restore order within a world where magic was once almost non-existent. Wildfire’s gameplay emphasises a brains over brawn approach to eliminate enemies through creative environmental solutions such as summoning flames to frighten them and clear your path, but your greatest strength can become your greatest weakness, when it betrays you at night through its soft glow. On your journey for survival you’ll upgrade your fire-wielding abilities, ride smoke clouds, and even possess the newfound ability of water manipulation, but whether an elemental ceasefire between you and the hunters eventuates, only time will tell. You can download the alpha version here.
Source: Sneaky Bastards
3. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
A match made in heaven for stealth fans and Japanese history enthusiasts, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun continues the legacy of titles like Mark of the Ninja and specifically aims to rejuvenate the real time tactics branch of the stealth genre. Set in 1615 during the Edo period, a new shogun has risen to power and animosity has begun to simmer amongst its opposition. In Shadow Tactics developers Mimimi Productions (The Last Tinker: City of Colors) team up with Daedalic Entertainment (The Whispered World) to immerse players in a mysterious, feudal world where outsmarting the elusive Kaga sama is their only hope in preventing the shogun from being overthrown. Gameplay promises an exciting mix of infiltrating castles, acquiring intel and sabotaging the enemy through various means, with an eclectic team of playable characters including a ninja, a samurai and a geisha. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is expected for release in Q4 of 2016 for PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac and Linux.
Source: TrueAchievements
4. Shadwen
Probably best known for the visually stunning Trine series, Frozenbyte has a diverse game development portfolio ranging from casual mobile platformers (Splot) to sci-fi action shooters (Shadowgrounds). In 2016 they are turning their attention to the stealth genre with a game called Shadwen, in which players control an eponymously named assassin on a quest to kill the King. Along the way she meets Lily, a young girl who follows her on her dangerous quest and thus jeapordises their budding friendship when the guards get too close for comfort. The dark, medieval locale provides the perfect environment for rendering yourself inconspicuous, creating traps and hazards, and taking advantage of physics to make intentional deaths look purely accidental. Perhaps most interestingly, there will be a time-based mechanic that allows you to press the rewind button on any present/past actions in true Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time style. Shadwen’s gameplay hints at a purist stealth approach in that players must remain unseen or they will be killed on sight, but precise details on the game’s direct combat system have yet to be revealed. Interested players can check out the demo here.
Source: Frozenbyte
Which indie stealth titles are you most looking forward to? Have we missed any brilliant games that deserve some spotlight on PopOptiq? Let us know in the comments section below!
