10 Great Open World Games With Terrible Stealth

open-world video games represent an outstanding gift that contemporary gaming offers us. This is not just due to the awe-inspiring locations we get to explore, but also because of the innovative features and captivating tasks that make traversing these virtual landscapes such a rewarding experience.

Yet, not every addition brings feelings of joy, and some seem more like impromptu additions or ideas hastily incorporated, lacking the polish they’d need to feel organic or purposefully included, as if they were added merely to check off all necessary elements.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, this discussion revolves around stealth mechanics in open-world video games. Although it adds depth to an open-world experience, it sometimes slows the progress, annoys gamers, and can feel unexpected or unpredictable at times.

To help you avoid being surprised, I’d like to share some outstanding open-world games that unfortunately include challenging stealth segments or mechanisms.

10. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

No Need For Potions of Invisibility

It’s essential to approach this topic delicately since it’s widely accepted that mastering Skyrim typically involves assuming the role of a sneaky marksman with a bow. Here’s why.

In this game, the stealth mechanism seems to have some issues because players can easily take down enemies from afar, and even if you manage to hit them, they may continue living without being aware of your location due to a minor wound like an arrow in their stomach.

When elevated, stealth turns out to be incredibly effective, allowing you to effortlessly traverse enemy camps as if they weren’t even there, making it one of the most amusingly flawed stealth mechanisms ever devised.

Give credit where it’s deserved; while it’s enjoyable to experiment with, it may not fully satisfy the cravings of dedicated stealth enthusiasts regarding its authenticity.

Or:

Credit should be given for what is good; it’s entertaining to tinker with, but when it comes to realism, it might not meet the expectations of die-hard stealth game fans.

9. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

Shadows Hide You, Blacksmith

In simple terms, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 showcases exceptional RPG game development, making it a strong candidate for Game of the Year (GOTY) in 202X. While the majority of the game is impressive, its stealth elements could use improvement.

In this game, the stealth system often feels unpredictable and unfair compared to other complex, purposefully challenging aspects, which are common in realistic role-playing games.

It’s tough to make sense of the enemy’s line of sight; sneak attacks often lack consistency even when enemies are caught unaware, and the different stealth enhancements offer minimal relief, making stealth operations quite challenging.

Wearing your disguise is essential because if you don’t, you might give away our position to the enemy camp as soon as you step out from the bushes. However, despite its weak stealth capabilities, this game is quite engaging and enjoyable.

To avoid tipping off the enemy camp, it’s crucial that you put on your camouflage gear before leaving the bushes. Although the stealth aspect of the game could be improved, it still manages to keep players entertained.

8. STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Nowhere To Hide, Literally

Regarding European-style games, it appears many players readily accept their flaws, often describing them as inherent charms instead.

However, I strongly disagree with this approach, and when it comes to the latest STALKER release, unless you customize the game with modifications, the stealth mechanics are disappointingly weak.

In this game, the artificial intelligence proves to be too advanced because it can easily detect your location, even from a distance, and is always aware of your movements, regardless if you’re hiding or slightly exposing yourself.

As a dedicated player, I can’t help but feel the raw intensity when this game throws hordes of foes at me, draining my health faster than a leaky bucket, often before I had a chance to even make a move. It’s as if they’ve got an instant detection system!

So, here’s a tip. Just go in guns blazing because laying low won’t do you much good anyway.

7. Atomfall

Better To Be Bold & Brash

Hey there fellow gamers! In my latest review, I couldn’t help but sing the praises of Atomfall, Rebellion’s newest immersion-filled sim. The main reasons? It’s all about emergent gameplay and the freedom it offers, plus, it’s got some solid combat mechanics that feel right at home from the Sniper Elite series.

To put it another way, while stealth is technically available during combat, it isn’t executed particularly effectively within the game. However, when used strategically, it has the potential to be incredibly effective.

Since the enemy AI is quite simple-minded, the sound design doesn’t provide clear indications about their location, and it’s frequently more practical to engage them with firepower rather than stealth, there’s not much need for stealth in this scenario.

While it’s appealing that adversaries don’t immediately assault and the option for passive play exists, the game falls short when it comes to effectively playing as a stealthy assassin. The provided resources for this role are limited, making it challenging to execute stealthy maneuvers successfully.

6. Star Wars Outlaws

Better, But Still Boring

Despite significant improvements following its release that enhanced the overall stealth experience in Star Wars Outlaws, it’s crucial to remember the rocky start it had, with traces of a dull and aggravating stealth system persisting even now.

Initially, the game incorporated a sequence of mandatory stealth stages requiring players to eliminate adversaries undetected. If spotted, they were sent back to the start for another attempt.

This experience was incredibly frustrating, primarily due to the unreliable enemy detection system. Even though stealth is no longer mandatory, one wouldn’t opt for direct confrontation given its current performance.

Instead of relying on stealth, which often proves shallow and forces you to use your blaster regardless, wouldn’t it be more sensible to save time by facing the enemies head-on instead?

There’s definite improvement here, yet it remains another instance of the predictable open-world format that Ubisoft usually delivers.

5. Days Gone

Freakers, Not Sneakers

One might expect that, given the influence of games such as The Last of Us and the appeal of zombies as a theme, Days Gone would excel in stealth game design. Regrettably, however, this is not the reality.

Here’s another take on the description: This game features an inconsistent vision system among enemies, basic stealth mechanics, a world layout optimized for intense combat rather than subtle, strategic stealth, and frustrating failure points in certain story missions if you get detected.

Fundamentally, it’s everything undesirable in a stealth scenario that you encounter, yet what makes it disheartening is the evident talent and potential the game possesses in creating intricate stealth designs.

As an ardent gamer, I must admit that there are instances when ambushing Horde groups and eliminating them all at once gives a false sense of impressive stealth. However, in reality, it’s merely satisfactory most times and can often be quite frustrating.

4. Assassin’s Creed 3

You Had One Job…

In terms of games that let you play as different stealth assassins throughout history, Assassin’s Creed sometimes struggles to deliver titles with exceptional stealth mechanics.

Shadows, managed to excel in this regard. However, every great success comes with its share of disappointments, and for me, Assassin’s Creed 3 is undoubtedly one of the most underwhelming entries in the series.

In this game, fighting proved far more successful than sneaking, a stark contrast to previous games. Moreover, the enemy detection system was flawed, and instances abounded where one could get ‘out of sync,’ requiring repeated attempts at certain sections.

In my opinion, Assassin’s Creed III comes remarkably close to AC Valhalla, but it deliberately makes stealth less appealing for players, which is quite a blunder in a stealth-focused game.

3. Hogwarts Legacy

No Invisibility Cloak Required

As someone who cherishes the nostalgic Harry Potter game adaptations, I can confidently assert that I understand how stealth elements fit perfectly within the Harry Potter universe. Interestingly enough, it appears as though the creators of Hogwarts Legacy share this insight; they simply lacked the execution to bring it to life effectively.

Previously, it was forbidden to venture outside during the night, as encountering prefects could lead to a loss of house points. There was a palpable feeling of unease and suspense throughout.

In essence, while “Hogwarts Legacy” strives to emulate an all-encompassing experience, in truth, it impacts only a limited number of missions, failing to significantly influence your gameplay outside of these select quests. It’s quite unfortunate.

This idea, though promising, seems underdeveloped and lacks the full potential it could have if given more time to mature. Regrettably, it remains as a half-realized concept that offers much but delivers only a fraction of its potential up until now.

2. Elden Ring

If You Go Down To The Woods Today…

In Elden Ring, stealth sections are scarce, but the one present in the game provides us with ample evidence to hope that future FromSoftware games will avoid including such stealth sequences altogether.

In the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, you encounter this section within the Abyssal Woods, en route to Midra, the Lord of the Frenzied Flame. However, reaching the boss isn’t straightforward; instead, you must stealthily maneuver through a compulsory stealth area in the woods, evading the pesky Untouchables who inhabit this place.

The addition feels jarringly incongruous, significantly reducing the speed and contradicting the gameplay norms set in both the main game and the DLC. Moreover, this decision makes the Abyssal Woods an unappealing location to traverse since there’s no way to use Torrent there.

Despite the numerous strengths of Elden Ring, there’s one minor aspect where FromSoftware may have missed the mark. After all, even the best developers can make mistakes, don’t they?

In this response, I tried to maintain the original sentiment while making the language more conversational and easier to read.

1. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

When Can I Be Spider-Man Again?

The contemporary Spiderman series by Marvel is akin to a dance, seamlessly blending action and elegance. Players find themselves inhabiting the role of the neighborhood Spiderman in New York City, effortlessly gliding through its streets with panache. Whether it’s thwarting crime, dishing out justice, or capturing unexpected pigeons, each move is executed with equal parts style and finesse.

Yet, the exhilarating swings and thrilling excitement take an unexpected pause once Peter’s romantic entanglement with MJ unfolds.

Or,

But, the enjoyable swinging and energetic fun suddenly subsides when Peter’s love life, MJ, enters the scene.

Both sentences convey the same meaning as the original sentence but are written in a more natural and easy-to-read style.

In these areas, your character (MJ) needs to move stealthily and can only incapacitate enemies using silent taser attacks. On paper, this sounds like an interesting challenge, however, the artificial intelligence of the enemies and their detection abilities are poor, making these sections frustratingly difficult in practice.

Engaging with the character of Michael Jackson in this game feels more like an obligatory task that hinders personal enjoyment, as she adds depth to the storyline through gameplay aspects. However, she seems to diminish the overall enjoyment due to these requirements.

2025-03-24 18:54