Best Games With Open-Ended Missions

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Summary

  • Assassin’s Creed Shadows allows players to choose between ninja and samurai for dynamic gameplay.
  • Deus Ex: Human Revolution offers diverse gameplay choices thanks to character customization and upgrade system.
  • Hitman: World of Assassination provides freedom in missions with adaptable assassin Agent 47.

Players who enjoy having meaningful choices in their games often gravitate towards large role-playing games, or RPGs, developed by companies like Bethesda and BioWare. These games are known for their extensive dialogue options and branching stories, which encourage players to replay them-examples include *Fallout 3* and *Mass Effect*. But RPGs aren’t the only games that let players decide how to approach and finish missions.

Many games outside the role-playing genre let players complete missions in various ways without failing or having to restart from a save point. The following games all offer this kind of freedom, letting you approach each objective however you choose. While this is common in stealth games, which naturally allow for creative solutions, you’ll also find some surprisingly flexible mission designs in other types of games.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Ninja Vs Samurai

For years, people have argued about whether ninjas or samurai are cooler, and now the game *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* lets you decide! You can play as Naoe, a ninja, or Yasuke, a samurai, and experience the open world and complete missions from their unique perspectives.

Naoe excels at both direct, aggressive attacks – like a character in an action movie – and stealthy approaches, though she’s really designed for the latter. Yasuke is capable of stealth, but he’s much more effective as a powerful, forceful character who can break through defenses. The contrast between their playstyles creates a really engaging experience.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Cyberpunk Takedowns

Deus Ex: Human Revolution lets you play the game your way. As a cyberpunk RPG, it allows you to build your character, Adam Jensen, to specialize in skills like hacking, quiet takedowns, or direct combat.

Unlike many stealth games, this game offers a lot more freedom in how players tackle missions. The skill tree and upgrade system let you customize your character, which encourages experimentation to find a playstyle you enjoy. Once you’ve found it, you can then tailor your approach to each mission and enemy based on your preferences.

Hitman: World Of Assassination

Master Of Disguise

The modern *Hitman* series began in 2016 with a somewhat bumpy start, but was quickly improved with updates that fixed many issues. Since then, players have been able to experience a trilogy of games, plus extra content, where you play as Agent 47. The core gameplay involves infiltrating busy locations and discreetly eliminating targets. The game even features limited-time events, such as contracts to eliminate characters like Le Chiffre from the James Bond film *Casino Royale*.

All the Hitman game content, excluding limited-time exclusives, is now available together as a single, continually updated package called Hitman: World of Assassination. Players control Agent 47, a remarkably versatile assassin who can convincingly disguise himself as various characters, like a detective or a musician. The gameplay focuses on carefully planning assassinations, carrying out those plans, and improvising when unexpected problems arise.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Bite-Sized Big Boss

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is considered the strongest title in the series for handheld devices. Originally released on the PSP, it was later updated with improved graphics for home consoles. Peace Walker continues the story of Big Boss, focusing on completing a series of missions rather than exploring a single, connected world.

While sneaking around is usually the smartest approach, Big Boss has plenty of powerful weapons if you prefer a more direct method. What really makes the game fun is being able to capture enemies – you can attach balloons to them and send them back to your Mother Base, where they’ll join your team. This gives you a good reason to try and subdue enemies without killing them, helping you build up a stronger base crew.

Party Hard 2

We Will Never Listen To Your Rules

Party Hard is an interesting game concept, blending the free-form gameplay of Hitman with the vibrant, surreal visuals of Hotline Miami. While the first game wasn’t perfectly polished, many of its problems were addressed in the follow-up.

In Party Hard 2, each level presents multiple targets and challenges, rewarding players for eliminating them in specific ways. Unlike some stealth games, going in with guns blazing isn’t effective because the environments are crowded with people – similar to the Hitman series. Instead, the game encourages creative, stealthy approaches, such as setting traps like electrifying water and then tricking your targets into walking into them.

The Saboteur

Bringing Color Back To Paris

Like *Deus Ex: Human Revolution*, *The Saboteur* has a unique visual style. The game begins with a black-and-white world, representing how the Nazis have stifled creativity in occupied Paris. This creates a striking and symbolic depiction of the city under their control.

As you liberate areas by completing missions, the world will slowly regain its color. While the game might not have as many different mission types or tools as some others, it’s still a really enjoyable experience. The mix of sneaking, driving, and action keeps things exciting, and you can always find a new way to tackle each obstacle. And let’s be honest, defeating Nazis in creative ways is always satisfying.

Scribblenauts

Wordplay

Okay, so *Scribblenauts* is totally unlike anything stealthy. It’s more of a really fun, family-friendly puzzle game, and honestly, the original DS version is still awesome. The gameplay is just so creative! Basically, each level gives you a task – like saving a cat stuck in a tree – and then you get to *type* whatever you need to solve it. You can literally create almost anything you can think of just by writing it! It’s wild.

There are many ways to solve problems in this game – you could use a ladder, chop down a tree, or even summon a dragon! While all the options can feel a little overwhelming at first, it’s rare to find a game that lets you be so creative in finding solutions. If you enjoy puzzle games and like having total freedom in how you play, any of the *Scribblenauts* games are definitely worth checking out.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Skulls And Bones

Since one World War 2 game isn’t quite enough, we also recommend the newest *Sniper Elite* installment, *Sniper Elite: Resistance*. Similar to *Hitman*, each level offers a relatively open environment with plenty of optional goals, and you’re free to complete them however you choose.

The most effective strategy usually involves taking out enemies from afar with precise shots – often shown in close-up as bullets impact vital organs. However, players can also choose to be stealthy, set traps, or charge in with guns blazing. It’s definitely the most violent game on this list, and that’s a big part of what its fans enjoy.

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2025-09-15 14:17