Best Arkane Studios Games – Investment Policy

For about twenty years, Arkane Studios consistently delivered some of the most engaging and memorable games ever made. While their releases haven’t always been hits recently, titles like Dishonored, Prey, and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic have cemented Arkane’s reputation as a truly great developer.

Arkane, the studio behind games like Dishonored and Prey, is currently developing Marvel’s Blade, which is expected to be their most widely seen game yet. While there’s no release date announced, it will likely be some time before the game is ready. If you’re eager to play another Arkane game with immersive action and stealth, now might be a good time to revisit their classic titles, or even explore some of their lesser-known releases.

I’ve removed KarmaStar because the game doesn’t seem to be available on iOS anymore.

10. Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot

A VR Treat That Is Not A Full, Satisfying Meal

Arkane Studios became involved with the Wolfenstein series as the games started to become less well-received, though some worthwhile titles still came out during that time. They helped develop Youngblood, but Arkane fully led the creation of Cyberpilot, a brief VR game that didn’t gain much popularity when it was released in 2019.

Though brief, Cyberpilot offers moments of fun, letting players control mechs inspired by the MachineGames series. The game’s short campaign, spanning four levels, takes place in Nazi-occupied France where you fight alongside the resistance. Like many VR games, it focuses more on visual flair than deep gameplay, and the simple shooting mechanics don’t encourage repeat playthroughs. Still, it’s a decent experience for its roughly two-hour duration.

9. Wolfenstein: Youngblood

A Repetitive And Mediocre Campaign Held Together By Solid Gunplay

Although Cyberpilot is a minor diversion, Youngblood feels more like a true follow-up to Wolfenstein 2. However, it doesn’t quite reach the quality of The New Colossus or even The New Order. The game takes place decades after the second installment and centers on Blazkowicz’s daughters as they search for their father, which, as you’d expect, involves a lot of fighting against Nazis and robots.

The shooting in Youngblood feels good, which isn’t surprising since it’s very similar to the previous game. However, most other aspects are inconsistent. The game relies too much on repeating the same things, and adding RPG elements to enemies just makes fights last longer. The story is also weak and forgettable, especially compared to other games made by MachineGames in this series.

8. Redfall

Arkane’s Worst Solo Game Is Nowadays Playable

This vampire shooter was developed by the same Arkane team in Austin that made Prey, and it carries forward many of the studio’s hallmarks – a unique world and a blend of shooting and supernatural powers. However, the game had a very troubled launch, with problems going far beyond just performance issues; the fact that it was locked to 30 frames per second on the Xbox Series X was actually one of the smaller concerns.

The game Redfall takes place in the town of Redfall, which has been taken over by vampires. Players choose from four different characters, each with special abilities, and work together to save the town from a powerful vampire known as the Hollow Man and his fellow vampire gods. While the initial idea – a blend of vampire horror and conflict between different groups – was promising, the story feels underdeveloped, which prevents players from truly connecting with the characters and the world around them.

The game has some strengths, particularly a good variety of weapons. While not every gun is enjoyable to use, they all work effectively. Unfortunately, the combat feels clunky due to slow controls, and the enemy AI is often illogical and overly reckless. Visually, Redfall isn’t very impressive, and this is especially noticeable considering how unfinished many other aspects of the game feel.

Since its initial release, Redfall has received several updates to fix problems like performance issues and simple enemy behavior. Update 3 significantly improved the game, making it much better than it was at launch. While it’s not one of the best open-world shooters available, Redfall is now a decent example of the genre. It’s not a must-play, but if you have a Game Pass subscription and are looking for something to pass the time, it could provide a few days of entertainment.

7. Arx Fatalis

Arkane’s First Game Is Still A Great Immersive Sim

While players will always have their personal preferences, Arkane Studios has consistently delivered a solid level of quality throughout its history. Before 2021, there wasn’t a huge difference between their less-loved and most-praised games. Their first game, Arx Fatalis, was a bold first-person role-playing game, notable for its unique setting largely underground in a world plunged into darkness.

Playing Arx Fatalis as a longtime Arkane fan is a really interesting experience. You can definitely see this was one of their earlier games – there are a few rough edges, like combat that’s fun but a little awkward, and some quests that aren’t always super clear. But even with those little quirks, it’s easy to see why Arkane became so well-loved! It’s got that same focus on letting you play how you want, with tons of ways to build your character and levels that are totally open. The magic system is cool too – you combine runes to create spells, which is a neat idea. It came out around the same time as Deus Ex, but Arx Fatalis was definitely one of the first games to really nail that immersive sim feel, where you’re encouraged to find your own solutions to problems. Almost everything in the world feels real and interactive, which just pulls you in, and I really appreciated that the game doesn’t hold your hand – it just lets you figure things out for yourself.

Arx Fatalis is awesome, and it only ranks so low due to being an acquired taste due to its age.

6. Dark Messiah Of Might And Magic

The Most Fun Combat In An Arkane Game

Ranking Dark Messiah of Might and Magic among Arkane’s games is tough because it’s arguably their weakest title. Unlike many of their other games, it doesn’t have a particularly compelling story. And when it was released in 2006, the fantasy world of Ashan was fairly generic, and it hasn’t become more memorable over time.

Even with its flaws, Dark Messiah is still a game worth playing, largely because of its excellent combat – it’s actually comparable to later games made by the same developers. It’s essentially a game about causing mayhem, and it gives players plenty of creative ways to do so, using both magical powers and clever tactics.

5. Deathloop

Maybe The Most Polarizing Arkane Game, But It Can Be Brilliant

In Deathloop, you play as Colt, an assassin stuck in a time loop. To escape, he needs to eliminate eight targets in a single day. The challenge is made even harder by a rival assassin who also hunts him – a player can even control this opponent. While it has a story, Deathloop focuses more on fast-paced action compared to other games from Arkane, especially those they made in the 2010s.

The gameplay blends shooting, sneaking, and special abilities, drawing on elements from the developer’s past games. The time loop is designed to be lenient, letting players experiment with different strategies and learn more about their targets with each cycle. While Deathloop is a fantastic game, its repetitive nature might not appeal to everyone, and some players may find it becoming monotonous. The enemy AI also isn’t always convincing, becoming noticeable with repeated playthroughs.

4. Dishonored: Death Of The Outsider

A Fantastic Expansion With Stellar Gameplay, Level Design, And Characters

How much you enjoy Death of the Outsider, the expansion for Dishonored 2, will probably depend on what you’re expecting. It offers less freedom in how you play compared to other games in the series. You play as Billie Lurk, a character with a set skillset, unlike Dishonored 2 where you had more options for building your character and trying different approaches. The expansion focuses on a few core abilities that you have from the start and don’t really change throughout the game. There’s also no Chaos system, so there’s not much incentive to complete the game without killing anyone, though it’s still possible if you want to try. It just won’t be specifically rewarded.

While some longtime fans of Dishonored might find Death of the Outsider a bit more focused, this actually makes it a stronger experience. The levels are some of Arkane’s best-designed, offering fewer ways to approach challenges but feeling incredibly polished. The combat has also been improved, encouraging players to use Billie’s unique powers often, leading to the most engaging moment-to-moment gameplay in the entire Dishonored series. Billie herself is a compelling character – she’s well-developed, with a mysterious history and believable motivations that make her feel real. And even without a traditional morality system, the game still features meaningful choices that impact the story.

3. Dishonored

The Most Important Arkane Game

With Dishonored, Arkane Studios really made a name for itself, and many fans consider it the studio’s best game. The story centers on Corvo, who is wrongly blamed for the Empress’s murder and sets out to clear his name. Dishonored is one of Arkane’s most compelling stories, thanks to its well-developed characters and a fascinating world that keeps players coming back for more.

Dishonored lets players approach challenges in a variety of ways. You can choose to play as a stealthy pacifist or aggressively eliminate enemies – the game supports both styles. This freedom, combined with multiple possible endings, makes it highly replayable. While the combat isn’t the strongest aspect of the game, it’s understandable given the game’s age. It’s still functional, but not Arkane’s best work in that area.

2. Dishonored 2

A Sequel That Outdoes Its (Great) Predecessor In Most Ways

Dishonored 2 builds upon the strengths of the first game with refined gameplay. After a brief opening, you choose to play as either Corvo, returning from the original, or Empress Emily Kaldwin. While they share similar basic abilities, both characters unlock unique powers as you progress, making each playthrough feel distinct. This makes Dishonored 2 Arkane’s most replayable game, as both characters allow for a variety of different approaches. The story is solid, though it doesn’t quite reach the same level of quality as the original Dishonored or Arx Fatalis.

Although the story isn’t groundbreaking, Dishonored 2 truly shines with its incredible world. The game is set primarily in Karnaca, a beautiful, vibrant city that feels alive and is full of rich details and hidden stories. Even better, Karnaca is a perfect playground for players to create their own unique experiences. Ultimately, this is the strongest game in the Dishonored series.

1. Prey

The Best Arkane Studios Game

In the game Prey, you’re stranded on a deserted space station overrun by aliens. You start with minimal guidance and embark on a thrilling, disorienting, and memorable adventure that combines action, sneaking, and horror. Prey is slower-paced than other games from the developers, which makes the atmosphere even more immersive and unsettling.

Talos 1, the space station in Prey, is Arkane’s most impressive open-ended environment. It can feel overwhelming at first, but it’s brilliantly crafted like a large, intricate puzzle. Combat starts a bit slowly until you unlock more abilities, but once you do, it becomes really enjoyable. What makes Prey special is its freedom – the game gives you the tools to solve problems however you want, encouraging experimentation and rewarding creative thinking. You’ll often find surprising solutions to challenges. The game doesn’t have a traditional morality system, but choosing between human and typhon upgrades significantly changes the main character, impacting more than just their skills.

2026-01-18 05:08