Still others require arranging “accidents” with poison or dropping chandeliers. Others call on you to leave a trail of (well-hidden) bodies in your wake. Some need no killing but do require perfect timing. Even in a single large room, you can usually take a half-dozen paths. I truly enjoyed discovering the many ways to clear through a given mission. (See “combat” under the “What you won’t like” section.) But if you want a challenging, intriguing traditional stealth game with some RPG-lite elements … Styx will surprise, and possibly even enthrall, you. If you want more combat with your stealth, this is not the game for you.

Enemies that can’t see but can hear incredibly well, instantly kill you if you’re detected, or that have hyper-alert senses of smell, offer some variety. You’ll spend the game crawling through tunnels, climbing the walls, sneaking up behind people or elves or bugs and killing them slowly and quietly (or quickly and noisily), and hiding the bodies. Even in total darkness, guards spot or smell you if they get too close. You’ll see and hear when they’re on alert, or when they’re on the lookout more than usual because of actions you’ve taken. Styx is a throwback, a stealth-focused game that includes only a minimum of UI to tell you what guards and enemies are thinking.

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