Fans of iconic franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Metal Gear Solid, and Thief, will want to take note of Styx: Blades of Greed, despite not having the budget and fanfare of the aforementioned games.
As the third entry in the Styx franchise, Blades of Greed is a stealth-action game that throws you into the role of a cheeky goblin named Styx, who is also master thief. Most of the game requires you to sneak and stab your way through a variety of environments, but what Blades of Greed does so well is give you the tools and climbing ability to tackle missions as you see fit. There are always three or four ways to reach your goal, and coming up with unique ways to complete tasks is one of the game’s best elements.
The previous two games were a bit more linear, but Blades of Greed introduces new, larger levels are a treat to explore, with verticality and climbing playing a much bigger role this time around.
On top of that, the gameplay itself has been refined, with movement feeling snappy and fluid. Stringing together wall runs, vaulting, and sneaking in succession feels fantastic, and throw in in between an enjoyable story set in the Of Orcs and Men world is an enjoyable experience. Fantasy fans will love the subtle digs and nuances between the various races of orcs, elves, men and goblins.
While the rough edges are there, the story is really interesting and seeing how Styx navigates and swears his way through a world of elves, dwarves, and other magical creatures that despise him is always enjoyable.
It does need to be said that Styx: Blades of Greed is a bit unpolished, and you will encounter some visual hiccups and bugs here and there. With that said, there’s just something about it: perhaps nostalgia for simpler times, an enjoyable gameplay loop of slinking around multi-layered levels and stabbing guards, or Styx himself.
Styx: Blades of Greed is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
