Deathloop

Deathloop builds on a simple yet immensely clever premise: hitman Colt wakes up on the island of Blackreef trapped in a single day that repeats endlessly, and the only way out is to kill eight so-called Visionaries within a single run. The problem is they never stay in the same place at the same time, so the game isn't about shooting — it's about planning. The day is split into four phases and four areas, among which you choose where to go, and every choice irreversibly moves the clock forward.

The loop functions as a knowledge puzzle. On every run you gather clues, passwords, schedules, and ideas for how to get two targets in the same place, and you keep this knowledge even after death. Weapons and abilities only carry over between days if you charge them with a special resource, so even your gear is at risk. Meanwhile Arkane offers its typical immersive-sim freedom: teleportation, invisibility, linking enemies to a shared fate, silent approach, or a loud firefight. A special layer comes from Julianna, a rival defending the loop — she can be controlled by the computer, or another player can slip into your game instead, which disrupts even the most confident plan.

Visually it's a fresh mix of sixties spy aesthetics, brutalist architecture, and a jazz soundtrack that lends the island a cool elegance. The banter between Colt and Julianna ranks among the best writing Arkane has ever produced, and it keeps the mood alive even after several restarts. The game launched as a timed console exclusive for PlayStation 5 and received very good reviews for its idea and craftsmanship, with reservations about enemy AI. Today it's considered one of the most interesting experiments with the time-loop concept in the shooter genre. This is helped further by an excellent feel for the weapons, each with distinctly different weight and sound, and a clear interface that automatically keeps a record of discovered leads, so players don't have to rely on their own notes. Thanks to that, putting together the perfect plan lands as a genuine victory.