Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided follows on from Human Revolution and, two years later, returns the player to the role of Adam Jensen, an agent riddled with cybernetic implants, who now operates in an atmospheric Prague divided by deep social tension between augmented and non-augmented people following a worldwide catastrophe called the Aug Incident. The game combines first- and third-person action with stealth mechanics and an extensive decision-making system that affects mission approaches as well as relationships with the game's factions.

A key part of the gameplay is the augmentation system – cybernetic upgrades enabling invisibility, hacking secured systems, brute-force solutions using enhanced limbs, or alternative routes through the environment via vents and hidden passages, which players tailor to their preferred playstyle, from silent infiltration to open confrontation. The level design offers elaborate, layered environments with plenty of hidden paths and optional side quests, while the story touches on themes of discrimination, surveillance, and the abuse of power. Technically, on Xbox One the game offered solid, atmospheric graphics with a strong cyberpunk aesthetic and dense sound design underscoring the tense atmosphere of the divided city.

Critics praised above all the depth of the systems and the freedom in solving missions, where almost every situation could be handled in several different ways depending on the chosen playstyle; objections were more often aimed at the open ending that set up a planned sequel that ultimately never materialized. Even so, Mankind Divided remains a well-regarded representative of the immersive sim genre and one of the most technically and conceptually sophisticated action RPGs of its generation on consoles, still serving today as an example of how to combine a social theme with a well-thought-out game system.

Why play it: Anyone craving the freedom to solve missions their own way will appreciate the depth of this immersive sim's systems, even though the story stays open-ended due to a sequel that was never released.