Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

As a 2016 action RPG/Shooter, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided casts you as Adam Jensen in 2029, navigating a world segregated against augmented humans post-catastrophe. The core loop involves using customizable mechanical augmentations to complete missions via stealth, combat, hacking, or social choices while uncovering a global conspiracy. Its distinct feature is deep player agency, where approach heavily influences narrative outcomes. Available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, and Mac.

This main title, released in 2016, is an action role-playing game that incorporates strong elements of first-person shooting, adventure, and deep narrative choice. The setting is the year 2029, two years after a catastrophic event known as the Aug Incident, where augmented individuals lost control, leading to massive loss of life. This event has fractured global society, resulting in the severe segregation and persecution of mechanically augmented humans, who are now treated as outcasts.

Players assume the role of Adam Jensen, an experienced covert operative navigating this hostile, high-tech cyberpunk world. Jensen, who possesses extensive mechanical augmentations, must operate in the shadows while attempting to uncover the truth behind a vast, global conspiracy that seeks to control the future of humanity. The atmosphere is defined by advanced technology contrasted sharply with social decay and rising tension between augmented and non-augmented populations.

Core Gameplay Experience and Mechanics

The gameplay loop heavily emphasizes player agency, providing multiple, distinct pathways to complete objectives. Players are encouraged to choose their preferred approach for any given situation, whether that involves utilizing stealth, engaging in direct combat, hacking security systems, or employing social manipulation during dialogue sequences. This flexibility is supported by Jensen’s extensive suite of mechanical augmentations, which can be upgraded and customized throughout the game to suit the player’s tactical preference.

The primary loop involves accepting missions, exploring densely detailed urban environments—such as the city of Prague—and using Jensen's specialized abilities to overcome obstacles. Combat mechanics are robust, supporting various weapon types, while the stealth system rewards careful planning and non-lethal takedowns for players seeking a less aggressive route.

What makes this game unique in its genre?

The game’s defining feature is its commitment to player choice, which impacts both immediate mission outcomes and the overall narrative progression. Every major decision regarding augmentation usage, dialogue options, and mission execution carries tangible weight within the game world. Furthermore, the environment reacts dynamically to Jensen’s reputation and past choices, fostering a high degree of replayability as players explore different ethical and tactical paths across multiple playthroughs.

Exploration and Augmentation Customization

Exploration is consistently rewarded, as hidden areas within the detailed environments often contain crucial lore entries, valuable resources, or unique components necessary for advanced augmentation upgrades. The deep customization system allows players to tailor Jensen’s capabilities precisely to their preferred playstyle. For example, a player might focus entirely on advanced cloaking and silent traversal, while another might prioritize social engineering skills or heavy offensive weaponry.

Available Additional Content

While this is the main game, players can access additional narrative content through three downloadable content (DLC) packs released post-launch. These expansions typically offer new side missions and story arcs that further flesh out the world and its supporting characters.