Top 10 Most Frustrating Stealth Sections in Video Games

Stealth mechanics have been integral to video gaming since the 1980s, evolving through numerous titles over the decades. Yet, it’s worth noting that, in today’s gaming landscape, stealth often takes a back seat, seldom blending seamlessly into the narrative.

This decline can be attributed to several factors, whether due to poor execution, awkward integration into the storyline, or interruptions in gameplay pacing. As a result, covert gameplay elements frequently elicit mixed reactions from players, who feel these forced stealth mechanics detract rather than enhance the overall experience.

As a devoted fan of the stealth genre, I can attest to the frustration that often accompanies these segments. To illustrate this point, I’ve compiled a list of the ten most egregious stealth sequences in video games.

10. Stealing Madd Dogg’s Rhyme Book

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

While I appreciate games that subvert expectations, the Stealing Madd Dogg’s Rhyme Book mission in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas left much to be desired. The game itself lacks a genuine stealth component, making this section feel dated and awkward. Players are forced into an uncomfortable crouch mode, a stark departure from the high-octane action that typically defines the franchise.

Thankfully, the mission is relatively short, leading many to overlook its clumsiness. That said, the experience leaves a lingering oddness, highlighting the developers’ struggle to effectively incorporate stealth into their gameplay.

9. Port Authority

Assassin’s Creed 2

Assassin’s Creed 2 is widely regarded as a stellar sequel that reinvigorated the franchise. However, the Port Authority mission stands out as a troubling moment. Tasked with quietly eliminating a merchant on a ship, players encounter a labyrinthine challenge posed by guard patrols, resulting in a frustrating trial-and-error gameplay experience.

The entire set-up feels overly reliant on AI errors, which can drive players to madness as they attempt to navigate the complex challenges. Upon replaying, I realized how taxing the mission’s demands were, which only adds to its reputation as one of the series’ low points.

8. Escape from La Valette Dungeon

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

The notion of a powerful character reduced to stealth gameplay can be disheartening. This is why the Escape from La Valette Dungeon mission in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings remains one of my least favorite experiences. While the narrative justification is evident, the reality of sneaking around following an epic castle siege feels counterintuitive and jarring.

This abrupt change from action-packed sequences to stealth navigation pulls players out of the immersive world, making it feel tedious as they sidestep weak guards during their escape.

7. Breaking and Entering

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

It’s always regrettable to highlight a section from the Uncharted series negatively, but the Breaking and Entering mission sets a notably low bar. This chapter falters due to its restrictive gameplay options, making it incredibly frustrating.

As the game’s second mission, it abruptly shifts away from the dynamic gameplay players had come to expect, leaving them to restart numerous times upon being spotted. Despite the comic banter between characters Nathan and Flynn, this mission serves as an unwelcome pause in the otherwise thrilling campaign.

6. The Jail Break

Nine Sols

Nine Sols creatively explores the metroidvania genre but stumbles with the The Jail Break mission. Players must rely on stealth to escape from a powerful foe, which feels entirely contrary to the game’s combat-rich experience.

This frustrating chapter denies players access to one of the decade’s best combat systems for far too long, shifting the focus from exhilarating action to tedious evasion tactics.

5. Trauma

Hotline Miami

The Trauma mission in Hotline Miami disrupts the franchise’s signature fast-paced gameplay. While it serves a crucial narrative purpose, the shift to stealth creates a dissonant momentum that feels out of place.

The gameplay culminates in a visually confusing sequence where players must navigate an environment while grappling with their character’s deteriorating mental state. Although brief, this mission’s impact reverberates throughout the game’s experience, making it feel noticeably out of sync.

4. Abyssal Woods

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

In a genre not typically associated with stealth, Abyssal Woods in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree introduces an unexpected gameplay twist. While visually stunning, the area quickly morphs into a frustrating experience dominated by rapid, lethal enemies.

Players find themselves crouching and running blindly to avoid detection, creating a cycle of avoidance that lacks engagement. This stealth segment feels like a missed opportunity, as the surrounding design could have offered more than simple evasion tactics.

3. Mary Jane Missions

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 showcases an array of remarkable gaming feats, but the Mary Jane Missions are contentious. These sequences feel less like genuine gameplay and more like filler, offering minimal challenge and detracting from the overall narrative.

Transitioning from iconic superhero actions to mundane stealth mechanics is jarring, undermining player agency and cohesion within the game world. Alternatives that could have maintained gameplay flow were overlooked, making these missions feel awkwardly placed.

2. Agreus Garden

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2

While I have a soft spot for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, I find it nearly impossible to defend the stealth mechanics present in Agreus Garden. This chapter, where players control Dracula while tiptoeing through an absurd situation involving a god, strains credulity.

The requirement to avoid triggering traps while engaged in acrobatics is among the silliest gameplay ideas, undermining the dark, powerful nature of the character. Such moments make it hard to fully appreciate the game’s narrative and structural strengths.

1. Dream World

Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye

Unexpectedly, the most disappointing stealth segment belongs to the Dream World in Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye. Despite the expansion’s brilliance in level design and storytelling, this section devolves into a frustrating stealth-based ordeal.

Players are trapped in an environment where they cannot proceed without stealth, leading to confusion and intolerable gameplay scenarios. While Echoes of the Eye is filled with intriguing concepts and sophisticated gameplay elements, this particular decision detracts significantly from the overall experience, capturing the essence of what can go wrong with stealth mechanics.

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