Mark of the Ninja: A Masterclass in Stealth Games

I haven’t played many stealth games in my lifetime. At the very least, I’ve played games that allow you to approach encounters in a stealthy way. However, I think this is the first game that I have played that is truly categorized as a stealth game. To say I enjoyed myself would be an understatement. Mark of the Ninja really impressed me in every single way.

The Art Style of Klei

I’ve been a fan of Klei Entertainment since I became obsessed with their game Don’t Starve. Don’t Starve Together, its multiplayer adaptation, later went on to be a game that I have literally shared with everyone in my life. I can’t tell you how many hours I have played that game for. However, this post is about Mark of the Ninja.

Mark of the Ninja is the second game I have played that was created by these guys but let me tell you, I was already a fan. Their art style is extremely gorgeous. Mark of the Ninja is no exception and just explodes with Klei’s trademark charm. Anyone who is a fan of their work can spot it from miles away because it is just so unique and distinct. It truly shows in every frame of this game.

Mark of the Ninja looks like a beautiful watercolor brought to life. Much like Don’t Starve, the game’s animation is hand-drawn and beautiful. The art style plays perfectly with the gameplay here, too. The only parts of the game that are shown are the parts that your character can hear. If you’re curious about what’s beyond a wall, you’ll need to peak through a door or vent to find out. As you do, that room with be exposed and with it, more of the game’s beautiful world.

It really is a genius way to expose players to more of the world, especially when it ties in so well with the gameplay. This is a stealth game after all so you aren’t going to want to run into a room without preparing. Instead, slow down and take it one aesthetically pleasing room at a time.

Stealth Gameplay at its Finest

This game plays like a dream. It is so smooth, intuitive and engaging that it really is a master class in stealth games but also in video games as a whole. I was constantly challenged by the level design, amazed by the options in approaching encounters and just plain stunned by the overall presentation. This game gives you every tool you need to be a master ninja without making it too easy.

Each level is scored based on performance and houses a few collectibles to find along the way. With your score and the collectibles you find, you’ll accrue Honor which you can spend on skill upgrades or new gear. These upgrade and gear options don’t break the game by any means. Instead, they definitely build upon the already perfect gameplay to allow you to feel a sense of progression and character growth. They also unlocks some really fun skills that you can use when you aren’t trying to accomplish the three challenges that exist within each level.

I’ll encourage you to try those challenges though. They may introduce you to a playstyle that you might not have been interested in before. Taking down every guard has its advantages for sure, but making it through a level without killing anyone is the real challenge. Your score will reflect each action you take whether it is getting a kill, getting caught or passing guards undetected. As you progress through each level you’ll be presented with more difficult challenges. This will truly test your knowledge of the game’s mechanics.

My favorite parts of the game were found within its challenge rooms. These rooms consisted of both platforming challenges and timing challenges and reminded me of some of my favorite platformers like Celeste. To access them, you will need to find their hiding spots within the main levels of the game. It was exciting to reach the end of these rooms and collect the scroll that awaited me there.

The Story of a Ninja

Mark of the Ninja puts you in the shoes of a Ninja who has dedicated his life to save his clan. Guided by a female ninja named Ora, he’ll fight his way through the clan’s worst enemy and its biggest secrets. There’s not much here in the way of writing but what is here is excellent. There’s just enough here to keep you intrigued but it doesn’t weigh down the game with many cutscenes.

The tattoos he bares grants him access to a few exclusive abilities and heightens his senses. As you play through the game you’ll learn more about the history of the ink in those tattoos. There are a few twists in the story to keep you on the edge of your seat as well. Really though, this game doesn’t need any story to be solid. Gameplay alone is enough to make this one of my favorite games this year.

Regardless though, the story provided here is really well-crafted. It also helps paint a larger picture that the game otherwise couldn’t do without it. It contributes to the gameplay as well, much like the art style does. This game was a perfect adventure from start to finish. It is a true masterpiece that I would encourage every gamer to go experience.