Mark of the Ninja and games like it

The WhatsNext verdict

If you want stealth built around readable systems, careful planning, and flexible solutions, Mark of the Ninja delivers an unusually focused 2D take. Players who prefer intuitive, less telegraphed stealth may find its visual language and movement too artificial.

What it does best

Stealth becomes a readable, tense puzzle of shadows, sound, and timing
Multiple routes and tools let you solve danger your own way
A crisp animated style makes stealth information part of the visual identity

What might put you off

Highly explicit visual cues can make stealth feel over-systematized
Movement and certain interactions can feel sticky rather than fluid

The setup

What you are walking into

Mark of the Ninja is a side-scrolling action stealth video game developed by Klei Entertainment and published by Microsoft Studios. It was announced on February 28, 2012 and later released for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade on September 7, 2012. A Microsoft Windows version was released on October 16, 2012. It follows the story of a nameless ninja in the present day, and features a themed conflict between ancient ninja tradition and modern technology. Cutscenes for the game are rendered in Saturday morning cartoon animation style.