Styx: Shards of Darkness

Styx: Shards of Darkness is a massive improvement over the first entry in every way!
The levels are incredibly non-linear and interconnected, giving you so much freedom to choose your path and is especially apparent when you have to complete multiple objectives. This really enhances the stealth experience by forcing you to plan which entry point is best and which route works for your exit.
While the core gameplay remains similar to Master of Shadows, it has received some great reworks. You still choose between silent and lethal kills, but now your dagger has different variants with unique advantages, adding much-needed variety. I was also glad to see that the skill tree isn't just recycled. Many old abilities are available from the start, making room for exciting new unlocks. The cloning mechanic has also become more tactical and useful.
Although the game still has that "trial & error" loop of reloading checkpoints, now it feels much less frustrating. This is thanks to the faster quicksave/quickload system and the hilarious new death sequences where Styx actually roasts the player for dying.
My only complaint is the finale. Even though it has a grander presentation than the first game, the gameplay in the final act felt a bit boring by comparison.
Overall, Shards of Darkness turned me into a real fan of the franchise. It takes the formula of simple stealth gameplay and packs it into awesome, intricate levels. If you like stealth games, you absolutely have to try this one.

After finishing Master of Shadows, I came into this one skeptical. The first game felt more like a punishment simulator than a stealth experience, with inconsistent AI, labirynth-style level design and mechanics that didn’t fully support the fantasy of being a goblin assassin. This sequel improves on that, but it still doesn’t fully escape its own limitations.
The first major improvement is fluidity. Movement feels smoother, the game runs better on modern hardware, and overall it simply feels better to control. In a stealth game, that matters a lot. When your character feels stiff or unreliable, stealth becomes frustration. Here, mistakes feel more like my fault than the game’s fault, which already puts it above the first title.
Amber Mode being permanent instead of a limited resource is also a strong design correction. Being able to visualize interactable elements without worrying about draining a meter makes exploration more intuitive and less punishing. It respects the player’s time instead of forcing trial-and-error.
The maps are more compact and denser. They don’t feel like artificial labyrinths where guards simply force you into long detours. However, the stealth design is still heavily directed. Traps like chandeliers and gas barrels are positioned in very specific spots, often clearly placed for scripted opportunities rather than real systemic freedom. You are discovering what the level designer intended, not creating your own solutions.
Crafting is a welcome addition. Collecting materials and unlocking new tools gives progression more meaning and encourages interaction with the environment. It adds a layer that was missing in the first game. Still, I haven’t yet seen the systems evolve into something truly emergent.
Combat remains basic. The parry–attack loop is still there, and while you are not meant to fight multiple enemies head-on, the system itself doesn’t offer much depth. For a character marketed as a goblin assassin, I still feel the game could have embraced more chaotic, creative or aggressive stealth mechanics.
Narratively, this game does a better job. There’s more curiosity. I actually want to understand the world and what’s going on. That alone improves engagement significantly compared to the first entry.
Overall, this is a clear improvement over Master of Shadows. It fixes performance, fairness and pacing issues, and adds useful mechanics like crafting. But it still plays it safe. The stealth is competent, sometimes enjoyable, but ultimately basic and too programmed to feel truly dynamic.
it’s a 6/10. Solid improvement
Score: 6/10
(1) Trash (2) Horrible (3) Very Bad (4) Bad (5) Average
(6) Fine (7) Good (8) Very Good (9) Great (10) Master Piece

Styx: Shards of Darkness basically boils down to being a stinking ugly goblin and sneaking around while trying to find a way to get rich, just like in the first game.
In case you don't know, it’s the direct sequel to this game here:
I’ve played the first game before playing this one, and a tl;dr for my opinion would be that it’s just a bigger and better version of the first game, so, with it being a clear improvement, I’m recommending it as well. In case you’re interested in more details about the first game, I also wrote a review for it:
So, yeah, this game basically keeps the core structure of the first game - large sandbox levels, stealth-focused gameplay and movement, and reliance on verticality - but it also expands on nearly every system. Level design is broader and more open than in the first game, with multiple routes, interconnected areas, and fewer narrow chokepoints. It’s basically a bit more open world in nature than the first game was, while still keeping a mostly linear design, which is a hit or miss for some people. I didn’t mind it, the zones are larger, but you can still clearly tell where you’re supposed to go and what you need to do at all times. Movement is smoother though, and you notice that immediately if you’re coming directly from the first game, with more reliable climbing, ledge detection, and jump arcs. They also added a crafting system this time around, which isn’t particularly complex, rather streamlined into a small set of tools, traps, and potions.
Enemy variety was somewhat increased, though AI behaviour remains largely similar: line-of-sight detection, sound awareness, and predictable patrol routes. Combat is still deliberately weak and functions only as a last resort if you can’t hide or escape. The clone mechanic also returns with fewer limitations, and the usual environmental interaction - lever pulls, trap setups, and distraction items - though it tends to work more consistently than in the first game.
As far as the graphics are concerned, the upgrade to Unreal Engine 4 offers much clearer lighting and more readable level geometry, while keeping the exact same style of the original for the most part. Storytelling, cutscene quality, and character animations are all not really the best, but they’re okay. The story has some weird inconsistencies and switch ups, however, that’s not the strong point of the game anyway, so it’s whatever. There are many typos and grammar errors though, which isn’t anything terrible, but one would think that at least checking such things before release for polish is something you wouldn’t want to miss, still, w/e.
Talents and challenges return as well - nothing much changed really - you earn points to spend on talents on a talent tree and the challenges are speedrunning the levels, not killing anyone in the levels, and getting all collectibles. You can play this game in co-op too, where another player can take on the role of a permanent clone, however, any form of direct combat and duelling gets completely disabled in that case. I played it solo so I can’t say too much about the co-op side of the game. The game’s a good experience, especially if you like stealth games, and I liked it just like the fist game, so I recommend this one too!
Also, if you end up liking this, the third game and sequel to this is coming out later this year:

Incredible game.
This game is a lot of fun if you like stealth games. The levels are great and the gameplay feels really good overall. Styx himself is also really funny and makes the whole experience more enjoyable.
Even though it says unsupported on Steam Deck (I play on SD OLED), it runs perfectly with no issues at all.
Definitely recommend it.

A really good stealth game
Fixed a lot of the jank of the prequel and the level design is even better here
There a lot of items to help you with making your own play style
A must play for stealth fans

for those who miss stealth gameplay from batman arkham series and splinter cell. everything here was smooth and fun, except probably the story. i hope Styx will have a decent one in future games

Recommended overall for fans of the first game, but it has its massive flaws. I've found most of them either improved over time or just needed getting used to, but the switch from Master of Shadows to Shards of Darkness wasn't a smooth one.

I had to play on an old crusty headset, because Styx's voice is mapped to the "back" speakers, quieter than most other dialogues, and therefore barely audible on my usual one - no solution I've found worked, but after switching to an older headset, everything was fine.

Speaking of his voice, Styx is now much more talkative... and vulgar, like an amateur Deadpool impersonator. Fortunately, the barrage of sex jokes in the tutorial is not reflective of the entire game, but the tone remains much less serious than in Master of Shadows.

His powers are improved and more fun to use, especially amber vision no longer requiring amber.
While the controls have been an overall big improvement over the original, and Styx's movement is much more fluid, jumping is consistently unreliable - I cannot imagine playing the game without a manual saving option, as plummeting to one's death is a constant and never ending issue.

Shards of Darkness' boss sequences were much more fun than Master of Shadows' one. They're simple, but fun, both gameplay-wise and visually! I enjoyed them a lot and only wish you could quick save during, especially the first one.

The game's obviously a product of the game trends in stealth and action adventure games of the 2010's. The tiers of medals, the UI, the predominantly blue color palette, the crafting materials (which, to be honest, completely ruined token collecting for me, as they are also highlighted similarly), the snarky Arkham Knight-esque death screens...

Overall, I find this game enjoyable, if much less replayable than the original. Despite its flaws, it has pulled through and only improved over time. I hope the 3rd installment takes more tonal inspiration from the first game, however.