SneakR

Stealth is a special genre of video games, because there are a couple of highly-regarded examples everyone loves to compare new releases to. Whether it’s Splinter Cell, Metal Gear Solid or Hitman, gamers always try to draw parallels to one of them. On the other hand, every one of the mentioned series was developed by large studios, so maybe indie productions shouldn’t be judged just as harshly.

SneakR is a small and simple stealth game in which you have to accomplish a variety of basic objectives and stay hidden while doing so. The game is played from a top-down perspective, which means that you have a good view of the environment and the enemies that patrol nearby. Even so, it can be quite difficult to avoid their gazes, especially when there are multiple guards patrolling the same corridors.

Your tasks range from lockpicking doors to stealing briefcases, but it’s not as exciting as it sounds. The fun part is making your way to the said doors and briefcases, because the journey is a lot more difficult. Since it is not possible to attack enemies or neutralize them, your only tactic is to remain hidden, or try to make a run for it if you are discovered.

There are actually two ways to put some distance between yourself and a guard: You either sprint away and hope for the best, or dash and cover ground more quickly, but in incremental steps. It all depends on the situation, since dashing also helps you avoid the bullets in most cases. The lockpicking takes time to execute, so you usually have to do it in rounds as well. None of the game’s challenges are particularly difficult, but everything gets more stressful once they are combined.

There is only a handful of levels as of right now, with no promises from the developer when it comes to adding more. However, they should be enough to help you unwind and have some fun for a few minutes, especially if you are a stealth fan. The pixelated graphics are reminiscent of a simpler era in video games, which is yet another reason to give SneakR a try.

Although it might not be the most complicated stealth game out there, SneakR has what it takes to keep you entertained for a few minutes, which is all that matters. The stealth elements are quite nicely integrated, at least when you consider the technology used.