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Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a game that will grab hold of you and never let go- an experience like no other.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Game Cover
92%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
optimization, stability
91% User Score Based on 15,812 reviews
Critic Score 95%Based on 5 reviews

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Deus Ex: Human Revolution Game Cover

About

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a single player open world role playing shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Eidos Montreal and was released on October 25, 2013. It received very positive reviews from both critics and players.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Ultimate Edition includes all expansion packs and downloadable content released as part of the Deus Ex: Human Revolution Preorder Packs. The full game, Deus Ex: Human Revolution The Missing Link The Explosive Mission expansion pack The Tactical Enhancement expansion pack The 40-page Artbook. The 44-minute film showing the Eidos Montreal office through development. The …

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Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshot
Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshot
Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshot
Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshot
Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshot
Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshot
Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshot
Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshot
Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshot
Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshot
Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshot
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91%
Audience ScoreBased on 15,812 reviews
story3.6k positive mentions
optimization222 negative mentions
  • Deep, thought-provoking cyberpunk narrative exploring transhumanism, corporate conspiracies, and ethical dilemmas with meaningful player choices and multiple endings.
  • Engaging gameplay blending stealth, hacking, RPG elements, and first-person shooting allowing diverse playstyles and mission approaches.
  • Immersive atmosphere with distinctive visual style, rich world-building, haunting soundtrack, and excellent voice acting that enhance the overall experience.
  • The director's cut suffers from performance issues, technical bugs, stuttering, and graphical regressions that negatively impact gameplay.
  • Certain gameplay mechanics feel dated and clunky, with awkward boss fights and pacing disruptions due to forced combat or slow takedown mechanics.
  • Narrative pacing issues, repetitive side quests, limited impact from player choices, and a forced DLC integration that disrupts story flow and reduces replay value.
  • story
    8,842 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Deus Ex: Human Revolution delivers a rich, thought-provoking cyberpunk narrative centered on transhumanism, corporate conspiracies, and ethical dilemmas, with a compelling protagonist and layered storytelling enhanced by immersive world-building and meaningful player choices. While some aspects of the story pacing, character development, and integration of DLC into the main campaign received criticism for disrupting flow or feeling less impactful, the overall narrative remains one of the game’s strongest elements, praised for its depth, replayability, and engagement. The game’s multiple approaches to missions and endings further enrich the storytelling experience, making it a standout title for fans of story-driven RPGs and immersive sims.

    • “Deus ex: human revolution - director's cut is a masterpiece of immersive cyberpunk storytelling, offering deep RPG mechanics, satisfying stealth and combat, and a world rich with atmosphere and intrigue. As a prequel to the legendary Deus Ex, it not only lives up to the franchise’s legacy but also modernizes it with fluid gameplay and compelling storytelling.”
    • “The story is incredible, featuring a thought-provoking narrative about transhumanism, corporate greed, and the ethical dilemmas of technological advancement. The choices you make, whether in dialogue or action, carry weight, shaping the outcome of missions and influencing the lives of those around you. The narrative weaves themes of post-humanism, corporate power, and human morality into a story that is both personal and thought-provoking.”
    • “One of the best story-driven FPS RPGs on the market, Deus Ex: Human Revolution offers an engaging and complex story with rich worldbuilding, memorable characters, multiple meaningful choices, and diverse ways to tackle missions. The story is tightly woven with conspiracies, moral dilemmas, and social commentary, delivering a mature narrative that stays with you. Its immersive storytelling, supported by great voice acting and atmosphere, makes it a timeless favorite in the cyberpunk genre.”
    • “The dlc takes away all of your skills and weapons and completely leaves the plot in stasis, replacing it with an entirely new one that takes around 3-4 hours to get through until you can finish it and return to the main story.”
    • “The story starts off strong, but then just refuses to go anywhere and ducks out lazily and isn't rewarding for the time spent to get there.”
    • “The story is kind of goofy and the locations all look the same, maybe because of the color grading, and many side quests feel repetitive or minor in impact.”
  • gameplay
    4,150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Deus Ex: Human Revolution offers a deep and versatile gameplay experience blending stealth, hacking, RPG elements, and first-person shooting, allowing players multiple approaches to objectives. Its stealth mechanics are praised as particularly satisfying, though the combat and cover-shooting can feel clunky and less refined compared to modern standards. While some boss fights and certain mechanics may disrupt pacing or feel dated, the gameplay loop remains engaging and rewarding, supported by a strong progression system, extensive level design, and meaningful choices that impact playstyle.

    • “The director’s cut improves on the original with polished gameplay mechanics, reworked boss fights, and integrated DLC content.”
    • “The gameplay is a mixture of stealth, hacking, and first-person shooting, allowing a wide range of approaches.”
    • “The gameplay is highly engaging, offering flexible play styles including stealth, combat, and hacking, with mission design supporting multiple paths.”
    • “The gameplay is frustratingly clunky and dated at first, requiring patience to get used to its mechanics and controls.”
    • “Boss battles break the flow of the gameplay by restricting player freedom and interrupt stealth-oriented approaches with forced combat.”
    • “The takedown mechanic consumes energy, causing players to wait and slowing down gameplay, which negatively affects pacing.”
  • graphics
    2,167 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, originally released in 2011, have aged moderately well, retaining a distinctive cyberpunk "golden" and noir aesthetic that many find immersive and stylish despite showing their age by modern standards. While some textures, character models, and animations appear dated or stiff, the art direction, atmosphere, and environmental design strongly compensate, creating a visually unique and compelling world. The Director's Cut edition offers slight graphical improvements and fixes but also some regressions, with the removal of the original gold filter dividing opinion; nonetheless, even with dated visuals and occasional technical issues, the graphics remain solid enough to support the game's engaging story and gameplay without significantly detracting from the overall experience.

    • “For a game that’s over a decade old, the graphics still hold up surprisingly well, capturing the golden, neon-lit aesthetic of its dystopian setting.”
    • “The distinctive gold-and-black aesthetic, coupled with the cyberpunk architecture, creates a visual identity that is both unique and iconic.”
    • “Despite the age, the game’s atmospheric art direction combines cyberpunk aesthetics with a gritty, believable world, immersing players in its futuristic yet plausible setting.”
    • “The game is a bit dated on the mechanics and graphics.”
    • “Graphics and art design are quite dated and show their age particularly in character models and animations, with some textures being blurry or low resolution.”
    • “The director's cut edition is a graphical downgrade from the original edition, featuring more graphical defects and bugs, and removal of the original's impactful gold filter.”
  • music
    1,164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in Deus Ex: Human Revolution, composed by Michael McCann, is widely praised for its immersive, atmospheric, and haunting quality, perfectly complementing the game's cyberpunk setting and enhancing tension and mood throughout. While some note it is more ambient and subtle compared to the original game's iconic soundtrack, most reviews commend its futuristic blend of electronic and orchestral elements as a standout feature that elevates the overall experience. The soundtrack is often described as one of the best in gaming, crucial to the game's identity and enduring appeal.

    • “The soundtrack by Michael McCann is absolutely phenomenal, blending electronic and orchestral elements to evoke tension and mystery, creating a hauntingly atmospheric experience that perfectly complements the game's futuristic cyberpunk aesthetic.”
    • “One of the best soundtracks ever made in gaming, the music is a masterpiece that elevates the entire game, making human revolution not just a great game but a true immersive experience with unforgettable themes like the main menu track and 'Icarus'.”
    • “The atmosphere is just unparalleled and so well realized, with a perfectly fitting soundtrack that is absolutely banging; it enhances every mission's mood and makes the world feel alive and uneasy in the best way.”
    • “The soundtrack, while serviceable, is nothing memorable, but the voice acting is top-notch.”
    • “The soundtrack does blend in tho, this wouldn't be too much of a complaint but considering how Deus Ex 1 had one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard, it's really disappointing that this one is so generic.”
    • “The music, though... throughout the game, you hear snippets of the original music: people humming it, or it playing from devices, and it seems to me that the music in this game is a whole lot less memorable; because it has the scope to be less overt and more subtle, so despite playing it so much, and having just finished playing, I couldn't hum any new song from this game.”
  • atmosphere
    721 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of Deus Ex: Human Revolution is widely praised as immersive, richly detailed, and key to the game's identity, blending a unique cyberpunk-renaissance aesthetic with dark, dystopian tones enhanced by a haunting, atmospheric soundtrack. Despite some dated graphics, the world-building, sound design, and art direction create a deeply engaging and memorable experience that draws players into its futuristic, philosophical narrative. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's strongest and most distinctive features, elevating the gameplay and story.

    • “The atmosphere is so good you can practically feel how heavy the air is as you walk the streets of Shanghai and Detroit, which makes you want to explore even more.”
    • “Ambience and atmosphere came out pretty well, game is a pleasure to look at; at many points I had to stop to just sit and admire certain sceneries of the futuristic city.”
    • “The atmosphere, level design, and soundtrack create a world you genuinely want to explore.”
    • “The atmosphere is non-existent and graphics look like a blurry mess.”
    • “The inclusion of those arcade style bosses also takes away some of the depth of atmosphere from the game, which is annoying if that’s what you like about it.”
    • “De:hr is a modern title, however, it is starting to show its age already, graphically it is okay, as someone who prefers gameplay and mechanics over graphical beauty, i must say that most of the game looks very plastic and lifeless, textures and details are decent at best, many of the npcs we see around look like mannequins and choppy, main characters are the ones that show true life, of course this makes sense as they are the main protagonists, but overall, it is the atmosphere that gives the graphics a breath of fresh air from time to time.”
  • optimization
    460 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is widely criticized for frequent and severe stuttering, frame drops, and inconsistent performance across modern PC hardware, with the director's cut version generally regarded as worse than the original. Many users report unresolved issues despite numerous fixes and patches, making gameplay frustrating or even unplayable for some. Although the game runs smoothly on lower-end or consoles and benefits from some workarounds, the poor PC port and lack of proper optimization significantly detract from the overall experience.

    • “Firstly, I want to say that this works great on the Steam Deck, never had a single issue with either performance or gameplay.”
    • “Game runs smoothly even using a potato PC.”
    • “It honestly is pretty insane how good this game looks and it is optimized like a mofo on crack!”
    • “The director's cut is not optimized and there are a lot of fps drops and stuttering even if you have a powerful rig.”
    • “This version suffers with performance issues, broken lighting effects and so much more.”
    • “The performance issues are atrocious and make the game unbearable to play through.”
  • replayability
    380 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Deus Ex: Human Revolution offers high replayability due to its branching storylines, multiple endings, diverse playstyles (stealth, combat, hacking, negotiation), and varied approaches to missions. The inclusion of new game+ mode and the director’s cut content further enhance replay value, though some criticize the forced DLC for disrupting pacing. Overall, its nonlinear gameplay and character customization provide compelling incentives for multiple playthroughs despite occasional linearity and less impact from player choices compared to the original.

    • “Branching story with meaningful choices — multiple endings and side quests make replayability high.”
    • “The game's ability to allow players to play their preferred playstyle is really nice to see; if you want to play stealth, you can, if you want to run and gun, you can, and everything in between, and there are multiple ways to complete objectives, so there is a lot of replayability if you want to try out new things.”
    • “Because of this, the replay value is incredible: I've probably gone through the entire game about 15-20 times in full at this point, never once pathing through anything beyond the first mission in the same way twice.”
    • “The forced inclusion of the DLC being non-optional honestly kills a lot of the replay value for me.”
    • “Although if you have already completed it I'm having trouble playing it all again; not much has changed in the director's cut edition, not enough to make it replayable for me.”
    • “Replayability is almost nil, due to your choices having little effect over the outcomes (except at the very end).”
  • stability
    230 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is plagued by frequent bugs, glitches, crashes, and freezes, with issues ranging from AI inconsistencies and achievement bugs to stuttering and graphical problems, particularly in the Director's Cut version. While some users report stable performance and minor glitches, many experience frustrating technical problems that significantly impact playability and require extensive troubleshooting. Overall, stability is a major concern, especially on certain systems, detracting from an otherwise engaging experience.

    • “Game will run on pretty much everything and was able to get almost a constant 60 fps on my i5 laptop; controller support is well optimized with very few to no glitches.”
    • “I've read other reviews with issues on the PC version, but I never had a problem; it ran smoothly with no glitches or snags—simple gameplay and smooth sailing all the way.”
    • “Buginess - 10/10 - no issues found in gameplay, no glitches; great programming!”
    • “The game freezes my entire computer after some time of play consistently, which is annoying. Now it won't even launch, making the game unplayable for me.”
    • “When you go to exit the game to desktop, the game just freezes as soon as you click "yes" and won't unfreeze unless you end the game's process via the task manager or wait for it to crash.”
    • “This version crashes and freezes constantly if you are running on DirectX 11 for some odd reason.”
  • grinding
    151 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Grinding in the game is widely described as tedious and lengthy, with frequent backtracking, repetitive hacking mini-games, and inventory management contributing to a slow, often frustrating pace. While some find elements like combat and stealth more enjoyable, many highlight the mandatory DLC and certain missions as particularly grind-heavy and disruptive to the overall flow. Despite these issues, dedicated players appreciate the rewarding atmosphere and story, especially with features like New Game+ that alleviate some grind on replay.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The 'New Game +' mode ensures replaying is not tedious, especially in the beginning.”
    • “The hacking mini-game requires planning, strategy, and quick thinking, making it engaging rather than tedious.”
    • “But then all your praxis progress, all the tedious hours you spent saving up supplies and buying enough inventory space was for absolutely nothing because instead of the game giving back all your upgrades it acts as though the DLC was its own separate thing meaning all that time was wasted... I actually might stop playing entirely because that is completely unfair.”
    • “The forced DLC mission is excruciatingly tedious and not fun to go through, and in this version of the game, you'll be forced to go through it.”
    • “You get stripped of all your hard-earned upgrades and get to backtrack the location back and forth in the most tedious sequence I've played in a while.”
  • humor
    131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mix of dry, quirky, and occasionally lowbrow wit that complements its serious themes, often delivering funny one-liners, amusing dialogue, and humorous NPC interactions. Many find the game’s glitches, AI behavior, and environmental quirks unintentionally hilarious, while some appreciate the witty commentary and playful easter eggs scattered throughout. Though it aims for a darker tone than its predecessors, the humor remains a notable and enjoyable aspect that adds charm and levity to the experience.

    • “The plot is cinema, the gameplay is tight, and the NPCs are funny.”
    • “Pretty awesome game, great soundtrack, a good variety of choices, funny one-liners, good gameplay and a strong prequel for the revival of Deus Ex.”
    • “The notion that I, as a hulking robot dude, would actually be oppressed for my multi-million dollar augmentations is hilarious and makes absolutely no sense within this game's world.”
    • “And playing in those conditions is not funny.”
    • “You spend more time laughing or crying than playing.”
  • emotional
    84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game delivers a deeply emotional experience through its mature, thought-provoking story and powerful soundtrack, often evoking nostalgia, sadness, and moral reflection. While the protagonist is frequently described as emotionally flat or monotone, the richly crafted world, meaningful character interactions, and ethical dilemmas engage players on an emotional level. However, some moments are undermined by lifeless delivery or narrative shortcomings, and the ending leaves many feeling unsatisfied emotionally.

    • “Beautiful gold-tinted visuals, a soundtrack that’s so powerful—cinematic, emotional, unforgettable.”
    • “The one I remember the most recently was Darrow at the final mission, where you can hear his self-assuredness and smugness, and in the same conversation, you can hear Jensen maintain a suitable voice to that conversation (not aggressive but not meek, and resolute, emotional and invested, yet also able to be somewhat objective).”
    • “I've never seen better voice acting in a game, and I found myself emotionally invested in and affected by the characters the entire time.”
    • “Boring story, I don't know what else to say about that.”
    • “This game straight blows, limited decision making, an augmented character that can't even do anything I couldn't do in real life, just playing a boring storyline.”
  • character development
    73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in Deus Ex: Human Revolution is generally praised for its depth, immersive storytelling, and integration with gameplay choices, especially through augmentations and moral dilemmas. Adam Jensen as a protagonist receives mixed feedback, often seen as a classic "tough guy" archetype with some voice acting quirks, though his growth and dialogue engage players. While many appreciate the rich world-building and unique designs, some critics note uneven development of secondary characters and a less impactful ending that undermines the consequences of player choices.

    • “Excellent storytelling and character development - characters are not one-sided, cardboard cutout personalities but rather believable human beings if you can manage a bit of cheesiness every now and then.”
    • “The character development is also extremely well done, and nearly every single character is given a thorough background before growing or regressing based on Adam's decisions.”
    • “Fantastic game, great story, engaging, solid character development.”
    • “5/10, gameplay is decent if janky, but the worldbuilding, character development, and general writing is passable at best and a nonsensical cringefest at worst.”
    • “The part where this misses the mark for me is the absolute lack of character development on the part of Adam Jensen.”
    • “Con - the bad thing this game has, is the character development; the history focuses too much on Adam and his quest, and other characters don't get into the spotlight. The world is big but you can't call it an open world experience, since it's linear and 90% of the NPCs don't serve any purpose.”
  • monetization
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features a toggle-only aim-down-sights (ADS) system with no option for hold, which many players find frustrating and unintuitive, often leading to stuttering or freezes during ADS use. Although it lacks microtransactions, some view the director's cut and DLC as cash grabs, while others appreciate the DLC’s story additions. Overall, monetization is minimal, but gameplay and technical issues related to ADS detract significantly from the experience.

    • “A game with the level design and variety of Human Revolution, the QoL and gameplay improvements of Mankind Divided, a complete story free of microtransactions and exploitative cashgrab DLCs.”
    • “No microtransactions, a full game story, improved game mechanics, and no significant bugs.”
    • “No microtransactions.”
    • “A solid game with engaging mechanics and a compelling story, but the director's cut feels like a cash grab and pales compared to the original.”
    • “This version of the game is just another cash grab that never got updated by Square Enix!”
    • “This is essentially a glorified (and badly executed) patch/cash grab, which reworks a few things (mainly boss fights and DLC integration), but breaks a lot of things that were already fixed in patches.”
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95%Critics’ scoreBased on 8 critic reviews
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30h Median play time
49h Average play time
21h Main story
45h Completionist
20-56h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 88 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a open world role playing shooter game with science fiction theme.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac OS, Xbox One and others.

The main story can be completed in around 21 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 45 hours to finish. On average players spend around 49 hours playing Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution was released on October 25, 2013.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution was developed by Eidos Montreal.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a single player game.

Similar games include Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Deus Ex, Dishonored, Prey, Dex and others.