Real-time tactical stealth games have carved out a loyal niche over the past decade, with titles like Shadow Tactics and Desperados III showing there is still a strong appetite for thoughtful, strategic gameplay. These games reward patience, careful planning, and creative problem-solving rather than raw reflexes.
Sumerian Six, developed by Artificer and published by Devolver Digital alongside Crunching Koalas, follows directly in that tradition. Originally released on PC in 2024 to strong praise from strategy fans, the game has now arrived on PlayStation 5 as the Sumerian Six – Deluxe Edition, bringing its blend of stealth tactics, alternate history, and supernatural chaos to console players.
Set in a stylised version of the Second World War, the game follows the Enigma Squad, a group of brilliant scientists who have traded laboratories for battlefield sabotage. Their mission is to stop former squad member Hans Kammler from harnessing the mysterious substance known as Geiststoff, a supernatural resource capable of fuelling terrifying occult weaponry.
It’s a pulpy premise filled with demon-infused Nazis, experimental gadgets, and a squad of eccentric heroes. But beneath the outlandish story lies a deeply strategic stealth game that demands precision and clever planning.
Gameplay
At its core, Sumerian Six is a real-time tactical stealth game played from an isometric perspective. Players control a team of operatives tasked with infiltrating heavily guarded enemy locations while avoiding detection.
Enemies patrol specific routes, each with visible sight cones that indicate their field of vision. Stepping into these zones triggers alarms and brings reinforcements, usually leading to swift failure. As a result, careful positioning and observation are essential.
Unlike traditional action games, direct confrontation is rarely the best option. Instead, success depends on coordinating stealth takedowns, distractions, and environmental manipulation.
The game encourages players to study enemy patterns and slowly dismantle defences, piece by piece. It often feels less like combat and more like solving a puzzle, where each enemy placement represents a strategic obstacle.
The Enigma Squad
One of the game’s most distinctive elements is its cast of playable characters. The Enigma Squad comprises six specialists, each with unique abilities inspired by their scientific fields.
For example, Rosa Reznick, the exiled chemist, specialises in chemical tools that can manipulate enemies or trigger chain reactions. Siegfried von Adelsberg, the team’s psychoanalyst, can influence the minds of unsuspecting soldiers. Meanwhile, the formidable Wojtek the Werebear offers a powerful brute-force option when stealth alone is not enough.
Each character’s abilities serve different tactical purposes, and many challenges require creative combinations of skills.
One particularly useful feature is the action planner, which allows players to pause the game and queue multiple actions across different characters. Once activated, all commands execute simultaneously.
This mechanic opens the door to elaborate strategies, such as distracting a guard with one character while another performs a silent takedown at the exact same moment. Mastering these synchronised actions becomes essential in the game’s later stages.
Level Design
The campaign spans ten chapters, each set in distinct environments inspired by real-world locations across Europe and beyond.
From snow-covered research facilities to occupied towns and hidden Nazi laboratories, each map offers a carefully crafted sandbox of enemy patrols, hidden paths, and environmental opportunities.
Levels are large enough to encourage experimentation. Players can often approach objectives in multiple ways, whether by sneaking through the shadows, using distractions, or orchestrating carefully timed ambushes.
Importantly, the game rewards patience. Rushing through areas almost always leads to disaster, while studying patrol patterns and executing well-planned strategies can be immensely satisfying.
However, the difficulty curve can be steep. Later missions introduce heavily armoured enemies, supernatural threats, and complex patrol patterns that require meticulous planning.
While these challenges add depth, they may feel overwhelming to players unfamiliar with the genre.
Story and Tone
While stealth tactics form the core gameplay, Sumerian Six also delivers an entertaining narrative.
The game blends historical wartime settings with supernatural and pseudo-scientific elements. Ancient Sumerian artefacts, experimental technologies, and occult Nazi experiments all play key roles in the story.
This blend creates an alternate-history tone that feels both dramatic and slightly tongue-in-cheek.
The characters themselves lend personality to the adventure. Their interactions and dialogue provide moments of humour that balance the darker elements of the story.
This playful tone helps prevent the narrative from becoming overly grim, even when facing mutated enemies and supernatural horrors.
Visuals and Presentation
Visually, Sumerian Six adopts a detailed isometric perspective that suits its tactical gameplay.
Enemy positions, sight cones, and interactive elements are clearly communicated, ensuring players always understand the tactical situation.
Environmental design is particularly strong. Locations feel grounded in historical inspiration while still incorporating the game’s supernatural elements.
From hidden Nazi bunkers to eerie research laboratories infused with mystical energy, each environment contributes to the game’s unique atmosphere.
Character animations are smooth, and stealth takedowns are satisfying to execute.
On the audio side, the soundtrack blends dramatic orchestral themes with subtle tension-building music during stealth segments. Sound design also plays an important role in gameplay, as audio cues help players track enemy movements.
Console Adaptation
Transitioning a traditionally PC-focused tactical genre to console can be challenging, but Sumerian Six handles the transition surprisingly well.
The control scheme has been adapted effectively for controllers, allowing players to move characters, issue commands, and activate the action planner with relative ease.
Menus are clear and readable, and the pause-based planning system helps offset the limitations of controller input.
While some players may still prefer mouse precision on PC, the console version remains fully playable and enjoyable.
Deluxe Edition Content
The PlayStation 5 Deluxe Edition includes the full ten-chapter campaign, along with a set of exclusive avatars based on the members of the Enigma Squad.
Players who pre-ordered the game also received early access, allowing them to start their adventure several days before the official release.
While the additional content is mostly cosmetic, the full campaign itself offers a substantial experience.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Deep and rewarding real-time tactical stealth gameplay
- Diverse cast of characters with unique abilities
- Clever action planner system encourages strategic creativity
- Strong level design with multiple solutions
- Engaging alternate history setting with supernatural twists
Cons
- Steep learning curve for newcomers
- Some missions can feel lengthy and punishing
- Controller input is slightly slower than PC precision
- Deluxe Edition extras are mostly cosmetic
Final Verdict
Sumerian Six – Deluxe Edition is a fantastic addition to the modern real-time tactics genre. By combining thoughtful stealth gameplay with eccentric characters and an imaginative alternate-history setting, Artificer has crafted an experience that rewards patience, creativity, and strategic thinking.
The Enigma Squad’s diverse abilities ensure that every mission feels like a tactical puzzle waiting to be solved. Successfully coordinating complex plans and watching them unfold flawlessly is deeply satisfying.
While the game’s difficulty may intimidate players unfamiliar with stealth tactics, those willing to learn its systems will discover one of the most engaging strategy experiences available on consoles.
With its clever mechanics, stylish presentation, and entertaining story, Sumerian Six stands as a worthy successor to the genre’s modern classics.
