Deus Ex is a series of action and role-playing video games. The first game was created by Ion Storm from 2000 to 2003, and later developed by Eidos-Montréal from 2011 to 2017. The series began with the original game, published by Eidos Interactive in 2000. It includes three main games and several other titles. The gameplay mixes first-person shooting, stealth, and role-playing features. Levels in the games often allow players to solve problems in different ways. A key part of the games is "augmentations," which are artificial organs that help characters complete tasks and change how players approach the game. The series is set in a futuristic, science fiction world called cyberpunk. Characters explore mysteries linked to secret groups, such as the Illuminati. Common themes in the games include ideas about human enhancement, terrorism, and unfair treatment of people.
The first game was designed by Warren Spector, who created the original plan and setting based on science fiction and political stories. Ion Storm made a sequel called Invisible War in 2003 and tried to create a third game before closing in 2005. Eidos-Montréal restarted the series in 2007 with a prequel called Human Revolution, released in 2011. The success of Human Revolution led to a new game in 2016 and other titles, all published by Square Enix at the time.
The series has received praise for its gameplay and world design. Some reviewers call the original Deus Ex a key example of a game type called "immersive sim," which also applies to other games in the series. Each game in the series has been reviewed differently over time. Starting with Human Revolution, the series expanded into other forms of media, such as comics and novels, which are part of a project called the "Deus Ex Universe."
Games
Deus Ex was released in 2000 for Microsoft Windows. Later that year, it was also released for Mac OS, and in 2002, it was released for PlayStation 2. The game takes place during a worldwide pandemic. It follows JC Denton, a secret agent with cybernetic enhancements, as he uncovers a conspiracy connected to the pandemic and his own employers.
Deus Ex: Invisible War, a direct sequel to the original game, was released in 2003 for Windows and Xbox. Set 20 years after the first game, it follows Alex D, an augmented corporate agent, as he becomes involved in efforts to reshape and control the world after the events of the first game.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution, a prequel to the original game, was released in 2011 for Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. A downloadable content (DLC) expansion called The Missing Link was released the same year. An OS X port was released in 2012, and a complete version was released in 2013 for the Wii U and its original platforms, which included all previous DLC. Set in 2027 during a time of social change, the story follows Adam Jensen, a former SWAT member who becomes a security chief. He investigates an attack on his company by augmented mercenaries linked to a larger conspiracy.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, a direct sequel to Human Revolution, was released in 2016 for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Versions for other operating systems were released in 2016 and 2017. The game was supported through 2017 with a series of DLC scenarios called "Jensen's Stories." Set in 2029, Jensen continues to investigate conspiracy leaders while working for Interpol as an agent during a time of discrimination against augmented people.
A mobile spin-off set within the timeline of Human Revolution, Deus Ex: The Fall, was developed by N-Fusion Interactive and published in 2013 for mobile devices and 2014 for Windows. A sequel to The Fall was planned but never made and left its story incomplete. A puzzle game for mobile platforms, Deus Ex Go, was developed by Square Enix Montreal and released in 2016. In 2017, two products related to Mankind Divided were released: Breach, a standalone version of the game's multiplayer element, and a non-interactive virtual reality experience that explores parts of the game's environments.
Human Revolution had several media expansions released around it, expanding on its world and characters. These included a prequel comic series and two prequel novels. After Human Revolution, future entries and related media in the Deus Ex series were grouped under a project called the "Deus Ex Universe." Mankind Divided also had several comics and a spin-off novel that filled in the story following Human Revolution.
Common elements
The Deus Ex series includes action role-playing video games that mix first-person shooter, stealth, and role-playing features. The first game was inspired by other popular games like Half-Life, Fallout, Thief: The Dark Project, and GoldenEye 007. The goal was to create a game that combined different types of gameplay into one. Over time, the gameplay has stayed mostly the same, but later games made some changes to make it easier or added new features. The series is often called an "immersive sim," a type of game where players have freedom to explore and make choices in a realistic world.
Players mostly view the game from a first-person perspective, but later games sometimes switch to a third-person view. The original idea was for players to have many ways to complete tasks and progress through the game. This freedom to choose how to play has remained important in later games. Players explore areas with main and side quests, and they can use different methods, such as fighting or sneaking, to complete objectives. Hacking computers and locks is a common feature in all games. Some games have unique elements, like universal ammunition in Invisible War or a multiplayer mode called Breach in Mankind Divided.
A key feature in the series is "Augmentations," which are artificial organs using machines or nanotechnology. These can include permanent tools like radio links or optional abilities like cloaking or hacking. The first game used both augmentations and a system where players earned points to improve their skills. Invisible War tied augmentations to categories that could be upgraded with items called Biomods. Starting with Human Revolution, players use items called Praxis Kits, which can be bought, earned by completing quests, or obtained through experience points. Augmentations in Human Revolution focused on action or stealth, while Mankind Divided allowed for more varied playstyles.
The series is set in a cyberpunk version of the 21st Century, covering the years 2020s to 2070s. Each game follows an augmented character who investigates mysteries that lead to larger conspiracies. Players' choices during the game affect the ending. A recurring enemy group is a fictional version of the Illuminati. Earlier games showed the Illuminati as a powerful secret society, but later games described them as a loose group of corporate leaders.
The first game, Deus Ex, is set in 2052, a time when the world is near social and economic collapse due to environmental issues and corporate power. In Invisible War (2072), after a global war called the "Collapse," people live in isolated city-states, and organizations compete for control. Games after Human Revolution take place in the 2020s, during a time of technological and social change called the "Cyber Renaissance." A major plot point in Human Revolution is the growing divide between people who use augmentations and those who do not. A key event in Human Revolution is a violent attack by augmented people, called the "Aug Incident," which led to discrimination in Mankind Divided.
From the start, the series included real-world conspiracy theories as part of its story. This was influenced by popular culture from the late 1990s to 2000s. Invisible War explored the idea of terrorism and why people become labeled as terrorists. Human Revolution and its related games focus on transhumanism, the idea of using technology to enhance humans. The game also showed the growing power of large corporations, reflecting real-world concerns. Mankind Divided included the theme of discrimination, which was seen as a result of the social divide caused by augmentation use.
History and development
The original idea for Deus Ex was created by Warren Spector, who first called it "Troubleshooter." He was inspired by his wife's interest in The X-Files, as well as the work of cyberpunk writer Bruce Sterling and his own goals for game design. Spector wanted to make a realistic role-playing game set in a future filled with secrets and hidden plans. However, his employer did not support the idea, so it was not used until John Romero asked him to lead the Austin branch of a new company called Ion Storm. At Ion Storm, Spector had full creative freedom to develop the game. In 1997, the game was called Shooter: Majestic Revelations. Harvey Smith, a former colleague of Spector, was the lead designer, and Sheldon Pacotti was the lead writer. Eidos Interactive funded and published the game to add variety to their collection of games.
The project faced challenges, including problems with the game's size, disagreements among staff members, and low morale caused by negative news about Ion Storm's Dallas studio. To finish the game on time, some planned areas and gameplay ideas were removed.
After the first game's success, work began on a sequel called Invisible War. The goal was to create a more widely appealing version of the first game and give players more choices. Harvey Smith became the director, Sheldon Pacotti returned as lead writer, and Warren Spector took a supervisory role. Later, Spector said the changes to Invisible War were made to make the game more profitable and reach players outside the original game's small audience. He also said the team listened too much to early testers, which led to a more science fiction-like setting and less intense gameplay.
After Invisible War, Ion Storm tried to make a third Deus Ex game before the company closed in 2005. Two major projects were planned: one using the same engine as Invisible War but improving its mechanics, and another open-world sequel. A spin-off called Deus Ex: Clan Wars was being made with Crystal Dynamics but was later renamed Project Snowblind and no longer connected to the series. Invisible War was the last Deus Ex game made by Ion Storm.
In 2007, a new Deus Ex game began development at Eidos-Montréal, a newly formed company. The game was eventually called Human Revolution. Many staff members were former employees of Ubisoft Montreal and fans of the original Deus Ex. Though described as a reboot, the team aimed to keep the original game's core ideas. In 2009, Eidos Interactive was bought by Square Enix, who published the game. Mary DeMarle led the scenario design, and Sheldon Pacotti advised on the game's direction early on. Other key staff included game director Jean-François Dugas and art director Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, who created a unique artistic style blending cyberpunk themes with colors and elements from the work of artists Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt. Some parts of the game, like boss battles, were made by outside teams due to the game's complexity.
No sequel was planned for Human Revolution, but its success led Eidos-Montréal to start work on Mankind Divided after finishing The Missing Link DLC. Jean-François Dugas returned as director, Mary DeMarle as lead writer, and Jonathan Jacques-Belletête as executive art director, with Martin Dubeau taking over as lead art director. The team aimed to improve and expand the gameplay of Human Revolution based on player feedback. However, the project faced problems with staffing and delays caused by working on both the single-player story and the Breach multiplayer mode. Half of the planned story was cut.
After rumors that the Deus Ex series was paused due to poor sales of Mankind Divided, Eidos-Montréal and Square Enix said no new games were being made at the time but planned to return to the series later. In 2025, writer Mark Cecere said a direct sequel to Human Revolution was planned but canceled to focus on other projects. After Square Enix sold Eidos-Montréal and other companies to Embracer Group, Embracer Group said it wanted to invest in the series through new games and modern versions of older titles. A new game was reportedly in development for two years before being canceled in 2024 due to mass layoffs. As of 2025, Eidos-Montréal was working on a new Deus Ex game for publishers.
Reception
The original Deus Ex game and its sequel, Invisible War, sold more than two million copies together by 2009. In 2011, Human Revolution performed well in sales charts and sold over two million units. Although exact numbers were not provided, Mankind Divided was reported to have achieved commercial success. As of 2022, all versions of Human Revolution and Mankind Divided sold a total of 12 million copies worldwide.
The Deus Ex series is known for its freedom of choice and storytelling in video games. In a 2013 article, IGN’s Brian Albert noted that each game in the series had its own strengths, even though some had design weaknesses. In a Retro Gamer article, Ian Dransfield stated that the original Deus Ex was never surpassed, and Human Revolution showed how popular the series remained despite few new releases. The original Deus Ex is considered an early and strong example of the immersive sim genre, and later games in the series also received this label.
When it was first released, Deus Ex received praise for its gameplay design and the many choices available to players. However, its graphics and audio received mixed reviews. Over time, Deus Ex has been ranked highly in lists of the best video games ever made. In 2001, it received more than thirty "Best of" awards from various outlets. 1UP.com listed it as one of the most important games in history, saying its influence was too large to fully measure.
At its release, Invisible War was praised for adapting the gameplay of the original Deus Ex to a console. While its story and gameplay were appreciated, they were seen as weaker than the original due to certain issues. Later reviews by the game’s developers and journalists described it as the weakest entry in the series. Human Revolution was praised for continuing the gameplay style of the original game, with recognition for its design, story, and visuals. Some criticism focused on its boss battles, which were seen as limiting player options. Mankind Divided was praised for its deep story and improved gameplay. However, some critics noted that its main story was short and that its themes were not always clearly presented in the game.