10 Video Game Cliches That Need To Die

4. Stealth = Squatting In Tall Grass

Horizon zero dawn
Sony

It makes sense for video games to simplify things to make them fun. Scoring an overhead kick from outside the box isn't as easy as it is in FIFA, while infiltrating a Nazi-occupied castle with only a couple of throwing knives isn't as effortless as it is in Wolfenstein. Or so I've been told.

However, sometimes games go too far, and implement a system that clearly should have evolved, yet which has remained static. Take stealth for instance, which in a bunch of games simply amounts to sitting around in some tall grass, your head peaking out the top, while brainless guards walk straight past you.

Sure, it's easier than making sure you're well and truly hid and camouflaged correctly, but that doesn't mean it's fun. Often stealth is so basic that it makes you wonder why the devs included it at all, especially when the only cover they knew how to render is a goddamn bush.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.