Styx: Blades of Greed Preview: The Green Menace Returns to Reclaim His Throne in 2026

It has been eight long years. In the fast-moving world of video games, that is practically an eternity. While we have had plenty of stealth games come and go, there has been a distinct lack of green-skinned, foul-mouthed goblins mocking us every time we fail a jump or trigger an alarm. That dry spell is finally ending. After a hiatus that left fans wondering if our favorite anti-hero had retired to a cave somewhere with a mountain of gold, Styx is back.

Cyanide Studio is bringing the master of shadows out of retirement for Styx: Blades of Greed. This isn’t just a simple graphical update or a quick cash grab. Based on everything we have seen regarding this third installment, the developers are expanding the scope of the goblin’s world in massive ways. Scheduled to hit PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on February 19, 2026, this sequel looks ready to remind us why we fell in love with being the bad guy in the first place.

A Sandbox of Shadows and Verticality

If you played Styx: Master of Shadows or Styx: Shards of Darkness, you know the drill. You stick to the shadows, you extinguish torches, and you stab people in the ankles. But Styx: Blades of Greed takes that linear formula and throws it out the window of a moving zeppelin. The big shift here is the move toward open, sandbox environments.

We are talking about massive vertical playgrounds. In previous games, you often felt funneled down a specific corridor. Now, Styx has true freedom. The developers have introduced a grappling hook and a glider, tools that completely change the rhythm of infiltration. Imagine scaling the massive fortifications of The Wall, a brutal human stronghold, only to realize the path is blocked. In the old days, you might have to backtrack. Now? You grapple up to a gargoyle, leap off, and glide silently over the heads of unsuspecting guards to a completely different balcony.

This verticality is key. Styx has always been nimble, but now he feels like a true predator. The new “claws” tool allows for traversing surfaces that would have been impossible before. It feels less like a traditional stealth corridor and more like a playground where your creativity is the only limit to how you embarrass the AI.

New Toys for an Old Goblin

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Styx game without magical shenanigans. The Amber powers return, but they are bolstered by the narrative focus on Quartz. This volatile resource isn’t just a plot device; it fuels some serious gameplay upgrades.

The classic cloning ability is back, and frankly, it is still one of the most fun mechanics in the stealth genre. There is something delightfully twisted about spawning a clone, having it distract a heavy guard by dancing or making rude gestures, and then slipping past while the poor soldier turns the clone into a puff of smoke.

But Styx: Blades of Greed adds some serious firepower to your arsenal. We are hearing reports of mind control abilities and a spectral dash that lets you phase through obstacles. In the hands of a skilled player, Styx becomes a blur of death and misdirection. And for those of us who aren’t skilled players? Well, the game still features those hilarious “game over” screens where Styx breaks the fourth wall to insult your lack of skill. Honestly, getting insulted by a goblin has never felt so validating.

A Story of War and Greed

The narrative picks up right after the events of Shards of Darkness (which was free on Epic). Styx is no longer just a rat in the walls; he is a boss. He has his own crew and his own zeppelin, and he is hunting Quartz in a world that is teetering on the edge of total war between elves, humans, and orcs.

This setup provides a fantastic backdrop for the gameplay. You aren’t just stealing coin purses anymore. You are interfering in the politics of the “Great War” and witnessing the rise of the Black Hand mercenary group. The environments reflect this diversity. You will move from the industrial grit of human fortresses to the lush, vibrant, yet deadly environment of the Turquoise Dawn orc village.

The stakes feel higher, but the tone remains distinctly Styx. He is caustic, greedy, and entirely self-serving. In an era of gaming where protagonists are often brooding heroes with hearts of gold, it is refreshing to play someone who just wants to get rich and doesn’t care who he has to stab to make it happen.

Preparation for the Heist

Stealth games are a dying breed in the AAA space, often watered down into optional mechanics in action RPGs. Styx has always been for the purists. If you get caught in Styx: Blades of Greed, you can’t just button-mash your way to victory against five armored knights. You will die. And Styx will laugh at you.

This hardcore approach forces you to use your brain. You have to craft traps, poison food supplies, and map out patrol routes. The addition of the open environments means you have more options, but it also means there are more angles for you to be spotted from. It balances the new freedom with genuine tension.

With the release date of February 19 just around the corner, the anticipation is palpable. Whether you are a veteran of Akenash or a newcomer ready to embrace the life of a goblin thief, Styx: Blades of Greed is shaping up to be a visceral, hilarious, and deeply satisfying return to form. It is time to sharpen your dagger and practice your evil laugh, because the green menace is finally coming home. Until release, you can at least Wishlist it.