Alekhine's Gun

The game focuses on a power struggle inside the CIA where certain forces aim to bring down the American government and steer towards an all out nuclear war. There are eleven missions in total, each one as a flashback at very different locations, such as a hotel, a fire station, aboard an aircraft carrier, and cities like Miami.

Each mission offers a large location that can be tackled in many different ways. The player has to figure out the different ways to approach a situation without any clues or help. A loadout can be defined with various items and weapons, which can also be upgraded. After each mission, a ranking is awarded based on several factors.

A typical mission requires scouting the environment first and taking out someone to get their uniform or credentials. Higher-ups can recognize Alekhine however, so openly suspicious behaviour often leads to a complete alarm. It is possible to approach the game as a shooter, but weapons have limited ammo and new ones need to be taken from guards.

The player must use stealth tactics, such as garroting people or dragging bodies to a different location. An awareness meter shows how suspicious the people are, and there are many items in the environment that can be used to aid in the mission. Locked doors can be opened through lock-picking mini-games, and studying patterns or taking advantage of uniforms or passes can help avoid detection.

There is never a single approach to solving a problem, as there are multiple solutions available. The game features four difficulty levels that influence the AI and some options such as the ability to never change clothes or only after certain attacks. An in-game map is available at all times.