Deus Ex games in order: ultimate chronology guide

“Every time you mention Deus Ex, someone will reinstall it” – over the years this statement has become a popular meme in video game culture, which refers to the very first Deus Ex game released on June 17th, 2000. In some circles, the original Deus Ex is even considered to be the best video game ever made. While such an opinion might be up for debate, the game’s influence can’t be denied. BioWare’s Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect games, together with Bethesda’s Fallout titles or Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds all took inspiration from this legendary cyberpunk masterpiece in one way or another.

As it often is the case with many video game franchises, Deus Ex games in order of their release don’t reflect the actual chronology of the series. Therefore, to commemorate the upcoming 20th anniversary of the original Deus Ex launch, we decided to list all Deus Ex video games according to the Deus Ex timeline, just like we did with the Resident Evil chronology a while back. If you never played Deus Ex before, this list can serve you as a helpful guide into the long-running cyberpunk series. On top of it, all Deus Ex is especially worth checking out if you are waiting for the upcoming release of CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 as the two games share a lot of similarities.

Deus Ex: The Fall

Placing Deus Ex games in order, Deus Ex: The Fall is the earliest in the timeline, taking place in the year 2027. The player assumes the role of Ben Saxon, a cybernetically augmented mercenary who was betrayed by the Tyrants – a black ops squad of a private military contractor known as Belltower. Hiding in the Costa Rica safehouse with his friend Anna Kelso, Ben soon finds himself forced to leave the hideout, travel to Panama, and look for new supplies of neuropozyne – a medication that prevents the body from rejecting the cybernetic implants. His risky journey introduces characters like Janus and Alex Vega, both of whom play a larger role in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Directors Cut)

Second in the Deus Ex game order is Deus Ex: Human Revolution – a 2011 prequel to the original Deus Ex. Like Deus Ex: The Fall, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is set in the year 2027. It’s the new Renaissance, the rise of controversial human augmentation technology. Society is divided as some reject the self-controlled evolution while others embrace it. The protagonist of the game is Adam Jensen – an unwillingly augmented chief of security of a biotech company named Sarif Industries. Just before announcing a major breakthrough in the field of human body augmentation, a team of Sarif Industries’ scientists are violently kidnapped, along with Jensen’s girlfriend Megan Reed. Adam sets out on an epic journey across the globe to uncover the truth behind the mysterious incident.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Looking at the Deus Ex game order, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided comes right after the Deus Ex: Human Revolution as it is a direct sequel. The year is 2029. Due to the events that transpired in Human Revolution, augmented humans around the world are viewed with fear and treated as second-class citizens. Aug terrorist groups begin emerging in response to the rising social inequality and Adam Jensen finds himself working for an Interpol counter-terrorism taskforce TF29. At the same time, Jensen is operating as a double-agent for the Juggernaut Collective – a hacktivist group led by enigmatic Janus. If we would think about the Deus Ex game order, TF29 could be considered a precursor to UNATCO from original Deus Ex, that’s why it doesn’t come as a surprise that Jensen once again suspects a conspiracy.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided DLC order

– Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – System Rift (DLC)

Placement of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided DLC in the overall Deus Ex timeline can be a bit complicated, that’s why the chronological order of expansions needs to be discussed separately. For example, System Rift DLC takes place during the course Deus Ex: Mankind Divided campaign, specifically right after Adam Jensen returns to Prague from the Útulek Complex (Golem City) and just before he leaves for the G.A.R.M. facility located in Swiss Alps. Adam’s former colleague Francis Pritchard returns from one of the previous Deus Ex games in order to ask for help, as the mission involves breaking into Palisade Blade-01 – the most secure data bank in the world.

– Deus Ex: Breach

What initially started out as an alternate game mode in the base Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, eventually became an independent free-to-play game called Deus Ex: Breach. Players assume the role of hackers who are exploiting a breach in Palisade Bank security and move in to extract hidden corporate data. The action takes place in a Matrix-like virtual reality called Neural SubNet where players move through platforming environments, solve puzzles, avoid security, or participate in combat. If we would set the Deus Ex games in order, Breach takes place right after System Rift DLC, as the new events in the Neural SubNet happen as a direct consequence of Adam Jensen’s actions.

– Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – A Criminal Past (DLC)

Even though A Criminal Past DLC tells a story that happens prior to the events of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided campaign, it’s best to play through this mission once you’ve already finished the main game. After completing the last mission in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Adam Jensen’s is questioned by the psychologist Delara Auzenne, who asks him to recall his very first mission for TF29. Jensen was tasked to infiltrate a high-security aug-only prison and reach an undercover Interpol agent who recently went silent. Just like in the DLC from previous Deus Ex games, in order to complete the mission, Jensen must find ways to reach his objectives without the use of his augments.

Deus Ex

The original Deus Ex was set in 2052. By this point in the Deus Ex timeline, the mechanical body augmentations present in the games featuring Adam Jensen have long been replaced with advanced nanotechnology. The protagonist of the game is J.C. Denton – a nano-augmented agent working for UNATCO. Throughout the course of his journey, Denton gets wind of an international conspiracy that manipulates global events in pursuit of their goals. It’s important to note that this was the very first of Deus Ex games in order of their release, which also makes it a good entry point into the overall story.

Deus Ex: Invisible War

Taking place in 2072, Deus Ex: Invisible War is set at the furthest point in the future of the Deus Ex timeline. The game continues the story by combining all possible endings of the previous game into a single, consistent narrative. In Deus Ex: Invisible War, the world is recovering from a global communications Collapse which leads to anarchy and formation of multiple opposing factions and independent city-states. By assuming the role of protagonist Alex D (who can optionally be either male or female) the player will have to side with one of the major factions and eventually decide the ultimate fate of the human race.

Wish to play Deus Ex games in order? Visit Eneba!

If you seek to experience the entire Deus Ex series by playing the games in chronological order, we highly suggest visiting the Eneba game store. The website features all of the existing Deus Ex video games and best of all – you don’t have to seek them all out individually. Simply visit the Deus Ex games collection and find all the titles in a single place! At this point, each game is really cheap, making it easy to own the entire franchise, layout all the Deus Ex games in order on your personal library and celebrate video game history!