Splinter Cell: Blacklist features three gameplay methods

 
Ubisoft introduces the new tactical approaches called ghost, panther and assault. 

Maxime Béland, creative director of Blacklist, talks about the tactical approach: “The toughest part with almost any Tom Clancy games is that they’re tactical games. Tactics mean that you think before you act. You observe, you prepare, you get into a good position, and you wait for a good moment. But not all players are willing to spend that time in the shadows looking at patrols.”

The three approaches are called ghost, panther and assault:

• A ghost player will navigate through a level with calculated approach, drawing no attention to the player and causing as few firefights or other noisy conflict as possible. 
• Panther is the middle approach— not quite as strategic as the ghost method, but not as insane as the assault approach.
• Assault players barrel onto the scene with no sense of decorum at all, drawing weapons immediately and opening firefights for a more fast-paced experience.

All three methods are valid, but the ghost experience is the most rewarding. The in-game points system will reward points for kills. But it will reward even more for stealth kills that don’t draw attention. And more points for takedowns rather than kills.

This aspect combined with the difficulty settings like the Perfectionist difficulty can make for multiple, varied playthroughs.