The different "pillars of gameplay", as called by the developers, are "Combat", "Stealth", "Hacking", and "Social". Players can switch between these gameplay types whenever they please, and certain pillars may flow into others. For example, a failed hack may sound an alarm and start a fight, and social skills might lead to the player gaining access to certain areas more easily than otherwise possible (thus avoiding the need for stealth or combat).
In the series, Augmentations are technological modifications to the human body that grant the user superhuman abilities. While augmentations in the first two games were based on nanotechnology,
Human Revolution instead features mechanical augmentations as it precedes the first games chronologically. As players progress through the game, they can activate augmentations catering to each of the four gameplay types. These augmentations are unlocked by either earning enough experience to level up or by purchasing an item, known as a Praxis Kit, from L.I.M.B. clinics earning the player a distributable skill point called Praxis.
| Minimum System Requirements: | | Recommended System Requirements: |
| CPU: | 2 GHz dual core | | CPU: | AMD Phenom II X4 or Intel Core 2 Quad or better |
| RAM: | 1 GB RAM (Windows XP) / 2 GB (Windows Vista and Windows 7) | | RAM: | 2 GB |
| VGA: | NVIDIA GeForce 8000 series or ATI Radeon HD 2000 series or better | | VGA: | AMD Radeon HD 5850 |
| OS: | Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 | | OS: | Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 |
