September 16 2019

Best Stealth Games

There’s a good reason why “Stealth is optional for this mission” has been elevated to gaming meme status. When talking about the biggest pet peeves in video games, most players would rank these only slightly below escort missions – which are universally-hated by anyone who’s ever had to suffer playing through them.

Because computer games usually treat stealth as an afterthought, it isn’t too hard to see why this is the case. A typical situation goes like this: you’re playing an FPS where you’ve been gunning down scores of enemies for hours when suddenly you’ve been given an option (sometimes even a requirement) to instead stay out of sight and sneak around.

But the game hasn’t been built around this, so playing it that way feels unpleasant – even frustrating – instead. Stealth shouldn’t be like that. Rather, it should be an equally (if not more so) fun and challenging way to play the game, with level layout, character equipment and abilities designed to reflect that. These are the best stealth games you can play, the absolute cream of the crop of the how not to be seen genre.


First Things First – What Is and What Isn’t a Stealth Game

While not as contested as the age-old “What is an RPG?” conundrum (it seems like every other game today that has a rudimentary skill tree will claim to be – at least in part – an RPG), there is still a certain amount of confusion about what exactly defines a stealth game. As for role-playing games, you can always see what the best RPGs have in common and what it is that sets them apart from their lesser, RPG-lite cousins.

Many games feature stealth in one way or another. What exemplifies real stealth is the way it is handled. A stealthy approach isn’t passive – or lack of – gameplay, it doesn’t have to be about pacifism (you often play as an assassin), or your character being weaker than your opponents.

Hitman 2 holding a gun

Here, you are encouraged to skillfully avoid detection (by any means necessary) in order to accomplish your goals that will yield rewards of a different kind than going in guns blazing. Playing like that will often let you experience more of the story, learn more about the game world – you will overhear the leisurely chit chat of characters in which they reveal hidden (or plain amusing) information, unaware that you are lurking behind them.

Or instead of wiping out all the enemies in a level, you can sabotage a piece of equipment and cause them all to evacuate the place in a panic, letting you stroll right in and steal the document you were sent to retrieve.

If your standard action game is like a sledgehammer, where you approach every problem by exerting brutal force until it (or you) breaks, good stealth games are like a Swiss Army knife – you are given a variety of instruments and options on how to solve and overcome an obstacle. How you want to go about doing that is entirely up to you.


#1 Best Pure Stealth Game – Thief II (2000)

When the original Thief: The Dark Project came out way back in 1998, it was an instant eye-opener for gamers and game designers alike. Never before had any game been so completely centered around stealth, every element in it tailor-made to emphasize your role as a, well, thief. Luckily, you’re not just any thief, but Garrett, master of the thieving arts.

Gameplay

Garrett is not your average video game protagonist: he’s cynical, sardonic, he (quite literally) avoids the spotlight, and is notably bad at fighting. On a good day, he can take out maybe one guard in a direct confrontation. And he’s fully aware of this.

He more than makes up for these inadequacies by being smart, agile, and resourceful. Thief II treats every level like a puzzle you have to figure out – you do this by studying the movement patterns of patrols, by scouting ahead, and slowly and methodically advancing towards your objective. Darkness is your friend, and light and the sounds you make are your biggest enemies.

Garret has a limited, but very practical equipment set: a bow with several types of specialized arrows (water arrows to douse out lights, rope arrows used to climb, etc.), a blackjack for knocking out (human) opponents, a sword (which, as mentioned earlier, should be used only as a desperate last resort), and a Scouting Orb camera.

Your missions vary, from simple burglaries to kidnapping, espionage, and blackmail, but you should always keep a lookout for other valuable objects you can steal and sell to buy gear for subsequent missions.

Graphics

Being a game from the often-ridiculed early ‘00s era of 3D graphics, it’s pretty much what you would expect – blocky models with simple textures. But thanks to some good art design, varied environments, and lighting effects, Thief II has aged a lot more gracefully than many other games from that time period.

If you can’t stand the primitive visuals, there are mods that improve the look of the game through sharper textures and advanced post processing options, but be aware that they can only do so much with a game that’s almost two decades old.

Story

Thief II: The Metal Age picks up one year after the events of Thief: The Dark Project. Garrett is once again thrust into the conflict between the factions of the City – a megalopolis where steampunk technology and medieval magic blend together in everyday life.

Thief II gameplay

The story is full of twists and turns, and, while it probably won’t stick in your mind years after you’ve played it, it’s still engaging enough to keep you going. This is in large part thanks to Garrett, who is a compelling anti-hero.

Overall Review/Final Thoughts

Even to this day, Thief is still played and enjoyed by fans all around the world, who consider it to be the founder, epitome, and high point of the stealth game genre.

Thief II, like any good sequel should, takes all the best parts of Thief I, expands upon them, and removes the annoying bits from the equation to deliver a truly one of a kind sneaking experience that still hasn’t been surpassed in its classic purity of design. I highly recommend you play it with a pair of great gaming headphones – the sound in Thief is of high fidelity and a vital gameplay element.


#2 Best Cyberpunk Stealth Game – Deus Ex (2000)

Yes, the late ‘90s and early ‘00s certainly provided us with some awesome games. It was a time of experimentation, figuring out where games can take us and what they can be. Deus Ex was one such game. Now considered groundbreaking and of the most important games of all time, in hindsight it was a big gamble to even attempt making something like it.

On paper, Deus Ex sounds like an absurd mish-mash of disparate game systems and incompatible genres – part FPS, part RPG, with stealth, hacking, lockpicking, cyberware implants, and a story that’s straight out of a conspiracy fever dream Fox Mulder from X-Files might have.

It shouldn’t work. But somehow – it does. Like some strange alchemical concoction, all those seemingly conflicting elements come together to form a game that transcendents its basic building blocks to become something entirely its own.

Gameplay

The brainchild of legendary game designer and producer Warren Spector, Deus Ex is an evolution of the immersive sim subgenre he began developing with Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss (1992).

Immersive sims are all about presenting the player with different options and paths to completing an objective, and then letting them figure out the synergies between them. There is no right or wrong way to play them, it all depends on how you want to approach a situation.

Stealth in Deus Ex is but one possible way to play the game. One that you can abandon to play a more hands-on, aggressive character whenever you choose, and then switch back again. Even though the game doesn’t punish you for playing it like that, it does actively reward you more when you play it like a pacifist that avoids killing people.

Graphics

Another game from the turn of the century, Deus Ex wasn’t graphically impressive even at the time of its release. But it’s still perfectly playable – it offers a great interface, and a moody, oppressive look that, coupled with a memorable soundtrack, produces an unforgettable atmosphere.

Like for Thief, there are also mods that improve the graphics (and gameplay) in Deus Ex as well – with GMDX being the best, most comprehensive one.

Story

The story of Deus Ex is a sprawling, intricate narrative that, despite involving everything from outlandish government conspiracies, shadowy transhumanist organizations, street gangs, Chinese Triads, and aliens in Area 51 – manages to still seem plausible and craft a believable and well-thought-out world.

Deus Ex gameplay

JC Denton, our gruff, no-nonsense, cybernetically enhanced main character is like a classic noir detective that’s been transported to the future. His monotone delivery can’t fully hide the charm and often profound insights he brings to conversations, and it is this characterization that still makes people fondly remember – and quote – many of his memorable lines.

Overall Review/Final Thoughts

Deus Ex is one of those rare and iconic games that have stood the test of time. It is a perfect case study on how a holistic approach to game design can produce an exemplary game.

There is something about it that inspires a near-universal love, hooking almost anyone that tries it. Regardless of whether you play games for the story, atmosphere, characters, or if sneaking around and gunplay are what you love most, Deus Ex has something for everyone.


#3 Best Fantasy Stealth Game – Styx: Shards of Darkness (2017)

Goblins are one of those ubiquitous fantasy races that never really got the attention they deserved. Even though they’ve appeared in hundreds of games across the years, they’ve rarely been more than a one-note, stereotypically evil, low-level enemy you get to slaughter again and again. They’re almost never a real, credible threat, and are usually portrayed as either bumbling comic relief, or ineffectual psychos.

Thankfully, Styx the Goblin is neither. This self-proclaimed “Master of Shadows” is intelligent, capable, cunning, and ruthless.

Gameplay

Taking cues from Thief, Styx also does his best to avoid open combat. While he does have many special powers – such as turning invisible or conjuring up clones of himself – Styx is, in the grand tradition of stealth game protagonists, physically weaker than most of his opponents and has to either take them out with a backstab, luring them into traps, pushing them off ledges, or, preferably, avoid them altogether.

Thanks to his short stature and considerable agility, Styx can hide in barrels, boxes, closets, he can climb ropes and grappling hooks, and scale across walls and rooftops. During the course of the game he will develop new skills, so it never feels like you are not progressing or doing the same thing over again.

Graphics

Powered by the Unreal Engine 4, Styx: Shards of Darkness is a typical mid-tier game when it comes to graphics. The characters are distinctly designed, expressive, and well animated, but it won’t wow you like some other recent games. A big saving grace here are the interesting levels, which stand out as unique and refreshing environments we don’t often get to see in video games – such as a flying ship we get to explore both inside and out.

Story

Styx’s story is a part of the Of Orcs and Men series. In this world, races like the goblins and orcs are persecuted by humans – who are, for a change, the bad guys. Styx is unlike most of his race – he can talk, reason, and is very skilled in the arts of infiltration, thievery, and assassination.

Styx Shards of Darkness gameplay

For all of these reasons, he’s hired to sneak into a city of Dark Elves and steal a scepter they need to forge an alliance with Dwarves. Of course, things aren’t as they seem and events quickly take a turn for the worse, with Styx stuck right in the middle of it all.

Overall Review/Final Thoughts

Despite feeling somewhat janky and unpolished in places, Styx: Shards of Darkness is a worthy sequel to Styx: Master of Shadows, and an even better prequel to Of Orcs and Men action game. It is clearly a labor of love, and Styx makes for a wonderfully uncommon protagonist – he’s not a hero, but a creature of acerbic wit and a penchant for dark humor who loves to break the fourth wall.


#4 Best Assassination Stealth Game – Hitman 2 (2018)

For a while there, it looked like we wouldn’t get any new Hitman games. What was once a thriving and highly influential game series got its last legitimate entry – Hitman: Absolution – all the way back in 2012.

Danish developer IO Interactive has been making Hitman games since 2000, and, after a string of less successful Hitman games that toyed around with the basic gameplay formula, wanted to return the franchise to its roots – engrossing missions with elusive targets you need to somehow assassinate. The result – a new and episodic Hitman release in 2016. It was a glorious comeback and a sequel soon followed.

Gameplay

Agent 47. The most (in)famous assassin in the world. He can become anyone, he can kill anyone, no matter their location, no matter how well-guarded. If there is a contract out for your life, he will collect it – one way or another. Hitman 2 takes the premise of its predecessor and builds upon it – bigger, more complex levels, crowds of people milling around, a myriad of ways to accomplish your mission objectives.

Agent 47 will often disguise himself – sometimes into several different disguises per assignment – and look for ways to cause a disruption or misdirection. All so he can isolate the target and not cause too much mayhem. If you want, you never have to fire your gun – targets can be pushed off balconies, poisoned, killed by explosives, and so on. Of course, the game doesn’t restrict you from also walking up to them and shooting them in the head.

But there’s a good reason why it pays to find alternative ways around this – the targets are always closely guarded, and Agent 47 is, for all his skills and cold, professional demeanor, still just a man, and while he can take out a few bodyguards with relative ease, an entire compound of armed individuals is a whole nother matter.

Graphics

A good looking game in its own right, Hitman 2 does two things exceptionally well – rendering large crowds of people (which requires a powerful processor, so if your current one can’t cut it, consider upgrading to a better gaming CPU) and taking place in jaw-droppingly stunning vistas all around the world. From the slums of Mumbai, to a racetrack in Miami, a Vermont suburb, and other locales, each place you visit feels authentic, lived in, and wholly unique.

Story

After the events of the last Hitman game, Agent 47 makes it his mission to go after the enigmatic “Shadow Client” and take on and dismantle the entire organization. To do this, he has to take out the higher-ranking lieutenants and disrupt their resources, such as money or weapons.  Along the way, unexpected secrets are uncovered and truths are revealed.

Hitman 2 gameplay

Overall Review/Final Thoughts

Hitman 2 is probably the best Hitman game to date and an excellent jumping-on point for both new and old fans. The sheer scope of the areas you will visit, and all the distinct options at your disposal mean that Hitman 2 is a delightfully fun and replayable game that will keep finding new ways to surprise and entice you on each playthrough.


#5 Best Steampunk Stealth Game – Dishonored 2 (2016)

Arkane Studios, developers of classic games such as Arx Fatalis, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, Prey, and, of course, the Dishonored series, have always strived to carry on the legacies that Thief and Deus Ex put in place. Most of their games are modeled after the same principles – the player should have a wide range of choices available to them, and the game should react to their playstyles without trying to guide or inhibit their creativity.

Dishonored mirrors Deus Ex in many ways, yet is still genuine enough to feel like its own thing.

Gameplay

Dishonored 2 takes the core gameplay elements of the first game and refines and advances them to new heights. Instead of controlling Corvo, this time we can choose between him and Emily, who is now fully grown. Both of them have their own unique sets of powers (which you can also choose to reject and play as a normal human) that make playing them different experiences.

Besides these supernatural abilities, both characters have a large arsenal of weapons and devices – swords, pistols, crossbows, mines, grenades, etc. – that they can use to kill or incapacitate other persons.

Like in the first game, indiscriminately killing everyone you come across will result in a higher Chaos score, which leads to different dialogues and reactions from NPCs, more enemies, and different endings if you refrain from excessive (or any) violence.

Graphics

If there is one section of gaming that is constantly improving – it’s graphics. And nowhere is this more apparent than in sequels. Only four years separate Dishonored 1 and Dishonored 2, yet there is a stark visible improvement in the look of these two games.

Dishonored 2 has a lot more noticeable new effects – like the shadow-based powers that Emily can control, and time distortion in certain areas in the game. The design of the characters, which are clearly influenced by Franco-Belgian comic book art, is another unmistakable calling card of Arkane’s art.

Story

Fifteen years have passed since the events of Dishonored 1. Emily is now the Empress, and Dunwall has thrived under her benevolent rule. This all changes when she and Corvo are attacked by Duke Luca Abele and the witch Delilah Copperspoon, who claims that she is Emily’s older half-sister and thus – the true heir to the throne.

Dishonored 2 combat

Depending on who you choose to play as, either Emily or Corvo will be turned to stone and it will be up to you to find out how to defeat Delilah and save your family member and the entire Empire.

Overall Review/Final Thoughts

Dishonored 2 is the perfect sequel. If you’ve enjoyed Dishonored 1 and the way it allows you to zig-zag across levels with your tremendous powers, then you will love Dishonored 2 even more. The addition of another playable character opens up the possibilities of at least two distinct playthroughs – or more, if you want to see all the variations of a high or low Chaos playing style.


#6 Best 2D Stealth Game – Mark of the Ninja (2012)

Before Naruto, ninjas were synonymous with stealth. Covert agents specializing in espionage, ambush tactics, and deceit, they originate in Japan, where they were employed during the most tumultuous periods of that nation’s history.

Since then, ninjas have gained international pop-culture fame, where they are revered as mystical warriors who are able to enter and leave any place without alerting anyone to their presence. Mark of the Ninja is a cross between these two, so while the player protagonist is the type of ninja we expect to play as – fast, silent, and deadly – he’s still rooted in actual Japanese traditions and warrior codes.

Gameplay

Mark of the Ninja is a stealth-based platformer. On each level, you have to evade enemies by steering clear of directly lit areas and their direct line of sight. If you approach an enemy undetected, you can instantly (and silently) kill them with a single swing of your blade.

But while you are deadly, enemies can easily kill you from afar with their guns, as well as trigger an alarm that will alert all the characters in the entire level that an intruder is present. In true ninja fashion, you are also able to sow panic among enemy ranks, by leaving your grizzly killed foes for other guards to find, which will make them panic and make mistakes – such as firing on anything that spooks them – which you can exploit.

Graphics

If you’ve ever played a Klei game before, you know what to expect – cartoonish graphics that are immediately identifiable as theirs. Klei always takes great care not to overstuff their games with superfluous visual clutter, and Mark of the Ninja is no exception to this. Recently, a remastered edition was released, which improves the visuals and cutscenes in high-definition 4K resolution.

Story

After an assault on the dojo of the Hisomu ninja clan, the nameless shinobi protagonist is tasked with taking revenge on the attackers. To aid him in this, he receives a tattoo – the titular Mark – whose ink will grant him heightened reflexes, but will also inevitably drive him insane. What follows is a tale of (dis)honor, madness, and the clash between modern technology and ancient traditions.

Mark of the Ninja gameplay

Overall Review/Final Thoughts

If 3D stealth games aren’t your thing (some people can’t play such games because 3D causes nausea and motion sickness) then Mark of the Ninja could be right up your alley. With an engrossing storyline and plenty of classic ninja staples – precise, fluid movements, smoke bombs, poisoned darts, mysticism, and honor – MotN is still the best 2D stealth gaming experience out there.


#7 Best Espionage Stealth Game – Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005)

The works of Tom Clancy, best-selling author of spy and military novels, have served as the basis of many popular gaming franchises such as Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, and, most famously – the Splinter Cell saga. One of the biggest and most celebrated series in the history of gaming, sadly, there hasn’t been a new Splinter Cell game since 2013.

Every once in a while, there will be rumors that a new SC is being worked on, so hopefully Ubisoft will realize that there are still plenty of Splinter Cell fans out there that would love to see a Hitman-style revival. But until then, we still have the entire Splinter Cell back catalog. Choosing just one of these was hard, but out of all the SC games one stands out as the absolute best – Chaos Theory.

Gameplay

Chaos Theory follows the standard Splinter Cell gameplay formula – the protagonist Sam Fisher (voiced by the incomparable Michael Ironside), a seasoned covert-ops agent working for a top-secret division of the National Security Agency, is dispatched on various missions around the world where he has to perform special ops and counter-terrorism activities such as recovering sensitive documents, and extracting information from enemy agents by whatever means necessary.

What sets Chaos Theory apart are all the little tweaks – the AI is a lot more sophisticated, and there are plenty of side-objectives that you can choose to accomplish. Stealth has also been improved, in addition to the light bar, Fisher now also has to watch out for the amount of noise he makes (measured by the aural monitor).

Spy gadgets and advanced weaponry are a given, and you have the option of going into each mission with an equipment load that favors an aggressive, stealthy, or balanced approach.

Graphics

At the time of its release, Chaos Theory was one of the best looking games on the market. Advanced ragdoll physics, HDR lighting, parallax mapping, realistic character animations, CT had it all. Even today, despite showing its age, the game still looks convincing – if a bit blocky.

Story

Political relations in East Asia have been thrown into disarray because Japan has decided to form a de facto army – something that has been prohibited since the end of World War 2. Japan is a close ally to the United States, so the situation is very delicate. Fisher has to figure out who is behind this sudden shift in Japanese military policy, before the entire region is plunged into total war.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory gameplay

Overall Review/Final Thoughts

Few games get the feel of playing a spec ops agent right. Splinter Cell has always been the exception to this – Fisher makes no qualms about doing whatever it takes, but he is also not deluded into thinking that what he is doing is morally right. At the same time, the people he is up against don’t mind slaughtering civilians and endangering the entire world for their own selfish gain.

If James Bond is the flashy, suave side of spycraft, Splinter Cell represents its dark, messy aspect. If you can, play the complete Splinter Cell saga from start to finish, but if you don’t have that much free time on your hands but want to see what all the fuss is about – play Chaos Theory.


Final Words

Stealth games come in all forms and genres. While they’ve never been quite as popular as FPS games, the best stealth games out there have a devoted cult following and are still actively replayed (and modded) today. So if hide and seek was your favorite childhood pastime, and you consider not getting caught in a video game to be a lot more exciting than shooting up a place – these games are for you.

If you’re into challenge, you could also check out some of the most amazing metroidvania games, or maybe even some outstanding single player PC games.


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Author

Vladimir Sumina