Stealth games aren’t quite as popular as they once were, withgames likeMetal Gear SolidandSplinter Cellbeing few and far between in the modern era. However, thankfully, the stealth genre isn’t entirely dead, and games likeGloomwoodare still being released on popular platforms today.
While Steam is a widely used and highly popular platform for PC games and features a dizzying array of titles in the stealth genre, it’s not the only storefront that provides stealth games; some players may prefer to use GOG (Good Old Games) to find and purchase games, as this storefront is particularly good for ports of older titles.
7Invisible, Inc.
Stylish Tactical Turn-Based Stealth
Developed by the prolific Klei Entertainment,Invisible, Inc.is a tremendously stylish stealth game that blends the tropes of the genre with turn-based tactics. This results in an experience that’s both familiar and unique, offering a fresh take on the stealth game genre.
Invisible, Inc.also has a unique aesthetic and theme with its corporate espionage style, which blends perfectly with its stealth gameplay. For fans of both stealth and turn-based tactics,Invisible, Inc.is an experience worth having.
Thislightweight immersive-simallows for a variety of approaches, butDishonoredencourages stealth at every turn. It does this through punishing players for killing enemies; should players take on too violent of a playstyle, they’ll be rewarded with a “bad” ending.
Supernatural abilities and immersive level design allowDishonoredto stand out among the crowd, along with a well-crafted narrative that drives the game forward. These abilities give players a diverse set of tools to pursue each objective, and every level features a variety of nooks in which players can find refuge.
This old-school stealth game,originally released for the PlayStationback in the 90s, has aged tremendously well. Although its low-poly graphics and occasional rough edges may betray its age, the gameplay and overall design ofMetal Gear Solidis still a masterclass worth experiencing.
For some,Metal Gear Solid’sold-school visuals may be a benefit, providing a certain charm and sense of style to the screen. For existing fans of theMetal Gear Solidseries, the GOG port ofMetal Gear Solidis worth playing just for nostalgia, but it also provides newcomers to the franchise an easy way to access this iconic title.
TheHitmangamesare an iconic part of the stealth genre, providing players with immersive sandboxes to sneak around in.Hitman: Blood Moneycarried the series for many years, keeping it relevant in the stealth game genre thanks to its impressive and often memorable level designs.
Hitman: Blood Moneymay be beginning to show its age, but for fans of the series who want to experience a little nostalgia, its level design and innovations on theHitmanformula are still worth checking out. Considering its relatively low price point,Hitman: Blood Moneyis also a fairly low-risk title forHitmanfans who have yet to play through the older games in the series.
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cellseries contains a great deal of highly polished stealth-focused titles, providing players with immersive and often strategic stealth gameplay. It could be argued that the first three titles in the series are the best, arguably peaking withTom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory.
Unfortunately,Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theoryis not currentlyavailable on GOG, but fans of the platform can still access the original game. For existing fans of the series, or stealth game fans that have yet to experience its old-school design,Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cellis a worthwhile experience that can be tremendously fun despite its increasing age.
Deus Exwas a pioneer of the immersive-sim genre; along with titlessuch asThiefandSystem Shock,Deus Exhelped to solidify a formula for non-linear levels and diverse sets of tools that encouraged creative problem-solving. Traditionally, immersive-sims allow players to approach encounters in a multitude of ways, and two of the player’s main options are usually violence and stealth.
Deus Exisn’t a pure stealth title, as the game allows players to approach objectives in a variety of ways. However, stealth is an integral part of its gameplay and, in many cases, sneaking through levels can be a viable strategy.
Innovating with deep, simulated systems for light and sound,Thiefprovidesa truly immersive stealth experienceeven today. Often hailed as a cornerstone of the immersive-sim genre,Thiefencourages creativity on the part of the player, primarily through the variety of arrows that players can fire from their bow.
These arrows include everything from moss arrows (that make noisy surfaces less loud) to water arrows that douse flames (allowing players to remove light sources), and even rope arrows that allow players to reach areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.
