Stealth games are with us for quite some time, and while Stealth isn’t the distinct genre in the video game industry, it’s a type of PC action game, well… with a more stealthy approach. I feel that this genre is a little underrated, as some of the stealth games are really masterpieces, both graphically and in terms of gameplay. This type of game is really challenging, and that’s why some gamers don’t like them. Here, you can’t rush, run & gun and make a lot of noise, as the main focus is on doing everything without detection. You get the point, right? If so, let’s check the 22 best stealth games for PC.
What are Stealth Games?
Stealth games have been popular in the gaming world for a very, very long time. Despite not being a new genre, they do offer a unique viewpoint on action games by favoring stealth and strategic planning over running and gunning. Even though sometimes they can be challenging, stealth games can provide fascinating and adrenaline-rush experiences with a focus on avoiding discovery. Our article will examine 20 of the Top Stealth games available for the PC, showcasing their superior visuals and unique gameplay elements.
Top Stealth Games for PC
1. Dishonored 2
Dishonored 2 took all of the good stuff from the previous game, and raised it to a completely new level, both graphically and in terms of gameplay. The story continues where the previous game left off, and you can now choose to play either as Corvo Attano or his daughter Emily. The best of all is that the gameplay style depends on the character you choose, and I won’t spoil anything for you, but you’ll need to play with both characters to fully enjoy the game.
Overall, Dishonored 2 is the best stealth game at the moment, offering tons of fun with stealth, combat, and Corvo’s or Emily’s special abilities. The optimization is also improved now, as it was very bad on the day of launch.
2. Hitman 2016
Hitman series is known for its hardcore stealth sections, as well as the very dark and grim story surrounding the whole series. This time, Hitman 2016 improved over the previous games, and added a semi-open world gameplay, with a smaller number of levels, but increasing the overall size of each level, granting replayability value. There is also a great story here, and it follows our Agent 47 in his younger days when he just began working for the Agency. I enjoyed every bit of this game, and I’m sure most hardcore fans will also enjoy it.
3. Assassin’s Creed: Origins
Assassin’s Creed: Origins made its way to the shelves just a few days ago, and I must say that it’s probably the best AC game I’ve ever played. This time, Ubisoft decided to expand the open environment of Egypt, but also fill it with various content, so it doesn’t get boring. Also, this year’s AC introduced RPG elements, so you can now loot, craft weapons, armors and level your character. Assasin’s Creed: Origins is a masterpiece and a story of its own. Definitely recommended!
4. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist
I remember when the first Splinter Cell was published, and when I tried it, it was so hard, that I couldn’t even pass the first level. Well, Blacklist is another hardcore stealth game, but with more expanded features and great graphics. Our protagonist, Sam Fisher can now perform parkour moves, kill stealthy with more efficiency and make his way through the levels with fancy gadgets. So, are you ready to take Sam Fisher to the fight with the organized terrorist group? It’s a bloody hard game, but it’s worth playing for some serious challenge.
5. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is mainly a PC RPG title, but its gameplay is strongly based on stealth. The old protagonist from the previous game, Adam Jensen returns here to once again put a stop to ter*orism. Story-wise, it’s very complicated, and it speaks about very serious themes, about the world, Illuminati, ter*orism, and much more. On the gameplay side, Mankind Divided boasts refined, smooth, and responsive gameplay, and a world filled with stuff that you can explore and complete missions in various ways.
6. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
MGSV: The Phantom Pain is easily one of my favorite games of all time. I didn’t play previous MGS entries, but this one… this one is a hell of a game! You are in the role of Venom Snake, who wakes up in the hospital after the events of the previous game, with Ahab, an unknown patient helping him escape. He then ventures into the open-world of Afghanistan to seek revenge for those who killed his team. Phantom Pain is a great stealth game, but its campaign will literally take you about 30 hours to complete. And although the game drags a little bit towards the end, it’s still a great game. Oh, and get ready for a plot twist in the end!
7. Thief
Thief is an old-school stealth game, but here I want to talk about the reboot from 2014. This game is badass in every sense of the word. You are FORCED to go stealthy here, as there is almost no combat, and every enemy represents a danger. Plus, the game is played from the first-person perspective, so it’s even harder to peek around the corners and navigate through the game world. You must walk silently, as every step can make a noise if you accidentally step on the glass, grass, or any other breakable object. A true masterpiece of the stealth genre!
8. Alien: Isolation
When developers combine stealth and horror genres, it gets really creepy. That’s the case in Alien: Isolation. This game will put you in the role of sole survivor Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, as she is trapped on the space station Sevastopol, with creatures like androids and of course Alien, who tries to kill her.
Alien is the main threat here, as he is very smart, and will search the whole station to find you. He can look under the tables, in the closets, or in every room just to find you. Also, you’ll have some weapons like a revolver, flamethrower, and baton to defend yourself from androids, but not from Alien.
9. Batman: Arkham Knight
Easily one of the best-looking PC games ever period. Batman: Arkham Knight will amaze you with its visuals once you start playing it, immediately putting you in the center of Gotham. This game has a great story, with plot twists that will make it even more interesting. However, our Batman isn’t always going head-to-head with his opponents, and the big part of the game is stealth. It’s easier to play it that way, and when it comes to the real fight, our hero is stronger than ever! But, I warn you; gear up your machine in order to play it. Get a good GPU and lots of RAM to be able to play it with enjoyment.
10. Payday 2
Payday 2 can be either a stealth or action game. I remember getting angry at my friend for not going stealth with me, and we always died because of that guns-blazing style. Nevertheless, Payday 2 is all about robbing the banks, disco clubs, police stations, and other objects, getting the money safely without casualties, and winning the match. Although you play vs AI, Payday 2 is still LOTS of fun, especially when played with friends.
You can customize your characters, and gain levels, and then organize a heist with your friends and get going. Be sure to always start the stealthy way and build up, but also beware that stealth is also a dangerous option.
11. The Evil Within 2
Although it’s labeled as a survival-horror game, The Evil Within 2 is a great stealth game. I often found myself sneaking to avoid the hordes of mutated zombies, in order to save my ammo. In this game, the protagonist Sebastian Castellanos return, in order to save his daughter Lilly from Mobius corporation.
The game is intense, offering some heart-pounding moments and plot twists that will stay in your mind for weeks after playing the game. It’s a great combination of shooting, sneaking, and Japanese horror elements that will make your stomach twist and beg you to stop playing it!
12. Aragami
In the third-person stealth game Aragami, you take on the role of an undead assassin with the power to manipulate shadows. In a stunningly rendered setting with elements of medieval Japan as inspiration, your goal is to free a captured noblewoman while hiding from hostile soldiers. Learn the art of shadow manipulation, teleportation, and assassination strategies to overcome challenging encounters and unearth the mysteries of the enigmatic world.
13. Manhunt 2
Manhunt 2 is another brutal game, even sicker than the previous game on the list. Seriously, don’t play this game if you are a psychopath. It’s all about killing here, as our protagonist Daniel Lamb fights through the game, in order to find out who killed his family.
His second name Lamb might remind you of lambs going to the slaughter, and you won’t be wrong for thinking so, as it’s a game about slaughtering, smashing heads with a hammer, smothering enemies, mutilating, shooting and so on and so forth. If I continue mentioning all of the stuff that you can do here, you’ll probably stop reading the articles, so let’s move to another game.
14. The Saboteur
I’ve always liked noir thematics in games or movies, and The Saboteur is one of those games. It’s set in a fictional world of WW2 Paris, where you are put in the role of Sean Devlin, who is a car fanatic and a victim of German genocide after they kill his brother after Devlin kills the race. From there, you venture into the open world of Paris, doing missions and killing Nazis in order to free Paris from the German occupation. The game plays from the third perspective, and you can navigate the world by driving, walking, sneaking, and parkouring.
15. Styx: Shards of Darkness
Remember Of Orcs and Men series? Well, if you do, there is a great chance that you’ll like Styx: Shards of Darkness, as it’s set in that universe. Here, the gameplay is simple, and it’s all about stealth. Styx must infiltrate the Dark Elven city, as Dark Elves have formed an alliance with dwarves, and his task is simple- find out why. As with Thief, Styx also doesn’t offer a distinctive combat mechanics, so you’ll spend the majority of the game hiding in the shadows and evading enemies, which in the end, is the point of stealth games.
16. This War of Mine
Being a PC 2D game, This War of Mine offers some great artwork, as well as graphics, in this intense, survival game for PC, that’s all about stealth. You are trapped in a house with few survivors, and the key is management here. You must manage your supplies, sleep to rest, rebuild your house after the winter does the damage, and survive in the WW2 era. The stealth part is the hardest here, as one of your characters goes each night to scavenge for resources in the dark. Yes, you can use some weapons here, but the bullets are scarce and they do very little damage.
17. The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena
As Vin Diesel was one of my favorite actors, I felt the need to play The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. And wow! The game is very underrated but offers tons of fun. And it’s bloody hard too! You are in a role of Riddick and the game follows the story right after the events of the previous game. Our protagonist is improved here, as well as AI, and the game is much bigger than the first, letting you complete your missions either in stealth way or guns-blazing, but I recommend the first one.
18. A Plague Tale: Innocence
A Plague Tale: Innocence combines stealth, adventure, and an engrossing tale in a medieval France that is desolate and infested with disease. As a young girl named Amicia and her younger brother Hugo, you must navigate dangerous terrain while avoiding the Inquisition and swarms of hungry rats. Utilize your cunning crafting skills, and your surroundings in this emotionally charged stealth adventure to outwit enemies and defend your sibling.
19. Mark of the Ninja
Mark of the Ninja definitely left a mark in the video game world. This 2D game boasts one of the best stealth mechanics I’ve ever seen, with its smooth gameplay, Ninja’s abilities, and focus on hiding in the shadows. Everyone is a threat here, and the game will count your score based on your stealth and even kills. The more you kill, the less the score is, forcing you to go fully with stealth gameplay, for an immersive and exciting experience.
20. Invisible, Inc
Ever wondered how spies and agency operators work in the field? Well, Invisible, Inc will let you know that, by putting you in the skin of a remote operator for the espionage agency, to direct the agents on the field in collecting resources, sneaking, covert missions, and much more. The game is played from the top-down perspective, and with its cartoonish, yet futuristic look, Invisible, Inc is one of the most interesting stealth games on the list, plus it costs just a few dollars, so it’s great if you decide to buy it.
21. No One Lives Forever 2
A super-spy Cate Archers makes her return here, and she is once again fighting against a criminal organization called H.A.R.M. It’s the main antagonist in the first game, and here, it’s even fiercer, with more exotic locations to explore and more versatile gameplay. You can use various gadgets to complete the missions, go guns-blazing or embrace the stealth approach. It’s all up to you. Although it’s around 15 years old, this game will still give you a lot of fun.
22. Death to Spies
Taking place in WW2 era, Death to Spies offers a refined stealth experience, played from the third-person perspective. You are in the role of Semion Strogov, who is a captain of Soviet counterintelligence agency called SMERSH. You can use various techniques to navigate through levels such as sneaking, climbing, walking crawling, and driving vehicles. For evading enemies, stealth is the key, and there is even a disguise-change feature, which we’ve seen in just a couple of games. It’s not the most popular game, but it’s very good, and underrated, available on Steam for just a few dollars.