The Greatest First-person Stealth Games

When you think of stealth series, the ones that come to mind are likely Metal Gear Solid, Splinter Cell, and Hitman. These are, after all, three of the most famous stealth series, and they’re all played in third-person.

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It’s fun to have options, and these action games let you try your hand at stealth.

However, that isn’t the only perspective you can have for a stealth game. You can also have first-person ones. In fact, the first-person camera view can add an extra layer of tension to the experience as it limits your view more and makes it harder to see what’s around you. The odds that a random guard is going to come from a blind spot and catch you are increased in these types of games. These are the best stealth games to provide this sort of experience.

8

Alien: Isolation

Released

October 7, 2014

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence

Typically, you opt for stealth in games because it’s the optimal method to get through your situation. In Alien: Isolation, though, it’s your only option. After all, this is a game set in the Alien universe where you have to tangle with a dangerous Xenomorph, so you don’t want to take it head-on. Much of the game is about sneaking around and hiding from the beast, as you cannot kill it. So, you hide in lockers and duck behind obstacles to keep out of sight.

Unfortunately for you, though, the AI for the creature is very advanced, meaning it doesn’t just follow a pre-determined path. The Xenomorph actively looks for you and reacts to any sound you make. You can fight some other enemies, but most of the experience is about hiding from the main alien.

7

Thief: The Dark Project

Thief: The Dark Project

Systems

Released

November 30, 1998

Developer

Looking Glass Studios

Publisher(s)

Eidos Interactive

ESRB

m

Stealth skills are vital for every good thief out there. So, it’s no surprise that Thief: The Dark Project is a stealth game. In it, you play as a highly trained master thief named Garrett. As him, you go on a series of robberies.

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Each level has you sneaking into a different place, from manors to cathedrals to prisons. To get through these places without being seen, you need to use the shadows, distractions, takedowns, and anything else it takes to keep you from being discovered. The game was one of the pioneers of the first-person stealth genre, so it’s a bit of a classic.

6

Prey

Prey

Released

May 5, 2017

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Prey is an excellent immersive sim, giving you plenty of options for how you want to go about your business. This includes stealth options. The game is set on a space station that an alien force has taken over. Your character is knocked out when the attack begins, and when you wake up, the place is already in pretty bad shape, and most of the people on the station are dead.

You aren’t alone, though, as there are also aliens aboard. Your character is tasked with getting rid of them. Along the way, you can attempt to sneak around and past the beasts if you want to avoid conflict. You can get several powers that help with this, including the ability to mimic objects to give yourself a disguise. After all, who is going to attack an unsuspecting mug that’s on the ground?

5

Far Cry 6

Released

October 6, 2021

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mild Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

The Far Cry games aren’t often advertised as stealth titles, but the later ones can be played that way. Take Far Cry 6, for example; most of the missions in the game can be completed through stealth. You can perform stealth takedowns, use silencers to pick enemies off quietly, and find sneaky entrances into outposts. In fact, the game often feels designed to be played stealthily.

The story revolves around your character joining a resistance to take down an evil tyrant. That tyrant runs the fictional island of Yara with an iron fist. You need to create alliances and build up the resistance to be strong enough to take them on.

4

Payday 2

Released

August 13, 2013

Developer(s)

Overkill Software

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes

Payday 2 is the sort of game where it’s a stealth title as long as you’re good at being sneaky. The game is all about completing heists at various establishments. Sometimes, you will be robbing a bank, while other times, a store is your target. Typically, a mission begins in a calm manner as you stake out the place you’re going steal from. Then, when you’re ready, you put on your masks and begin the heist.

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You can’t see them, they can’t see you.

You can attempt to rob the place quietly by sneakily taking out guards and generally not causing much of a ruckus. That isn’t easy to do on every mission, but it’s possible on plenty of them. If you fail the stealthy approach, you’ll need to take on a bunch of cops in big shootouts.

3

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Released

August 23, 2011

Developer(s)

Eidos Montreal

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol

At its core, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is an RPG, but it’s one that allows you to embrace your stealthy side. The game is set in a cyberpunk world where plenty of people make use of fancy cybernetics. This includes your character, Adam Jensen.

During the game, you can activate and upgrade these augmentations. If you desire, you can use them to make your sneaking around more effective. Along with using technical enhancements, you can naturally duck behind cover, crawl through vents, and use a stun gun to knock people out. So, there are plenty of options for stealth players.

2

Soma

Released

September 15, 2015

Developer(s)

Frictional Games

Publisher(s)

Frictional Games

ESRB

t

Soma is a thought-provoking game about consciousness and what it means to be alive. You ponder these questions as you explore an underwater facility and speak with the creatures there.

Not everything you meet down here is friendly, though. There are some adversaries that want to kill you. You don’t have the ability to fight them, so you must try to hide and stealthily evade them. When you aren’t hiding, you’re solving puzzles and exploring. It’s one of the most atmospheric titles you will ever play.

1

Dishonored

Dishonored

Released

October 9, 2012

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language

Dishonored begins with the Empress getting killed and you being blamed for it. After you sneak your way out of prison, you go on a campaign to avenge the Empress and clear your name. This results in a series of levels where you have to eliminate or subdue a target. How you go about doing that is up to you.

One good strategy is to use a stealthy approach. This means sticking to the shadows or jumping up on rooftops to make it harder for guards to see you. You can also sneak up behind them to kill or knock them out. Either way, it stops the guards from being a problem for you.

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