STEALTH HITS

Essential shadow sneakers you should hunt for

Metal Gear Solid

We could pick pretty much any game from the MGS series as an essential, but we’ve plumped for the original. This pioneering title did more than any other to popularise the stealth genre and its influence on videogames to follow cannot be understated. It’s still fantastic, packed full of eccentric characters and memorable moments.

Thief II: The Metal Age

The Thief series’ clever use of light, shadow and sound design, combined with intricately designed levels that encourage the player to find their own solutions to the obstacles they face, is a recipe for sublime stealth play. For many Thief devotees, Thief II: The Metal Age is the shining example of how these elements can combine to create something special.

Hitman: Blood Money

The ideas with which IO Interactive had been playing in the first two Hitman games – hiding in plain sight, using disguises, offering inventive opportunities for assassination – came together brilliantly in its fourth stab with Agent 47. The thrill of finding a clever solution to its puzzle-boxlike assassination objectives and getting out unnoticed showcases the series at its best.

Mark Of The Ninja

As an example of how stealth can work in 2D, you can’t do better than the fantastic Mark Of The Ninja. This is a game that proves that stealth doesn’t have to be slow, putting you in control of an agile protagonist that can run rings around hostile guards – sometimes literally, thanks to a system that visualises the sounds you are making with concentric rings that let you know exactly who can hear you.

Dishonored

Arkane’s immersive sim combines classic stealth sneaking with a variety of supernatural powers that encourage experimentation when it comes to how you complete your objectives: Blink lets you teleport across rooftops and ledges, Possession lets you take control of rats, fishes and guards, and Bend Time allows you to temporarily slow or halt the passage of time.