Image: Johan Hjärpe, MythoLogic Interactive via HGG
My name is Gibson Vasela. I am a freelance writer who has been playing video games for almost 20 years now. I play all kinds of games, but I especially love immersive sims and RPGs.
Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
When it comes to making a game, stealth games are some of the hardest to get right. They’re often either too challenging or not challenging enough, resulting in a poor experience for the player. However, there are plenty of great games out there that manage to get the right balance of both. These games aren’t usually produced by big studios, but by small, independent developers who have a real love and passion for stealth games. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best indie stealth games for you to download and try out.
Top 10 Indie Stealth Games, Ranked from Good to Best
Without any more delays, let’s get right into the ranking!
Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones
The first one up on this list is the game Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones. This is a stylized 2D stealth platform game, and the sequel to Stealth Bastard. Is it a worthy sequel that fans of the first game will love? I have no idea. I never played the first game, but I can tell you that Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones is a really fun game that you should definitely pick up. It was made by Carbon and is being sold for $14.99.
Unlike a lot of other games, when you die in this game, you are not reverted to a previous checkpoint. Instead, you will simply be given a clone of your character to continue playing as instead. This means that the game is less punishing than some of the more harsher games on this list. Don’t take that to mean that the game isn’t challenging or doesn’t offer any difficulty, though. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.
You’ll go through the game solving various different puzzles and hacking terminals in order to progress to the next area. All the while, you’ll be sneaking past various different obstacles and deadly traps. The game is great if you love both stealth and puzzle games, and are looking for something that combines the two.
Sir, You Are Being Hunted
For our next pick, we have a personal favorite of mine — Sir, You Are Being Hunted! It is a first-person stealth survival rogue-lite set in an open world. It is certainly one of the more unique games in terms of its setting and premise. The game was developed by Big Robot Ltd. and is currently being sold for a price of $19.99.
This is a charming game set on a strange island populated by steampunk contraptions with British accents. You are trapped on the island and need to collect several pieces of a device that, when put together, will create a portal for you to escape home. There are several smaller islands surrounding the central island that you will need to visit, and every island is randomly generated.
I love the sandbox design of the game. You can go anywhere and in any order. There is a variety of different weapons, items, and contraptions for you to scavenge for and use against the enemies. Speaking of which, there is a big diversity of uniquely designed robotic enemies for you to fight. I recommend this game if you love sandbox stealth games and anything survival horror.
The Blackout Club
Coming up next on this ranking, let’s take a look at the game The Blackout Club. This is a multiplayer co-op horror/stealth game that is perfect for playing with a friend or two. Multiplayer stealth games don’t seem to be that common, so it’s always nice to find a good game that allows you to be stealthy and play with your friends. The Blackout Club was made by a game studio called Question and is available to purchase for $29.99.
The stealth in this game has you knocking out enemies, slipping past enemy patrols, and gathering loot as you progress through each of the game’s randomly generated levels. Every mission has multiple different paths for you to take, adding an additional level of replayability on top of it. The bonus of being able to play with friends allows you to coordinate with one another to deal with enemies.
I particularly like the environments you travel through in this game. You’ll be pushing through creepy underground passageways and walking through suburban neighborhoods late at night. There are a lot of multiplayer horror games out there, but this is one of the more interesting ones that I have seen. I advise you to get it if you love multiplayer games as much as you love stealth games.
Thief Simulator
Up next on our ranking, we have the game Thief Simulator! This is a first-person stealth game that sees you breaking into various properties to steal the valuables locked within. A ranking of the best stealth games wouldn’t be complete without a game that lets you play as a thief. And out of all the games that do that, this is one of the best. It was developed by Noble Muffins and can be bought for $19.99.
Thief Simulator borrows some elements from the immersive sim genre. NPCs will have schedules and routines that you will need to memorize in order to pull off a job successfully. The game gives players several different ways to infiltrate properties, allowing them lots of freedom of choice. This makes each time you break into a property really fun and exciting. It makes the game feel really immersive, and it’s very satisfying when you pull off a job after planning out the mission.
The AI in the world feels dynamic and interactive, leading to some interesting emergent gameplay. If you get spotted while on a job, the NPC can call the police to your location. This makes the prospect of getting caught feel intense, but it is not overly punishing. Even if you do a job poorly, you can still get out with some great loot. Overall, this is a fun game if you love the idea of being a sneaky thief.
Outlast
For the next choice on our ranking, let’s take a look at the first Outlast game. This is a survival horror title that took the world by storm when it was first released back in 2013. It was one of the first horror games I ever played, and it holds a special place in my heart to this very day. The game was developed by Red Barrels and is currently for sale at $19.99 in most major digital storefronts.
In the game, you play as an independent journalist who has come to investigate a mental asylum, armed with nothing but a camera. Upon arriving, you quickly become trapped inside the old hospital that has become overrun with lunatics and monsters. You have access to no weapons whatsoever, meaning that there is no way for you to defend yourself. If you are spotted by an enemy, your only option is to run or hide.
This makes it one of the most intense horror games out there. You’ll need to be extra careful when navigating the asylum, as there are dangers lurking around every corner. And with limited batteries, you will need to use your camera’s light wisely in order to see where you are going. Overall, this is a really great stealth game that you’ll love if you don’t mind all the gore and horrifying jump scares.
Invisible, Inc.
Halfway through our ranking of the best indie stealth games, we have the game Invisible, Inc. This is an isometric, turn-based stealth game. It was released back in 2015, and to this day remains one of the most enjoyable indie stealth games on the market. It was made by Klei Entertainment, the same people who brought us Don’t Starve. You can pick up the game today for only $19.99.
This is a cyberpunk-style game with a unique twist. In each mission, an alarm level is always rising. As the alarm level goes up, the level will get more and more difficult. You’re therefore incentivized to quickly get through the level as fast as you can before the alarm gets too high. Because of this, every turn feels intense and blood-pumping. You’ll need to get through the level as fast as possible in order to get out alive.
This leads to some interesting decisions you’ll have to make in the game, as every choice counts. It’s definitely one of the more difficult games on this list. But if you manage to overcome the challenges, you’ll find it to be a very satisfying experience. If you love the strategic and intense decision-making of a tactical-stealth game, I highly recommend getting this one.
Mark of the Ninja: Remastered
Taking the next position on this list, let’s talk about Mark of the Ninja. This is a 2D side-scrolling stealth game that is set in an east-Asian inspired fantasy world. The visual art style in this game is one of the best out of any game on this list, and it even features an excellent soundtrack to boot. It was made by Klei Entertainment — the makers of Invisible, Inc. — and is available to buy for $19.99.
Much like Invisible, Inc. players are able to carefully plan how they will tackle each encounter, thanks in no small part due to the 2D perspective. You will gain access to a big amount of different tools that can be used to solve problems how you wish. There are smoke bombs you can use to hide yourself from guards, for example. And there are plenty of ways to distract enemies so that you can sneak past them.
The amount of tools and trinkets you can use gives this game a lot of replayability. The game allows you to change your appearance, which will give you unique perks and benefits that can affect your play style. It’s incredibly fun being able to come up with your own solutions to problems using the tools the game gives you. If you are looking for a tactical game that feels fair but challenging, you should definitely consider picking this one up.
Desperados III
The number three spot on our ranking of the best indie stealth games goes to Desperados III! Set in the wild west, this is a really intense and difficult (but rewarding) isometric stealth game. Long-time fans of the series all seem to agree that this is the best game in the series. While I haven’t played the first two games myself, considering how fun this game is, I wouldn’t be surprised if they were right. Desperados III was developed by Mimimi Games and is currently available for $39.99.
The game is a tactical strategy game that forces players into thinking of clever ways to deal with enemies and complete objectives. It allows you to sneak your way past problems, but you can also go loud, if you prefer. You are given the choice of several distinctive characters to play in each mission. This gives you a lot of replayability and a lot of options regarding how to play through the game. If you love games like this, then I highly recommend checking this one out.
While many of you may prefer first-person stealth games, I encourage you to give this one a shot if you’ve never played a game like it before. In a lot of first-person stealth games, it can feel frustrating when you get spotted by an enemy you didn’t see. This game does not have that problem. It can be frustrating whenever your plan doesn’t work and you fail, but it almost always feels fair.
Filcher
Taking the next spot on this list, it’s none other than Filcher! This is an incredibly underrated game that has seemingly flown under the radar for most fans of the stealth genre. The reason for this is mainly due to the fact this game came out the same day as Deathloop, preventing it from gaining popularity. And that’s a shame, as this game features some of the best first-person stealth gameplay I’ve played in years. It was developed by developer Johan Hjärpe and is available for $9.99.
Filcher is heavily inspired by the classic Thief series made by Looking Glass Studios. In the game, you play as the Fensbroke Filcher. You are a thief trying to make a living in a noir-inspired city in Northern Europe. In each level, you’ll be tasked with silently infiltrating an area and clearing it out of any valuable goods. There are usually multiple routes you can take, giving you some replayability and freedom in how you want to clear your objectives.
Additionally, you will be given several tools that can be used to make stealth easier. You have access to a ranged tranquilizer gun for taking out enemies, a noisemaker that will distract guards, and much more. The game’s levels are short and sweet, with no option to save in the middle of missions. This may be a turn-off to some, but I really love this feature. It solves the issue of save-scumming. And it makes each level more intense, forcing you to plan ahead and be extra careful not to alert the guards.
Shadows of Doubt
And finally, taking spot number one on our ranking of the best indie stealth games is the new early access title Shadows of Doubt! This game may still be in development, but based on what we’ve played so far, I think it’s safe to assume this game will be nothing short of amazing when it fully releases. The game is currently being developed by ColePowered Games and is available now for $19.99.
According to the Steam page, this game is a “…sandbox detective stealth game set in a fully simulated sci-fi noir city.” The game is an immersive sim, and sees you playing as a detective trying to track down and arrest a murderer. You’ll be able to freely explore an open city, completing side quests, interviewing suspects, and sneaking through the shadows to gather clues on the mysterious killer.
My favorite thing about this game is how dynamic and interactive the world feels. Every NPC has a schedule that they follow, and in-game events can unfold dynamically. The world map is randomly generated, so each play-through is different from the last. If you love stealth games with sandbox-like environments that give you a lot of freedom in what you want to do, then this is your game.
Join the High Ground!
What are your thoughts on our picks for the best indie stealth games? Have a game you think should have made the list? Feel free to let us know down in the comments section! And be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter for more regular content, including more rankings like this one.
Happy gaming!
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