Summary
Stealth games have had a rapid ascent to the top since the 1990s, when the genre started to explode thanks to landmark releases likeMetal Gear SolidandTenchuin 1998. These titles showed that the genre wasn’t just about addictive hide-and-seek game design, but could weave complex tales with rich, engaging characters.
Since then, stealth games have been expertly combining their unique gameplay systems with compelling narratives. Due to the widevariety of stealth gamesout there, the number of different stories told over the years has been staggering. The genre has explored real-world political intrigue, over-the-top spy thrillers, and more.
Set in the year 1964,Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eaterexplores the early days of Big Boss and begins his tragic downfall into villainy. Though Big Boss had featured prominently in theMetal Gearsaga by this point, his past was still something of a mystery.Snake Eatersought to chronicle the beginning of his descent from an honored soldier to one of the most feared men in the history ofMetal Gear.
Snake Eaterprioritizes strong, directwriting and a phenomenal range of performances by the voice cast. It sees a young Big Boss in the middle of an international incident that forces him to question everything about his life as a soldier. His relationship with The Boss, a mentor turned traitor, makes up some of the most incredible storytelling ever seen in gaming. This story of betrayal, honor to one’s country, and the ever-shifting loyalties of war is still one of the finest ever seen in the industry. It is due for a full remake, known asMetal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, which launches on July 04, 2025.
Taking influence from nature documentaries covering the Cordyceps fungi that can control insects like zombies,The Last of Us Part Iwas built around the themes of family and loss. Protagonist Joel loses his daughter Sarah during the harrowing opening moments of the apocalypse. Twenty years later, Joel embarks on a cross-country road trip to escort a young girl named Ellie to a Firefly lab, as her immunity is the key to finding a vaccine and saving humanity.
Joel and Ellie’s dynamic is something special. Their bond grows organically over the course of the game, going from uncomfortable partners to family by the time the game’s bloody conclusion rolls around.The Last of Us Part Iwas a landmark release for the industry, utilizing realistic, honest writing with incredible voice performances. Its mythology has become the basis for an overarching universe and amassively successful HBO TV seriesstarring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.
Looking to compete withMetal Gearand take on the burgeoning stealth genre, Ubisoft crafted a spy thriller known asTom Clancy’s Splinter Cell.The game focused on real-world geopolitical ramifications and NSA agent Sam Fisher, a member of the fictional Third Echelon. In the first outing, Sam embarks on a quest to prevent all-out war, a mission he must accomplish in the shadows in order to risk an international incident.
With its excellent script, spectacular voice acting, and engaging story that keeps players guessing,Splinter Cellremains one of themost influential stealth gamesof its generation. It isn’t just the way it presents its story in cutscenes, but also the in-game conversations between Sam and members of the NSA that unfold in real time, that were revolutionary for the time. Sneaking through environments, using shadows and light to hide, while getting intel from Lambert, was an incredible achievement that is still impressive to this day.
As a creature of the night who slinks through the shadows to find the most nefarious criminals in Gotham City, Batman is perfectly suited to the stealth genre. Developers Rocksteady took that idea to heartwithBatman: Arkham Asylum, a spectacular stealth-adventure game. In this title, The Dark Knight makes his way through the eponymous prison to stop the Joker after he organized a violent prison riot.
Traversing the dark, narrow halls of Arkham Asylum produces its own unique brand of tension. Avoiding the armed guards and stalking them from above is a magical feeling, putting players directly into the boots of Batman. Making excellent use of the DC Comics mythology,Arkham Asylumwas scripted by Paul Dini and features one of the most outstandingBatmanstories of all time. Iconic characters like the Joker, Harley Quinn, and more feature alongside Batman and his partners, as this legendary stealth game dives deep into beloved DC Comics lore and crafts a unique universe all its own.
Drawing from the New York Trilogy of books by Paul Aster,Metal Gearcreator Hideo Kojima crafted a tale built around complex themes, such as child warfare, identity, and the control of politics through media. It was, and still is, a massively innovative game in the way it presented its story and the concepts at play.Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Libertywould go on to become known as one of the most outstanding games of all time.
The whole story has a surreal energy to it, unfolding like a postmodern movie made in response to the state of the world at the time, asSons of Libertytapped into some of the real-world issues humanity was facing. Snake and Raiden’s descent into darkness brings them into conflict withThe Patriots, a clandestine grouplooking to control information and how it was dispensed to the public, a concept that was quite radical and complex for video games. This stunning exploration of war and child exploitation is as mesmerizing today as it was in 2001.
After seeing what the PS1 was capable of, Hideo Kojima drafted a new story in his stealth franchise that would take full advantage of the new hardware, releasingMetal Gear Solidfor the PS1in 1998 to worldwide critical acclaim. Focused on a grizzled, older Solid Snake coming out of retirement to confront a group of terrorists who have taken over a nuclear warhead facility in Alaska,Metal Gear Solidweaved a complex story of legacies and the gift of life.
Snake’s journey through Shadow Moses Island has been hailed as one of the greatest video game stories of all time, and for good reason. This spectacular stealth title revolutionized the industry in numerous ways. Its combination of innovative gameplay with dynamic cutscenes, incredible voice acting, and rich music would go on to influence the rest of the industry for years to come. Its exploration of war and the threat of nuclear conflict is phenomenal storytelling, one that is still a masterpiece in all respects, and is readily available today thanks to theMetal Gear Master Collection.
