[ctrayne]

.

[SamuraiX-]

Sure, Wrath of Heaven and the Xbox port (?) were decent, but failed to advance the series or the genre in any meaningful way.

And the OP nails it.

My absolute favorite stealth-based game of all time (next to the MG series).

[RadioHeadAche]

The original Splinter Cell is my favorite stealth game, but I haven't played many. It was thrilling and at times incredibly frustrating, but sneaking through areas without taking out any guards is very satisfying. I've played Pandora Tomorrow, but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much despite the polished mechanics. I'll play Chaos Theory sometime, but I needed a break because I played the first two games back-to-back.

[iirate]

I could never figure out the stealth sections in Arkham Asylum. I'd take down a guy quietly away from all the other thugs but the Joker would just start screamin over the PA and giving away my location and alerting everyone.

It's take on stealth can be a little different, but AA is more about taking out guys without being caught in the act rather than taking out an entire room undetected.

Anyways, I just have to echo those that mentioned Chaos Theory and the Batman games (ESPECIALLY Chaos Theory). CT single player, co-op, and spies vs. mercs were all absolutely mind-blowingly good. Easily one of my favorite games ever.

[keltickennedy]

Big fan of stealth games but I have never even heard of those... You should definitely try out the Thief series. Early Hitman games are also excellent.

Never heard of Tenchu!? How old are you? If you don't mind me asking.

If we are talking my all time favorite stealth games and tenchu already being listed....

The Mark of Kri

Splinter Cell franchise

Hitman franchise

Thief 3

More recently Batman AA and AC and Deus Ex HR.

[TheFLYINGManga_Ka]

Sometimes stealth can really test my patience, especially the segments where you have to start over if you get detected. At least in MGS you can try to hide.

Stealth was never my thing but MGS3 and some of the Splinter Cell games was pretty fun.

But frustrating overall. I'd rather run and gun or cover and fire.

[BigDug13]

I played the first Far Cry on PC as a stealth game. Great mechanic on that one as you're able to hide in the bushes and take out the enemies one at a time. Took forever to play since I played it that way. I think it was designed more for run and gun.

[KenOD]

Oh of course not. Real answer is Commandos series.

I'll quote someone else for it though.

The Commandos franchise is still my favourite series of stealth/strategy games. Carefully navigating between the cones of visions of the Nazi guards, setting up traps to take out a particular enemy, timing your units' actions with pinpoint accuracy to achieve an objective, getting your hands on an enemy general's outfit and sneaking through the map as the Spy, sniping a top dog from a roof on the other side of the map as the Sniper, (non-lethally) clearing out an entire train as the Green Beret... So good when a plan comes together.

[d00d3n]

Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay is a classic game in the stealth genre. Had a nice minimalist stealth ui, weighty instant take down animations and a wide range of gameplay possibilities (including infiltration, social stealth and alert level based enemy ai in some levels)

[Guerrillas in the Mist]

As others have mentioned, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. I'd love for the next Splinter Cell to add the light and sound meter back into the game, but that probably wouldn't be "immersive" enough.

And the Thief series. I don't know how the OP can say he/she doesn't like Thief, yet still enjoys stealth games. Thief is the granddaddy of all modern Stealth titles, and it still holds up well today.

[aerts1js]

AMAZING GAME.

[Enco]

Deus Ex Human Revolution is the best stealth game I remember.

[BadWolf]

MGS4 had excellent stealth, with the Octocamo adding a whole new angle.

Outside of MGS though, Tenchu 4 is my absolute fave. Amazing game.

[parski]

In my opinion it was Metal Gear Solid 3 that had the best sneaking in the Metal Gear Series. The octocamo in Guns of the Patriots felt like cheating at times, whereas Snake Eater had you manually changing camouflage. Tactical Espionage Action.

[iratA]

Most of the best are mentioned here already such as Metal Gear and so on. But I've got to mention '007 Quantum Of Solace'. It had a few sections that could be entirely stealthed. Wasn't expecting it, but it felt good to get the drop on guards, bypass security cameras and so on in a spy/secret agent themed game. Far from the best game but mindless fun none-the-less.

[BadWolf]

In my opinion it was Metal Gear Solid 3 that had the best sneaking in the Metal Gear Series. The octocamo in Guns of the Patriots felt like cheating at times, whereas Snake Eater had you manually changing camouflage. Tactical Espionage Action.

That was more annoying than tactical. Octocamo just made it more seamless.

[CiSTM]

Tenchu 2 brings back so many memories :) The Sea Battle level was so long and boring, it almost made me to quit playing the game. Thief series is really the best in the biz, well at least the first two. Even from those I would say Thief II is the best. I really liked the first games story and the cult was interesting but on the other hand it had too many dark cave levels. OP should give Thief II another shot, get it from GOG.com and play couple of levels and see if it does anything this time around. The story is too good to be missed.

[KenOD]

Metal Gear Solid Mobile did good for camouflage if you played it straight and didn't cheat/abuse it taking pictures to alter the suit.

[NinjaBoiX]

Been said to death, but Chaos Theory is the shit. Also, Dues Ex: HR.

[bigjimmystyle]

Been said to death, but Chaos Theory is the shit. Also, Dues Ex: HR.

Looks like I own chaos theory on steam which is surprising! How does play with kb/m? Or is it 360 controller compatible?

[Sloane]

Thread made me re-install NOLF 1 & 2 and Hitman: Blood Money. Never played a Tenchu game for some reason but now I will.

[Digoman]

Not much to add really... Thief series is still the best for me. Ugly graphics for the first two (even at the time) but such good sound design...

Splinter cell up until Chaos Theory, Hitman, and so on. Someone mention the Riddick game, which is also very good.

Fun fact I found out when looking at the wikipedia: MGS, Tenchu and Thief were all released in 1998.

So, who do I have to (stealthily) kill to make Thief 4 be released soon and that it doesn't have "action" segments?

[Phuturephunk]

There is Thief, there is Chaos Theory (and the preceding two) and then there are a sea of wannabes.

Period.

[Krappadizzle]

This has been the best one in the most recent years. Though that new Hitman looks pretty good. I would love to see a new Tenchu at launch for the next gen of consoles. Co-Op stealth ninjas? YES PLEASE!

[NinjaBoiX]

Looks like I own chaos theory on steam which is surprising! How does play with kb/m? Or is it 360 controller compatible?

It controls well on PC. WASD is supplemented by the scroll wheel on the mouse for analogue movement. Not sure about pad support though. X-padder?

[Sephiroth503]

Been playing through the Splinter Cell HD Collection. Onto Pandora Tomorrow now and really enjoying them.

I've heard great stuff about Chaos Theory so can't wait to get onto it.

[NinjaBoiX]

There is Thief, there is Chaos Theory (and the preceding two) and then there are a sea of wannabes. Period.

A was trying to explain to an MGS fan pal of mine why I prefer SC. It's just so much more organic and "emergent". Full 3D TPS cam (I know subsistence and 4 added it to MGS, but it's not a tenet or anything), light and shadow gameplay, ambient volume taken into account, it's just awesome. MGS always felt stilted and awkward by comparison, piecemeal snippets of gameplay sandwiched in between bloated self important psychobabble.

[Rivyn]

Chaos Theory is, beyond a doubt, the best stealth game ever created. There is nothing that comes close because it also remains realistic with a few over the top moments, unlike the MGS franchise where stealth provides more humor and less tension.

[Krauser Kat]

Tenchu 4 was so good.

[Alextended]

Sandbox Tenchu could be so rad... Emergent missions based on clan wars and shit... Poisoning doods all night long.

[BadWolf]

Chaos Theory is, beyond a doubt, the best stealth game ever created. There is nothing that comes close because it also remains realistic with a few over the top moments, unlike the MGS franchise where stealth provides more humor and less tension.

Try playing MGS full stealth and not relying on the tranq gun, lets see how humorous you find it then.

The last time I played MGS4 it was via a ghost run (full stealth, no items or weapons, zero interaction with guards, so no distracting or knocking on walls etc.) and it was fun and intense as hell.

[Unicorn]

Sandbox Tenchu could be so rad... Emergent missions based on clan wars and shit... Poisoning doods all night long.

Yes. I was just thinking about that as I was replaying Tenchu 2 last night.

[Derrick01]

Try playing MGS full stealth and not relying on the tranq gun, lets see how humorous you find it then. The last time I played MGS4 it was via a ghost run (full stealth, no items or weapons, zero interaction with guards, so no distracting or knocking on walls etc.) and it was fun and intense as hell.

If you have to create your own stealth game to make it worthwhile then it's no good. You pretty much have to play Chaos Theory stealthy or you likely die. You don't have to play MGS4 stealthy, in fact it's more like a shooter/action game than stealth game.

[Pazuzu9]

Uncharted 2 had really enjoyable stealth. It felt like such a seamless addition to the Uncharted 1 moves.

Special mentions go to Beyond Good and Evil and Mini Ninjas. Simplistic but great.

But Chaos Theory is still the best.

[Ricky_R]

If you have to create your own stealth game to make it worthwhile then it's no good. You pretty much have to play Chaos Theory stealthy or you likely die. You don't have to play MGS4 stealthy, in fact it's more like a shooter/action game than stealth game.

I wouldn't say a game, or said specific feature, is not good just because you have to create it yourself. On the contrary, it can become quite satisfying knowing that you had to make the effort to play it like that and make it successful. IMO of course.

However, Splinter Cell is by far a better stealth game than MGS is and will ever be.

[Criminal Upper]

That Tenchu for the Wii, posted above, is really rad. I tested it for a couple of months and enjoyed it.

I also remember really liking Missing Impossible: Operation Surma

[BadWolf]

If you have to create your own stealth game to make it worthwhile then it's no good. You pretty much have to play Chaos Theory stealthy or you likely die. You don't have to play MGS4 stealthy, in fact it's more like a shooter/action game than stealth game.

No, they just don't force it on you but rather give you a choice. If you want a full stealth experience then you can have it but if you would like it more casual then you can have that too. Neither is forced and overall makes the game very accessible.

For me MGS only turns into an action game when there is a boss fight or something of the like where you simply have to fight, otherwise its a full on stealth game.

[Derrick01]

No, they just don't force it on you but rather give you a choice. If you want a full stealth experience then you can have it but if you would like it more casual then you can have that too. Neither is forced and overall makes the game very accessible. For me MGS only turns into an action game when there is a boss fight or something of the like where you simply have to fight, otherwise its a full on stealth game.

Making it accessible is why the series fails to reach the top tier of stealth games. You're playing a stealth game, meaning you shouldn't get much of a choice in terms of how to play it. You should normally die for playing it like a shooter as punishment for your failure.

You should get many choices on how to accomplish your goals in a stealthy manner (hitman blood money comes to mind) but the answer should never be to play it like the mounted gun scene in the latest Rambo movie.

[Window]

While I do like Deus Ex:HR quite a lot I did find the stealth in the game to be extremely simplistic. You can just tell at a glance the areas past which the gaurds will not go and are 'safe' to hide behind which coupled with the multiple paths and your augs means you're pretty much never ever exposed. There were exceptions to this and those were the best parts (for stealth elements I mean) such as when you are ambushed in China, once in the apartments and the other in Zhao's room.

I do find stealth games such as Hitman which require you to think on your feet to be more rewarding but also more frustrating.

[BadWolf]

Making it accessible is why the series fails to reach the top tier of stealth games. You're playing a stealth game, meaning you shouldn't get much of a choice in terms of how to play it. You should normally die for playing it like a shooter as punishment for your failure. You should get many choices on how to accomplish your goals in a stealthy manner (hitman blood money comes to mind) but the answer should never be to play it like the mounted gun scene in the latest Rambo movie.

Have you only played MGS by running and gunning your way through normal or something?

They give you a choice. They don't force the player to play any specific way. To me that is the best way.

At the end its about what you want from the game. Its like saying that Bayonetta or DMC are shallow because you can use very basic tactics and combos to finish the game on normal. Just because they don't force you to master the game that doesn't mean there isn't an ass load to learn and master.

[Foliorum Viridum]

Crysis is by far the best stealth game ever made, but most people don't know it.

[rollingstart]

If you have to create your own stealth game to make it worthwhile then it's no good. You pretty much have to play Chaos Theory stealthy or you likely die. You don't have to play MGS4 stealthy, in fact it's more like a shooter/action game than stealth game.

I think that's a great quality of certain stealth games. It reminds me of that line from Leon about how the better you are, the closer you get, or something like that. Splinter Cell has varying levels of stealth (lethal, non-lethal, ghost, etc.) and with Chaos Theory it made action a more viable approach. Ghost playthroughs are much harder than taking enemies out, or simply shooting them. It's always great to take out your target and only your target in a Hitman game, without it looking like a hit. You don't have to play as a ghost, but it's a far more satisfying approach.

Actually, Alpha Protocol handled it really well too. Albatross commenting on how sneaky you were and things like that.

[Confidence Man]

They're all pretty lame these days. Give you a million tools to cheat your way through, let you swing the camera around corners, predictable AI, etc... They're power fantasies when it should be the opposite.

[Window]

Actually, Alpha Protocol handled it really well too. Albatross commenting on how sneaky you were and things like that.

Yeah definitely in addition to how you handle your run ins with the CIA and how you perform on Parker's assignment near the beginnning (I assumed that he simply wanted nobody dead so used non-lethal takedowns but this still led to negative reputation since I guess I was suppose to go in and out without letting it be known this happened at all).

[Derrick01]

Have you only played MGS by running and gunning your way through normal or something? They give you a choice. They don't force the player to play any specific way. To me that is the best way. At the end its about what you want from the game. Its like saying that Bayonetta or DMC are shallow because you can use very basic tactics and combos to finish the game on normal. Just because they don't force you to master the game that doesn't mean there isn't an ass load to learn and master.

Like I said MGS giving you a lot of choice is why the stealth elements in that game are pretty sub par and why it fails when compared to the real stealth games. It's meant to be as accessible as possible to sell 5+ million copies because let's be honest, the majority of people get frustrated if they have to be stealthy and actually think their way through an area.

[Chuck Norris]

Uncharted 2 had really enjoyable stealth. It felt like such a seamless addition to the Uncharted 1 moves. Special mentions go to Beyond Good and Evil and Mini Ninjas. Simplistic but great. But Chaos Theory is still the best.

I think Uncharted is just a step away from being a great stealth game

I loved cleaning out an area stealthily in both 2 and 3

Though I wish it was easier to reset enemies into stealth mode

The whole franchise would go up a notch in believability for me if I could use more and more stealth

[scorpscarx]

Like I said MGS giving you a lot of choice is why the stealth elements in that game are pretty sub par and why it fails when compared to the real stealth games. It's meant to be as accessible as possible to sell 5+ million copies because let's be honest, the majority of people get frustrated if they have to be stealthy and actually think their way through an area.

Completely agree with Derrick here, pure stealth is best stealth.

[Salaadin]

MGS is probably the most "action-ey" stealth game out there followed closely by DXHR. Its the type of gameplay that I prefer because it feels fresh everytime I play it. Its open ended approach might not make it fit nicely in the stealth genre but its the most enjoyable for me.

[BadWolf]

They're all pretty lame these days. Give you a million tools to cheat your way through, let you swing the camera around corners, predictable AI, etc... They're power fantasies when it should be the opposite.

This bothers me quite a bit.

They showed it proper in MGS4 in that cutscene where Snake first approaches the building with Naomi and Laughing Octopus in Act II. He approches the corner with his rifle at the ready while taking quick peeks try to see what's behind the corner, very slowly and carefully.

So they know the right way for sure but I guess players prefer it camera spinning way. Just like in one of the cutscenes in the beginning where they show Snake checking extremely carefully to see if the weapon he was picking up is booby trapped or not. In the actual game he just pick them up.

Like I said MGS giving you a lot of choice is why the stealth elements in that game are pretty sub par and why it fails when compared to the real stealth games. It's meant to be as accessible as possible to sell 5+ million copies because let's be honest, the majority of people get frustrated if they have to be stealthy and actually think their way through an area.

Sorry but you sound like you've never played MGS without running and gunning your way through a lower difficulty.

[Derrick01]

Sorry but you sound like you've never played MGS without running and gunning your way through a lower difficulty.

I played the MGS games the way they were designed to play. Extremely light stealth and if you get caught you can wipe out 15 guards before running to the nearest locker or using a box or using some magic camouflage that makes you invisible even when someone steps on you. It's even worse in MGS4, there's virtually no stealth at all after the first Act.