Stealth mechanics are a common feature in modern video games. Even games that are traditionally action-focused, like Elden Ring for example, contain at least a few stealth abilities, usually cobbled together from mechanics featured in other games. Crouching in tall grass? That's stealth. Sneak up behind an enemy for an easy kill? That's stealth too. Running away until the enemies "forget" they saw a threat? That's definitely stealth.
However, when it comes to games where stealth is the primary focus, these mechanics are much more robust. Enemies are smart and deadly, and their vision and hearing pick up the slightest hints of movement. The best - and most difficult - stealth games embrace all the features mentioned above as well as many others, weaving them into a tapestry of danger that requires strategic planning, lightning-fast movement, and a finely-tuned sense of timing to succeed.
9 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
The Deus Ex series has always been known for its incorporation of stealth mechanics into what outwardly appeared to be a sci-fi FPS game. The newer entries to the series take that stealth element to even greater heights, especially in the semi-open world city of Prague in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.
Mankind Divided received a lot of (fair) criticism about its story, particularly its abrupt ending. Lost in that conversation is the treasure trove of stealth options provided to players as they explore Prague. Adam Jensen has some unique stealth abilities, and whether he's jumping across rooftops or skulking through sewers, the game incorporates them into its systems incredibly well. When players encounter a room full of enemies, and the real test begins. Trying to clear the game non-lethally is intensely challenging, and will require every bit of tech Jensen installs on his body.
8 Chronicles Of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay
When it comes to movie tie-in games, one that gets criminally overlooked is Escape From Butcher Bay, the tie in to Vin Diesel's The Chronicles of Riddick from 2004. The game is a prequel to the franchise's first movie, Pitch Black, and chronicles Riddick's escape from the most dangerous and brutal prison colony in the galaxy. It's not entirely stealth-focused, there are moments of first-person shooting and hand-to-hand combat, but the stealth sections are where the game really shines.
For one, they're extremely challenging. Riddick can die in just a few hits, so caution dictates every move. That said, these sections also make the best use of Riddick's skills, including his "eyeshine" ability to see in the dark, which can also blind him if used in bright areas. Riddick can take out enemies from behind or by dropping from above, getting quick kills with improvised weapons he finds throughout the prison. The game strikes a perfect balance between making Riddick feel vulnerable, and making him feel like a total badass.
7 Dishonored 2
The Dishonored series is best known for its stealth gameplay. While technically players can take an aggressive playstyle (and a few have pulled off some awesome sequences doing so), the stealth approach is the most challenging - and most rewarding - way to play. The first game in the series acts as a fantastic proof-of-concept, but Dishonored 2 is refined to a spectacular degree.
The way to truly make Dishonored 2 one of the hardest stealth games of all time is to try playing non-lethally on the hardest difficulty. Even without changing difficulty settings, it's still a huge challenge. One enemy won't pose much of a threat, but as soon as a few of them work together death comes quickly afterward. Combine that with the extreme verticality and unusual gimmicks in each level, and Dishonored 2 never fails to put up a challenge.
6 Alien: Isolation
Most players wouldn't immediately think of Alien: Isolation as a stealth game, but while the player does receive the occasional weapon, for the most part they spend the game hiding under medical gurneys and inside closets, quietly moving past a host of dangerous enemies. The one enemy that transforms this game from hard to very hard is the Xenomorph.
There are only a few missions where players deal with the Xenomorph directly, but they are widely considered to be the best (and hardest) parts of the game. Players can track the Xenomorph via the iconic motion detector, but they move more slowly while doing so. Even if they manage to detect the thing, there's no way to fight it. It just gives the player an extra moment to find somewhere to hide. If they don't, it'll take the Xenomorph about three seconds to kill them.
5 Mark Of The Ninja
It doesn't necessarily leave this impression upon its completion, but Mark of the Ninja is a hard game. Its generous checkpoint system makes it easy to forget how many attempts each level - and even each section of a level - takes to complete, but this is a game that takes its stealth very seriously.
2D platformers don't really jump to mind when imagining an ideal stealth experience, but Klei Entertainment crafted a masterclass in slow, quiet action gameplay. Every enemy the player faces requires pinpoint timing and a pre-planned escape route, and as the levels progress and the challenge ramps up, not even that will be enough to ensure success.
4 Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
There have been three Splinter Cell games released since Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory in 2005, but when fans envision a new, modern take on the series, that vision always harkens back to Chaos Theory. For a franchise with as much success as Splinter Cell has had, this entry is still the premier example of what the ultimate Sam Fisher video game looks like.
A big part of that is just how real these games feel. There is a palpable sensation to the way Sam hides in the shadows. He's not a bullet sponge, and his enemies always have the more powerful weaponry, but Sam Fisher possesses a unique set of skills (and a few essential gadgets) that make him a nightmare to deal with. It's up to the player to master those skills and gadgets, because one misstep into a well-lit room will leave Sam exposed and almost completely helpless.
3 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
The Metal Gear franchise practically pioneered the stealth genre, dating all the way back to the first game in 1998. While Hideo Kojima has spent the better part of his 30-year development career refining the series' gameplay (with a couple digressions along the way), he hit a pinnacle with Metal Gear Solid V.
Most stealth games give the player some sense of when they are or are not visible to enemies. The Phantom Pain does no such thing, and instead relies on player understanding. If it seems like Snake should be hidden, he probably is. It takes some getting used to, especially in the game's brightly-lit areas, but the more players adapt to that system the more reliable it becomes. Combine that with a multitude of gadgets, weapons, and companions Snake can bring with him on missions, and despite the controversy surrounding its development, The Phantom Pain is arguably the most complete stealth experience ever made.
2 Shadow Tactics: Blades Of The Shogun
For the PC players out there, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun offers a stealth experience that stands apart from every other entry in the genre. In a typical stealth game, players would have full control over one character. In Shadow Tactics, players have an isometric tactical view through which they issue orders to five characters at once.
Naturally, this significantly increases the game's challenge. Guiding those five assassins through enemy camps riddled with enemies is no easy feat. It takes planning, caution, and wits to pull it off. The best option is usually to avoid combat entirely, picking off the occasional lone guard when there is no other choice. Shadow Tactics stands apart in its genre both for its gameplay, its setting, and its high degree of difficulty.
1 Hitman: Absolution
There was no doubt that a Hitman game would make this list, but of all the possible entries, why the often-criticized Hitman: Absolution? The game was heavily panned for taking the Hitman franchise away from its roots and pushing it in a more action-heavy direction. Well, that's exactly why it's the hardest stealth game of all time: because it's not designed to be a pure stealth game.
Cranking Hitman: Absolution up to the hardest difficulty and trying to play through it without being detected is virtually impossible. Crowds are dense in this game, and enemies become suspicious at the faintest hint of Agent 47's presence, and will draw their weapons the next instant. The game wants players to start shooting to save themselves. Ignore that solicitation, and this may be the hardest challenge players will ever face.