There are barely any new stealth games these days. Sure, we’ll see the occasional remaster of a classic or a new release here and there, but the genre has largely vanished from the mainstream. This disappearance can be attributed to the fact that most action-adventure games now feature stealth elements of some sort. However, this hasn’t deterred us from diving deep into the genre’s archives and picking out the 10 best stealth games that you should play in 2026.
List of the Best Stealth Games
Below, you’ll find a list of the best stealth games to check out in 2026. While these titles are available across all platforms, you’ll find them listed for deep discounts during the major Steam sales.
Game Release Date Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater August 26, 2025 Assassin’s Creed Shadows March 20, 2025 A Plague Tale: Requiem October 17, 2022 Hitman: World of Assassination January 26, 2023 Mark of the Ninja October 9, 2018 Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory March 28, 2005 Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection 1 October 24, 2023 Dishonored 2 November 10, 2016 Deus Ex: Human Revolution August 23, 2011 Alien: Isolation October 6, 2014
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
- Release Date: August 26, 2025
- Developer(s): Konami
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Kicking off our list of the best stealth games is the newest release of the bunch – Metal Gear Solid Delta. A remake of Hideo Kojima’s sensational Snake Eater, this modern reimaging faithfully captures everything that made the original so special. In fact, the remake barely touches the core gameplay and narrative fundamentals, opting to simply modernize the visuals instead.
If I take off the rose-tinted glasses for a second, there are parts of MGS: Snake Eater that could’ve absolutely benefited from an overhaul. But the feeling of frolicking around a dense jungle as a superspy still holds strong, and the original’s wacky plot twists somehow deliver the same punch. So, if you’re yet to play this classic, the remake is the best way to do so.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
- Released: March 20, 2025
- Developer(s): Ubisoft
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
When it comes to the stealth mechanics, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is easily the best AC game released this decade. Ubisoft finally took note of player feedback and added the option for guaranteed one-hit assassinations – just how it was in the old days.
This central mechanic is paired with returning features such as chain assassinations, fluid parkour, and even social stealth. In Naoe, Shadows also gave players a character that felt like a part of the Brotherhood, as opposed to some muscular foot soldier that could never have the dexterity of a sneaky assassin.
Sure, the game is held back by familiar issues, such as a world stuffed with repetitive objectives and a bland narrative. But if you’re a fan of Assassin’s Creed’s signature brand of stealth, then Shadows is well worth a try.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
- Release Date: October 17, 2022
- Developer(s): Asobo Studio
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
Not to be confused with the new Resident Evil game, A Plague Tale: Requiem is an underrated gem in the stealth-action genre. As you start the game, you will step into the shoes of Amicia, a young girl fighting for her survival along with her brother Hugo. The story is set in a plague-ridden, war-torn medieval France, and the combat is slightly different from most other stealth titles.
Unlike others, A Plague Tale: Requiem approaches a slower progression system methodically. As you move on with the story, you will realize the game focuses on non-lethal attacks, some anxious hide-and-seek moments, and smart puzzle-solving. Furthermore, you will find numerous ways to tackle each encounter. Either using the surroundings to create distractions or taking down enemies silently, it’s totally up to you. What sets this game apart is its exceptional narrative that is going to linger long after the credits start rolling
Hitman: World of Assassination
- Released: 26 January 2023
- Developer(s): I/O Interactive
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The 2015 reveal trailer of Hitman is one of my favorite game trailers. It sold me on trying the game and convinced me to try the future sequels. After the sequels launched, IO Interactive compiled every title into one collection – Hitman: The World of Assassination. The trilogy puts you in the shoes of the iconic Agent 47, a hitman for hire.
The story follows him in a quest to stop the shady Providence from pursuing their wrongdoings. The Hitman trilogy is known for its social stealth, where you have various ways to approach a challenge. Furthermore, the game is well-known among players who enjoy challenge runs and contains online features like elusive targets. It also has a rogue-lite gameplay mode called Freelancer, meaning there’s more than enough content to hold you over until the release of 007 First Light.
Mark of the Ninja
- Released: October 9, 2018
- Developer(s): Klei Entertainment
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Before Klei Entertainment burst onto the scene with indie gems such as Don’t Starve and Oxygen Not Needed, they made a 2D stealth title called Mark of the Ninja. And to this date, it remains one of the best stealth games you can buy on Steam.
Mark of the Ninja follows a Ninja with a cursed tattoo that gives him heightened senses. After his clan gets taken out by a mega-corporation, he goes on a rampage to bring justice against the people who wronged him and his clan. It features stunning 2D visuals, which Klei is known for, and intuitive gameplay that anyone can pick up and play.
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
- Released: March 28, 2005
- Developer(s): Ubisoft
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox.
Sam Fisher. It’s a name that anyone playing games since the 90s will immediately recognise. Arguably one of the most iconic characters in video games, Fisher carried the beloved Splinter Cell franchise on his back and revolutionized the stealth action genre forever. While every entry in this series is commendable, Chaos Theory takes the cake for being exceptional from top to bottom.
Chaos Theory sees Sam Fisher and the Third Echelon in action, upholding the Fifth Amendment and saving the United States from its enemies. The game features the best stealth system in the franchise, offering multiple routes to complete any mission. This degree of player agency was quite rare back in the day, and it remains just as impressive in 2026. For all these reasons and more, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory earns a spot in our best stealth games list.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection
- Released: 24 October 2023
- Developer(s): Konami
- Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is less a single game and more a curated history lesson in stealth design. The package brings together genre-defining entries like Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, along with the original MSX titles that laid the groundwork for everything that followed.
What makes these games iconic is how far ahead of their time they were. From radar-based stealth and reactive enemy AI to cinematic storytelling and unforgettable boss encounters, each entry pushed the medium forward in its own way. Taken together, this collection is a reminder of why Metal Gear Solid became synonymous with stealth games in the first place.
We highly recommend playing through the collection as quickly as you can to make room for Master Collection Vol. 2, which is among the most anticipated upcoming games in 2026.
Dishonored 2
- Release Date: November 10, 2016
- Developer(s): Arkane Austin
- Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC
Developed by the masters of immersive sims – Arkane Lyon – Dishonored 2 is practically the benchmark for the stealth genre. The devs went the extra mile to make every level feel like a distinct sandbox, featuring its own distinct routes, secrets, and distractions. This level design gels harmoniously with the supernatural abilities at your disposal, making for an experience that feels like Hitman on Whalepunk crack.
From shadowy teleports to reality-bending tricks, Emily and Corvo’s abilities unlock a treasure trove of opportunities and encourage players to get creative. Dishonored 2 constantly asks how you want to play, then fully commits to that choice. Few stealth games have ever felt this responsive or this rewarding, and we can only pray that the IP is resurrected at some point in the future.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
- Released: August 23, 2011
- Developer(s): Eidos Montreal
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, PC
I could’ve swapped Human Revolution with the original Deus Ex. But I just can’t help it since I love the game so much. Human Revolution is canonically the first game in the series, and it follows Adam Jensen, a security personnel member at Saref Industries, which is an augmentation company based in futuristic Detroit.
Adam gets unknowingly entangled in a conspiracy that spans countries and can change the world’s future. Human Revolution allows players to play how they feel, giving them multiple choices to approach a problem. And the game rewards you for playing in stealth. It’s also one of the better-written games in this genre and offers a captivating story.
Alien: Isolation
- Released: 6 October 2014
- Developer(s): SEGA
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, iOS.
The final entry in our best stealth games list is objectively the best piece of Alien media right after the original Ridley Scott movie. Alien: Isolation is a first-person stealth survival horror game set fifteen years after the first Alien movie. You play as Ellen Ripley’s daughter, Amanda, who gets trapped in USS Sevastopol, a spaceship with rampant androids and a ruthless Alien out to hunt.
Alien: Isolation is best known for its oppressive atmosphere, which is very faithful to the source material. But what makes it truly terrifying is the titular Alien’s AI, which adapts to your actions and latches onto your trail when you least expect it. In Isolation, you not only have an S-tier stealth game, but the title is also regarded among the best horror games on the market.
And that wraps up our picks for the best stealth games to play in 2026. Do you agree with our selections? Let us know in the comments below.
