While stealth - action game are n’t as ingrained in the mod - sidereal day gaming scene as they were in the 2000s or other 2010s , they look to be tardily create a comeback . The genre leave a alone shiver and habit-forming qualities that few other genres do , and it has an telling amount of venerate greats in its catalog .

Ranker’svoting community put together a list of their 10 favourite stealth - activeness games ever . For longtime fans of the genre , these entering should n’t surprise as these games range from being popularly consider as classics or modern classics .

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Rocksteady took theBatmanIP in   picture games and revitalize it like to how Christopher Nolan did in resilient - action motion picture , and 2009’sArkham Asylumwas a landmark game for the beloved superhero , the superhero genre , and gaming overall . Asylum , developer Rocksteady , and DC caption Paul Dini put together a new domain that draws on some of the honorable that the acclaimedBatman : The Animated Serieshad to provide .

On top of its cathartic and tight - paced " Freeflow Combat " system ,   the stealth " Predator " succession were just as immensely cheering and engross musician in the mantle and cowl of the Dark Knight . Even by today ’s standards , Arkham Asylumstands asone of the greatest Batman games .

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty

Hideo Kojima ’s brainchild seriesMetal Gear Solidis arguably one of the most synonymous with the stealth - action at law writing style . Metal Gear Solid 2 : Logos of Libertyfor the PlayStation 2 was critically acclaimed , though , it did initially pull together some class for abruptly swapping out Snake for Raiden as the protagonist .

The game ’s praises for the most part went toward its evolutionary leap from   the PS1 classic , refining all of the stealth mechanic and graphical introduction . Sons of Libertystill ranks asone of the bestMetal Gear Solidgames , and it   was also praise for being narratively in the lead of its sentence , as it dive heavily into philosophical themes and a world plunged into a politically post - truth era as the Information Age is in full effect . However , the secret plan has simultaneously – and clearly – been critiqued   for coming off overwhelmingly twist   to some .

Batman: Arkham City

WithArkham City ’s   endure status as one of the best forward-looking superhero games , it ’s unsurprising to still see so many declare itthe dependable of theBatman : Arkhamseries . The game immix the exposed - human race , legal action - adventure , and stealth - action genre to a euphoric upshot , expanding nigh everything that madeAsylumso great and made it better .

Dini ’s written material is more than welcome yet again , the graphic were ameliorate , and the Freeflow Combat was even more habit-forming . Along with this were also the stealth auto-mechanic . Growing Batman ’s contraption arsenal and create even more unparalleled opportunities in Predator sequences make this acclaimed sequel even more engrossing .

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Metal Gear square pentad : The Phantom Painis a singular case of being simultaneously critically acclaimed and one of the most controversial modern games . Kojima ’s finale takes place in the ' 80s , but it was meant to bring the overallMetal Gearstory full circle .

The Phantom Painwas lauded for elaborate the stealth - action rule of the serial publication onto an open - world   sail and providing an unbelievable point of player freedom when it came to come near a fighting situation . However , literary criticism was given to the story for taking a large backseat to the gameplay , limit it mostly to longsighted audio frequency logs , and requiring players to retell old missions to get the " true " conclusion .

Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow

Konami and Kojima’sMetal Gear Solidhelped instigate more stealth - action games , and the ilk ofSplinter Cellproved to be a thrilling series in its own right field . The games are based on author Tom Clancy ’s novels , following the exploits of Sam Fisher in the   back - ops branch known as Third Echelon .

Many of the games in the dealership earned vital acclaim , withPandora Tomorrowbeing one of the highest performer . The biz was praise for maintain the original ’s strong stealth gameplay initiation along with some quality - of - lifetime melioration , as well as overhaul graphics and a sleek story .

Hitman: Blood Money

Hitmancompletes a variety of trifecta withMetal GearandSplinter Cellas stealth - legal action heavyweight of the medium . As the claim intimate , Hitmanputs players in the character of an outright assassin rather than a black - ops specialiser . The serial has also seen renewed achiever thanks to IO Interactive ’s late well - received reboot trilogy .

It tax player to habituate subterfuge and become a master of disguise to orchestrate accidental - look assassinations . descent Moneyreceived a strong critical receipt , with critic citing the expanded storey intent of each mission as being well - executed and giving players the dick to be originative and inventive in their hits .

Splinter Cell

The originalSplinter Celllaunched not long afterMGS2 : Son of Liberty , and it constitute its own iris on the genre . It was deservedly spat for its respective stealth - action plan of attack and its atmosphere .

praise go to how gameplay matte up suitably tense like few other game did and how it advanced the genre in the third - person perspective . Likewise , its visual and in writing presentation was regarded as stunning for the fourth dimension , particularly when it come in toSplinter Cell ’s use of tripping and shadow essence . That success was for sure guarantee , as not only did it spawn several sequel , but it ’s lay to have a PS5 , Xbox Series X|S remake .

Metal Gear Solid

While there wereMetal Geargames before it , the originalMetal Gear Solidjumpstarted what would become a play dynasty . The game is arguably the one most responsible for initiate the stealth - action at law genre and its mechanics , ushering in Solid Snake as an iconic character in the mental process .

The story revolves around Solid Snake throw to pass through a outside island in Alaska where a terrorist group is threatening atomic warfare if they are n’t given $ 1 billion and the remains of Big Boss ( MGS3 ’s Naked Snake ) . Its stealth gameplay was unlike anything at the fourth dimension , and it also helped to continue paving the way for more cinematic storytelling in gaming .

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Metal Gear Solid 3 : serpent Eaterwas another major milestone for the enfranchisement as it brought the straggle undercover agent saga back down to earthly concern . The gameplay was extol for incorporate natural selection mechanics into stealing and percolation spot , with protagonist Naked Snake have to apply the wilderness around him to endure .

also , Naked Snake and his story were praise for being riveting , emotional , and more ground . For all thatMetal Gearis partly pick apart for Kojima ’s storytelling being too ego - lenient , Snake Eaterfelt more aerodynamic and not   thematically pervert or filled with overpowering philosophic jargon . All of these components blend forone of the best PS2 action - adventure biz .

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

Even with all the successSplinter Cellsaw in its heyday , 2005’sChaos Theoryremains a popular sports fan favorite for series veterans . The game was a darker bit for the enfranchisement in terms of tone , with Sam Fisher resorting to more lethal tactics in gameplay .

Chaos Theorywas acclaimed for evolving from its herald , namely in terms of polishing the stealth mechanism to satisfyingly reward scheme more than before while not take a leak the trouble punishing . As praised as preceding game were , Chaos Theoryshed the " trial - and - mistake " feel of them for a more processed experience .

NEXT:10 Best GameCube Action - Adventure Games , accord To Ranker

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Split image of MGS3, Splinter Cell, and Batman: Arkham City art.

Batman standing in front of the moonlight in Arkham Asylum cover art

Official artwork of Solid Snake and Raiden for Metal Gear Solid 2

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Sam Fisher sneaks around in Pandora Tomorrow.

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Sam Fisher holding a knife in the shadows, illuminated by his night goggles.

Art of Solid Snake for Metal Gear Solid.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater art with The Boss and Naked Snake.

Sam Fisher hangs upside down behind an assassin in Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory.

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