There really aren’t any games like the Thief series, and for my money, the standout is Thief 2: The Metal Age. There have been some attempts since Looking Glass Studios released this masterpiece, and trust me, I’ve played them all, but I still find myself coming back to the original Thief experience. When I was a kid, my dad brought home a demo for Thief, and I was hooked ever since. I was used to first-person shooters; running in and fighting demons and blasting Nazis was my comfort zone, but Thief immediately turned that all on its head. If you attempt to rush the guards, Garrett, the main character of the Thief series, would be cut down in a heartbeat. Brawling isn’t Garrett’s style; he is a thief trained by the Keepers and a true master of his craft. The shadows are your home, and to accomplish your goals, you need to use wit and cunning rather than brute force.

Thief 2 starts with Garrett needing money for rent, but you quickly learn through the amazing world-building and story that this world is changing, and the old ways Garrett was finely tuned to handle are evaporating by the minute. Garrett was born and raised in a world that is, for all intents and purposes, medieval in nature, but the Mechanists, a group of technology fanatics who treat metal and gears as holy objects, are pushing for rapid progress. They install cameras and robots that make the humble thief’s job a lot more challenging than just dealing with a rabble of drunk, out-of-shape guards.

Garrett isn’t going down without a fight, however. As you play, you have an arsenal of unique and interesting tools at your disposal. Water arrows, for instance, put out torches (though with the increasing use of electric lights, this becomes more situational, it can still be invaluable in a variety of situations). Moss arrows cover hard metal surfaces with soft moss, allowing you to silence your footsteps. Scout orbs let you peer into rooms ahead and scope out the security. Flash bombs get you out of sticky situations quickly, blinding chasing guards. Fire arrows will put down most enemies if things go really bad (use them carefully, however, as they tend to be very rare).

On each level, your primary goal is to gather enough loot to keep Garrett fed and out of the poorhouse. While you creep about in the shadows, filling your pockets with shiny things, you’ll overhear conversations and come across confidential information that tells the tale of the world around you and where it’s headed. As you progress, you learn that multiple factions are vying for power in this world.

The Hammerites are the original metal fan club, believing in the Great Builder who, with his hammer and the forge, crafted the world. Through their work with metal, they honor him and achieve enlightenment. They oppose Nature and its ‘filth,’ believing dirt fouls the holy gears and roots tangle the great machines.

The Mechanists are an offshoot of the Hammerites, even more fanatical to the point of alienating their predecessors. They believe even flesh is an abomination, and that all should be of metal and machine.

The Pagans are the voice of nature and the planet. You might think they would crumble before the might of the other factions, but through their attunement with the planet, they wield powerful magics that help them repel and foil the Mechanists’ expansion.

One of the most critical figures in Garrett’s life is Sheriff Truart. He is on a mission to stamp out all thieves and criminals in his city, and he inches closer every day towards achieving his goal.

Garrett, an orphan pickpocket, was caught attempting to steal from a Keeper, a faction dedicated to maintaining balance among the others. They saw his potential and trained him to be a master thief, intending for him to steal relics and items of import for them. Once Garrett got older, he understood he was being used and left the Keepers. However, as this situation evolves, he is roped back into this overarching struggle, becoming another moving piece in this grand chess game for control of the world.

Every level in Thief 2 is crafted in such a way that truly allows the player to solve challenges in their own unique way, contributing to immense replayability. The sound design and atmosphere truly immerse you in this well-thought-out and masterfully crafted world.

Thief is part of a rare breed of games called immersive sims. In a nutshell, an immersive sim aims to truly put the player into the shoes of a character in another world, allowing them to approach challenges with unparalleled freedom. The focus is on player choice in all things. Looking Glass Studios was renowned for its immersive sim games, but unfortunately, they were way ahead of their time, and this kind of game didn’t resonate with most gamers at the time.

Thankfully, Thief has since found the praise and love it deserved, now a cult classic that many still play avidly. My favorite thing about the games, of all things, is Garrett’s voice actor. He truly sells the character and his motivations, helping to immerse me in his way of thinking and getting me into the mindset to pull off high-stakes capers and make off with the upper class’s valuables.

If you haven’t played Thief but enjoy stealth games or games with amazing world building and lore this is one for you and honestly I envy you because you get to experience this incredible classic for the first time as I once did all those years ago and hopefully you will fall in love with it as I did.

If you haven’t played Thief but enjoy stealth games or titles with amazing world-building and lore, this is one for you. Honestly, I envy you, because you get to experience this incredible classic for the first time, just as I did all those years ago, and hopefully, you’ll fall in love with it as I did. As of the time of this writing, Thief 2: The Metal Age is only $0.96 on sale! For less than a dollar, you can experience this masterclass in stealth gameplay! (Don’t worry if you’ve never played the first game; it’s not required to enjoy the second. In my opinion, Thief 2 is a better entrance to the series as it shows fewer signs of age, but if you enjoy this one, I would definitely play the first and third games as well!)

Buy Thief on GOG.com