The Thief series is a collection of stealth video games in which players control Garrett, a skilled thief in a fantasy steampunk world that mixes elements of the Late Middle Ages and the Victorian era, with more advanced technology included.

The series includes Thief: The Dark Project (1998), Thief II: The Metal Age (2000), Thief: Deadly Shadows (2004), Thief (2014), and Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow (2025). A version of Thief: The Dark Project called Thief Gold was released in 1999 and included three additional maps and several bug fixes. Looking Glass Studios created both The Dark Project and The Metal Age. After the studio closed in 2000, many of its former employees joined Ion Storm and helped develop the third game, Deadly Shadows. Later, Eidos-Montréal took over the series. The Thief series has received positive reviews from critics.

Gameplay

The Thief video game series is played from the viewpoint of the main character, who moves through a three-dimensional world. The main way to play the game is to avoid fighting enemies. Instead, players move quietly through the environment to complete tasks, such as sneaking past enemies or quietly stopping them without making too much noise. The games are sometimes called "first-person sneaker" or "sneak-em-up" games because they focus on hiding and avoiding detection. It took time for people to classify the Thief games because other 3D stealth games, like Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell and Assassin's Creed, became popular only after the first Thief game was released.

One important feature of the Thief games is the use of sound as part of the gameplay. Sound clues help players know when other characters are nearby and how much noise the main character, Garrett, makes while moving. If Garrett makes too much noise, nearby guards may become suspicious and search for intruders. Players can avoid being heard by walking softly, avoiding noisy surfaces, or using moss arrows to create a quiet path.

Light and darkness are also important strategies. A meter at the bottom of the screen, called the "Light Gem," shows how visible the main character is. Moving into darker areas or crouching makes the character less likely to be noticed. Walking in bright areas or holding a weapon, like a sword or bow, makes the character more visible. Smart players watch for changes in light, guard patrol paths, and the type of ground they are walking on, just in case they need to hide quickly. A light source, such as a torch or gas lamp, can be turned off with a Water Arrow, creating a dark place to hide. Electric lights can be turned off by using a nearby switch or button. However, if no switch is available, a Water Arrow will not turn off electric lights. In Thief: Deadly Shadows, players can press a button to extinguish a lit candle. Guards or civilians might notice if a light is turned off or if something valuable is stolen.

Exploration is another key part of the game. Players can freely move through the environment in most missions, especially in the first two Thief games, without many obstacles. Players can also test different ways to handle computer-controlled enemies. They may use a blackjack to quietly disable enemies without killing them, a sword to fight enemies directly, or broadhead arrows to kill enemies from a distance. Other special arrows, like water arrows, rope arrows, and moss arrows, are also available. Players may also choose to avoid all fights. "Ghosting" is a style of play where players complete all tasks in a mission without being seen or heard, leaving no evidence of their presence.

Games

Thief: The Dark Project was released by Looking Glass Studios in late 1998 and used a special game engine called the Dark Engine, which the company created itself. A later version of the game, called Thief Gold, fixed some errors and added three new levels. These levels were based on ideas that had been planned for the original game but were not included because of time or budget limits. Thief Gold also included extra content, such as a tool called DromEd for creating game levels, a video showing how the game was made, and a special design for Windows 98 computers. At the time, Looking Glass Studios was working on a similar version of Thief II: The Metal Age, temporarily named Thief II Gold, but the company closed in 2000 before it was completed.

Looking Glass Studios released the sequel to Thief in early 2000. Thief II used the same Dark Engine as the original game, so it looked and felt very similar. However, some changes were made to the game’s architecture and technology because of events in the first game. Minor improvements, such as colored lighting, were added. The gameplay was mostly the same as the original, but new features were included, like a remote eye camera. The number of actions computer-controlled characters could perform also increased. In response to feedback that the first game focused too much on combat, Thief II emphasized more thief-like behavior, such as stealing from wealthy people in the city. Fewer monsters from the first game appeared, with only a few dinosaur-like creatures and undead figures present. The game’s levels were designed first, and the story was adjusted to fit them, unlike the original game, where levels were created to match the story. Thief II Gold, a planned version of Thief II, was being developed by Looking Glass Studios before the company closed in 2000. It is believed to have been an expansion of Thief II similar to Thief Gold.

Thief: Deadly Shadows marked a major change from the first two games in the series. It was developed by Ion Storm, not Looking Glass Studios, though many of the same people were involved. The game used a game engine based on the Unreal engine from Deus Ex: Invisible War. Unlike the first two games, Thief: Deadly Shadows was created for both Windows and the Xbox at the same time. These changes made the game look and play very differently from the earlier titles. One major new feature allowed players to explore the city freely between missions, where they could steal from people, observe daily life, and find side tasks. Unlike some other games, the city was not one large map but several smaller areas connected by specific zones. Players could switch between first-person and third-person views and press against walls to hide. The lighting system was improved to allow moving shadows and light sources, which affected where players could hide. Other changes included better computer-controlled character behavior, such as guards noticing missing items or open doors, and an updated system for how sounds traveled.

Thief is the fourth game in the Thief series, developed by Eidos-Montréal and published by Square Enix. Starting in early 2008, rumors suggested a fourth Thief game was being made. Eidos-Montréal’s General Manager, Stéphane D'Astous, mentioned in an interview that a new major game project, starting with the letter "T," would be confirmed within a year. The game was officially announced on May 11, 2009, and was initially called Thief 4.

Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow is the fifth game in the Thief series, developed by Maze Theory and published by Vertigo Games in December 2025. This game features a new protagonist, a girl nicknamed Magpie, who obtained Garrett’s mechanical eye. The game is only available for virtual reality headsets, such as Steam VR, Quest, and PlayStation VR2.

Setting

The universe of Thief is a dark fantasy world focused on a large, complex city called "The City." This city resembles 18th or 19th century London but has a medieval culture, seen in its buildings, clothing, and social system, which is similar to a feudal society. Firearms are not used, but magic is common. The city is a steampunk setting, meaning it mixes old and new technology, and is controlled by a corrupt group of nobles, a religious group, and angry forest creatures, all watched by a secret group. People in this world strongly believe in myths and magic, and undead beings are common. Electricity is used for lighting and industry but not for other purposes. How electricity is created is unknown. Electricity was common 50 years before the character Garrett was born, but steam-powered machines were invented just before the events of Thief II: The Metal Age. The story takes place hundreds of years after the first games, with more focus on the city itself. Garrett works in the city's hidden economy, earning money through theft. Sometimes, he leaves the city to steal from mansions, prisons, or cemeteries.

Characters

The following characters appear in multiple games. Information about characters who only appear once can be found in Thief: The Dark Project, Thief II, and Thief: Deadly Shadows.

Garrett is the main character of the series. He first appeared in Thief: The Dark Project, where he was trained in secret by the Keepers to join them. Instead, Garrett used his training to become a master thief. In the 2014 version of Thief, Garrett was reimagined with different motivations and personality traits compared to the original. In the first three games, Garrett was voiced by Stephen Russell. In the 2014 version, he was voiced by Romano Orzari.

Ken Levine, who worked on the story for Thief: The Dark Project, wanted the game’s world to feel familiar to fans of fantasy stories but also to have a style similar to film noir (a type of movie with dark, mysterious themes). To achieve this, Levine created a character named "Palmer," a private detective hired by a beautiful woman. He noticed that many games lacked anti-heroes (characters who do bad things but have good intentions), so he took inspiration from 1970s movies like Blade Runner and Chinatown. These movies helped shape Garrett into a character with a troubled past who lives on the edges of society. As Garrett’s story developed, Levine wanted to explore how "dark" the character could be, including taking dangerous jobs like assassinations. However, other developers suggested making Garrett less extreme, which frustrated Levine. Later, he admitted this change was the right choice. Garrett’s design was based on a character from a previous project by Looking Glass Studios called Dark Camelot. Originally, the character looked more like a knight with a sword, but the design was changed to fit the fantasy setting and make him look more rugged.

A new version of Garrett appeared in the 2014 reboot. Randy Smith, a designer on the original games, suggested creating a new character instead of using Garrett.

Garrett received praise from critics. In 1999, GameSpot listed him among the top 10 heroes in gaming, saying that Garrett’s actions show he has a noble heart despite his immoral methods. In 2009, GameSpot included him in a list of the 64 greatest video game heroes. In 2010, GamesTM called him one of the greatest game characters, noting his cynical and mysterious nature. In 2011, Empire ranked him as the 29th greatest video-game character, comparing him to a medieval version of Han Solo from Star Wars. In 2008, PC Zone ranked him as the ninth best PC game character for his sharp, sarcastic dialogue. In 2012, IGN called him one of the most notorious anti-heroes in gaming, praising his mix of ruthlessness and honor. In 2021, PC Gamer staff ranked him among the most iconic characters in PC gaming.

Viktoria (voiced by Terri Brosius) is a wood nymph in the series. She was a main antagonist in Thief: The Dark Project, where she removed one of Garrett’s eyes. Later, during Metal Age, she and her followers became allies with Garrett in his fight against the Mechanists. At first, Garrett did not trust her, but over time, he came to respect and care for her. Their relationship grew stronger, even leading Garrett to risk his life to save her during an attack on Soulforge. Viktoria’s death deeply affected Garrett. This level of care was rare for Garrett, who usually kept people at a distance.

Viktoria was praised by critics. In 2000, GameSpot included her in a list of the top 10 female characters chosen by readers. In 2007, Tom’s Games listed her among the 50 greatest female characters in video game history, noting her transformation from a villain to a heroic ally.

• Keeper Artemus – A Keeper and mentor who took in Young Garrett and taught him in Thief: The Dark Project. Artemus is the main connection between Garrett and the Keepers throughout the series, trying to get Garrett to help with their prophecies, even though Garrett is reluctant. He cares for Garrett despite Garrett’s rejection of Keeper ways. Artemus is believed to have died near the end of Thief: Deadly Shadows.
• Keeper Orland – A Keeper who strongly dislikes Garrett. Orland became the leader of the Keepers in Thief: Deadly Shadows. His leadership was strict and secretive, which made Garrett dislike him. Orland first appeared in Thief II: The Metal Age, though he was voiced by a different actor.
• Interpreter Caduca – An old woman in the Keeper organization who reads and interprets the Glyph Prophecies. These prophecies are important to the Keepers, so Caduca has a key role. In reality, Caduca is young, but her work with the Glyphs causes her to age quickly. She is killed by The Hag in Thief: Deadly Shadows.
• Translator Gamall – Caduca’s assistant, a pale and emotionless girl who translates Caduca’s interpretations into English. Gamall will take over from Caduca when she can no longer work. Gamall is actually a disguise used by The Hag.
• "Benny" – A recurring drunkard guard whose unpredictable behavior and humorous comments make him memorable.

Game editing

With the release of DromEd, a map editor for the first two games, a group of fans started creating many missions for these games. Many fan-made missions for these games have been created. Some of these missions are as complex or even more complex than the original game missions. These missions can be played by other fans using a loader. T3Ed, a map editor for the third game, Deadly Shadows, was released in February 2005 after fans wrote letters to request it. This tool allows fans to design their own levels, including all the objects found in the original game missions. Fans can also add items that can be taken and set up lighting, which greatly changes how the game is played. Human characters and creatures from different groups can be added to missions, and their actions, like following patrol routes, can be adjusted. Missions can be packaged and shared with other players, who need a loader to play them.

Film

In 2016, Straight Up Films bought the rights to make a movie based on Thief. Adam Mason and Simon Boyes were chosen to write the story for the film. Sandra Condito, who is the head of production at Straight Up Films, helped oversee the project along with Khalid Jones from Source Rock and Square Enix. Marisa Polvino and Kate Cohen from Straight Up Films, along with Roy Lee and Adrian Askarieh, were also involved in producing the film.

In 2015, Adrian Askarieh, who produced the Hitman films, said he wanted to create a group of movies based on Square Enix games, including Just Cause, Hitman, Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, and Thief. However, he admitted he did not have the rights to Tomb Raider. In May 2017, reporters from Metro UK’s Game Central noted that no progress had been made on films for Just Cause, Deus Ex, or Thief, suggesting the shared universe idea was unlikely to happen.