Thief

 PC
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 1665 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 696 out of 1665
  2. Mixed: 447 out of 1665
  3. Negative: 522 out of 1665
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. essplode
    Feb 27, 2014
    2
    - poor level design
    - poor AI
    - cliché story
    - dubstep (I **** you not)
    This game is a mockery of its predecessors.
    This game is only "Thief" in name.
    Do not buy it.
  2. Ape
    Feb 26, 2014
    10
    The game is amazing and does as much as it can to update the series while still keeping it as true to the originals as it could. The mechanics are smooth and the graphics are fantastic. At some moments this game feels like the better of the Arkham series in its play style. The negative reviews all read like fanboys who never even bothered to play the game, instead choosing to watchThe game is amazing and does as much as it can to update the series while still keeping it as true to the originals as it could. The mechanics are smooth and the graphics are fantastic. At some moments this game feels like the better of the Arkham series in its play style. The negative reviews all read like fanboys who never even bothered to play the game, instead choosing to watch play-throughs on youtube while they hold on to their nostalgia. Just play it for yourself and decide.… Expand
  3. Nadeslos
    Feb 26, 2014
    8
    When I purchased this game I fully expected it to have its glitches upon release. It's a reoccurring theme in game release as of recently. However, I've decided to not allow these glitches to cloud my judgement on how the game is.

    So far from my experience, the storyline is promising and the stealing methods remind me a bit of Skyrim and the Thieves Guild. I am enjoying the gameplay. I    When I purchased this game I fully expected it to have its glitches upon release. It's a reoccurring theme in game release as of recently. However, I've decided to not allow these glitches to cloud my judgement on how the game is.

    So far from my experience, the storyline is promising and the stealing methods remind me a bit of Skyrim and the Thieves Guild. I am enjoying the gameplay. I have not played the original Thief games, but I do have them on my Steam. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why I'm not currently **** about this game being "so horrible".

    Take this game for what it is. Combat is not really a part of how you play. Get caught, run like hell! The guards actually pay attention unlike how Assassin's Creed guard see you and walk away. These guards...if they see you...WILL go after you. With a lack of weapons, you run and hide. Once hidden, they don't give up immediately. Even lightning flashing can expose you while you’re hiding in a cabinet.

    This game is about strategy and cunning. You need to pool your resources to purchase the correct equipment and spend your points wisely. Some break ins at random locations yield more information about another possible target. This game is all about finding everything you can and taking your time.

    Guards in Thief are not dumb. If you make a noise they will come looking and they’ll call out to other guards to look too. Depending on how much noise you make, the longer they will look. They will light torches to expose you easier. Make too much noise any you are found. You also can’t just run past them like other games. They will instantly know you are present and come after you. That is a welcome change.

    This game has a steady storyline with a game play meant for the patient not the hasty or bloodthirsty. I do recommend you purchase this game. If you think the reviews are too bad currently, I encourage you to wait them out. It's only the first 36 hours of release. When has a brand new game ever been releases without issues or criticism?

    In the end, this game is a breath of fresh air from all the combat games like Skyrim, World of Warcraft, Assassin's Creed and so on. Do not purchase this game with the mindset of action packed escape scenes like AC or major combat like Skyrim. This game stands alone from them. The point is...don't get caught. Patience is a virtue.

    I applaud Edios for making this a 1st person game. You do go 3rd person while climbing, but while creeping around you are in 1st person. It feels more realistic than having extra godlike vision.

    Thief is not meant to be even close to Dishonored in gameplay. While Thief and Dishonored share similar atmospheres. Dishonored was sort of like a Dark Assassin's Creed, but I didn't see people complaining about. You had to plan your assassinations out. In Thief combat is not really an option and almost non-existent...unless you want your guts flying across the Marketplace. This game is all about stealth. In my opinion Dishonored and Thief are not comparable.

    Also...don't EVER play on Rogue difficulty. Start with Thief...unless you’re a 12 year old, but this game is rated M so I hope there are none. Given that there are some sexual scenes, no one under 16 should play this in my opinion.

    I give this game 8/10 currently.

    Negative points include glitches and sometimes tricky key mashing to figure out how to get to the next pipe/ladder/etc.

    Edios and Steam will have some glitches resolved shortly I'm sure. If not...oh well. Edios might have other more pressing projects than Thief glitch fix at the moment. I would wait for everything to be ironed out, but I can't stop playing. I've always wanted to be the kind of person who pulls heists without any weapons in real life...so I've kinda found my calling in this game.

    TL;DR This is a stealth and patience game requiring strategy, not combat. While it has some glitches, none are game breaking. Guards are alert and not stupid. This game is a lot of fun for someone looking for something different.    … Expand
  4. Dairywinter
    Feb 28, 2014
    0
    Stealth, if when you enter a room there's nobody there to hear your footstep, whats the point. You can just barge right in, 99% of the time there is nobody there. So, no threat, no danger, no challenge, no fun.
    Also you can see other door in those area but no action can be done there, the only thing you can do is take the utensil and get out.
    Combat if you are noticed by the guard or    Stealth, if when you enter a room there's nobody there to hear your footstep, whats the point. You can just barge right in, 99% of the time there is nobody there. So, no threat, no danger, no challenge, no fun.
    Also you can see other door in those area but no action can be done there, the only thing you can do is take the utensil and get out.

    Combat if you are noticed by the guard or bounty hunter run or reload last save, taking on multiple enemy is too difficult, because of the pour combat mechanic. The bow shoot like a firearm straight no curve trajectory like it should be realistically.

    Story, Mission and the Map of the city all together is a real mess that make no sense at all. Frequent loading time, confusing how did I get here moment. Its a real pain to go from point A to point B.

    Conclusion there not that much good to say about this game. If the people that worked on this game had had half the conviction as they do now on Metacritic, trying to salvage the sell of this new release. Maybe there would be a decent fourth instalment of the Thief franchise to enjoy. After one day of playing and realized there was no point, that it was not going to get better. I returned it back to the store and I got $30 with the trade in program, soon you wont even get $5 for this.

    Keep padding yourself on the back, Eidos
    Good work, you made the worst game that I ever played!    … Expand
  5. Darkone001
    Feb 28, 2014
    9
    A buggy game at release yes and it does have its flaws But its is what a lot of games aren't. A HELL of a lot of FUN! If you like stealth its great. Yes the ai can be a bit dumb but its certainly better than the old thief games. This games lets me be a thief and it lets me have fun doing it.
  6. Milacetious
    Feb 27, 2014
    8
    Die hard of the first Thiefs, or not, this game is amazingly better than anything we'll get for at least 2-3 months, and it's an incredibly Immersive experience.

    It's the greatest stealth game we've had in 10 years and will be for a very long time, I don't get the outrage towards the voice actor change, The voice actor in this game is only slightly better, but otherwise pretty much the    Die hard of the first Thiefs, or not, this game is amazingly better than anything we'll get for at least 2-3 months, and it's an incredibly Immersive experience.

    It's the greatest stealth game we've had in 10 years and will be for a very long time, I don't get the outrage towards the voice actor change, The voice actor in this game is only slightly better, but otherwise pretty much the same, attitude, same tone.

    People are saying the AI are bad, but it's still better then what I experienced from Thief 3, and with the difficulty turned up, and even on normal the AI is rather aggressive and intelligent,

    The story is above average thus far, I'm only three chapters in and it's only getting better, But it's really a matter off preference, I hate most fantasy and medieval stories with a passion, but this is something different from the usual crap you get with fantasy stories, It's a very detailed city, plagued by disease, poverty and a corrupt leader, there's no holding back when they try and get that point across, they're wheel barrows with corpses, scenes of people being abused by the law enforcement, it's brutal compared to most of the garbage stories we get.

    It's stealth game play is currently unmatched, people say the controls are buggy, but I've had a pleasant experience and everything about that is fine, I do have a gripe with the dash thing that garret can do, you can pretty much glide past most NPC's.

    Overall, it's a great game that you should give a go, no matter your disposition of the previous games. it's for hardcore stealth fans, combats not viable.    … Expand
  7. Jiawa
    Feb 28, 2014
    9
    Firstly, I'll set the premise:
    1. I have played the previous Thief games
    2. I have played the game for 3-4 hours or so 3. Playing it on a PC with a Razer x360 controller with graphics almost maxed 4. Objectively, I would score this game an 8 but felt the need to counter the abysmal amount of 0/10 user reviews here. This game is not perfect, but it clearly deserves more. This is the    Firstly, I'll set the premise:
    1. I have played the previous Thief games
    2. I have played the game for 3-4 hours or so
    3. Playing it on a PC with a Razer x360 controller with graphics almost maxed
    4. Objectively, I would score this game an 8 but felt the need to counter the abysmal amount of 0/10 user reviews here. This game is not perfect, but it clearly deserves more. This is the first time I have scored a game higher than I consider it actually worth.

    So. Most reviews and statements complaining about movement and not being able to 'jump down' ledges or vault/climb certain objects are due to incompetence of the players. I am sure of this. Admittedly, at first, I had troubles with movement as well until I actually realised what each button does and how the context of Garrets position determines the outcome. Once I learned how to 'hop' from ledge to ledge, understand the visual queues that determine whether a wall can be climbed and how to effectively drop and jump down with precision, moving around the broody environments became a thrilling blast.

    It doesn't have the freedom and speed of Assassin's Creed and that's why I absolutely love it. The jumps, distances and climbs feel realistic as you navigate the streets and rooftops. Also, I think it is good that the game feels a bit more 'narrow' than people are used to. Instead of being able to climb any wall and object, I am forced to consider my options. This creates gripping moments in places that you otherwise wouldn't expect them to.

    Let me explain. First though, one detail needs to be explained; I have never blackjacked or killed any guards in the game in my 3-4 hours of gameplay. Also, I have only used a single water and blunt arrow (not out of necessity but to test it) and no lethal arrows. This, to me, is amazing. Actually, come to think of it, I am fairly confident that no guard has even ever SEEN me in my 3-4 hours of gameplay. Now, you might think the stealth is easy then. That is not the case. True, in some places, it is easy to stick to the shadows and bypass the unsuspecting guards but others places leave me without a means to 'shadow' my way past. This means I will have to try and find an alternate path or distract the guard somehow and that is never too easy.

    Also, the immersion in Thief is absolutely fantastic. Opening doors with lights behind them creates stretching shadows for me to use. Thunder, if for just this crucial moment, illuminates most of the street if it strikes and must be taken into consideration.

    The 3-4 hours of gameplay, for me, have only been used to finish 2 main missions and one sidemission. These could be done in an hour but that's what makes this game great. It always gives you the ability and circumstances to go anywhere and loot anything without anyone seeing you and with zero lethality. Pulling off these little heists are beyond thrilling.
    For example, a locked strongbox in a lit area with 2 guards talking nearby. Their peripheral view is enough to spot me after a few seconds of lockpicking. Instead I had to create a diversion, verrry quickly (based on your own speed and skill) lockpick the box and retreat because the guards had returned, Now I could wait for the right moment that gives me this 2 second window to dash to the box, loot the contents and dash back into a dark alleyway. No one suspected a thing. This little heist took me maybe a good 10 minutes of planning and timing with quicksaving and quickloading and I can't stress this enough how awesome it felt.

    The game market is saturated with fast paced shooters and ultra-powerful 'stealth' characters (a. creed, splinter cell). In Thief you don't even have a sword. It can be played with pure stealth. To me, that says something.

    Guide to thoroughly enjoying the game:
    1. Turn off as much HUD elements and assists as you can
    2. Try to crank up the graphics as much as you can
    3. Turn off the lights
    4. Experiment and set 'impossible' goals to yourself (pickpocketing a guard in a very difficult place or stealing something that is easy to steal using lethals)
    5. Discover and enjoy

    One thing I will say. The combat itself seems clunky and a bit weird (as little as I have had contact with it) and I don't like how Garret actually looks but these are extremely trivial to me. I rarely have to see Garret and I know I will never engage in combat if at all possible. Also, I didn't even mention the plot. That's simply because I don't care. I play this game like I play minecraft.

    Don't believe the reviews and rosy-eyed nostalgics. It is one of the best games I have ever played. You will definitely enjoy this if you like stealth games (not stealth-action).

    Sorry for a long one :D    … Expand
  8. gruia
    Mar 7, 2014
    5
    I'm enjoying this more than Dishonored. Maybe because the stealth engine is more rewarding, and because the character is much more interesting.

    Game is well optimized

    Downside would be the linearity and lack of creative mechanics. Honestly gadgets should be removed .. as well as powerups
  9. 5LiC
    Feb 25, 2014
    9
    tl;dr This is the game that fans deserve not the game that mainstream audience/critics need.

    This is a very well made game. Not the best but definitely one that does justice to the roots and tradition that the previous thief games set up. Difficulty: I always played the old thief games as a complete ghost with added self imposed objectives such as 'take no damage', 'alert no one',    tl;dr This is the game that fans deserve not the game that mainstream audience/critics need.

    This is a very well made game. Not the best but definitely one that does justice to the roots and tradition that the previous thief games set up.

    Difficulty:
    I always played the old thief games as a complete ghost with added self imposed objectives such as 'take no damage', 'alert no one', 'no saves' etc. and I am glad that the difficulty setting is detailed in this game to allow such things (Currently playing at around 870 difficulty points).

    Whats a thief game without thieving:
    The game does the thieving part really well. Whether it is the hand gestures while collecting loot or pickpocketing. Also the movement animations are really detailed especially while sneaking and lock-picking. The lock-picking mechanic is so much better than old games.

    Story:
    The story so far is ok. Not as great as Thief 2 but its good enough to get you into the plot.

    Atmosphere:
    The city feels real. The detail that is present in each level is extremely immersive. Sometimes it feels too linear but then Thief:Deadly Shadows had same issue.

    Issues:
    As I said its not perfect. I miss the part where I can freely lean left or right, or the ability to freely jump and grab ledges or get on top of boxes. In old games it was possible to even stack a few and use it to scale walls and such. I miss the deep immersive story that portrayed garret as the antihero who saves the day. Hopefully this will come up deeper in gameplay. If not Ill dock 1 or 2 points from my review.

    Conclusion:
    This game does a lot of things right and few things wrong. But it kinda fits in to my expectations and what I wanted from the game to begin with. I am sure that going forward some of these issues will be addressed by the devs or by the modders who make fan missions.

    It is a good game that stealth fans should try out.    … Expand
  10. vipasoft
    Feb 26, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I've just started playing Dishonored, sorry Tombraider, damn, sorry again, I mean Farcry 3, ah s#it I mean Thief.....

    Don't get me wrong, I think the game is fantastic, especially as I've never played the other Thief games so had no pre-conceptions and rose-tinted illusions to be dashed against the rocks.

    It's just certain things are slightly annoying, and come across as un-original, like the Swoop, (Dishonored Blink), and the Rope Arrow that can only be attached to rope wrapped posts, (ala Tombraider) . I mean, who climbed up their in the first place to attach the ropes. And the fiery bridge, (similar to both the Monestary in Tombraider and the burning building escape in Farcry 3), and the Beggar Queen, (Dishonored's Granny Rags anyone!).

    Like I said earlier, I'm still loving it and it seems a solid enough Stealth game to me, but a couple of changes would have made it fantastic, (IMO). Like a carry weight, (at least in the city), and having to return to Basso to sell the loot and get your gold and why don't you HAVE to return to him when you've completed a mission for him, again to collect my reward.

    It just seems a little silly been able to collect, probably a ton or more of precious items, (how many silver candlesticks / mirrors / flasks, can you carry. I accept that that mechanic may not be possible when on actual mission chapters, in the brothel for example, but side missions should end when you return to the person issuing the mission.

    Still, only a very small annoyance that really doesn't spoil the game that much.

    And, after that small negativity, it really is good. The mechanics are good, (a lot of people complaining about the contextualised keys, [space to climb, jump, swoop, etc], but I don't remember anyone complaining about it during the Mass Effect Series.)

    The graphics are good and clean, and in places dark, oh so dark. The options that can be turned on/off seem to go on for ever.

    The story is, well, meh. But I really am enjoying sneaking around, breaking into places and stealing stuff without getting caught, and as much as possible, without been seen.    … Expand
  11. Theirlaw
    Feb 25, 2014
    8
    OK so. Lovely look and feel. Turn off Focus, turn up the difficulty and you have a challenging, fun, dark stealth game. I have not got to far in to the game yet but have replayed a few areas. Interesting things pop up. Nice touches like switches on locks and paintings changing their location for example. make me feel there is care and an attention to detail that may provide replay-ability.OK so. Lovely look and feel. Turn off Focus, turn up the difficulty and you have a challenging, fun, dark stealth game. I have not got to far in to the game yet but have replayed a few areas. Interesting things pop up. Nice touches like switches on locks and paintings changing their location for example. make me feel there is care and an attention to detail that may provide replay-ability.

    DON'T, be put off by the fan boys!

    DO, turn up the difficulty and turn off focus.    … Expand
  12. PStakhiv
    Feb 25, 2014
    8
    Eidos delivered us a fantastic stealth game! Atmosphere of Thief is outstanding, great graphics, comfortable controls. Guards AI is sharp enough, definitely better than in Deus Ex HR. The bad - limited use of rope arrows, story isn't as epic as in previous titles! If you a fan of stealth - this game is for you, if you wanna play "guns blazing" - this is not the game for you
  13. Valarian25
    Feb 28, 2014
    4
    This game is a shadow of the glory that once was thief.

    Its not a "bad" game in the sense that its not entirely broken or you cannot have some fun with it but its a huge letdown of a franchise that deserves so much better than this reboot The worst is perhaps the downright horrible plot, the voice acting, and the characters that really ruins the experience. I would not recommend    This game is a shadow of the glory that once was thief.

    Its not a "bad" game in the sense that its not entirely broken or you cannot have some fun with it but its a huge letdown of a franchise that deserves so much better than this reboot

    The worst is perhaps the downright horrible plot, the voice acting, and the characters that really ruins the experience.

    I would not recommend this game to everyone for this price.

    You want to spend 50£ on a high quality Stealth game you buy dishonoured

    You want to spend 10$ on a high quality stealth game you buy Thief:Deadly shadows

    Thief is a bland game that's should have been given to better developers so it could stand the test of time.    … Expand
  14. EMODESTROYER
    Feb 27, 2014
    4
    I am semi disappointed, 30 hours of gameplay so far, and I would much rather have saved my money. The story is bland I lost interest after the first mission, which was pretty kick ass.

    I started exploring the city and jumping in houses, the reward was usually a gold coin and a brooch or candlestick. NONE OF THESE ROOMS WERE OCCUPIED! creating a 'challenge' of press SQ button to open the    I am semi disappointed, 30 hours of gameplay so far, and I would much rather have saved my money. The story is bland I lost interest after the first mission, which was pretty kick ass.

    I started exploring the city and jumping in houses, the reward was usually a gold coin and a brooch or candlestick. NONE OF THESE ROOMS WERE OCCUPIED! creating a 'challenge' of press SQ button to open the same cabinet, desk, safe, and night stand as the last room. Lockpicking requires no skill, once you get the hang of it you're set, your lockpick does not break. A few missions I tried ran approximately 2 minutes, that includes running down the same path you've previously been, jumping in a room the size of a kitchen, and opening the cupboard to retrieve your loot, possible ambush? nope you're fine, nobody is ever home.... good thing you extinguished all the candles. This bothered me the most about the game.

    Your stealth skills are put to the test on the ground level with the city watch, which isn't very challenging to begin with. Quite decent sneaking action on a few levels, this is the Thief I've cherished way back in the day. +1 here

    Cutscenes are the same exact thing - you take someone down, pass through a window, steal loot, knockout a guard, ect.. its all the same cutscene per action, not a huge problem but I guess I'll deal with it.

    Graphics are alright, even though the environment is solid and most objects can't be broken. The AI toons have the IQ of a potato, its fun to shoot an arrow in their head and run, but once they are all dead you can come out and explore unharmed.

    Thief feels like a flashback to 2000, it is a much fancier version of deadly shadows, I would highly suggest waiting for the price to drop, I wouldn't pay more than $25 for this game.    … Expand
  15. Semos
    Feb 27, 2014
    8
    I grew up playing thief 1 and 2. Huge fan of the franchise. First off, I want to say that I was disappointed in a lot of things about this game. The voice acting of the guards is not as good as the originals, the camera view of every action you do can be dizzying and redundant, it has its fair share of glitches and seems a little but unpolished overall. But at the end of the day, it is aI grew up playing thief 1 and 2. Huge fan of the franchise. First off, I want to say that I was disappointed in a lot of things about this game. The voice acting of the guards is not as good as the originals, the camera view of every action you do can be dizzying and redundant, it has its fair share of glitches and seems a little but unpolished overall. But at the end of the day, it is a good game and it is worth buying. Despite all these disapointments, I still have played this game 6 hours a day since I got it and do get very immersed into being a thief and being sneaky. The story isn't my cup of tea, but personally I wasn't that into the original stories either, imo its a genre that could use less magic and more realism.

    Some aspects, they missed the point when developing the game, but overall it is a great stealth game. Worth buying, just don't expect it to be what it could have been.    … Expand
  16. bikerushownz
    Feb 27, 2014
    10
    amazing game buy it or rent just great s the first Thief I played, I played for almost 2 hours and loved the atmosphere, the gameplay, everything is perfect . You can choose the difficulty , I chose normal and it's still a little hard to steal things without being noticed, you have to think before what you're doing and keep an eye on the movement of soldiers. The graphics are notamazing game buy it or rent just great s the first Thief I played, I played for almost 2 hours and loved the atmosphere, the gameplay, everything is perfect . You can choose the difficulty , I chose normal and it's still a little hard to steal things without being noticed, you have to think before what you're doing and keep an eye on the movement of soldiers. The graphics are not spectacular, but they are beautiful.… Expand
  17. AcidShout
    Feb 27, 2014
    10
    Masterpiece.

    Ignoring 90% of the reviews which are from people that didn't actually play Thief (you can check my Steam account to see that I own it and I played it), I can say this is a masterpiece. Why? I enjoyed like hell this game. It's one of those games that you only close because you have to go, not because you got bored. I just love the stealth, the way you fool the guards and    Masterpiece.

    Ignoring 90% of the reviews which are from people that didn't actually play Thief (you can check my Steam account to see that I own it and I played it), I can say this is a masterpiece.

    Why? I enjoyed like hell this game. It's one of those games that you only close because you have to go, not because you got bored. I just love the stealth, the way you fool the guards and steal things in front of people's nose. You're silent, in the darkness, wait for the perfect moment to get the bounty and disappear like smoke. Flawless.

    When it comes to optimization, it may be not too optimized. Still, I play it on medium-high, I get 60 constant fps (no matter where am I), and I'm happy with the graphics.

    For people that review Thief as bad: combat is poor, I understand it. But this game is NOT about combat. This is about stealth. If you complain about poor combat, or game too easy, switch to Master difficulty, complete all the Steam achievements, then come, and I'll regret my words. Until then, your opinion is simply an assumption, and must not be taken into account.

    10/10, no game since 2001's Serious Sam 1 has made me have so much fun. Only Skyrim approached it.    … Expand
  18. Koreenium
    Feb 27, 2014
    6
    Thief has great graphics, great atmosphere. Runs quite well but does seem to have big fps drops when loading new area. Game mechanics work just fine.

    Even tho I have not finished it yet, the story does seem to be sort of boring. IMO characters are complete fail, you could replace them with talking turds and the game would still feel the same. Voice acting is sort of bad. Worst thing    Thief has great graphics, great atmosphere. Runs quite well but does seem to have big fps drops when loading new area. Game mechanics work just fine.

    Even tho I have not finished it yet, the story does seem to be sort of boring. IMO characters are complete fail, you could replace them with talking turds and the game would still feel the same. Voice acting is sort of bad.
    Worst thing IMO is that there is no open world for you to explore.

    Overall it is a meh game. And I completely understand why the fans of Thief series hate this game.
    :(    … Expand
  19. Demonidze
    Mar 2, 2014
    9
    truth is this is an excellent stealth game, maybe not perfect but its very very good, i dont understand why people keep giving it a 0/10 score. 9/10 from me, because its what it worth.
  20. Damian_Huntley
    Mar 2, 2014
    9
    (Played on xbox one)
    I've played thief since I the original, and I can honestly say, the atmosphere feels just the same as it ever did, and the graphics are simply breathtaking. I don't really understand the negativity that the game is receiving from certain quarters. It isn't linear, it is possible to ghost levels, the weapons behave as they ever did (oh, except of the fact that the    (Played on xbox one)
    I've played thief since I the original, and I can honestly say, the atmosphere feels just the same as it ever did, and the graphics are simply breathtaking. I don't really understand the negativity that the game is receiving from certain quarters. It isn't linear, it is possible to ghost levels, the weapons behave as they ever did (oh, except of the fact that the magical growing moss arrows are gone.) You can't jump, and this is the first time I've ever thought to just turn the music off in a game, because it was incongruous and just served to take me out of the moment, but other than that, I'm pretty much blown away by the game. I loved the original thief games, and perhaps I'm looking at this through rose tinted spectacles because I haven't played the predecessors since I was a kid, but although it's bleak and dark and grey, it's glorious.
    I'm sorry for those of you who feel the need to complain about button mashing load sections, but it took me nine hours of gameplay to realise that that's what was going on. Lock picking feels more plausible than it ever has in a game. I would have loved to have seen a more complex safe cracking scenario (glass against the safe, listening to the mechanism?) but I certainly haven't found any of the thievery mundane.
    I haven't fought much; I tend to reload every time I'm seen by anyone (which has happened a lot), but I have ran around the city killing things just to play with that aspect of the game engine, and I have loved every minute of it. Robin hood style arrow cam when you take a guard full on in the face, 3rd person perspective drop takedowns, blackjackings, gagging beards and dogs; what's not to love?
    Yeah, you'll probably notice if you click that this is the first time I've written a review, and that should tell you a lot. I hadn't read any reviews of this game prior to purchasing it, and I'm really glad I didn't, because I probably would have been hesitant to purchase. This is the first time I've come off an eight hour playing session and thought, 'you know what? I'm going to go and write a review of that game.'
    Caveats - play on the hardest setting and turn off focus mode - I did that instinctively,because I wanted the game to be a challenge, (and I've ended up having to search for help on line for a few of the more puzzling set pieces.)    … Expand
  21. Trebek
    Mar 5, 2014
    6
    To give you an idea of where I am coming from, I haven't played the previous thief games but I did buy this one based on the great things I had heard about them. I also had some faith in the studio behind it as I had played some of their recent offerings (Deus Ex: Human Revolution).

    I actually find the graphics good with the exception of how the whole screen flashes when you move into    To give you an idea of where I am coming from, I haven't played the previous thief games but I did buy this one based on the great things I had heard about them. I also had some faith in the studio behind it as I had played some of their recent offerings (Deus Ex: Human Revolution).

    I actually find the graphics good with the exception of how the whole screen flashes when you move into light, which is excessive and distracting.

    The major let down is the character motivations, or rather the complete lack of them after more than a full mission. There are games that have very slow starts as well such as Half-Life 1, but there the time is spent building atmosphere and introducing the world, whereas in thief it's spent crawling around a dingy city stealing silverware because.... money?

    I wanted to think the levels became less linear later as the first was probably just a training mission but from what I've read online they stay pretty uninspired throughout.

    So in closing, it's not a bad game, it's just a big let down compared to the legacy it represents and is a pale shadow of other recent games like deus ex and dishonored.

    A half cup full of 'meh'.    … Expand
  22. ChoicestGames
    Apr 20, 2014
    7
    The new Thief definitely has pretty looking graphics and the gameplay is generally solid, however the average plot, rushed ending, audio issues and other bugs may only have you playing the game once and never again. A reasonably fun steampunk stealth FPS for players who have never heard of the original games, but it might be a step too far for veteran fans of the franchise.
  23. AthanasiosT
    Mar 21, 2014
    5
    I have been a fan of Thief since the beginning of the franchise. This doesn't necessarily mean that I'm comparing this game to the previous versions, but I am comparing it (unfortunately for Thief) to Dishonored. In my opinion, it's monotone, repetitive, mediocre and bugged. Some more freedom to move around the city (instead of predetermined paths) would be great, along with better gameI have been a fan of Thief since the beginning of the franchise. This doesn't necessarily mean that I'm comparing this game to the previous versions, but I am comparing it (unfortunately for Thief) to Dishonored. In my opinion, it's monotone, repetitive, mediocre and bugged. Some more freedom to move around the city (instead of predetermined paths) would be great, along with better game design, which would enable my PC to run the game smoothly, without editing the .ini files all the time. I just hope for a better sequel.… Expand
  24. ollof
    Mar 3, 2014
    9
    All things considered, a very good and challenging game.

    I would give Thief 8.5/10, but I will round up to 9 as this game has been on the receiving end of some unfair criticism. I'm a great believer in taking games at face value, games shouldn't be criticised for not being something that another game is. The first issue is the complaint of linearity, which is not strictly true. Yes    All things considered, a very good and challenging game.

    I would give Thief 8.5/10, but I will round up to 9 as this game has been on the receiving end of some unfair criticism.

    I'm a great believer in taking games at face value, games shouldn't be criticised for not being something that another game is. The first issue is the complaint of linearity, which is not strictly true. Yes Thief is restricting in a way that you can't go anywhere like you could in an open world game, however you are free to roam the city as you please, there are side jobs to be done, collectibles to find. Areas of the city are complex and dark, it is difficult to find your bearings at first and rewarding to find hidden areas and swoop across the rooftops above the unsuspecting guards below. Thief is not as linear as some suggest.

    The biggest part of what makes Thief such a good game is the gameplay. Some players have grumbled about the game being only first person view, which I was initially skeptical of. However you see the world through Garret's eyes, the player has to use their eyes and ears to get by. You cant see whats behind you, you have to physically turn the character around and that makes Thief much more immersive and challenging. There is no map or radar with little dots and cones of vision, players have to plan routes and there are multiple ingenious ways of getting around the city. Garret's main tool is his bow, which is only really a weapon is desperate circumstances, you will use the bow to fire rope arrows, blunt arrows to create distractions and water arrows to put out distant torches for example.

    Combat does get criticised for being difficult, which should really be expected. Garret wears dark leather clothing, not steel breastplate. Garret doesn't carry swords around. The developers cannot be faulted, they really made the objective of the game clear. You are a thief, not an assassin, Garret makes clear in the opening of the game that he disapproves of killing guards without reason. The objective is to be unseen. and intelligent play is thoroughly rewarding. Brute force and foolhardiness gets punished, and for me that is a plus for Thief.

    A worthwhile purchase.    … Expand
  25. AllHopeIsLost
    Mar 4, 2014
    8
    Never played a Thief game before first impressions is that the game is a little empty but in the missions on master does make you sneak around to pick safes that can be right by sleeping guards. Overall I don't think it is a bad game I have played worse. Worth picking up and giving it a play through at some point.
  26. Reave
    Mar 5, 2014
    9
    Great game! I don't know why people hate it so much. Great graphics, gameplay and soundtrack. If you like stealth games, this game is for you! Many people talk about freezes, lags and etc. I haven't got it. The game is flying. About atmosphere - this game has a great, strong atmosphere. Graphics are really cool, I think this is one of the best graphics in this year. But I have only oneGreat game! I don't know why people hate it so much. Great graphics, gameplay and soundtrack. If you like stealth games, this game is for you! Many people talk about freezes, lags and etc. I haven't got it. The game is flying. About atmosphere - this game has a great, strong atmosphere. Graphics are really cool, I think this is one of the best graphics in this year. But I have only one minus - very little locations. I thought it would be 3x bigger. And, of course, stupid ai, that can't see you in 4 steps.… Expand
  27. 4Dee
    Feb 28, 2014
    10
    If you are one of the haters listen up, this game is the bomb. Garrett is back in the fourth installment of the Thief series. This latest blockbuster is a tour-de-force in stealth, redefining the genre once again. If you don’t like it, prepare to be knocked out by the new powerful Garrett and his improved blackjack!

    If you thought Garrett was well equipped before, buckle yourself up son    If you are one of the haters listen up, this game is the bomb. Garrett is back in the fourth installment of the Thief series. This latest blockbuster is a tour-de-force in stealth, redefining the genre once again. If you don’t like it, prepare to be knocked out by the new powerful Garrett and his improved blackjack!

    If you thought Garrett was well equipped before, buckle yourself up son as he now he has incredible supernatural powers! These let him see through walls, way better than having to look yourself like the other games. Rope arrows are back with some serious attitude, these help you more than ever before with the new and improved levels! Let’s face it, the levels of the first games were lame level design, those suckers were boring as hell, this time the emphasis is on the real deal; stealing stuff!

    You want a script, you got it! The story has plenty of wicked action and developed characters enough to satisfy you film fans out there. The dialogue is cranked up to 2014 and these dudes aren’t scared to tell you what they think. F-this and f-that, s-this and time to drop a c-bomb in there somewhere. Who needs that Old English stuff when you have proper swearing?

    Thief looks like a real boss! Prepare for an eyegasm the second you see it! Followed by an intense eargasm! The music is insane and awesome! Oh yeah, the game plays awesome too as you can become a real thief and steal from peoples houses just like in Brixton - word to the massive! But how about some end-of-level bosses to mix up the action a bit? How about a zombie hordes mode for multiplayer? They could have a mode called Steal The Flag which would be awesome in Thief!

    So all you Thief fans won’t be disappointed as this game is a true soldier in the stealth war, guaranteed to keep the millions entertained until the next Battlefield! Anyone who disses this game needs to back up their stuff, this is the greatest game in this quality series so far.

    Graphics 10 – proper blazing showing the true potential of the XBONE and PS4 capabilities
    Sound 10 – AMAZING sounds, it’s like a orchestra in my home!
    Gameplay 10 – Addicting as alcohol or any drug!
    Depth 9 – You can play it time and time again different and find new ways to play! Why no multiplayer though?!

    10/10    … Expand
  28. Polygon19
    Feb 25, 2014
    9
    Thief truly is a great Stealth game. Does it have its problems? Well yes, of course all games do. The biggest problems were bad voice acting and lip syncing, too man non-climeable objects, and annoying dialogues. But the gameplay is truly fantastic! It is full of fun stealth action, and you can choose to kill everyone silently, go loud, or leave without a trace. I generally left without aThief truly is a great Stealth game. Does it have its problems? Well yes, of course all games do. The biggest problems were bad voice acting and lip syncing, too man non-climeable objects, and annoying dialogues. But the gameplay is truly fantastic! It is full of fun stealth action, and you can choose to kill everyone silently, go loud, or leave without a trace. I generally left without a trace but that was because of my DIFFICULTY OPTIONS, one of the best features of this game. First, you choose a base difficulty, basically easy, medium, or hard, then you can change all sorts of options. such as, specialty arrows only, stealth kills only, no damage, no detection, and much more. Overall, I think thief is well worth the $45 for PC, a great experience if you love stealth games and a great way to start 2014 with a AAA title… Expand
  29. Djubrejedno
    Feb 25, 2014
    9
    A fun and engaging game. You can play it like it's old Thief with some new tricks. Looks lovely too. A warm recommendation.
    Levels may be small, but hey, they were small in deadly shadows as well. Voice acting could do with a little work though.
  30. necronomad
    Feb 28, 2014
    9
    The game is good, as good as the original games which i played to hell and back and replayed just recently in preparation for this one. I'll break it all down and discuss the parts people are concerned about.

    FIRST: Many people are reviewing this game poorly due to not changing their settings to be like the old games. Before you start the game if you want a old school Thief experience    The game is good, as good as the original games which i played to hell and back and replayed just recently in preparation for this one. I'll break it all down and discuss the parts people are concerned about.

    FIRST: Many people are reviewing this game poorly due to not changing their settings to be like the old games. Before you start the game if you want a old school Thief experience then go into the Game & Hud settings and turn them all off. Then when choosing difficulty select custom and turn on No Focus at least, also set the difficulty to master, mid difficulty is actually closer AI wise to the originals but if you've played the originals then chances are your a better player in general now than you were back then. Also this is a true stealth game so you are expected to be sneaking everywhere not slaughtering on armies, it is not dishonored where it is fairly easy to brute force your way through a level, Thief games require a slower pace and thinking.

    Rough edges: This game has a few rough edges but it is a really solid release with very few bugs and glitches, nothing game breaking. Some of the jumping movement can be buggy but you'll figure it out pretty quick (though looking at the reviews here there are some slow people around). All the previous Thief titles had and still have similar issues, people are just quick to forget.

    AI: The AI is almost as good as the previous titles. It is missing the ability to recognized when something has changed after returning to an area and it doesn't stay alert, the previous games had the AI be unable to be knocked out after being on alert and they stayed alerted, while a little sad it doesn't take away too much from the game. Another change to the AI is the speed a guard will notice you, it is slower or faster depending on how 'hidden' you are. if you are in half light and shadow they will spot you fairly quick. if you are in full low light they will be a little slower. If you are in bight light they will see you almost straight away, this is actually an improvement over the spotting AI in the previous games though that is more my opinion.

    Levels: The levels are crafted well and you always have several options and paths of overcoming obstacles just like in the previous games However with the "help" features turned on you have a constant guide to where you need to be making people follow that rather then making their own path giving the illusion of more linearity than there is so, TURN OFF THE OBJECTIVE MARKERS. Some obstacles within the levels have single solutions to get around but these are particular points within an entire level.

    Story: The story is pretty good though it pretty much follows the same story as the older Thief games. The voice acting is good not great though I miss Garrets old voice. The side missions are a little bit less interesting but the levels are still fun, especially if you try for the additional objectives like "collect all the loot", "don't be seen" and so on.    … Expand
Page:

Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
39
#39 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 37
  3. Negative: 2 out of 37
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    May 11, 2014
    81
    Not the best brand relaunch ever, but forgetting the great predecessors, it's a decent game of its own. [March 2014]
  2. Hyper Magazine
    Apr 9, 2014
    80
    It may not be a traditional Thief game and the story may be awful but there's still some great stealth to be had. [May 2014, p.66]
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Apr 7, 2014
    60
    This new Thief does a lot things right but can still be rather clumsy at times. Definitely worth trying, though. [Issue #240]
See all critic reviews »