A lot of people believe that there are two types of gamers: Those who like to play games that provide all-out action and those who like to take things slowly, using their brains to out-strategize and outsmart their opponents.
Stealth games manage to provide an almost perfect hybrid between the two. For the most part, you need to avoid action to get through the enemies and complete the objective without being detected. However, you are always just one step away from danger. If you are caught, you will have to face all of the people that you were hiding from head-on.
This is exactly the thrill that fans of stealth games are looking for, and game developers understand it too. While there are only a few games that require you to avoid detection from start to finish, there are a lot of games that have significant parts that can be better attempted with a stealth-based approach.
Here, we have gone through all of those games and come up. with a list of the best stealth games for Xbox Series X / S.
Dishonored 2
| Genre: | Action, Adventure, Stealth |
| Developers: | Arkane Studios |
| Release Date: | 11/10/2016 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | N/A |
| Average Playtime: | 12 hours |
Dishonored 2 is the first game on this list. It has made many of our lists before, including the one about the best action-adventure games for Xbox.
What we love about Dishonored 2 is the fact that it allows you to both utilize stealth and combat. You are given your objective at the beginning of the level, and the rest is up to you.
In some cases, it is possible to complete the entire objective without being seen by a single enemy. Other times, you can slip by a large number of enemies but will eventually have to engage in combat.
While there is no multiplayer, the single-player campaign has multiple endings and responds to your choices throughout the game. As such, the game provides a significant amount of replayability.
Hitman 3
| Genre: | Action, Adventure |
| Developers: | IO Interactive A/S |
| Release Date: | January 20, 2021 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | N/A |
| Average Playtime: | 8 hours |
If you have ever played a Hitman game before, you will know what to expect with Hitman 3. However, the biggest change made over the previous games in the series is the attention to detail. Now, you have more ways than ever to kill the target, and you can continuously run through the same mission to see if you can do it in a more creative or faster manner.
The rules of engagement vary widely depending on the mission in Hitman 3. In some of them, you will have the option of not being stealthy and just killing everyone you see. In others, you will have to avoid detection in order to get close to the target.
Once again, Hitman 3 is a game that provides a lot of replayability despite having no multiplayer. It has solid gameplay with advanced-AI, and also a few laughs in some of its missions. This is why it was on our list of the best action games for Xbox.
Prey
| Genre: | Action, Adventure, First-Person, Horror |
| Developers: | Arkane Studios |
| Release Date: | 5/4/2017 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | N/A |
| Average Playtime: | 19 hours |
We continue our list of the best stealth games for Xbox with Prey. Prey was released by Bethesda Softworks in 2017 and provides an experience that is quite similar to some of the other games by the studio.
In Prey, you have to fend off an alien invasion of your spaceship. Prey is more of a survival game, which means that avoiding the aliens is usually your best bet for survival. The aliens have come specifically for you, and you need to survive long enough to discover why that is the case.
While there is a significant amount of combat in the game, most of your time will be spent hiding, avoiding, and investigating. Prey manages to provide a survival-horror-like experience without scaring the player too much, and might be the perfect game for someone looking to get into survival-horror.
Alien: Isolation
| Genre: | Action, Adventure, Survival Horror |
| Developers: | The Creative Assembly |
| Release Date: | 10/6/2014 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | N/A |
| Average Playtime: | 18 hours |
When it comes to survival-horror games that are set in space, there are few games that have managed to have the impact that Alien: Isolation has had. The game manages to combine the threat of an alien invasion with the feeling of being helpless perfectly, and made our list of the best sci-fi games for Xbox as a result.
While the game is a sequel to Alien, the story does a good job of standing out on its own. You play the role of Amanda. You are investigating the disappearance of your mother, while both the human population and the alien are out to get you.
When you have very little to fight back with, you have to resort to stealth for large portions of the game in order to survive. As long as you are okay with horror games (and there is a lot of horror here), you should give Alien: Isolation a try.
Sniper Elite 5
| Genre: | Action, Adventure, Shooter, Simulation |
| Developers: | Rebellion |
| Release Date: | 5/25/2022 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | Online co-op (2-4), Online multiplayer (2-16) |
| Average Playtime: | 10 hours |
The Sniper Elite series is not always the most realistic depiction of how weapons work, but the games always manage to do a good job of packing a lot of excitement in them.
Sniper Elite 5 is the culmination of all the developers have learned from the previous games in the series. As you would expect with any sniping game, stealth plays a key role in whether or not you manage to complete each mission.
Making sure you manage to kill your target (or targets) while remaining undetected is key. The longer you manage to stay undetected, the easier it is for you to complete the mission. Positioning yourself correctly is almost as important as knowing how to aim, and Sniper Elite 5 encapsulates this principle perfectly.
With both co-op and multiplayer modes, Sniper Elite 5 has a lot of replayability. Stealth ends up playing a key role in multiplayer, although the co-op survival mode is simply about shooting down enemies.
Thief
| Genre: | |
| Developers: | Eidos-MontréalAction, Adventure |
| Release Date: | 2/24/2014 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | N/A |
| Average Playtime: | 11 hours |
When a game is simply called ‘Thief’, you know there are going to be a lot of stealth elements in it. However, thief is not just about stealing stuff. In fact, it has an intricate story that starts off slow but has you riveted once you get into it.
Playing the role of Garrett, you enter the city which is undergoing a revolt against the tyrannical regime. While you know you are on the side of the people, the people aren’t so sure that they can trust you.
The entire game has you making decisions that will determine the outcome of future events. Using your skills as a master thief, it is up to you to balance your personal ambitions with the politics of the city. What Garrett learns about himself as he goes through the story is bound to leave the players surprised.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
| Genre: | Action, Adventure, RPG |
| Developers: | Ubisoft Quebec |
| Release Date: | 10/4/2018 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | N/A |
| Average Playtime: | 45 hours |
Assassin’s Creed games have always had a lot of stealth-based gameplay. However, the number of missions that require stealth and those that require all-out warfare have varied from game to game.
When it comes to Odyssey, there are a lot fewer stealth-based levels in Odyssey than there are in other games. Still, those that want to play an action game that also has a lot of slow-paced levels will really enjoy the game.
Due to the game making you a Spartan warrior, you will mostly be engaging in melee combat. With many of the game’s battles being 150 vs 150, you will find yourself engrossed in the chaos. However, once you are away from the battle, that is when you can experience the stealth-based gameplay that has become a hallmark of the AC franchise.
Metal Gear Solid V
| Genre: | Action, Aventure, Stealth |
| Developers: | Konami Digital Entertainment |
| Release Date: | 10/10/2016 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | N/A |
| Average Playtime: |
Just like AC, the Metal Gear Solid franchise has also had a huge part in the stealth genre. Unlike AC, however, most of the games in the main series have encouraged players to be stealthy in how they approach every situation.
Metal Gear Solid V is no different. While you have the option in most situations to be either stealthy or go all out and fight the enemies head-on, stealth will almost always yield greater rewards.
The good thing about MGS V is that there are also more than enough levels where you will have to engage in active combat. This is what makes the game so compelling to us, as it manages to strike a perfect balance between stealth and action.
Disjunction
| Genre: | Action, Adventure |
| Developers: | Ape Tribe Games |
| Release Date: | 1/28/2021 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store |
| Multiplayer: | N/A |
| Average Playtime: | 9 hours |
Disjunction is a game that is based on various tech-noir games of the past. Set in 2048, the game follows the story of an arrest and a mysterious virus that seems to be spreading in New York.
Three citizens are on a mission to find out what is happening. Facing a horde of enemies, stealth is the only way they can get through everyone looking to take them down. You play the game from a top-down view, and slowly try to uncover who is behind the slow demise of New York.
Just like MGS V, there are more than a few action moments to balance out the stealthy parts. However, Disjunction is also an RPG and has a lot of elements found in RPGs such as skill trees.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
| Genre: | Action, Adventure |
| Developers: | Eidos Montreal |
| Release Date: | 11/4/2019 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | N/A |
| Average Playtime: | 12 hours |
The Tomb Raider series has seen a resurgence in recent years. While keeping the base gameplay and the idea behind the game the same as it was, the developers have remodeled Lara Croft and expanded the scope of the games.
If you have played Tomb Raider games before, you should know what to expect from Shadow of the Tomb Raider. You control Lara as she explores tombs, dungeons, and forests in her quest to prevent the apocalypse.
This game is mainly set in the jungle. Apart from the exploration, you also need to make sure that you manage to survive. Making use of the rich jungle ecosystem, this is classic Tomb Raider with a twist.
Hello Neighbor: Hide and Seek
| Genre: | Horror, Interactive, raphic adventure |
| Developers: | Dynamic Pixels |
| Release Date: | 12/6/2018 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | N/A |
| Average Playtime: | 7 hours |
Hello Neighbor is a game that has been acclaimed by many for how it almost completely revamped what a stealth horror game could be. Hide and Seek serves as a prequel to the game, with you playing a game of hide and seek with your brother.
Just to be clear, this is not a traditional hide and seek game. It does not even have a multiplayer component. Instead, this is a story-based game where you and your brother deal with the loss of a family member and slowly get to the events of Hello Neighbor.
This is by far one of the most unique titles on our list of the best stealth games for Xbox. This is not exactly a horror game, but it does a good job of painting a dark and dreary landscape that always keeps you on edge. We would also recommend playing the original Hello Neighbor after this.
Aragami 2
| Genre: | Action, Adventure, Stealth |
| Developers: | Lince Work |
| Release Date: | 9/16/2021 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | Online co-op (2-3), Online multiplayer (2-3) |
| Average Playtime: | 16 hours |
There have been a lot of games on our list that try to provide a balance between stealth and action. Aragami 2 takes the reverse approach, focusing almost entirely on stealth gameplay.
You play the role of a warrior of the Aragami race. With the ability to control shadows, your aim is to complete various assignments and free your people from the yoke of the invader armies.
Outnumbered and outgunned, Aragami requires you to use your wits and slowly take down enemies. There are many points in the game where being detected will mean certain death. You also have access to skill trees where you can slowly upgrade and personalize your warrior and their combat style.
Hunt: Showdown
| Genre: | First-Person Shooter |
| Developers: | Crytek |
| Release Date: | 9/20/2019 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | Online co-op (2-3), Online multiplayer (2-12) |
| Average Playtime: | 120 hours |
Hunt: Showdown is a hidden gem that never really manage to garner the praise and popularity on Xbox as it did on the PC. However, this is a title that any fan of shooter games absolutely has to try. It also made our list of the best Xbox hunting games.
The game’s format is simple. A few teams (or individuals) enter a timed session on a map to kill various monsters and walk away with the rewards. In many ways, the game plays like Escape from Tarkov. Since EFT is not available on the Xbox, this is the best substitute if you like those kinds of games.
Having to fight not only the monsters but also other players, there are many scenarios in a match where stealth is paramount. Of course, you also have the option of simply shooting everything you see.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
| Genre: | Action RPG, Fist-Person Shooter |
| Developers: | Techland |
| Release Date: | 2/3/2022 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | Online co-op (2-4) |
| Average Playtime: | 24 hours |
Dying Light 2 Stay Human is a mainstay on our lists. This is because the game manages to combine a plethora of ideas and genres to create a game that is truly one of the best games of modern times.
Having to prevent the collapse of human civilization (already on the brink of collapse), it is up to you to resist the zombies and slowly fight back the outbreak. While there are areas where you can face the zombies head-on, running away and hiding are your best options for large parts of the game.
The campaign can be played in co-op mode with three other players. However, it is equally fun to play alone. With stunning visuals and a complicated combat system, Dying Light 2 is the ideal stealth game for zombie fans.
A Plague Tale: Innocence
| Genre: | Action, Adventure |
| Developers: | Asobo Studio |
| Release Date: | 5/13/2019 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | N/A |
| Average Playtime: | 11 hours |
The next game on our list of the best stealth games for Xbox is Plague Tale: Innocence. The game follows the story of Amicia and Hugo. The game is set in the age of the inquisition. The two of them have been left alone with no one to fend for them but themselves.
With Amicia having to make sure that not only she remains undetected by the inquisition soldiers but so does Hugo, this is a game that requires you to avoid enemies at all costs. However, all of this is backed up by a story that revolves around the darkest aspects of humanity.
While there is no multiplayer or co-op mode, A Plague Tale: Innocence has been optimized for the Series X. This means that it is one of the best-looking games on this list. As long as you don’t mind shedding a few tears through the story, you should definitely give this a try.
Watch Dogs Legion
| Genre: | Action, Adventure |
| Developers: | UBISOFT TORONTO |
| Release Date: | 10/28/2020 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store and Amazon |
| Multiplayer: | Online co-op (2-8), Online multiplayer (2-8) |
| Average Playtime: | 18 hours |
While the original Watch Dogs was considered to be good by some and average by others, Legion is a game that is almost universally liked. All of the basic concepts from the original game are present, but they have been refined and optimized to create a better experience.
The game can be played alone or in co-op mode. Set in London, players are able to control anyone they wish, with each character having a unique backstory. There are a lot of sidequests to tackle as well, giving the game a lot of additional content.
Lastly, the addition of multiplayer and season passes allows fans of the game to virtually play it endlessly. Just remember that the multiplayer revolves around PvP battles and does not have a lot of stealth. Players looking for that should stick to the single-player (play it in co-op mode if you want to experience the game with your friends).
Chernobylite
| Genre: | Adventure, Action, RPG |
| Developers: | 9/28/2021 |
| Release Date: | The Farm 51 |
| Find at: | Microsoft Store |
| Multiplayer: | N/A |
| Average Playtime: | 14 hours |
We end our list of the best stealth games for Xbox Series X / S with Chernobylite, a title created by The Farm 51. The game is almost completely inspired by the S.T.A.L.K.E.R series. It is a survival horror game set in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, with you playing the role of a physicist by the name of Igor.
When you return to the zone after 30 years to find out what happened to your fiance, you find out that the zone is not what it seems. Just like in the games that inspired Chernobylite, the zone is alive with supernatural forces that no one can seem to understand.
Avoiding enemies, building bases, researching the zone, and changing the way the world behaves with your choices are all things that you get to do in Chernobylite.
Although there is no multiplayer, chances are that each playthrough of the game will be very different. Lastly, the visuals couldn’t be more perfect as the game has been optimized for the Series X.
