Splinter Cell remains AWOL, and Hitman World of Assassination has you hunting down Slim Shady (not that this is a bad thing). Nevertheless, 2025 is chock-full of new stealth experiences, from follow-ups to familiar franchises to long-missed legends. The sheer range and variety this year, with different perspectives, settings, and gameplay mechanics, is pretty incredible. But the question always remains: Which is the best?
Here are the nominees for the best stealth game of 2025, starting with…
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Improving on one of the more universally agreed upon “greatest games of all time” isn’t easy. Thankfully, Konami didn’t seek to mess with the bones of Metal Gear Solid 3 when it made Delta: Snake Eater. Even with the overhauled visuals, the cutscenes retain every bit of emotion – even the goofiness – right down to the core. Everything just feels so robust and vibrant, like you’re venturing into the jungle and consuming snakes for the first time (in-game, of course). All the quality of life features – hurray for quick dial and the optional compass – don’t hurt either.
Sniper Elite: Resistance
The years come and go, but even with a different protagonist, Sniper Elite: Resistance maintains the same gameplay loop: Perch in a good location (preferably one where you can muffle sounds), aim, shoot and watch the extravagant X-Ray Kill Cam. There’s the whole mess of escaping without getting caught, not to mention the Hitman-like formula of overhearing enemies and gathering information on targets. You can even choose to forego sniping entirely for some good ol’ fashioned sneaking, but the real challenge and reward is in that perfect kill. In that vein, Resistance is as engaging while presenting all kinds of fun new environments to explore.
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream
Arriving out of nowhere, Eriksholm immediately made a huge impression with its incredible art direction, Scandinavian architecture and gorgeous cutscenes. The story of Hanna, who’s on a quest to find her missing brother Herman while evading the police, is one told through an isometric perspective, as you’re slowly exposed to the highs, lows and sights of the city. And while it may feel straightforward at first, things take a turn when more characters are thrown into the mix.
Simply sneaking by isn’t enough – you need to coordinate each person’s unique ability, whether it’s knocking out enemies from afar or venting, all while keeping track of noise levels and enemy vision. It’s easy to get into and quickly ramps up the tension but never feels overwhelming – all while delivering a compelling story.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Has Hideo Kojima really been remaking Metal Gear 2 for decades? Your mileage may vary, but there’s no denying the series’ influences on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, even more so than the original. More combat with more accessible weapons is one example, but stealth is perhaps the biggest winner. Sneaking around bases and dispatching enemies is one thing, but tossing a decoy hologrenade for distractions or tossing Dollman to scope out the terrain makes it feel so much more enjoyable. Plus, you can now take down enemies without having to equip a Strand.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
We finally got Assassin’s Creed in Japan before GTA 6, and the development team didn’t skimp on all the potential of playing as a proper ninja. Yasuke is…Yasuke, when it comes to stealth, but Naoe’s moves feel like an evolution of everything in the series thus far. Stalking the rooftops, vaulting backwards to land seamlessly, clinging to ceilings when the opportunity arises – her entire kit is simply incredible to control. The fact that even more was added post-launch to improve her parkour abilities and further bolster enemy AI difficulty (if you so choose) also helps.
Alien: Rogue Incursion – Evolved Edition
Alien: Rogue Incursion VR, but without the VR, is perhaps the best way to describe Survios’ survival horror first-person shooter. And make no mistake – there’s a lot of shooting to be done, especially given the target-rich nature of Purdan. But if you close your eyes and stow those weapons, relying on the motion tracker while keeping your head low, Alien: Isolation might just manifest in all its glory. Or not. Either way, stealth is viable and arguably makes for a more compelling experience in the Evolved Edition.
Steel Seed
Another surprising new IP, Steel Seed, dazzles with its fast-paced platforming, combat and post-apocalyptic setting. It’s when the action takes a minute and presents you with the opportunity to sneak around, laying traps and assassinating foes, that it shines differently. Granted, the limited number of enemy types and tools is a downer, but each stealth section feels uniquely crafted and fun.
Little Nightmares 3
It’s not quite at the level of its predecessors, but Supermassive’s Little Nightmares 3 still presents plenty of terrifying scenarios. And who would guess that sneaking about is the best way? It could be evading Monster Baby’s massive hands or trying to wake the wooden puppets of the Carnevale (and if you do, trying to destroy them by coordinating attacks between Low and Alone). While it won’t win any awards for innovation, the creepy atmosphere and stealth fundamentals are solid enough that you’ll want to keep pushing through the darkness and beyond, to see what’s next.
Ghost of Yōtei
Stealth in Ghost of Tsushima was kind of a meme, which is a nice way of saying it made clearing some camps stupidly easy. Ghost of Yōtei’s foes are thankfully smarter, and it’s a tougher journey to maximise your killing potential. In a way, stealth is pretty much the best means for survival on Lethal difficulty, given how easily Atsu can be killed.
Upgrade enough of your tools, discover the right armor and equip the best Charms, and it’s not long before you’re dragging enemies to execute them with the kusarigama and slinking away, searching for your next victim. And if that wasn’t enough, the mysterious wolf can eventually unlock skills to assassinate enemies whenever you do, and immediately kill Brutes and Leaders with its abilities.
Commandos: Origins
With Shadow Tactics developer Mimimi Productions officially closed, we had to look to an old killer to accommodate our team-based real-time tactical needs. Commandos: Origins serves as a prequel, outlining how the iconic unit is formed, but it still sticks to the formula that fans know and love. Each character has their own skills and tools, yet how they’re utilized is completely up to you. Create distractions, take out enemy guards stealthily or bypass them entirely to complete objectives. It’s challenging, but being able to experiment so extensively makes victory that much more satisfying.
And the Best Stealth Game of 2025 is…
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Standing out as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, in a legendary tactical stealth series isn’t easy, but it was just another day in the jungle for Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Much bigger, sandbox-like environments with a lot more room for experimentation; a camouflage system that required adapting to the level to stay hidden; and, of course, the CQC system all made for a ground-breaking stealth experience.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Konami’s long-awaited remake, doesn’t change any of that. Rather, the new over-the-shoulder perspective offers a unique twist on everything, while camouflage can be affected by mud and other environmental factors, which is a lot more dynamic. Seeing Snake’s injuries develop into scars that remain till the end of the game and telling a story of their own? An incredible touch, among many others.
You could argue that it doesn’t innovate much on the original, but Metal Gear Solid 3 already revolutionized the genre – this is just the victory lap (and a potential new beginning, if more remakes are incoming). For that and many other reasons, it’s our pick for 2025’s best stealth title.
