Best Sandbox Stealth Games

Sandbox games are generally defined by their lack of clear goals and non-linear design. These games allow players to make their own fun by creating their own goals and exploring a variety of systems and mechanics that generate emergent gameplay.

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By  Harry Ted Sprinks

Stealth games, on the other hand, tend to lean toward an objective-orientated design, giving players a clear goal to pursue. While the following examples may not have a full sandbox nature as seen in games such as Minecraft, they all give players a set of tools to creatively complete their objectives. Furthermore, many of these games can be played over and over in different ways, with no clear endpoint. Even Hitman, which is a linear game, encourages repeat plays to discover every possible approach to each mission.

7 American Theft 80s

Third-Person Stealth With A Focus On Theft And Occasional Action

• Platform(s): PC
• Released: 8 March 2022
• Developer(s): Noble Muffins
• Genre: Stealth, Action

This third-person action-stealth game, developed by the team behind Thief Simulator, is somewhat rough around the edges. However, the combination of exploration, open-ended gameplay, and focus on stealth mechanics makes for a solid sandbox experience.

American Theft 80s tasks players with stealing all manner of items, robbing a variety of locations, and stealing cars along the way. The gameplay loop mostly revolves around earning cash and building a reputation, allowing players to seek out their own goals in the sandbox world.

6 The Escapists 2

A Prison Escape Simulator

The Escapists 2 is a prison escape simulator with sandbox gameplay that puts players in the role of a prisoner and gives them complete freedom in choosing how to escape. The game's immersive-sim inspirations and variety of useful tools and items give players plenty of options on their path to freedom. No matter which path to freedom players choose, however, they'll have to do plenty of sneaking around in order to escape.

The Escapists 2 also features a crafting system that allows players to be creative with the items they find. The variety of prison layouts and gameplay mechanics ensures that players need to learn the ins and outs of each prison they play through. Furthermore, players are even given the opportunity to get creative with the game's built-in level editor, which allows players to build their own sandbox prisons.

5 Payday 2

Pulling Off A Multitude Of Heists In Full Stealth

While players can certainly go loud in Payday 2, they are always given the ability to approach a heist in full stealth. This is, however, extremely difficult, as it requires a great deal of planning, attention to detail, and teamwork.

Payday 2 features a set of linear missions (heists) with a clear goal: steal as much as possible. While this isn't the most sandbox setup for a game, the abundance of tools and play-styles that Payday 2 allows for results in an experience that consistently rewards creativity.

4 Sir, You Are Being Hunted

A Sandbox Combination Of Stealth And Survival

• Platform(s): PC
• Released: 19 August 2013
• Developer(s): Big Robot
• Genre: Stealth, Survival

Taking place in a dark setting inspired by the British countryside with a great deal of humor and horror mixed in, Sir, You Are Being Hunted is a tremendously unique sandbox. The game's use of procedural generation and well-crafted mechanics encourage players to use their resources creatively in order to succeed.

Sir, You Are Being Hunted features immersive-sim style gameplay that combines the mechanics of the stealth and survival game genres alike. Furthermore, the open world allows players to freely explore as they pursue their objectives.

3 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

Sandbox Missions With Granular Stealth Mechanics

This modern entry in the notorious Metal Gear Solid franchise is packed with granular stealth mechanics and deep, highly immersive systems. This abundance of systems and mechanics allows players to have a unique, unscripted experience with plenty of opportunities for creative problem-solving.

While Metal Gear Solid 5 does allow players to go loud and get aggressive with their lethal weapons and even encourages it at times, there is a distinct focus on creative stealth gameplay. This is especially so as the player is often put at a disadvantage and encouraged to pick off enemies until they've evened the odds.

2 Shadows Of Doubt

An Immersive Detective Simulation With Heavy Procedural Generation

Shadows Of Doubt is a detective simulation sandbox game with a voxel-based aesthetic and a noir-drenched science fiction setting. The heavy use of procedural generation in the game allows each player to have a unique and highly replayable experience, offering a thematic sandbox with a dense atmosphere.

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The immersive-sim gameplay of Shadows Of Doubt also encourages players to think creatively. While players won't be engaging in stealth gameplay throughout their entire experience, Shadows Of Doubt features plenty of sneaking around to appease fans of the stealth genre.

1 Hitman World Of Assassination

An Array Of Highly Detailed Sandbox Levels That Encourage Creativity

The Hitman franchise is known for its combination of open, sandbox-style missions and a loose but linear narrative. These missions are often expansive, packed with intricacies, and full of opportunities for the player to take out their target(s).

The sheer number of ways that players can approach each mission in Hitman allows for plenty of skill expression and creativity. Furthermore, the level of detail in each environment - especially in the latter entries of the series - allows players to spend hours mastering just one level.

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