The Best Stealth Games On Xbox Game Pass (January 2024)

Stealth games can be some of the most challenging and frustrating experiences in the medium. They require a lot of patience, as waiting is a large part of the gameplay and that is just not how everyone likes to play. However, most stealth games do allow players to tackle situations in their own way.

Unfortunately, there are no Metal Gear games on Xbox Game Pass currently, but that can change with time. The subscription service updates its roster on a monthly basis, so there is always a chance that Xbox Game Pass’ stealth games selection will increase (or decrease). Check them out before they decide to sneak away.

A Way Out

Metascore: 79

A Way Out is a prison break scenario wherein two convicts try to escape and hide from the law thereafter. It is a co-op only game, meaning that another player has to be in control of the other character.

At its core, this is a puzzle game in which players have to figure out how to get through the next situation. That also means there is a lot of stealth involved from hiding in bushes to sneaking past security guards. The story should keep players on their toes as there are twists around every corner.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

Metascore: 85

A Plague Tale: Innocence took the stealth genre by storm when it was first released. Its sequel, A Plague Tale: Requiem, improves on all the original’s gameplay elements while simultaneously offering up an ambitious and exciting storyline.

Everything about this release, from its unique gameplay to its stellar voice-acting and sound design, will keep players hooked on the edge of their seats from the get-go. It may start off a little slow, but the action quickly ramps up and the latter half of the game is an incredible thrill ride that needs to be experienced by story-loving fans and stealth fans alike.

Assassin’s Creed Origins

Metascore: 85

Assassin’s Creed Origins was the first game in Ubisoft’s series to go full RPG. Players now had a huge map they could explore with side quests to tackle, ranked gear to collect, and levels to grind through.

The emphasis was more on the RPG elements and the exploration of Egypt. However, the core stealth DNA was still in the game. If players wished to eliminate enemies quietly, that was a viable plan. Overall, the game allowed for more gameplay styles to emerge.

The Evil Within 2

Metascore: 82

Reminiscent of Resident Evil, The Evil Within games are third-person shooters that prioritize survival horror over action. The 2017 sequel opts against its predecessor’s more linear design in favor of a hub town peppered with NPCs, resources, and an impressive selection of nightmarish entities. While hardly defenseless, Sebastian has limited ammo and, more importantly, goes down relatively quickly if he attracts too much attention. Consequently, stealth is crucial.

In Union, noise is a death sentence, and players learn that quickly. Sebastian can silently maneuver around encounters to avoid detection, and most normal enemies can be killed with a surprise attack. The Evil Within 2 even has sections detected solely to stealth, and these are generally among the campaign’s most intense sequences.

We Happy Few

Metascore: 64

We Happy Few does not have the greatest reputation, stemming from a launch version that struggled to meet expectations while also containing quite a few technical issues. Through its Kickstarter, the game garnered a lot of attention and hype thanks to a fantastic core concept. The idea of playing through a BioShock-style campaign set in a Utopian town with a ’60s aesthetic was enticing, as was its proposed focus on stealth and RPG elements. Unfortunately, the final (launch) project failed to hit the bullseye, resulting in a mixed experience defined by a few highs and several lows. Thankfully, Compulsion Games released a couple of updates to improve We Happy Few‘s performance, so the title is in a far better state nowadays than it was in 2018.

Featuring three playable characters, the players find themselves stuck in a terrifying town filled with some of the creepiest cops in gaming. The final goal is to escape, although there are plenty of main and optional quests to do along the way. Stealth is generally recommended since the combat system is not particularly fun, although the campaign becomes quite easy after a few hours. Unlike most Xbox Game Pass stealth games, We Happy Few should be played for its setting and story rather than its mechanics, the latter of which range from mediocre to poor. That said, it handles stealth better than action or survival, so there is at least that.

Batman: Arkham Knight

Metascore: 85

Batman, as a character, is like a ninja but with heavier gear. Batman: Arkham Knight, like Assassin’s Creed Origins, was the most action-oriented entry in the Arkham series. It introduced the Batmobile for a new style of gameplay that included racing and blowing stuff up.

Batman was still vulnerable though, and could only take so many hits before going down. Being a stealthy bat-like ninja and becoming one with the night was the best way to approach the game’s many missions.

Dishonored Definitive Edition

Metascore: 76

Dishonored was another game that offered players a ton of options. Players could kill every enemy they ran into, guns akimbo metaphorically, but there was also a way to stealthily eliminate them. Enemies could be hypnotized to fall asleep, or weapons could take them down in nonlethal ways as well.

With tons of weapons and powers at the player’s disposal, one could go through the game several times and come out as if they played a new game each time. The first Dishonored game is still the best in the series, but the sequel is worth checking out and is on Xbox Game Pass too.

Deathloop

Metascore: 89

Similar to Dishonored, Deathloop is another Arkane project that blends a few different genres. Utilizing a time-loop concept, players have to execute a string of kills in one day, and failure means starting from scratch. Essentially, the game is a roguelite as while replaying the mission serves as the campaign’s central gameplay loop, players are meant to use their experiences to guide their present actions. The protagonist, Colt, is also fully aware that he is stuck in a time loop, and he is investigating the cause.

Like most of Arkane’s games, Deathloop lets players approach scenarios in any way they see fit. Feel like going in guns blazing for one loop? Embrace it. Want to avoid detection and quietly kill everyone without raising the alarm? That is very much something that can be done. More often than not, stealth is not only possible but rewarded, although players must be prepared to leap into action at a moment’s notice. Unlike in traditional stealth games that punish detection with defeat, such an event in Deathloop just means a change of tactics is required. The game is ultimately a first-person shooter, so stealth is just one tool in Colt’s arsenal.

Deathloop’s coolest element is arguably its PvP multiplayer. If another user is available, they will take control of a second assassin named Julianna who is tasked with taking out the main character. A fantastic concept that is well executed, this feature enhances a playthrough’s unpredictability since Julianna’s behavior and strategies will vary heavily depending on her controller. While engaging in an intense firefight with her can be a great deal of fun, the same can be said for a stealthy approach, especially since a single bullet can be enough to kill either assassin.

Hitman World Of Assassination

Metascore: 87 (Hitman 3)

Hitman World of Assassination combines the three most recent console entries in the franchise, granting players access to a massive range of missions. IO Interactive opted to go down this route to make the franchise as accessible as possible since newcomers now just need to invest in one purchase to have everything they need.

Except for perhaps Metal Gear, Hitman is arguably the most famous stealth franchise in gaming. Agent 47 has reached icon status by pulling off some of the most impressive and absurd hits in modern fiction, and silence is the name of the game here.

Wolfenstein: The Old Blood

Metascore: 75

For the most part, Machine Games has done a fantastic job revitalizing Wolfenstein. The New Order and The New Colossus unsurprisingly hog most of the limelight, and for good reason since they deliver unapologetically over-the-top stories (with awesomely detestable villains) and high-octane gameplay. Both of those titles support stealth playthroughs, so fans of the genre should keep them in mind if they want something to play.

Stuck in the middle of the two is The Old Blood, a short but sweet prequel that features perhaps the silliest story in the trilogy, even if it is not quite as satisfying as the other two. Although not lacking in thrilling shootouts, The Old Blood incorporates stealth more directly than its bigger siblings; in fact, certain sections are designed entirely around quietly crawling around enemies. Wolfenstein generally handles stealth well and in a way that makes it a valid, if not necessarily superior option rather than just a novelty.

Sniper Elite 5

Metascore: 77

While never quite reaching the same heights as some other long-running stealth franchises, Sniper Elite has steadily improved since making its debut in 2005. 2022’s fifth entry is arguably the strongest in the series, which largely comes down to its fairly impressive sense of scale and responsive movement. As Karl Fairburne, players will work their way through eight reasonably open levels as they try to sneak their way into positions that allow for some ruthless headshots.

Naturally, sniping and stealth go hand-in-hand, and Sniper Elite 5 gives Karl and, by extension, players a range of tools and weapons to facilitate both components. Although by no means perfect, the project is an enjoyable AA experience and easily ranks among the best stealth games on Game Pass.

Payday 3

Metascore: 65

Payday 3 had a mixed launch, garnering both praise for its gameplay advancements and criticism for its lack of content, especially compared to its predecessor. Although it is somewhat struggling to maintain a player base at the moment, with most people sticking to Payday 2, the game will presumably be around for years as it gradually accumulates updates that take it up to the next level. Still, considering it was among 2023’s most highly anticipated sequels, Payday 3 has not hit the ground running.

For all its flaws and earned criticisms, the release still gets quite a few things right. Payday 3‘s gunplay is considerably better than in the second game, which should hardly be surprising considering the latter debuted in 2013. More importantly, the sequel expands the way players can approach heists by implementing a stealth system. Obviously, a lot of first-person shooters implement stealth in some form or another, but this mechanic is genuinely a game changer in the case of Payday 3. As the whole point is to plan and execute heists, players should be allowed to tailor their schemes to suit their preferred play styles. In Payday 3, gangs can opt for the silent approach rather than just going in guns blazing. Since the gameplay loop revolves around replaying missions, an alternate method makes a world of difference.

Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War

Metascore: 81

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor was like Assassin’s Creed but with orcs. Middle-earth: Shadow of War is the sequel to that, emphasizing more action over the stealth gameplay that led the original. Like other entries on here, killing one’s way through orc encampments was still a viable option using stealth.

The stealth and overall gameplay were good, but the thing that was truly amazing about this game and the original was the Nemesis System. Every orc captain was original and would remember encounters on the battlefield. Failure to eliminate a foe would make them stronger the next time players met them.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands

Metascore: 76

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands was a Destiny-like approach to this long-running franchise. Players were given an open world to roam around in with the ability to tackle side missions to free the country. They could light up encampments with explosives like they were Bomberman, or they could go in silently and take out foes one by one.

Going full stealth in this game was tricky, but a well-trained team in co-op could make the experience more immersive. It was rough at launch, but patches have made it easier to recommend now.