Stealth Games For MGS4 Players That Realize The Stealth Isn't Good

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It's a big week for fans of stealth games, specifically the Metal Gear Solid series. After years of not being able to easily access and play Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, the former PlayStation 3-exclusive title will be available to play on modern consoles and PC. Freed from the confines of Sony's idiosyncratic Cell Processor, the climactic chapter of Solid Snake's tactical espionage saga will be here, there, and everywhere for anyone and everyone to enjoy. 

The thing is, MGS4 is, in my opinion, the black sheep of the series. It's very much unlike the games that propelled the franchise into popularity. There are undoubtedly core qualities of Metal Gear Solid present and accounted for, most notably a cinematic flair and… well, all kinds of weirdos talking about very serious things. However, as a lifelong fan, I'd be lying to myself if I didn't also say that MGS4 is also lacking in the stealth gameplay department. 

This is something I talked about extensively in my latest YouTube video, in which I admit to some hard truths about how I received the game as a young man who, in many ways, was very much defined by the series, and as an adult who is able to separate that identity from what the game is, for better and for worse. 

With that in mind, I wanted to recommend Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2, in which MGS4 is included alongside Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (a fantastic game) and Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, a Nintendo GameBoy entry in the series. However, concerned that people may leave those games with their stealth action-itch very unscratched, I decided to put together a list of other games that I think are superb and will definitely scratch that itch.

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1

Ok this is a cheeky recommendation because it's very unlikely that you're playing Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 without playing Vol. 1, but you never know. If, somehow, that is you, picking up the first Master Collection is essential, as that is where all the best authentically Metal Gear Solid games are. In that package, you'll get Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater. That's a whole lot of top-tier tactical espionage actioning and, by the time you're done, you'll feel like the most badass stealth operative and also like society is being manipulated by secret governments that are slowly shaping the world using information to manipulate thoughts and knowledge while also using soldiers as tools that achieve the objectives of people who occupy a status of power that most don't even know exists. And also: Nanomachines. Tummy problems. Bird poop. A surveillance camera. Hmm, just a box.

Hitman: World of Assassination

In the eternal battle for best stealth franchise, fans will champion Metal Gear Solid or Splinter Cell. Solid Snake or Sam Fisher. Konami or Ubisoft. However, real stealth sickos know that there is a third dark horse, skulking around in the periphery of an opulent ballroom, stalking an unsuspecting warmonger, waiting for him to take a sip of his drink, get the shits, then run to the nearest bathroom, where he'll knock him out, shove him in a stall, and then disguise himself as that rich pooper to infiltrate an arms deal. That man, that dapper, bald legend, is Agent 47, the star of the Hitman series. While there have been many Hitman titles over the years, World of Assassination is developer IO Interactive's stealth-action magnum opus; a globe trotting sandbox where players are given seemingly simple objectives that can be completed by orchestrating a rube goldberg machine that puts you and your target in the perfect position to get the job done. The level of freedom of expression available to would-be assassins is unmatched and ranges from simple stuff like manipulating them into entering a remote location for you to execute your mission. Or creating a comically coincidental if-this-then-that situation that ends with a target accidentally taking themselves out or shuffling off this mortal coil in the most absurd ways possible–like being beaten to death by someone dressed in a chicken suit (you). There's so much content, and all of it is superb.

Dishonored & Dishonored 2

Arkane's Dishonored series is an immersive sim that emphasizes giving players options for how to approach each objective and also shows them that, no matter how much time, effort, and money they sink into it, they'll never be able to dress as well as a random goon in Dunwall or Karnaca, the setting of Dishonored and Dishonored 2 respectively. I think Arkane has some of the best artists in the business, so as you're sneaking around using supernatural powers, you will see some of the most fascinating, beautiful environments ever committed to video games. And coupled with incredibly emotional, creative, and memorable tales of revenge. Whether you're playing as Corvo in the first game, or him and… a second character that I won't spoil in the sequel, the Dishonored games will give you access to tools that bring out ingenuity in any and all players and, at times, will have you saying, "How did they even think of this?" That could be something like connecting multiple enemies so that anything you do to one also happens to the other–I'll let you think about the potential there. Or something absolutely wild like possessing a plague-ridden rat and scurrying around to get into places you really shouldn't be. The Dishonored games are mechanically dense, compelling games where everything you see could be a piece of high-end art. There's nothing quite like them.

Alien: Isolation

I will admit, I appreciated Alien: Isolation more than I enjoyed it. That, in large part, is because of its biggest asset also being its biggest liability: the Xenomorph. If you're not familiar with the sci-fi movie series, the Xenomorph is that big nasty alien creature that opens its big ol' mouth and eats you with a smaller mouth nestled inside like a gross matroska doll. For decades we've watched from the edge of our seats as this apex predator has stalked marines around space ships but, in Isolation, you are the one being stalked by the Xenomorph. The game captures and recreates the iconic aesthetic of the movie series with the utmost authenticity and, you'll be glad/horrified to hear, that it also depicts the Xenomorph with an unnerving level of predatory dynamism. By that, I mean that thing feels smart and strategic in a way that, frankly, is terrifying. The AI it operates on deploys the same kind of ruthless hunting instincts that had you shrinking behind a pillow when watching the movies. However, it can also occasionally fall apart like your friend who is so smart that sometimes they become stupid for a few minutes. The incredibly advanced AI can occasionally break, but it's worth risking just to experience a very unique blend of stealth and horror in one of the best video game adaptations of a movie universe of all time. Watch out for that little mouth.

Mark of the Ninja

This one is a big personal favorite of mine as it blends some of my favourite things together: stealth games, ninjas, and beautiful 2D art. If you take the classic side-scrolling action of one of the older Ninja Gaiden or Shinobi titles, but then throw in refined stealth mechanics to deliver a satisfying mixture of strategy, stealth, and razor-sharp combat, you get Mark of the Ninja from Klei Entertainment. The 2D format makes Mark of the Ninja feel like an elegantly designed game that, despite being quite demanding in terms of timing and execution, never feels overwhelming. In fact, it very much embodies what it means to be a ninja: watching, waiting, striking at the perfect moment, and then returning to the shadows in an instant, leaving no trace of your presence and any remaining enemies frantically trying to figure out what happened to their back-and-forth walking buddy. This is a game that, even if you have the slightest interest in stealth, is worth trying. It's also playable on pretty much all modern platforms thanks to a remaster that was released a few years back. And if you have a Steam Deck, it's perfect for handheld gaming.