Summary
When the thought ofstealthcomes to a player’s mind many assume that these games will be mission-based with little room for exploration. However, in recent years this has been proven to not be the case as an assortment ofopen-world titles have embraced stealth gameplay.
The number of open-world stealth games has only grown since then, with many players wondering which of these titles is truly the best for thoselooking for an open-world gamewhere staying in the shadows is key. Out of all the games available, these few are by far some of thebest open-world stealth gamesa player should try if they haven’t already.
Updated on Jul 23, 2025, by Megan Smith:Open-world stealth games especially stealth games have been incredibly popular over the years. Having the freedom to explore a vast world while also having viable hiding spots creates a detailed world in which players can explore and use their surroundings to their advantage. For a title to be deemed open world, it usually means a player is able to freely explore the location and therefore choose alternative ways of dealing with an objective. This can especially be seen with games such as Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands, where players are free to approach a situation from various angles instead of just straight ahead. This sort of freedom was heavily considered when looking at the best stealth games that allow the player to explore an open world.
While there are plenty of intense guns-blazing moments inTom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands, the game is a stealth title through and through. As the player creates their own Ghost, they are free todecide their own playstylethough the most common way of playing is staying in cover to hit the target by surprise. Noise is an important factor for players to consider while playing too, as a sniper rifle even with a suppressor, can be loud. Certain mechanics felt they were missing from the original title, such as knife takedowns, which would’ve made stealth even better.
Grouping up with three friends may arguably be harder to stealth, but it also means that players can plan how they are going to attack and therefore pull off some organized takedowns. With the whole of Bolivia to explore in a variety of vehicles, players will find a lot to uncover both on land, in the air, or in the water.
Usually, hackers tend to stay in the background, blending with the normal crowd to avoid getting caught,Watch Dogs 2is another game in the series that allows players to use their hacking skills to deal damage while staying hidden.
Playing as Marcus and exploring thetechnologically advanced city of San Franciscomeans there will be plenty of occasions when players will be able to put their hacking skills, and the other advanced devices they own to the test. Be it for main campaign missions, or to help people around the city. Using a small drone to scope out a location before heading in will ensure players are prepared for what’s ahead, though remaining out of sight is still for the best.
WhileHorizon: Forbidden Westmay not be predominantly a stealth game, players are given the freedom to choose their own playstyle through the various skill trees from which the player has to choose their abilities. When facing smaller foes, or especially human outposts, stealth is sure to become the player’s best friend, especially when using skills that increase stealth damage.
As a skilled hunter, Aloy can blend easily into the tall grass to hide from humans or machines, alike, before striking and then retreating into the foliage. Combining this with the vast environment to explore the West inHorizonmakes for an interesting adventure where players will need to make the most of their surroundings in the hope of surviving.
AlthoughDeus Ex: Mankind Dividedmay not have the largest open-world on the list, there is stillan incredible cyberpunk cityfor players to explore while they take control of Adam Jensen. As a Covert Operative Adam is forced to navigate in a world that now despise his kind all while finding the answers to the greatest mystery of the city.
While some players may argue thatDeus Ex: Mankind Dividedis arguably more of an action game than a stealth one, the ability to sneak up on unsuspecting enemies or hack into something to bypass scenarios makesDeus Exfeel like quite the Sci-fi spy movie. Players may challenge themselves by attempting to defeat a room of enemies without firing a single bullet as they leap above or crawl below to get the upper hand.
WhileDishonored 2may not be entirely open-world like other titles here, players still have the freedom to explore small areas of a map that all connect to make the city of Karnaca. The gritty and gloomy atmosphere ofDishonoredmatches nicely with the stealth gameplay players can get involved with that can make a difference to their ending.
Dishonored 2is more than simply sneaking past enemies, as the player isn’t just a simple mortal. Through the powers gifted to them by The Outsider, players can use various methods to sneak past. For example, Blink may allow a player to teleport to a roof and therefore be out of sight of others, while Shadow Walk transforms the player into a literal shadow that the enemy may find hard to spot.
Like any greatMetal Gear Solidgame in the seriesMetal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Painis no different for providing players with the stealth tactics needed to complete even the most dangerous of missions. However, unlike the other games that have set mission areas,Metal Gear Solid 5finally gives players the power to explore as they are tasked with completing open-world missions that encourage players to find their own path.
Sneaking the entire way to an outpost is only one of the challenges of the open-worldMetal Gear Solidtitle, but then making it inside is completely something else. While players may be tempted to kill any enemy they approach, it’s a safer option to use the stealth mechanics available to them to hide around corners or crawl across the floor to avoid bloodshed and simply find the intel. With the possibility of approaching from different angles adds variety andanother challenge to stealth.
Another gaming franchise likeMetal Gear Solidthat has kept players hooked with its stealth is theBatman: Arkhamseries. While the likes ofBatman Arkham Asylumhave players only exploring a small island,Batman: Arkham Knightgives players the freedom to explore the entirety of Gotham while keeping stealthy asThe Dark Knight himself.
As the game finally concluded the trilogy,Arkham Knightamazed players with not only its incredible open world and lethal stealth combat but also its amazing story that made many players wish the series would’ve continued. Batman may easily beat goons in hand-to-hand combat, but part of the fun ofBatman: Arkham Knightis being the feared vigilante and watching his targets from above. Combining a simple crouch with the various gadgets of this hero means players can silently grapple foes and hang them from the rafters, therefore keeping theBatman Arkhamfranchise at the top of stealth titles.
Out of all the open-world titles that have been created over the years, it’s of no surprise to see that theAssassin’s Creedfranchise is by far one of the best open-world stealth series available. WhileAssassin’s Creed Unitymay have had a rocky start, the game eventually resonated with its audience once all the bug fixes had been made.
Being able to parkour around theRevolution period of France–especially Paris– while dealing with the Templars madeAssassin’s Creed Unityanother staple of the series, as well as one that could be enjoyed with friends. Although it may have one of the lowest Metacritic scores out of all the stealth games mentioned,Assassin’s Creedand, therefore, Assassin’s Creed Unity is a classic title of the franchise that heavily encourages players to remain stealthy and use their abilities such as Eagle Vision to spot their targets, hiding in plain sight is one of the best ways to survive.
