What are the pros of Thief?

Extensive difficulty customization allows players to disable modern assists like 'Focus' for a more classic experience.. The central City hub provides an explorable environment between main story missions.. Serves as a competent entry-level stealth game for players who have no prior experience with the original trilogy.. Strong visual presentation and atmospheric world-building compared to earlier titles in the genre..

What are the cons of Thief?

The level design is overly linear and lacks the open-ended freedom found in the original Thief games.. The story is poorly written, featuring unlikable characters and a narrative that many found unsatisfying.. Gameplay mechanics can feel cumbersome and unpolished, leading to a sense that the game was released unfinished.. Fails to meet the high standards set by contemporary stealth titles like Dishonored..

Thief

Garrett, the Master Thief, steps out of the shadows into the City. In this treacherous place, where the Baron’s Watch spreads a rising tide of fear and oppression, his skills are the only things he can trust. Even the most cautious citizens and their best-guarded possessions are not safe from his reach.

75%

Mostly Positive

DevelopersEidos-Montréal, Feral Interactive (Mac)

PublishersEidos Interactive Corp., Feral Interactive (Mac)

Release DateFeb 27, 2014

$19.99

Peak Players18.2K

Metacritic70

Controllerfull

PlatformsWindows · macOS

Action

Adventure

AI Review Summary

Thief (2014) is a divisive reboot that struggles to escape the shadow of its legendary predecessors, offering a more linear and restrictive stealth experience than fans expected. While it provides deep difficulty customization and an atmospheric city hub, it is frequently criticized for its weak narrative, unpolished mechanics, and lack of the series' signature emergent gameplay.

Pros

Extensive difficulty customization allows players to disable modern assists like 'Focus' for a more classic experience.80%
The central City hub provides an explorable environment between main story missions.60%
Serves as a competent entry-level stealth game for players who have no prior experience with the original trilogy.70%
Strong visual presentation and atmospheric world-building compared to earlier titles in the genre.50%

Cons

The level design is overly linear and lacks the open-ended freedom found in the original Thief games.90%
The story is poorly written, featuring unlikable characters and a narrative that many found unsatisfying.80%
Gameplay mechanics can feel cumbersome and unpolished, leading to a sense that the game was released unfinished.70%
Fails to meet the high standards set by contemporary stealth titles like Dishonored.90%

Notable Mentions

Reviewers frequently describe feeling 'conflicted,' even when providing a positive recommendation.
The game is often compared unfavorably to the 'triangle-shaped box' era of the original series.

Confidence: 94%

Based on the 202 most relevant reviewsGenerated on Sep 5, 2026

Game Vitals

Live snapshot

Player Activity

Current peak

Peak · last 90 days

186

All-time peak

18.2K

Price

Current price

$19.99

Lowest tracked

$2.99since May 27, 2026

Review Sentiment

Launch week

33%

Last 30 days

74%

All-time positive

75%

Review Statistics

Total Reviews24.1K

Positive: 18.0K (75%)Negative: 6.1K (25%)

Reviews from Steam Deck

Dev Response Rate

33h

Avg Playtime at Review

81%

Credible Reviews

Thief