

Players who move recklessly will make more noise and attract more attention. Stealth games also emphasize the audio design when players must be able to hear the subtle sound effects that may alert enemies to their actions noise will often vary as the player walks on different surfaces such as wood or metal. Usually the player is able to disable certain light sources. When hiding in the dark is a gameplay element, light and shadow become important parts of the level design. The player has a radar with the location and field of view at the enemies, in order to plan the path in advance. 'Soliton Radar' feature in the Metal Gear series. Early on in the development of the stealth genre these games were referred to as sneak 'em up games. When ghosting is optional, or not well-supported by a game, players may still attempt to avoid combat for moral reasons or as a demonstration of skill. Some games offer a choice between killing or merely knocking out an enemy. Some stealth games put more emphasis on physical combat skill when the player is spotted. Thus, planning becomes important, as does trial-and-error. If the player attracts the attention of enemies, they may be able to hide and wait until the enemies abandon their search. Players can hide behind objects or in shadows, and can strike or run past an enemy when the enemy is facing the other way.

Avoiding detection may be the only way to successfully complete a game, but there are usually multiple ways to achieve a goal with different pathways or styles of play. Completing objectives without being detected by any enemy, sometimes referred to as "ghosting" is a common approach to stealth games. The core gameplay elements of the modern stealth game are to avoid combat, minimize making noise, and strike enemies from the shadows and behind. Unlike most action games, stealth games challenge the player to avoid alerting enemies altogether. They were followed by later releases, like Hitman and Splinter Cell. The genre became a mainstream success in 1998, with Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, Metal Gear Solid, and Thief: The Dark Project. Early maze games have been credited with spawning the genre, including Manbiki Shounen (1979), Lupin III (1980), Castle Wolfenstein (1981), 005 (1981) and Metal Gear (1987). Some games have also combined stealth elements with other genres, such as first-person shooters and platformers.Įlements of "stealth" gameplay, by way of avoiding confrontation with enemies, can be attributed to a diverse range of games, including Pac Man (1980).

The genre has employed espionage, counter-terrorism, and rogue themes, with protagonists who are special forces operatives, special agents, spies, thieves, ninjas, or assassins. Some games allow the player to choose between a stealthy approach or directly attacking antagonists, but rewarding the player for greater use of stealth. Games in the genre typically allow the player to remain undetected by hiding, sneaking, or using disguises. A stealth game is a type of video game in which the player primarily uses stealth to avoid or overcome opponents.
