Thief™ Gold

10/10 masterpiece
For me best stealth game

I love thief gold, i think 5 of the missions are bangers and I absolutely adore "the sword" im pretty impressed how much stealth mechanics it had for being so old :)

Aged like wine, although to get the best out of Thief I'd recommend installing Tfix so it runs well on a modern PC.

Full of charm, and with a number of excellent fan missions (especially the Black Parade) Thief remains one of the best stealth games I've played.

so good

Classic stealth game from back in the day. Solid despite its age.

Classic and flawed, a great game made even better now with an unofficial GFX upgrade called HDMod which runs alongside Tfix a mechanics fixing mod. Both are excellent and unless you are a purist retro streamer there is no reason to not be using those mods in 2025.

Strongly recommend using Tfix mod for major improvements.

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A good game, tough to run and with many issues due to how old it is but a good game

I would probably give a middling review if you could, but this game, as it stands, deserves a non-recommend due to how frustrating and exhausting it is.

Firstly I was playing with TFlite and did the hardest possible difficulties since the higher difficulties give you more objectives to do so it felt the intended way to play.

The good:
Some levels are clearly well thought out and are interesting, such as return to haunted cathedral, lord baffords house and the one with the 4 towers.
Sneaking mechanics are generally servicable, nothing too ground breaking though.
Cutscenes and overall story is pretty good.
The architecture of some levels is pretty cool (Although dated).
No quest objectives, static maps etc. demand you to pay attention to your mission and what you're looking for making it more immersive.
Garrett

The bad:
Tons of levels in this game are just downright confusing. Lots of things look the same so you'll end up getting lost... A LOT.
Some of the objectives to complete a level are moronic. The best example I can bring to mind is the one where you sneak into a hammerite temple dressed as one of them. To complete the level you have to find 5 levers that are strewn about the level with 2 of them seemingly having no cohesive reason for their locations. Think trying to do an easter egg in a game where the devs put a random bunch of esoteric bullshit to get the easter egg. Obviously thats fine for an easter egg since its not part of the main mission, but hopefully that gives some perspective into how bad some of these objectives are
Lots of missing random critical items that blend in far too easily etc.
The geometry feels clumsy. You'll end up knocking into things that kill your movement and get you caught.
Enemy AI is very basic, bordering on bad.
Noticeable dip in level quality near the end of the game.


The main reason the game is bad is due to the confusing nature of a lot of levels. Have to give this a big NOT RECOMMENDED from me. I suggest looking over the positive reviews and seeing how many people mention that are a large portion of the levels suck BUT "its groundbreaking, was ahead of its time" etc. The latter comments aren't valid reasons for a positive review and it seems many people are giving positive reviews due to rose-tinted glasses or feeling they need to give it a positive review since its heralded as a classic. Only play this if you're dying to play a stealth game that is considered a classic I guess.

another banger from the thief series

thanks tyler

i like stealing and having things that belong to other people

As you progress, the junk becomes increasingly noticeable, AI becomes unreasonable, and levels become confusing. However, this game certainly has its charm and is definitely worth checking out at least for its aesthetics and top-notch voicing.

An excellent game for the most part, it may be old but the amount of detail within the world is incredible especially given its age.

The gameplay mostly holds up bar a few levels that are honestly truly scuffed. The game shines brightest when there is no light and you're free to skulk in the shadows undetected. Combat isn't the games strong suit and it knows that, however some levels throw you into fights to progress and it's a chore to get through those segments.

One of the most impressive aspects of this game is rarely propagated by its contemporaries and that's the use of sound design within the environment. Walking on carpets are silent, tiles are not and if you can properly enable EAX emulation you're in for a treat.

On the whole the mandatory combat doesn't make the game any less enjoyable and I'd highly recommend if you enjoy stealth games.

relived i love it

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Very fun stealth game that is oozing with charm. Would recommend to buddies.

Very much worth your coin

Thief is a weird game in that it feels unfair to call it the "best" stealth game, given so few games really drew on it as inspiration and thus much of its direct competition are fundamentally different experiences. As a result though it still feels almost wholly unique, as always I recommend buying it on GOG over Steam though.

It's a great game bro, trust me bro. What do you mean it's a stealth game where the stealth is completely broken bro? You just don't appreciate any game besides Call of Dooty bro!

It's cool but it's sooo slow and I wish there were auto-saves

Great stealth game but kinda falls off halfway through where you're mostly fighting zombies and other random shit instead of thieving. The sequel greatly improves on this aspect.

Listen. Yes, this is a super old game with super old graphics.

Yes, you will need a mod to make it run, because it was not made in a time with Fancy Computers.

But also, yes, you should still 100% get this game.

And you know what? You're not only going to get this for less than a buck, but because it is indeed an old game, it will download in no time flat. You'll be able to SAVE and LOAD in zero seconds. And you know what you're getting in return for all of that?

Well, a game that basically helped found the stealth genre, doing so with cool unique artistic direction (mixing in art and live action shadows in cool ways) along with a rad story and interesting levels that do great with the stealth and thieving elements. It's a genuinely enjoyable game with a super cool setting that will keep you interested. Plus, you can adjust the challenge level for each stage if you want, which I think is pretty cool.

Also Garrett is just a snarky hot mess of a thief that is so fun to listen to and is responsible for like most of his own problems. Which is funny.

Anyway, get the entire Thief series, it will be cheaper than any groceries you ever get, and it is just a whole bunch of fun. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

if you are planning to buy this game or have gotten it on a sale for cheap like I have and intent to play it. please don't play on higher diffculty than normal. the higher difficulty gold requirement will all but guarantee you will be looking at a walkthrough for on most levels, especially on a first playthrough.

the diehard thief fan will convince you to play on a higher difficulty than normal, DO NOT TRUST THEM. Only pain and staring at a walkthrough await you after wandering around a level for fucking hours trying to find that one item you need to progress hidden away in some dark corner you looked over because you didn't have your gamma turned you to the max.

Also some of the levels in game are absolute labyrinth monstrosities which you will be forced to traverse with some fucking crayon drawn ass map. if you are planning to play this game, good luck.

good

Honestly this is a classic for a reason, however there are a few levels (about a quarter of them) that are kinda stinkers. Real hit or miss experience but overall a positive one that was pretty groundbreaking and is worth the respect its garnered

Well, it’s fantastic, but everybody knows that. Had so much fun solving all of its many levels. Play it on expert and without a guide, if you can, or you’ll miss 70 percent of the intended experience.

One of my defining games. The 9 hours played does not reflect my real ingame playtime.
The game itself is perfect, genre defining, the atmosphere can reach the bones. Goosebumps.

It's old, but with the must have mods/fixes it is totally enjoyable. The caveat is, that these tools should be included by default if it is sold in a webshop. They should write a script with options to download and apply these fixes, to be able to play. Because just the original game itself can be hard to even run on modern systems.

Otherwise the game itself is remarkable.

Taffer!

Very mixed feelings about this one. I really like many elements of it. The world and atmosphere are top of the craft, as the player is mostly kept in the shadows and the exposition is quite slow and methodical, which builds up the mystery and makes the inevitable twist in the story much more meaningful. The intro cutscenes before each level really add to the overall immersion as well. The story, disappointingly, kicks off very late, but when it finally does, it is quite good, especially for 1998, where many FPP games were still purely gameplay-focused.

That said, gameplay-wise first Thief aged worse than many hardcore fans of the franchise might want to admit. It's clear that the developers didn't intend this to be a stealth game from the very start. This fact alone makes some levels stand out in a particularly bad way. The new levels added in Gold add even more insult to the injury (look at the infamous Thieves Guild for example).

When it comes to the level design, many important clues are very difficult to stumble upon, while at the same time being strictly required in order to progress. I had to search for guides on the Internet numerous times, even though I often felt as if I've already searched every possible corner. The combat mechanics are really stiff, which is partly expected, since it's supposed to be a stealth game. Garrett, the protagonist, is not a sword fighter after all. This becomes a significant problem though, when the game forces you into combat-heavy levels, which is especially the case towards the end.

All in all, I would recommend trying it out, but keep in my mind that it's not entirely a smooth ride and definitely requires some patience. Thief 2 supposedly fixes some of those issues, so I'm hoping for a better experience when I'll get to play it.

really outdated gameplay, havent found any mods to fix it

I suggest this game for those who enjoy stealth mechanics and are open to some horror elements. Personally, I found the levels featuring undead creatures unappealing, which led me to stop playing. Engage in a thrilling pursuit for stolen treasures using your blackjack, sword, and a variety of specialized arrows. Steal for profit while uncovering the hidden motives of both allies and adversaries in a narrative filled with deception and revenge. Navigate a world where shadows are your only companion, trust is a luxury, and encounters can lead to fatal consequences!

This game is truly remarkable! I am unsure why it took me so long to experience it, but I cherished every moment. Although the gameplay is less intricate and somewhat clunky compared to contemporary stealth titles, it remains highly rewarding. The atmosphere is exceptional, even with graphics that are nearly 25 years old. There’s an indescribable charm to this game that makes it stand out. I haven't enjoyed a game this much in a long time, and I highly recommend it to stealth game enthusiasts!

While it may be a bit rough around the edges, it becomes quite enjoyable once you acclimate to the mechanics. It requires tfix, and I opted for the minimal installation to ensure smooth performance without altering the graphics. The immersive experience is enhanced by excellent locational audio that accurately indicates the positions of guards or enemies, along with an effective lighting system to aid in stealth. You also have access to various tools, such as water arrows to extinguish torches, rope arrows to create new entry points, and moss arrows to move silently on noisy surfaces. These tools contribute to a fun experience if you're looking to relax and engage in some thievery.

Runs so good, but it runs so ugly!

Amazing stealth game.
Still great to play even though it is ancient.
Install T fix or Tafferpatcher to have a better experience on modern systems.
10/10

This is the best Thief game, the best stealth game in my opinion, it is very fun!

Played a lot of the demos as a kid. When PC magazines were still a thing. Now I finally beat it. It was pretty good. I see why people asked for the super natural elements taken out of it all. They kind of drag the highlights of the game down.

The greatest stealth game of all time.

it's THE stealth game, like the grandfather of stealth games!
.. i never really like getting attached to my elders though..

This game is incredible! I have no clue why it's taken me so long to play it but I absolutely loved every second of it. It has so many similarities to Dishonored, which is one of my favorite games ever, and is very very impressive given it came out over 25 years ago. I haven't enjoyed a game as much in a long time and I can't wait to play The Metal Age!

not as good as 2 but still OG

I don't have much playtime on this Steam version yet, BUT I played the original back in the good ol days when we walked 15 miles in the snow and used disc drives to play hard copies of PC games.

This is the mother of all stealth games, being the first one to have such an intricate enemy detection system based around sound, lighting and environmental cues. Much of this stuff is standard in today's stealth games, but Looking Glass Studios was the first to fully define the stealth genre as we know it. They did it so well, in fact, that Thief's mechanics can compete with modern day stealth games. (In many cases, its stealth system can flat-out beat modern triple A designs.)

Graphically, it's a bit blocky and dated. You may even need to install TFix to get it to work properly on modern systems (just google it--it's on a forum post with a google drive download link). But once it's up and running, it's a great experience. It nailed the vibes of being a medieval thief while throwing in some supernatural elements for a richer story and more variety across the levels.

Garret sucks at combat--but that's the idea. You're a klepto nerd, not a chad barbarian. If you want to take enemies out of the picture, you'll usually be sneaking up from behind for the KO with your handy dandy blackjack or perhaps limiting their vision by dousing a torch with a water arrow. If they find you, then it's time to run and hide. Their AI won't provide any Alien Isolation levels of cat-and-mouse, but it works well enough when you have multiples of guards roaming around looking and listening for any environmental cues from you, whether it be the result of you dashing through a strong light source, or you stepping from the soft rug onto the obnoxiously loud marble flooring, or one of them just finding their buddy who you left ass-up and unconscious in a corner somewhere.

If you're goin' in blind, be prepared for a worthwhile twist in the latter portion of the game. But just know that it won't all be as smooth as the first level. You may find yourself lost at times or getting frustrated at loot requirements on the higher difficulties. But in my opinion, this game's juice is worth the squeeze.

So go do what the Wet Bandits couldn't do: rob Kevin McAllister blind this holiday season and show him who's boss with a high loot score, ya filthy animal.

9/10

This is my review of Theif 1 Gold. From what I could guess this is Theif 1 but with extra content. From what I played after finishing I did like the presentation for the game. The AI is great, the atmosphere is awesome. This is from my experience. I'm not saying this is an awful game. I just feel like it has a game design that feels very dated. One level has a mission that lasts way too long since it has missions with objectives that sound simple but require you to get certain things to finish them. There are levels I fully skipped because I got so annoyed by the levels. The enemies are literal tanks in the game since they don't go down unless you hit them for god knows how long. It's the same problem when with old games like this. It's not bad when it comes to gameplay. Just when it comes to game length for certain levels, I have a problem with it. If you want to get this game then go ahead. Just that this game took some patience out of me. I give this game a 9 out of 10.

Don't really even know where to begin with this one. It's one of the first, true blue stealth games, and still one of the best. Other games have stealth mechanics in them, but there are few games where that's the entire focus and done so well. The atmosphere of the levels, the characters, the light but interesting world-building, the stylish and charmingly dated cutscenes, it's all so good. Even the primitive graphics don't really put me off, since simpler models make everything more readable and the game just runs well at all times. If you like stealth games, retro or just old games, you should play this.

Comparing it to its closest modern cousin, Dishonored, in that game you feel constantly like you're playing with one hand tied behind your back, because you have all these cool powers, but just going crazy and killing everyone is the "Wrong" way to play the game. Playing non-lethally and stealthily not only feels like the right way to play Thief, but you basically have to play that way to get through the game, and you feel like a bad-ass for doing it successfully. It's tense, it's scary, and it's also very often funny.

It's not without faults. There are some awful levels, or levels that go on for too long, and there is a lot of jank in the mechanics. But overall, this series easily landed in my top 5 of all time favorites once I finished it.

For the best experience:
-Download and install tfix or tfix lite to make it run halfway like a modern game.
-Play on Expert if you're even half-decent at stealth games, but also look up the skip level cheat code, in case you just get bored in some of the less good levels and just want to skip them.
-Play Thief 2 after you finish it, as it's just more and better, and I really think they're just inseparable as a combined experience.
-Play the amazing fan campaign The Black Parade, once you've beaten both. It's fantastic, easily the best mod I've played in any game.

Oh man, Thief is one of the best games I've played! Stealth FPS at its prime (at 26 years ago yikes!), I played this game when it came out with a friend who had a computer that was able to run it, exchanging turns playing it! Aside from the huge nostalgia factor, the game (along with Thief 2) has aged fairly well - I installed the HD textures mods available on Moddb, tweaked a bit steam input for controller support (as I grew into playing with a controller almost exclusively for the past 10 years), kicked my feet up my desk, and enjoyed it as much as I did back in the day but with immensely improved graphics. That's a slow-paced tactical stealth game, and always, I repeat always, play with a decent pair of headphones - sound is as important as the shadows in this game, and you need to pay attention. It is amazing how they mapped the audio engine back in the 90s for this game for what was available at the time.

In any case, make sure you get TFix, HD textures mods, and whatever you can find to update the visuals. The audio engine is something else, but the graphics, even at launch in 1998, were questionable at best.

You taffers.

i gave it a fair shake and i figured that stealth games just aren't for me. i still want to take the time to commend this game's tremendously thick atmosphere which is still almost unmatched to this day

pretty good
save frequently though because its an old game
oldie but goldie :)

This game is very good, don't play it tho, I don't want new people to join in on this community, I am gatekeeping this, it's for me and my eyes and my hands only please don't buy it, it's mine get your hands away from it you dirty little silly.

I've played this game so many times for years, and even to this day, I'll still play the whole campaign all the way through (except the thieves guild...)! Just an absolute gem this game is; my favourite stealth game still! (I also love playing the fan-made missions!)

A bit rough around the edges but pretty fun once you get used to the mechanics. Requires tfix, and I only installed the bare minimum so it runs well and doesn't change the graphics. Pretty immersive experience if you want to do a little thieving since it has great locational audio that tells you exactly where the guards or enemies are, as well as a great light system to help you sneak. You also have a bunch of different tools such as a water arrow to put out torches, a rope arrow to create new entry points, and moss arrows to sneak on noisy surfaces. These tools create a pretty fun time if you just wanna chill out and steal some stuff.