10 Classic PC Video Games That Have Only Improved With Age

Developed by Looking Glass Studios, and published by Eidos Interactive, Thief: The Dark Project was the first stealth game to utilise light/shadow as a central mechanic, forcing the player to strategies, as well as plan their movements carefully and considerately. In 1998, it was also the first game in a brand new series, a series which would survive over a decade, and influence everything from Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell to the Hitman series.

The game itself is first-person stealth game in which players must explore environments, steal treasure and neutralise patrolling guards. In the game, players assume the role of Garrett – an abandoned orphan turned master criminal, tasked with attaining The Eye, a mystical gem capable of untold devastation. Alone, and completely unmatched, Garrett must discover the domain of the trickster, and somehow prevent the complete annihilation of civilisation.

Thief is a remarkably influential game, a fact which is often understated. In 1998, it was nothing short of groundbreaking, spawning three sequels, as well as a reboot in 2014. Thief II: The Metal Age surpassed the original in many way – but The Dark Project came first – and will always be remembered as a crowning achievement in the genre, as well as an unparalleled success for Looking Glass Studies, selling over a million copies worldwide.