8 First-Person Video Games That Changed Gaming Forever
2. Thief: The Dark Project
Credited as the first game to introduce the combination of stealth and a first person perspective, Looking Glass Studios' Thief: The Dark Project showed us the potential of games that allowed us to sneak in the shadows. Concealment and stealth presented us with a new way of playing that didn't involve the Doom-like rushing into things with guns blazing.
Although we all enjoy high-stakes, confrontational, and explosive gameplay, Thief gave players the ability to use their puzzle solving skills in a quiet environment and introduce the idea of a "non-confrontational" gaming experience.
It's no surprise that games like Splinter Cell and Hitman took inspiration from Thief, which is why we can so confidently say that Thief: The Dark Project changed gaming forever. Stealth in gaming wasn't unheard of, but a first person stealth experience? That was new.
That perspective is what made you hold your breath as you attempted to cross into hostile territory without alerting your enemies. It was a truly challenging experience that led the gaming industry in the right direction.
Presenting new challenges and breaking barriers is what gaming is all about and that's exactly what Thief: The Dark Project did.