Let’s be real, not all of us have the patience to wait in the shadows, clock guard patterns, or ghost a level without chucking a rock and praying. But for those of us who do—those who live for that satisfying ding when you ninja your way past a patrol undetected—indie stealth games have been dropping pure digital gold for the last ten years.
Now, don’t get me wrong. We love our Metal Gears and Dishonoreds, but today we’re tipping our hoods to the scrappy indie devs who’ve turned shadow-skulking into an art form. I’ve played through them all (often more than once, sometimes while crouching in my actual room for “immersion”), and I’m here to drop the definitive list of the best indie stealth games from the past decade.
So fire up your RGB lights to “ninja mode” (I go with a classy deep purple), and let’s sneak through the best indie stealth titles you shouldn’t miss.
1. Mark of the Ninja: Remastered (2018)
Studio: Klei Entertainment
Platform: PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One
The GOAT of indie stealth? Might be.
If you’ve never played Mark of the Ninja, stop reading and go buy it. Like right now. This 2D side-scrolling stealth platformer is basically a masterclass in game design. Every visual cue, audio trigger, and enemy reaction is perfectly telegraphed, which makes sneaking around feel crazy intuitive.
What blew my mind back in 2012 (and again with the remaster in 2018) was how this game turned ninja fantasy into gameplay reality. Hiding in shadows, slicing silently, dangling from ledges—every move feels smooth, purposeful, and like you’re starring in your own anime.
Why it slaps:
- Beautiful art style with cel-shaded flair
- Sound mechanics that make silence your weapon
- Stealth kills so slick they make John Wick look clumsy
SneakySam’s pro tip: Max out the Terror Dart skill tree. Making enemies shoot their own teammates after a spooky hallucination is just chef’s kiss.
2. The Marvellous Miss Take (2014)
Studio: Wonderstruck
Platform: PC, Mac
This one’s criminally underrated. Imagine if Ocean’s 8 had a funky art style and relied on distraction gadgets instead of gunplay. You play as Sophia Take, an art thief reclaiming what’s rightfully hers from snooty private collectors. You’re not here to hurt anyone—you’re here to stylefully outwit them.
It’s more fast-paced than traditional stealth games, which at first freaked me out (shoutout to the security guard who caught me 17 times in Level 3). But once I embraced the chaos, it felt like jazz.
Why it slaps:
- Stylish, colorful visuals (who says stealth has to be grimdark?)
- Non-lethal mechanics, perfect for pacifist runs
- Feels like a cat-burglar simulator with flair
SneakySam’s anecdote: I once beat a level by accidentally triggering three distractions in a row while trying to pause the game. Sometimes, chaos is the plan.
3. Heat Signature (2017)
Studio: Suspicious Developments
Platform: PC
Okay, so this one’s stealth adjacent, but hear me out. In Heat Signature, you’re infiltrating procedurally-generated spaceships to complete missions, and stealth is massive. You can pause time, sneak up on guards, use teleporters, swap bodies—it’s like Deus Ex meets FTL, but with a lot more “oh-crap-I-didn’t-think-this-through” moments.
What I love is the way every mission feels like an action movie—but only if you don’t screw up. Once you get caught, it’s pure chaos. You’ll either improvise like a boss or get flung into space. Both are hilarious.
Why it slaps:
- Procedural generation keeps it fresh every time
- Tactical pause system gives big-brain stealth vibes
- Ridiculously fun gadgets
SneakySam’s chaos moment: I once threw a wrench, knocked out a guard, caught his body, used it to block a turret, then teleported through a window—all in one move. My keyboard is still recovering.
4. Gunpoint (2013)
Studio: Suspicious Developments
Platform: PC
Yup, same studio as Heat Signature, and honestly, Tom Francis might be the stealth MVP of indie devs.
Gunpoint is a short, sweet puzzle-platformer where you play as a trenchcoat-wearing freelance spy who can rewire entire buildings. Want to make a light switch open a door? Do it. Want to make an elevator call the cops? Why not. The game’s all about using your environment like a techy MacGyver.
Why it slaps:
- The Crosslink system = stealth puzzle gold
- Noir dialogue that’s actually hilarious
- Jumps that let you defy gravity like a cyber-frog
SneakySam’s memory lane: The first time I made a guard punch himself by rewiring a door sensor to a trap was the moment I knew: this game’s elite.
5. Untitled Goose Game (2019)
Studio: House House
Platform: Basically everything
Okay okay, before you freak out—yes, it’s a comedy game. But tell me goosing around undetected isn’t stealth.
As a belligerent bird, your whole job is to terrorize a village with sneakiness. You honk, you hide, you steal keys, you lock kids in phone booths. It’s more like a sandbox stealth prank simulator, but it works because the design supports stealth shenanigans.
Why it slaps:
- Pure chaos energy, but in stealthy form
- Hilarious objectives that reward creativity
- That one piano sting when you get caught—legendary
SneakySam’s shameful confession: I once spent 25 minutes hiding in a bush to time the perfect rake-in-the-lake operation. Worth it.
6. Aragami (2016) / Aragami 2 (2021)
Studio: Lince Works
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
If Mark of the Ninja is the 2D king, Aragami is the 3D heir. Set in a supernatural ninja world, you control a spirit-assassin who uses shadows to teleport, kill, and vanish like a whisper.
The first game nailed the aesthetic, and the sequel expanded the mechanics with co-op and better movement. It’s not perfect—enemy AI can be weird—but it delivers those classic Tenchu-style thrills, especially with a buddy.
Why it slaps:
- Shadow teleporting never gets old
- Co-op stealth = double the sneaky fun
- Gorgeous, moody visuals
SneakySam’s stealth fail: Me and my buddy tried to ghost a level in Aragami 2, but he accidentally whistled near a lantern. We ended up swordfighting 12 dudes. Still awesome.
7. The Church in the Darkness (2019)
Studio: Paranoid Productions
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
This one’s a bit of a wild card. You’re infiltrating a cult compound in the ’70s to find your nephew. It’s got Hitman-lite vibes with a top-down view and multiple ways to complete objectives.
The coolest part? The cult leaders’ personalities and the story outcome shift every playthrough. So stealthing through each run feels fresh, and your moral choices actually matter.
Why it slaps:
- Dynamic narrative structure
- Weirdly compelling tone and setting
- Stealth gameplay with social commentary
SneakySam’s “WTF?” moment: I once tried a non-lethal run and got betrayed by the person I saved. Indie stealth games, man. They hit different.
Honorable Mentions
- Invisible, Inc. – More turn-based tactics, but still stealthy AF.
- Ronin – Like Mark of the Ninja meets Gunpoint.
- Serial Cleaner – Stealth meets crime scene cleanup. Hilariously weird.
Final Thoughts: Indie Stealth Is the Real MVP
There’s something so satisfying about outsmarting AI with a fraction of the resources. And when it’s coming from passionate indie teams who clearly love stealth mechanics, it hits different. Whether you’re lurking in the shadows of a 2D corridor or honking your way through a confused gardener’s yard, these games prove that big AAA budgets aren’t required to deliver that rush of being unseen, unheard, and unstoppable.
So next time your FPS squad’s offline and you’re craving something a little sneakier, pop into one of these gems. Just don’t blame me when you start instinctively crouching every time your cat walks into the room.