Thick as Thieves is a brand-new co-op stealth game from Warren Spector, known for his work on the Thief and Deus Ex series. He is a legend based on his work alone, so there was naturally a lot of anticipation surrounding the game’s release. Another factor that added to the hype was its unusually low launch price of $4.99, something we do not see every day. However, does the final game justify it?
Thick as Thieves is set in a place called Kilcairn, a fictional version of an early 20th-century Scottish city. The game puts players in the role of a thief who begins their first job by infiltrating the Thieves Guild to steal the Vistara Diamond, an artifact that reveals hidden traps, guards, and treasures along the way. After the opening mission, the story attempts to build a sense of mystery by introducing new elements and characters. However, because the game is such a low-budget release, most of the story and narrative are presented through text, which makes the overall presentation less engaging.
The game’s limited and indirect style of storytelling might work for players who enjoy reading lore, exploring, and discovering things on their own, but it misses the mark for most people, myself included. I never felt fully immersed in the story or the world, and it failed to create much excitement for me. Since the game seems heavily focused on co-op gameplay, the narrative elements do not blend particularly well with the experience, with gameplay clearly taking priority. Unfortunately, even the gameplay itself is not especially fun.
The game is played from a first-person perspective and follows a stealth-heist structure where players visit different locations and complete objectives. These objectives can range from knocking someone out to finding specific loot or escaping an area, depending on the mission. More often than not, though, the game follows a simple and familiar loop that does not offer much variety. There are some changes to keep missions slightly different, such as blocked paths, altered guard patrols, and relocated objects, but these additions do not do enough to keep the gameplay entertaining in the long run.
There are two playable characters in the game, each with unique abilities that influence the choice of who to use. The game also offers different loadout options, such as smoke grenades, the Pickpocket Fairy, and Slither Sap, which can provide advantages depending on the situation. Spider is a unique character who can use a grapple hook to bypass certain threats, while Chameleon can disguise themselves and deceive guards. The game’s central item is the Vistara Diamond, which allows players to detect guards and traps early. However, it also lowers the difficulty quite a bit, as it becomes easy to bypass challenges after using the diamond.
Enemy variety also feels lacking, as most guards follow predictable paths and behaviors. Things become a bit more interesting once the Hauntstable enemies are introduced, since they can behave unpredictably. The game is at its best in co-op, while the single-player experience feels dry and lacks replay value. If you can enjoy the gameplay systems and story with a friend, it becomes a much better experience overall.
I also tested the game on Steam Deck, where it unfortunately does not provide a great experience. It runs at low settings with unstable performance, and while it is technically playable, I would recommend playing it on more capable hardware instead. Overall, I would not recommend Thick as Thieves to anyone looking for a strong solo experience. However, if you want some stealth-focused co-op gameplay, it is a decent game, especially considering its extremely cheap launch price.
Thick As Thieves Game Information
- Price: $4.99
- Publisher: Megabit Publishing
- Developer: OtherSide Entertainment
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
