Thick as Thieves: A Stealth Game Caught Between Multiplayer Roots and Singleplayer Aspirations

Introduction: A Promising Start

When Warren Spector, the legendary designer behind immersive sims like Deus Ex, announced Thick as Thieves as a multiplayer-focused stealth game, fans of classic first-person heists were skeptical. Then came word of a singleplayer mode, sparking hope for a Thief-like experience. After spending hours in its Victorian-meets-magic world, I found a game that nails the tactile feel of old-school stealth—yet stumbles under its own design compromises.

A Stealth Game That Feels Right

First-Person Mechanics and Atmosphere

From the first moments in the sewers of Elway Manor, Thick as Thieves impresses. The lean buttons work exactly as they should, letting you peek around corners without exposing your whole body. Maps are hand-drawn by a mysterious vendor named “Fingers,” adding to the grimy charm. Guards mutter in Scottish accents about whether a torch is powered by electricity or fey magic—a small touch that reinforces the hybrid technology-fantasy setting.

The attention to detail extends to gameplay: blow out a candle, and guards will notice. Leave a door ajar, and they’ll close it with a scowl. These reactive systems reward caution and observation, much like the immersive sims Spector helped define.

Unique Twists: Ghost Guards and Fairies

Not everything is traditional. Ghost guards phase through walls and patrol through the sky, making their paths unpredictable. They still cough to announce their presence (a welcome callback), but you can never fully relax. To aid you, upgrades let you summon a pickpocket fairy that steals keys or flips switches at a distance, and an insult fairy that distracts guards with taunts. These abilities add a lighthearted layer to an otherwise tense experience.

Two Maps, Endless Possibilities?

Currently, Thick as Thieves offers only two maps: the police station and Elway Manor. Each is a multi-level warren of vents, rooftops, and secret passages. Returning with new objectives reveals fresh areas and alternate routes. It’s reminiscent of Hitman’s Sapienza—a single location you master over multiple runs. The first few hours feel like climbing a familiar tree, knowing each branch better than before.

But the sense of discovery fades when you realize the entire campaign is just a series of fetch quests across those same two buildings. New objectives are welcome, but the novelty wears thin without more environments to explore.

The Time Limit That Ruins the Pace

When the Clock Starts Too Early

The biggest frustration comes from the strict 45- or 30-minute time limit to complete a mission. After that, a magic escape door appears somewhere random, and you have just eight minutes to reach it. In theory, this encourages brisk pacing—no manual saves, no endless deliberation. It works in co-op, where a partner might have limited playtime. But the pressure becomes punishing when the eight-minute timer triggers upon completing any objective.

For example, a mission asks you to steal three specific items. The moment you pick up the first one, the escape timer starts—even if you have no idea where the other two are hidden. In my case, I grabbed one item, then had to sprint for the exit, leaving the rest behind. When I returned for the last item, my journal told me to “find all three,” but I couldn’t because the timer had already spoiled my previous run. Deterministic failure replaces emergent problem-solving.

A Double-Edged Sword for Exploration

The time limit also discourages thorough exploration. You might stumble upon a fascinating side area, but the clock screams in your ear to finish the main goal. In a singleplayer game, this feels antithetical to the patient, tinkering style that Thief encouraged. Thick as Thieves wants you to be a quick, efficient burglar—not a meticulous cat burglar who studies patrol routes for fifteen minutes before moving.

For fans hoping Spector would recapture the slow-burn tension of Thief, this is the bitter pill. The game wears its Looking Glass influences proudly (the in-game electrogram even uses code 0451, a nod to the famous door code from Thief and System Shock). But the multiplayer origins force a rinse-and-repeat structure that undermines the singleplayer fantasy.

A Game in Two Minds

Thick as Thieves is a capable stealth game with clever mechanics and a vivid world. Its lean-based controls, reactive AI, and quirky fairies show that Warren Spector still understands what makes sneaking fun. Yet the constant time limits and limited map pool reveal the tension between its original co-op design and its later solo mode. It’s not the Thief successor I hoped for—but it might still find an audience among players who want a faster, more arcade-like take on stealth. For now, I’ll keep waiting for the true heir to the Looking Glass throne.