Spies Like Us: Our Top 10 Picks of the Best Spy-Themed Video Games Ever

Do you have what it takes to be a master spy? Are you ready to put your stealth skills to the test and tackle the world's most dangerous operations? Then we have a mission for you. 

James Bond 007 GoldenEye video game
GoldenEye 007 first-person shooter video game (1997), recommended by Joel

Top Spy games

Our in-house gamers are revealing their ultimate list of sneaky espionage games so you can step into the shadows and satisfy your inner James Bond, Black Widow, or Mr. Robot. From classic titles that set the standard for the genre to cutting-edge modern releases, dive into our staff’s top video game picks - exclusively for SPYSCAPE readers. 

Invisible Inc. video game


Invisible, Inc

(Top-rated by two of our team. Gwyn considers Invisible, Inc. ‘great’ while Dermot describes it as ‘an endlessly replayable classic that pulls off an almost impossible trick - combining serious strategy gaming with thrilling, anxiety-provoking gameplay.’

As the mastermind behind an espionage agency targeted by ruthless multinationals, you must lead your team of agents through covert missions to gather crucial resources and support. With the clock ticking, your ultimate goal is to relocate your agency's computer system to a safe haven before it's too late. Invisible, Inc is a thrilling blend of turn-based tactics and stealthy gameplay, with rogue-like elements for added excitement. 

Batman Arkham video game

Batman Arkham City

(Top-rated by Edras - ‘Batman Arkham City is the ultimate combat, stealth, strategy, and puzzle game.’)

Don your cape and cowl. Batman: Arkham City is the explosive sequel to Arkham Asylum. Gotham's most dangerous criminals have been corralled into a massive, sprawling maximum security home for thugs, gangsters, and insane criminal masterminds. So gear up and get ready to take down the city's most dastardly villains. 

Disgruntled series video games


Dishonored series

(Top-rated by Melissa - ‘Dishonored is a great stealth game with a steampunk vibe, and it combines a lot of old tech and fantasy elements.’)

Step into the shoes of a supernatural assassin seeking revenge in the action-adventure games of the Dishonored series. Developed by Arkane Studios, this franchise has been keeping gamers on the edge of their seats since its first release in 2012. With the sequel, Dishonored 2, hitting the scene in 2016 and the standalone expansion, Death of the Outsider, launching in 2017, this immersive first-person game will have you hooked.

Splinter Cell video game


Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell series

(Top-rated by three SPYSCAPE gamers including Dante, Joel, and Justin who consider it a firm favorite.)

You are Sam Fisher, a highly trained agent of a black-ops sub-division within the NSA known as Third Echelon. You must leave no trace on the physical or political map as you confront adversaries. Although killing may compromise secrecy, the choice between leaving a witness or a corpse does not exist. You are a Splinter Cell. (Worth noting: The final game in the series was released in 2013, but a VR version and remake of the first game are rumored to be in the works. There's also a Splinter Cell animated TV series underway.)

Metal Gear series

Metal Gear series

(Recommended by Joel, Dante and Anthony. As Anthony sees it: ‘Metal Gear Solid and I’d say more specifically Metal Gear 2 & 3.’)

Become a master of stealth as you control iconic characters Solid Snake, Big Boss, and other Special Forces operatives assigned to find the 'super weapon’, a tank capable of launching nuclear warheads. With the third installment introducing cutting-edge 3D graphics, it's no wonder Metal Gear gained worldwide recognition. Hailing from the creative mind of Japan's Hideo Kojima, the franchise remains a cult favorite. A must-play for fans of techno-thriller stealth games.

Spies Like Us: Our Top 10 Picks of the Best Spy-Themed Video Games Ever

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Do you have what it takes to be a master spy? Are you ready to put your stealth skills to the test and tackle the world's most dangerous operations? Then we have a mission for you. 

James Bond 007 GoldenEye video game
GoldenEye 007 first-person shooter video game (1997), recommended by Joel

Top Spy games

Our in-house gamers are revealing their ultimate list of sneaky espionage games so you can step into the shadows and satisfy your inner James Bond, Black Widow, or Mr. Robot. From classic titles that set the standard for the genre to cutting-edge modern releases, dive into our staff’s top video game picks - exclusively for SPYSCAPE readers. 

Invisible Inc. video game


Invisible, Inc

(Top-rated by two of our team. Gwyn considers Invisible, Inc. ‘great’ while Dermot describes it as ‘an endlessly replayable classic that pulls off an almost impossible trick - combining serious strategy gaming with thrilling, anxiety-provoking gameplay.’

As the mastermind behind an espionage agency targeted by ruthless multinationals, you must lead your team of agents through covert missions to gather crucial resources and support. With the clock ticking, your ultimate goal is to relocate your agency's computer system to a safe haven before it's too late. Invisible, Inc is a thrilling blend of turn-based tactics and stealthy gameplay, with rogue-like elements for added excitement. 

Batman Arkham video game

Batman Arkham City

(Top-rated by Edras - ‘Batman Arkham City is the ultimate combat, stealth, strategy, and puzzle game.’)

Don your cape and cowl. Batman: Arkham City is the explosive sequel to Arkham Asylum. Gotham's most dangerous criminals have been corralled into a massive, sprawling maximum security home for thugs, gangsters, and insane criminal masterminds. So gear up and get ready to take down the city's most dastardly villains. 

Disgruntled series video games


Dishonored series

(Top-rated by Melissa - ‘Dishonored is a great stealth game with a steampunk vibe, and it combines a lot of old tech and fantasy elements.’)

Step into the shoes of a supernatural assassin seeking revenge in the action-adventure games of the Dishonored series. Developed by Arkane Studios, this franchise has been keeping gamers on the edge of their seats since its first release in 2012. With the sequel, Dishonored 2, hitting the scene in 2016 and the standalone expansion, Death of the Outsider, launching in 2017, this immersive first-person game will have you hooked.

Splinter Cell video game


Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell series

(Top-rated by three SPYSCAPE gamers including Dante, Joel, and Justin who consider it a firm favorite.)

You are Sam Fisher, a highly trained agent of a black-ops sub-division within the NSA known as Third Echelon. You must leave no trace on the physical or political map as you confront adversaries. Although killing may compromise secrecy, the choice between leaving a witness or a corpse does not exist. You are a Splinter Cell. (Worth noting: The final game in the series was released in 2013, but a VR version and remake of the first game are rumored to be in the works. There's also a Splinter Cell animated TV series underway.)

Metal Gear series

Metal Gear series

(Recommended by Joel, Dante and Anthony. As Anthony sees it: ‘Metal Gear Solid and I’d say more specifically Metal Gear 2 & 3.’)

Become a master of stealth as you control iconic characters Solid Snake, Big Boss, and other Special Forces operatives assigned to find the 'super weapon’, a tank capable of launching nuclear warheads. With the third installment introducing cutting-edge 3D graphics, it's no wonder Metal Gear gained worldwide recognition. Hailing from the creative mind of Japan's Hideo Kojima, the franchise remains a cult favorite. A must-play for fans of techno-thriller stealth games.

Assassin's Creed, Brotherhood video game

Assassin’s Creed, Brotherhood

(‘Aging myself a bit,’ Joel notes, but he considers Assassin’s Creed, Brotherhood a ‘cornerstone’ of the genre along with Hitman; Metal Gear Solid; Splinter Cell; Perfect Dark, and; 007 GoldenEye)

Do you have what it takes to become a legend in a fictional history of real-world events? Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood follows the millennia-old struggle between the Assassins, who fight to preserve peace and free will, and the Templars. Use your combat, climbing, and stealth skills to complete missions and take down targets. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, this is the third in the series and the second chapter in the Ezio Trilogy. 

Perfect Dark series

Perfect Dark series

(Top-rated by Melissa and Joel. Melissa describes Perfect Dark as ‘a classic Nintendo 64 game that repurposed spy elements from their GoldenEye game that they didn't use.’)

Joanna Dark, the top scorer in spy training at the Carrington Institute, must rescue Dr. Caroll who sent a distress call to Carrington a few days earlier. Is Joanna too late? Time is of the essence in Perfect Dark, a science-fiction video game series created by Rare. Some think of it as the ‘spiritual successor‘ to GoldenEye 007. It debuted in 2000 with the release of the Nintendo 64 first-person shooter Perfect Dark.

Hitman video game series


Hitman
series

(Recommended by Joel and Dante for SPYSCAPE gamers.)

You are Agent 47, assassin and gun-for-hire. While working for The Organization, you are ensnared in a political conspiracy and find yourself hunted by Interpol police and the Russian military as you trek across Russia and Eastern Europe. Hitman is focused heavily on a form of stealth. The first in the series, Hitman: Codename 47, was released for Windows in 2000 and the most recent was rebranded in 2022 as World of Assassination. (Worth noting: The Hitman team is also working on a James Bond 007 game.)


Spy vs. Spy

(If you’re feeling nostalgic, Justin recommends the perfect game for you, ‘‘If we're looking waaay back, I forgot this classic…’)

Spy vs. Spy, published in 1984, is a two-player, split-screen game based on Mad magazine's long-running cartoon strip Spy vs. Spy and involves the antics of two spies trying to kill each other with elaborate traps and weapons. You must collect secret items in your briefcase, exit the building through a door, and make it to the airport before your opposing player (or the timer) runs out. Watch out for traps or you may find yourself floating up to heaven as an angel!

BONUS RETRO GAME

Uplink / Uplink: Hacker Elite

(Recommended by Ross, ‘I have fond memories of Uplink from a long… long time ago.’)

Another retro classic for fans of hacker games. You are an Uplink Agent working for corporations who might need you to break into a rival computer system, steal research data, launder money, or frame innocent people. The money you earn can be spent on upgrading your computer systems and buying new software and tools - but be careful. You may find yourself taking part in the construction of the most deadly computer virus ever designed As your experience level increases, so does the risk and danger.

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