Stealth on the Switch is a somewhat underrepresented genre compared to on other platforms, with the console lacking any titles from the big stealth-game franchises of Metal Gear Solid, Hitman and Deus Ex. However, for what the Switch may lack when it comes to big-name AAA stealth games, it makes up for with a host of great indie gems that give stealth fans the adrenaline rush of avoiding detection in an attempt to either kill or not get killed. The best of the bunch of these indie games as well as the few bigger-name titles that have been ported on to the Switch in the genre are featured in the list below.

Sniper elite 4

What the developers say: Discover unrivalled sniping freedom in the largest and most advanced World War 2 shooter ever built. Experience tactical third-person combat, gameplay choice and epic longshots across gigantic levels as you liberate wartime Italy from the grip of Fascism.

Set in the aftermath of its award-winning predecessor, Sniper Elite 4 transports players across the beautiful Italian peninsula, from sun-drenched Mediterranean coastal towns, to ancient forests, mountain valleys and colossal Nazi megastructures.

Covert agent and elite marksman Karl Fairburne must fight alongside the brave men and women of the Italian Resistance and defeat a terrifying new threat with the potential to halt the Allied fightback in Europe before it’s even begun.

What we say: Originally released on PS4, Xbox One and PC in February 2017, Sniper Elite 4 is the latest, and most critically-acclaimed, entry in the Sniper Elite franchise and, as of its 2020 Switch release date, joined Sniper Elite V2 and Sniper Elite 3 on the system. The game is set in Italy in 1943, in the immediate aftermath of the events of the fun but flawed Sniper Elite 3 and, in keeping with the rest of the series, sees you playing as SOE sniper Karl Fairburne tasked with killing Nazis – lots of Nazis! The Sniper Elite series has always had elements of greatness, with its authentic sniper physics and satisfyingly brutal killcams but Sniper Elite 4 is where the series fully realises its potential, fixing many of the flaws of previous games and doing what they do best and on a bigger and better scale. We’re talking massive, exquisite sandboxes offering endless stealthy and murderous freedoms for you to brutally eliminate the enemy in the most satisfying way possible – as a stealth enthusiast what’s not to love!

Serial cleaner

What the developers say: Can you dig it?

Step into the polished shoes of The Cleaner, a professional crime scene cleaner for the mob. There’s no business like the cleaning business, and right now business is booming.

Sneak around crime scenes avoiding detection from the guarding cops as you vacuum up blood, hide bodies and remove evidence in this 70’s styled, fast-paced, 2D action/stealth game.

What we say: We’ve become accustomed to assuming the role of a bad-ass, murderous protagonist in many of the stealth games we’ve played, most notably in titles such as Metal Gear Solid and the aforementioned Sniper Elite series. But what the likes of Solid Snake and Karl Fairburne (protagonists in Metal Gear Solid and Sniper Elite games respectively) and us when we’re playing them don’t pay attention to is who’s going to do their cleaning up after them. That’s where the game Serial Cleaner and its protagonist Bobby comes in, which tasks you in cleaning up the mafia’s dirty work. Over the 20 levels constituting the main story, the game places you in various locations where the mafia have been at work, ranging from gyms to night clubs, with each having their own cool design quirks and stealthy intricacies to master. For each level and at each location, you’re tasked with quite literally cleaning up the crime scene, from disposing of bodies and other pieces of evidence to vacuuming up the bloodstains on the floor, all whilst avoiding the pesky cops as they arrive on the scene! I’m sure in real life it’s not the most glamorous of jobs, but Serial Cleaner presents Bobby’s work in a light-hearted manner thanks to its colourful, minimalistic artwork and comedic theme tune – making it a fun, easygoing gaming experience to enjoy.

Party hard

What the developers say: In Party Hard, you play as someone who is really tired of the neighbours having loud parties. Instead of calling the police, you decide it’s a better idea to kill everyone – using your faithful knife and the environment. The tactical strategy follows a series of killings at parties through-ought the USA.

Party Hard has semi-procedural environments and focus on unique ways of killing people. In the greatest traditions of sneaking games, your main goal is not to get caught, while silently picking off unsuspecting victims one by one. Dancing and blending in during a suspicious situation is key.

• A (not)serious story that follows a series of murders through the USA.
• 19 unique levels with random variations on each one.
• Use traps, cause explosions, become a ninja.
• Multiple unlock-able characters.
• Special random events, like a bear coming in and killing everyone for you.
• Trigger the DEA, SWAT cars, paramedics, firefighters to come in and ruin the party.

What we say: Unlike Serial Cleaner, Party Hard is an unashamedly murderous action stealth/strategy game. In Party Hard, you assume the role of the party neighbour – the guy that’s not invited to the party his neighbours are hosting and for whom the loud music blasting through the walls is the opposite of a consolation. We’ve all been there but for most of us we grin and bear it, suffering through the loud music that’s keeping us awake. Our party-pooping protagonist in Party Hard, however, decides it will be a better idea to take matters into his own hands – by murdering all of the party-goers that are keeping him awake! He then ups the ante throughout the game, widening his murderous exploits from the confines of his neighbourhood to parties across the USA. Aside from your trusty knife, you can make use of the environment to eliminate all of your unsuspecting victims in the stealthiest Hitman-esque way possible, from triggering explosions to poisoning the punch. The range of which helps to keep things interesting. Each level in Party Hard has an element of uniqueness (often crazy in nature) about it that separates it from the other 18 levels constituting the story mode, something very important when you consider each level basically has you doing the same thing of killing all of the party attendants.

Mark of the Ninja

What the developer’s say: In Mark of the Ninja Remastered, you’ll know what it is to truly be a ninja. You must be silent, agile and clever to outwit your opponents in a world of gorgeous scenery and flowing animation. Marked with cursed tattoos giving you heightened senses, every situation presents you with options.

For the first time, enjoy the critically acclaimed game as well as the additional Special Edition content on the go!

Key Features:

• True Stealth Experience – Player-centric gameplay rewards choice, be it finishing the game without killing anyone or assassinating all who stand in your way.
• Includes the Special Edition DLC: the Dosan’s Tale adds a new character, level, items, and Developer commentary.
• Enhanced visuals – both cinematic and gameplay visuals have been lovingly remastered offering exquisite detail.
• Now supports full 5.1 surround sound with remastered audio.
• New Game Plus – Finish the game and unlock this mode, offering new challenges and rewards.

What we say: If we could only play one game on this list for the rest of eternity, it would have to be Mark of the Ninja – not just the best stealth game on the Nintendo Switch but one of the best stealth games ever made. Originally released on Xbox Live Arcade on the Xbox 360 way back in 2012, this stealthy platformer was quickly heralded as one of the best in its genre, with critics praising its great level design and pacing, excellent controls and beautifully illustrated art-style and animations. Additionally, each level is unique and designed in a non-linear fashion to give the player the freedom to approach it as they choose. You also have a wide range of abilities, gadgets and weapons that are unlocked throughout the game at your disposal – each adding diversity to your playstyle. Happily, all of these great aspects and more landed on the Switch (as well as PS4 and XBOX One) in the form of Mark of the Ninja Remastered. By more we mean all of the content from the previous Special Edition release including the ‘Dosan’s Tale’ DLC level as well as enhanced visuals and soundtrack. It is worth mentioning that the Switch version runs the game at 30fps in handheld mode and 60fps in docked mode. The lower framerate in handheld mode has frustrated many Switch owners as all of the other console versions of the game (including the original Xbox 360 version) run the game locked at 60fps. The game is very much playable at 30fps and we didn’t find it detracted from the experience in comparison to, say, FPS titles such as the Switch port of Doom.

Aragami

What the developer’s say: You are Aragami, a vengeful spirit with the power to control the shadows. You’ve been summoned by Yamiko, a girl imprisoned in the city fortress of Kyuryu. Embark on a dark journey full of blood and secrets to discover the truth about aragami. Infiltrate the occupied city of Kyuryu with your supernatural powers and fight Light with Shadow. Uncover a story about twin souls bound together by destiny that surpasses time and memory.

Key Features:

• EMBRACE THE SHADOWS
  Create your own shadows to become invisible. Teleport from shadow to shadow while you hunt down your targets. Use a wide array of Shadow Powers to creatively dispatch your enemies.
• CHOOSE YOUR PLAYSTYLE
  Multiple paths to beat each scenario and approach every situation. Play as a merciless emissary of death or an undetectable ghost. Your story, your choices.
• BECOME ARAGAMI
  Fight Kaiho, the army of Light, and rescue Yamiko – the mysterious girl that summoned you and that is the key to your existence.

What we say: Aragami is unashamedly a stealth game through and through. And what it does, it does excellently – with great stealth mechanics, an exciting variety of special ninja abilities at your disposal and interesting and varied level design. The game sets itself apart from similar titles in the genre thanks to its compelling story and stylish, albeit a tad rough around the edges art style on the Switch version. The combat’s great too and we found disposing of enemies increasingly satisfying as we progressed throughout the game, combining attacks and moving in and out of cover into a seamless, almost rhythmic motion. Of course, you can engage full stealth mode and finish the game without taking a single life and the game rewards you for doing so at the end of each level – adding a fair amount of replayability once you’ve completed the main story.  If you’re a fan of pure stealth titles such as Metal Gear Solid and Thief that force players to utilise stealth as their primary weapon with little option to go in ‘all guns blazing’, then you’ll feel right at home with Aragami and it certainly won’t disappoint. If, however, you prefer a bit more action and freedom to approach situations with a mixture of stealth and mass destruction, then games like Assassin’s Creed might be more to your taste.

Assassin’s Creed

As of writing, a total of four Assassin’s Creed games have been ported onto the Switch, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Assassin’s Creed Rogue, Assassin’s Creed III and Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation. The first two of these games are available as part of the Assassin’s Creed Rebel Collection, whilst the last two are also available together as part of Assassin’s Creed III: Remastered. Each collection is complete with the full DLC for each game. All entries in the Assassin’s Creed series have featured stealth as a key asset in the armoury of an Assassin and have encouraged (or many times forced) players to use it to their advantage. It’s fair to say, however, that the Assassin’s Creed games that we’ve seen come to the Switch don’t have the stealth mechanics nailed and it’s often easier to go into battle all guns blazing as the combat isn’t much of a challenge. Despite this, the games here are a worthy inclusion in this list as they’re all great AAA Switch games, with expansive worlds and complex, lengthy, albeit not always that gripping narratives.

Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection:

What the developer’s say: Get two action-packed games with Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection. Become the most feared pirate in the Caribbean in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag and transform into the ultimate assassin hunter in Assassin’s Creed Rogue.

Includes both Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed Rogue.

Become the most feared pirate in the Caribbean in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag. Take part in a naval experience and explore a massive open world. Become the ultimate assassin hunter in Assassin’s Creed Rogue, and play as a Templar for this time in franchise history.

Experience enhanced features like Handheld Mode, HD Rumble, Touch Screen Interface, and Motion Control Aiming.

What we say: If we were to pick up just one of the Assassin’s Creed collections on the Switch it would be this one, mainly thanks to the inclusion of the epic Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Black Flag first came out in 2013 and is set in the Carribbean in the year 1715 during the golden age of piracy. And its this setting which makes Black Flag one of the best entries in the Assassin’s Creed series to date. There’s just so much to do and explore in the expansive, vibrant open world that looks great on the Switch. The ship combat in the game which was first introduced in Assassin’s Creed III has been built upon and refined and is easily one of the highlights of the game. From what we’ve seen with the franchise over the years, it’s clear that the protagonist and his or her charisma is a key factor in determining whether we as a player feel immersed into the world and the storyline. Thankfully, Black Flag’s protagonist Edward Kenway (the grandfather of the really quite dull Connor from Assassin’s Creed III) has charisma by the boatload and has the brutal pirate nature to boot!

Assassin’s Creed Rogue is the second game included in the Rebel Collection and excels thanks to its unique position in the series. Throughout the rest of the series, you play as an assassin assassinating a load of enemy templars, but in Assassin’s Creed Rogue you play as the assassin turned assassin-hunting templar, Shay Patrick Cormac. The game is set in 18^th century North America amidst the chaos and violence of the French and Indian War. Shay Patrick Cormac, a fearless young member of the Brotherhood of Assassin’s, undergoes a dark transformation that will forever shape the future of the American colonies. After a dangerous mission gone tragically wrong, Shay turns his back on the Assassins who, in response, attempt to end his life. Cast aside by those he once called brothers, Shay sets out on a mission to wipe out all who turned against him and ultimately become the most feared Assassin hunter in history. It’s one of the most exciting and intriguing plots of the series and this is where Rogue excels, with Shay’s story and transformation from assassin to templar being excellently narrated. Shay is one of the most interesting protagonists of the series and his story is told so that the player empathises with his motivations, instead of just viewing him as a murderous assassin-hunting villain. Sadly most of the rest of the game aside from the plot feels lacklustre compared to the rest of the series, with the missions feeling less exciting and unique and the world feeling less vibrant and expansive compared to, say, Black Flag. There’s still a lot of fun to be had, but Rogue’s world doesn’t quite come to like the best in the series do and it’s much harder to fully lose oneself in the game as a result.

Assassin’s Creed III Remastered:

What the developer’s say:

• Assassin’s Creed III Remastered includes Assassin’s Creed Liberation Remastered
• In addition, all solo DLCs from the original game “Benedict Arnold Missions”, “Hidden Secrets” & “Tyranny of King Washington are included
• Optimized for the Nintendo Switch with Play in TV mode, Handheld mode, or Tabletop Mode & Touch Screen Interface
• Experience the Assassin’s Creed universe on the eve of the American Revolution. Play as Connor, who is the warrior son of a Native American mother and British father, to secure liberty of the nation
• Connor’s story will allow you to explore unique environments: Boston, New York, The Frontier & Epic Naval missions

What we say: Assassin’s Creed III is the main game to get excited about in this collection, with Assassin’s Creed III Liberation acting almost like a bolt-on, being disproportionately smaller in scale than its counterpart. This is to be expected, Assassin’s Creed III was a main entry in the series, whilst Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation started life out as a PS Vita exclusive, before making its way over to the Xbox 360 and PS3 as the digital-only Assassin’s Creed Liberations HD. Assassin’s Creed III is viewed by many as a low point in the series, with its critics citing its boring protagonist Connor, disjointed plot and slow start as its key flaws. Whilst these are all genuine criticisms, they didn’t get in the way of my enjoyment of the game, for which there are a number of great aspects which I’d say justify picking up a copy. The game was also plagued with bugs when it launched, but luckily Ubisoft seemed to have ironed these out for the most part in the Switch version. On the positive side, the game was massive – from Boston, to New York, to the wilderness of the Homestead to the open oceans – it was absolutely massive for its time! Whilst not as refined as it was in Black Flag, the naval combat is still fun and offers something unseen in the previous entries of the series. The setting of the game amidst the American Revolution is also great and makes for an exciting and purposeful narrative.

Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation follows the story of African-French assassin and daughter of a slave, Aveline. The game is set between 1765 and 1777 and sees Aveline attempt to stop the Templars gaining control over 18^th century New Orleans towards the end of the French and Indian War. The events of the game take place mostly in and around New Orleans alongside the events of Assassin’s Creed III. Aveline has a compelling story, but the relatively short campaign left me feeling like it could have been explored further. Instead, Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation fails to really carve its own identity amongst the series, involving many generic missions such as searching for items or tailing a target that become repetitive quite quickly – especially if you’ve played some of the other titles in the series. Despite its flaws, Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation is a lot of fun at its high points of which we just wish there were a few more and considering this title originally debuted on the PS Vita back in 2012 as the series’ first true open world portable experience we can’t really complain!