When a legend of the industry like Warren Spector announces a new project, I for one inevitably hold my breath. With monumental titles like Deus Ex and Thief: Deadly Shadows etched into his legacy, the bar is set high. However, Thick as Thieves, developed by OtherSide Entertainment, smartly manages expectations by positioning itself not as a broad, genre-defining odyssey, but as a focused, bite-sized stealth experience with a modest price tag. As a Proof of Concept or an introductory chapter to a grander vision, it succeeds, though it leaves the player longing for more depth.
Setting the Stage in Kilcairn
Thick as Thieves drops the player into an alternate-history version of 1910s Kilcairn, Scotland. The atmosphere is immediately thick with potential, blending a dark, gothic aesthetic with the clashing gears of early industrial technology and subtle hints of magic. Serving as a member of the elite Thieves’ Guild, you operate out of a central hub, your Thief’s Den.
The game presents you with 16 contracts spread across just two locations. While re-visiting the same maps repeatedly might sound repetitive, the game alters the parameters and objectives enough to keep the tasks feeling fresh for a while. By the time I finished the story, I felt satisfied with the journey, not because the game ran out of ideas, but because the length felt calibrated for its scope. It is self-aware enough to know it is an introduction, effectively whetting the appetite for a future, fully realized sequel.
Smooth, Safe, and Stealthy
In terms of mechanics, the game offers a choice between two different thieves, each theoretically possessing unique talents. Unfortunately, the differentiation is minimal; regardless of which character I chose, the playstyle remained largely identical. The unique abilities provided felt somewhat secondary, rarely becoming essential to the core loop.
The game is a pure stealth experience at heart. If you are spotted, your priority is to vanish into the shadows using tools or environmental cover. Combat is strictly non-lethal, limited to sneaking up on guards for a quick knockout. While the stealth mechanics don’t necessarily push the genre forward, they are polished. The movement feels smooth and responsive. However, the game leans on the easier side: AI patterns are predictable, and traps or turrets are easily avoidable. Because the enemies are so simple to bypass, the incentive to utilize your broader toolkit is disappointingly low.
Freedom is a central pillar, as each contract allows you to approach objectives in various sequences. Yet, I often found that while I had the freedom to choose the order, the paths to the objectives felt somewhat constricted. The “Immersive Sim” spirit is present, but it lacks the chaotic variety that made Spector’s earlier work so unpredictable. That said, the game truly shines when plans turn to disaster. Those moments where you are forced to improvise on the fly provide a genuine adrenaline rush. Playing in co-op elevates these moments significantly, offering that rare, emergent hilarity that only stealth games can provide.
Artistry and Presentation
Visually, Thick as Thieves is a treat. The art style evokes strong comparisons to the Dishonored series, utilizing a painted, stylized aesthetic that perfectly captures the gritty, mystical tone of Kilcairn. The visuals aren’t aiming for photorealism, but rather for a cohesive dark-fantasy atmosphere, and they hit the mark. The gothic architecture and the moody lighting make the city feel like a character in its own right, grounding the player in a setting that feels worth exploring.
A Promise of Greater Things
My time with Thick as Thieves lasted about five hours, and I enjoyed almost every minute of it. Is it a revolutionary title that will change the landscape of gaming? No. The gameplay plays it very safe, and it lacks the deep resource management or complex AI that fans of the genre might crave.
However, as a short, polished stealth experience, it succeeds in being an appetizer. If you are looking for a game to sink a few evenings into without feeling overwhelmed by an endless open world, Thick as Thieves is a perfect choice. It is a solid, well-built foundation that clearly signals bigger and better things are on the horizon for this world. I left the experience not with disappointment, but with a sincere hope that OtherSide Entertainment will eventually return to the foggy, thieving streets of Kilcairn to finish what they started.
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