Thief: The Dark Project

Lore & Background

Thief takes place in a metropolis called 'the City', which has been noted to contain elements of the Middle Ages-like dark fantasy and the Industrial Revolution. The City contains three factions: the Keepers, and two opposing religious orders known as the Pagans and the Order of the Hammer, or 'Hammerites'. The latter two have been cited as representations of chaos and order, respectively; the neutral, secretive Keepers strive to maintain balance within the City. The Hammerites worship a deity called 'The Builder', and believe in progress, craftsmanship and righteousness; the Pagans, who have been described as 'primitive, almost animalistic', worship the dangerous 'Trickster' god.

In Their Own Story

The night air is thick with coal smoke and the distant clang of a hammer. Garrett crouches on a rain-slicked gargoyle, peering into a nobleman's study. Below, a guard's footsteps echo on marble, his lantern casting a pool of light that shifts with each step. Garrett smiles, fingers tracing the lockpicks in his pocket. The gold in that desk is already his—he just has to wait for the shadows to deepen. But tonight, the shadows are not empty. A faint, inhuman whisper curls from the ventilation grate, and somewhere in the sewers, something ancient stirs. Garrett’s heist is about to become a descent into the city’s rotting heart.

Reader's Guide

Thief takes place from a first-person perspective in a 3D environment, with the game's story taking place over a series of missions. Players are encouraged to focus on concealment, evasion, distraction, misdirection, and subtle takedowns, rather than on outright confrontation. A special meter on the heads-up display (HUD), in the form of a gem, helps to indicate the player's visibility to NPCs. To remain quiet, players must be careful of how much noise they produce, as well as what surfaces they are moving over. The game's NPCs feature artificial intelligence (AI) systems that detect unscripted visual and aural cues. Players can use a variety of arrows with their bow, including water arrows, rope arrows, moss arrows, and fire arrows. Other tools include lockpicks, flashbombs, and potions. Players can purchase additional arrows and tools between levels with loot they have acquired.

Did You Know?

• Thief was the first PC stealth game to use light and sound as game mechanics.
• The developers called it a 'first-person sneaker' to distinguish it from first-person shooters.
• The game achieved sales of half a million units by 2000, making it Looking Glass' most commercially successful game.
• A remastered version published by Nightdive Studios is scheduled for release in Winter 2025.