FindAlternative
Back to Syphon Filter

Syphon Filter vs Thief

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

Compare
Syphon Filter
Syphon FilterStealthy third‑person action against a deadly viral conspiracy
Thief
ThiefStep into the shadows as Garrett, the Master Thief, in a dark Victorian-Gothic city driven by stealth.
Overview
Description

Syphon Filter is a third‑person shooter stealth game where agents Gabe Logan and Lian Xing battle a terrorist plot involving a lethal biological weapon. Set across locations from Costa Rica to Kazakhstan, the game blends intense gunplay with covert infiltration and a deep narrative.

Thief is a first-person stealth action-adventure game developed by Eidos Montréal. Players take control of Garrett, a master thief navigating a plague-ridden, oppressive city ruled by a tyrant known as the Baron. By relying on stealth rather than force, players must infiltrate high-security estates, steal valuable riches, and uncover a dark political conspiracy. Utilizing an array of specialized arrows, lockpicks, and environmental awareness, Garrett moves through shadows to evade guards or take them down silently. The game features open-ended mission design, dynamic light-and-shadow mechanics, and customizable challenge settings that cater to both new players and purist stealth fans.

Pricing
Paid (One-time)
Paid (One-time)
Category
Third-Person Shooters
First-Person Shooters
Best for
Fans of story‑driven stealth shooters
Stealth gaming fans and immersive sim enthusiasts
Specifications
Specifications
developer
Eidetic
Eidos Montréal
publisher
989 Studios, Sony Interactive Entertainment
Square Enix, Feral Interactive, Eidos Montréal
age rating
ESRB T
PEGI 16, ESRB M
multiplayer
Single player
Single player
critic score
90/100+41%
64/100
General
release date
1999-02-17
2014-02-25
msrp
$19.99
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Deep, engaging storyline
  • Varied international environments
  • Balanced mix of stealth and action
  • Strong AI enemy behavior
  • Atmospheric Victorian-Gothic visual design and lighting effects
  • Highly customizable difficulty settings for stealth purists
  • Satisfying hands-on lockpicking and stealing mechanics
  • Diverse elemental arrow options for environmental manipulation
Cons
  • Single-player only limits replayability
  • Graphics dated by modern standards
  • Occasional clunky controls
  • Inconsistent enemy artificial intelligence behavior
  • City map hub is fragmented by frequent loading screens
  • Clumsy melee combat system when stealth fails
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
0
User rating
Not enough data
Not enough data

More alternatives & similar tools

Alternatives to Syphon Filter

View all →
Syphon Filter 3
Syphon Filter 3

A covert thriller where flashbacks reveal a global bioterror conspiracy

Compare
Syphon Filter 2
Syphon Filter 2

Stealth-action thriller where agents become fugitives against a shadowy agency

Compare
Thief
Thief

Step into the shadows as Garrett, the Master Thief, in a dark Victorian-Gothic city driven by stealth.

Compare
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

Master the shadows with cutting‑edge stealth and tactical action.

Compare

Alternatives to Thief

View all →
Thief II: The Metal Age
Thief II: The Metal Age

Step into the shadows as master thief Garrett in this landmark first-person stealth immersive simulator.

Compare
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham Asylum

Descend into madness

Compare
Thief: The Dark Project
Thief: The Dark Project

Master the shadows in a pioneering first-person stealth action game set in a dark steampunk fantasy world.

Compare
Dishonored
Dishonored

Stealth-action adventure where choices shape a plague‑riddled city.

Compare

The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

Syphon Filter offers a classic, story‑driven stealth shooter with higher critical acclaim, while Thief provides a newer, atmospheric Victorian setting with more customizable stealth options but lower reviews.

Key differences

  • Release era and graphics: 1999 vs 2014; Syphon Filter’s visuals are dated, Thief’s lighting is more modern.
  • Critical reception: 90/100 vs 64/100, indicating stronger overall quality for Syphon Filter.
  • Stealth mechanics depth: Thief features lockpicking, light‑and‑shadow system, and elemental arrows; Syphon Filter relies on broader stealth/action mix.
  • Difficulty customization: Thief offers granular stealth‑purist settings; Syphon Filter has no such options.
  • Replayability: Both single‑player only, but Thief’s hub city and side loot may add marginal replay value.
DimensionWinner

Gameplay & fun factor

Thief’s dynamic light‑and‑shadow, lockpicking, and elemental arrows provide deeper stealth tools than Syphon Filter’s broader action focus.

Thief

Platform availability

Both are single‑player titles; platform specifics not provided.

Tie

Price & value

Syphon Filter’s price not listed but likely lower as a legacy title; Thief is $19.99.

Syphon Filter

Multiplayer / co‑op

Both are single‑player only.

Tie

Content & replayability

Thief’s hub city, side loot, and difficulty toggles give slightly more replay incentive than Syphon Filter’s single‑player story.

Thief

Difficulty & accessibility

Thief allows disabling HUD, banning kills, and other stealth‑purist options; Syphon Filter lacks such customization.

Thief

Graphics & performance

Thief (2014) features modern lighting effects; Syphon Filter (1999) has dated graphics.

Thief

Choose Syphon Filter if…

Buyers who prioritize story, high critical scores, and classic stealth‑action experience.

Choose Thief if…

Buyers who want modern visuals, deep stealth tools, and customizable difficulty.

Common questions

Which game has better critical reception?

Syphon Filter scored 90/100, while Thief scored 64/100.

Do either games support multiplayer?

Both are single‑player only.

What is the price of Thief and is Syphon Filter cheaper?

Thief is listed at $19.99; Syphon Filter’s price isn’t specified, but legacy titles are typically lower.