Many gamers recognize Metal Gear Solid as the earliest stealth game, but these titles predate Konami’s hit franchise.
Stealth games were popularized by Metal Gear Solid, which placed players in the saddle of protagonist Snake and his sometimes outright bizarre adventures in the game’s world. Originally released in 1998 for the PlayStation 1, it is often viewed as the earliest stealth game.
Gamers may be shocked to know that there are games in the stealth genre that were released before Metal Gear Solid hit the shelves. MGS was instrumental in making the genre popular, but these games had a hand in the franchise’s inception, making them the parents of the stealth genre, a label often contributed to the first MGS game. 5 Shoplifting Boy – 1979
The stealth genre dates all the way back to 1979 in the form of Shoplifting Boy, or Manbiki Shounen as it is known in the country it was developed in, Japan. Players could experience this early stealth game on the Commodore in the simplistic graphics of the era, with its limited gameplay.
As the title suggests, this game places the players in the shoes of someone who is attempting to shoplift from a store. Players must walk around the aisles to collect as many dollar signs as possible without being detected by the owner. If caught, they will be led away by the Police, and the game will be over. Though very simple in presentation and premise, it is still an impressive game considering the era that it was released. In the following year, the sequel Shoplifting Girl was released, which featured similar gameplay but a female protagonist in place of a male. 4 Lupin III (Lupin the 3) – 1980
Anime or manga fans might recognize the title of this game, and it is indeed based on the beloved series.
