Spirited Thief

Having played my fair share of stealth games, I was eager to dive into the world of Spirited Thief. This indie stealth game with a supernatural twist did not disappoint. Playing as Elaj, an unlucky thief, and his ghostly partner Trin, I thoroughly enjoyed scouting ahead unseen to plan intricate heists in various environments.

In Spirited Thief, you play as Elaj, a thief trying to prove himself to the city's ruthless Thieves Guild after a string of failed jobs. Luckily, Elaj has help in the form of his partner Trin, an intangible spirit who can scout ahead unseen.

The core gameplay loop involves first exploring each level as Trin, locating secrets and planning your thieving route. Then, you take control of Elaj to sneak through the level, avoiding guards and traps while looting as much as possible.

Spectral Scouting

Playing as Trin to scout ahead is easily my favorite part of Spirited Thief. As a ghost, you can pass through walls and obstacles with ease to uncover hidden passages and locate ideal thieving routes. I loved taking my time to slowly uncover each level's secrets before putting my plan into action as Elaj.

Unlike other stealth games, you have unlimited time as Trin to explore. This freedom to thoroughly scout and strategize made preparing for each heist engaging and distinct.

With strategic stealth gameplay and supernatural abilities, infiltrating locations as a phantom thief duo was creative and rewarding. While enemy AI could be improved, unique character upgrades and an engaging exploration loop kept me hooked.

Stealthy Thievery

After scouting a level as Trin, it's time to control Elaj and put your plan into motion. Sneaking through heavily guarded areas and bypassing traps while grabbing as much loot as possible is intensely satisfying.

Having already scouted the location as Trin, you have the knowledge needed to improvise when things don't go exactly to plan. I often found myself hiding in a closet to avoid a patrolling guard I didn't expect, or frantically searching for an alternate escape route.

The turn-based gameplay keeps the action methodical, and having limited turns to steal as much as you can is very engaging.

Upgrades and Environment Variety

While the core gameplay stays focused on stealth, the wide selection of fun abilities and diverse environments keeps things interesting. As you progress, you can spend stolen goods to unlock new movement, distraction, and thievery skills for Elaj and Trin.

You'll need these new abilities to access secret stashes in the game's varied locations, including wealthy estates, dark forests, and brooding temples. I loved seeing how new skills and environments changed up my strategies.

Unlike Hotline Miami's repetitive backdrop, I found Spirited Thief's settings vibrant and distinct.

Pros

• Satisfying scout and steal gameplay loop
• Wide selection of thievery upgrades
• Vibrant, varied environments

Cons

• Occasionally predictable enemy AI
• Story feels insignificant
• Steep learning curve