There's something special about protagonists in the stealth genre. For some reason, the types of games where the main goal is to sneak around are great vehicles for interesting characters. Part of the reason is that many of them aren't as bloodthirsty as your average video game hero. In fact, in many cases, you can choose to make these characters pacifists.

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Another reason is that stealth games usually involve a lot of solo missions, so there's ample time to explore the main character. The following names are the best in the genre's history. Please note that only characters from games where stealth is the primary form of gameplay - or at least it's highly encouraged - are considered, so the likes of Nathan Drake and Lara Croft aren't eligible.

8 Big Boss (AKA Naked Snake) - Metal Gear Series

Big Boss as Naked Snake in MGS 3

Big Boss entered the gaming world as an antagonist in the original Metal Gear games. Yet, in Metal Gear Solid 3 and Peace Walker, he serves as the protagonist. And what a main character the man turns out to be. Many of his best moments come in MGS3, as you see his rise from a talented operative into a legendary soldier.

Along the way, he sneaks around a jungle deep in Soviet Union territory. He uses camouflage to fit in with his surroundings and fool the enemy. Occasionally, he does have to enter buildings, though, where his camo isn't as useful. In many of these instances, he dons disguises to fool the enemy.

7 Sly Cooper - Sly Cooper Series

Sly Cooper In The Shadows

While he might just look like a cute raccoon, Sly Cooper is one of the best thieves in gaming. On top of that, he's a very likable character due to his charming and witty personality. So, while he's technically a criminal, it's hard to stay mad at him.

As the Sly Cooper games include a lot of platforming, the titular protagonist is forced to be more agile than the average stealth protagonist. And he uses his jumping ability to stay away from guards. After all, while he does have some combat ability, he prefers to avoid fights.

6 Agent 47 - Hitman Series

Hitman Agent 47 walking in a crowded area

Agent 47 is certainly one of the least emotional protagonists in gaming history. In fact, the clone shows pretty much no emotion. However, it doesn't diminish him as a character, as the Hitman protagonist is iconic. And his calculated killer personality enhances his coolness.

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His style of stealth is pretty varied. He possesses expert climbing and shooting abilities. Plus, he's always willing to use the environment to his advantage. The thing he's most famous for, though, are his disguises. The man will dress up as anything to get closer to his target.

5 Amicia De Rune - A Plague Tale Series

plague tale amicia guarding hugo with a torch

In many stealth games, the protagonist uses a sneaking method because it's the smarter way to go. Yet, for Amicia De Rune, it's her only option. After all, while she is a brave and likable teenage girl, she has pretty much no combat experience.

Therefore, she has to use her brain rather than her brawn to outmaneuver the French inquisition and keep her brother safe. Impressively she manages to do that using only a sling, a pot, and some potions. She is also clever enough to use the environment to her advantage.

4 Sam Fisher - Splinter Cell Series

One of the most famous protagonists in the stealth genre is Sam Fisher from the Splinter Cell games. He's not the most talkative character, but he is surprisingly witty. Over the series, he delivers many humorous lines. Another note-worthy aspect of his personality is his ability to stay calm and collected. It takes a lot to rattle the man.

His preferred way of sneaking around while staying unnoticed is to stick to the shadows. He even often shoots or disables lights to create a bit of darkness for himself while using night vision to get the drop on his opponents. His primary way of taking people out is to use his expert close-quarters combat skills or his silenced pistol.

3 Ezio Auditore - Assassin's Creed Series

Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Screenshot Of Ezio

Ezio Auditore will go down as one of the best video game heroes, regardless of genre. The Italian Assassin is a constant source of entertainment during Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, and Revelations. Even when he gets older, he remains his charming and quick-witted self.

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His form of stealth is different from many others in gaming. He prefers to hide in plain sight, as the tenets of the Assassin's Creed suggest. So, he spends much of his time blending in with people, whether by standing in the middle of crowds or sitting on benches. If plain sight isn't working out, he can also hide in hay bales or on rooftops.

2 Ellie Williams - The Last Of Us Series

Screenshot from The Last of Us Part 2 showing Ellie playing her guitar

Ellie plays a significant role in the first Last Of Us, but she doesn't become the main protagonist until the Left Behind DLC and continues as the leading character in Last Of Us 2. In that time, she proves to be a compelling and dynamic young character. Her morality can be questioned at times, but her motives usually make sense.

She has the difficult task of not only having to sneak around people but zombie-like creatures, too. Plus, she's living in a post-apocalyptic world, so it's not like she's got a lot of equipment to make things easier. She has to make do with the weapons she's got and any other useful things she can find.

1 Solid Snake - Metal Gear Series

Snake Pointing a suppressed M9 gun in Metal Gear Solid 2

While there are a few protagonists in the Metal Gear series, Solid Snake is the main one. In fact, he is among the most well-known characters in gaming history. Part of the reason for his fame is that he was a well-developed character back when most other protagonists were one-dimensional.

In the early games, Snake's way of avoiding being seen by the enemy consisted of simply avoiding their gaze. Then he started to hide in things like cardboard boxes and lockers. Eventually, his tech improved, and he got the fancy OctoCamo suit. This outfit is the greatest sneaking apparel ever, as it automatically matches the color and pattern of Snake's surroundings.

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