Original CD-ROM release
In the box
- Game CD-ROM
- Manual
Shipped 1 December 1998 by Eidos Interactive.
PC
Thief: The Dark Project
Thief: The Dark Project is a 1998 stealth video game developed by Looking Glass Studios and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows. Set in a fantasy metropolis called the City, players take on the role of Garrett, a master thief trained by a secret society who, while carrying out a series of robberies, becomes embroiled in a complex plot that ultimately sees him attempting to prevent a great power from unleashing chaos on the world.
SimulatorAdventure
- Space needed
- 2 GB
- Time to beat
- about 12.5 hours
- Plays offline
- Yes
Overview
Thief: The Dark Project is a 1998 stealth video game developed by Looking Glass Studios and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows. Set in a fantasy metropolis called the City, players take on the role of Garrett, a master thief trained by a secret society who, while carrying out a series of robberies, becomes embroiled in a complex plot that ultimately sees him attempting to prevent a great power from unleashing chaos on the world.
Thief was the first PC stealth game to use light and sound as game mechanics, and combined complex artificial intelligence with simulation systems to allow for emergent gameplay. The game is notable for its use of first-person perspective for non-confrontational gameplay, which challenged the first-person shooter market and led the developers to call it a "first-person sneaker". Its mechanics were influential on the immersive sim genre as well as later stealth games such as Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell and Hitman.
The game received critical acclaim and has been placed on numerous hall-of-fame lists, achieving sales of half a million units by 2000, making it Looking Glass' most commercially successful game. It is regarded as one of the greatest video games of all time and helped popularize the stealth genre. Thief was followed by an expanded edition entitled Thief Gold (1999) which modified certain missions and included a few brand new levels. The series continued with two sequels: Thief II: The Metal Age (2000), and Thief: Deadly Shadows (2004), as well as a reboot of the series, Thief (2014). Thief was one of two games in the series that Looking Glass worked on before its closure in 2000. A remastered version of the game, published by Nightdive Studios, is scheduled for release in Winter 2026.
Official trailer
Trailer. Watch on YouTube
Gameplay
Thief: The Dark Project (PC) - Gameplay, Retro Pixel Lizard's Retro Game Dungeon. Watch on YouTube
Screenshots
Game details
- Genres
- Simulator, Adventure
- Developer
- Looking Glass Studios
- Publisher
- Eidos Interactive
- Series
- Thief
- Engine
- Dark Engine
- Platforms
- Windows
- Age rating
- ESRB M
- Modes
- Single player
- Yes
- Local multiplayer
- No
- Online multiplayer
- No
- Co op
- No
- Age ratings
- ESRB
- M
- USK
- 16
- PEGI
- 16
- ACB
- M
Release dates
| Platform | Region | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | North America | 1998-11-30 |
| Windows | Europe / PAL | 1998-12-04 |
Editions
Original CD-ROM release
In the box
- Game CD-ROM
- Manual
Out 4 December 1998 at GBP 34.99.
Sold Out Software re-release
In the box
- Game CD-ROM
Budget re-release.
Digital release with Thief Gold
CompleteIn the game
- Thief: The Dark Project
- Thief Gold
- Digital manual
- Reference card
- Soundtrack
Since 15 July 2026 the GOG version of Thief Gold installs The Dark Project alongside it, with the fan-made NewDark 1.27 update. Steam sells Thief Gold only.
Space and patches
Space needed2 GB
DLC
The Dark Project had no DLC. Its expanded edition, Thief Gold, followed in November 1999 as a separate release.
Playable today
Playable offline todayYes
Single-player only, with no online features.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Ever released on disc | Yes, CD-ROM, 1 December 1998 |
| Ever released in the store | Yes, GOG, 15 July 2026 Included as a separate install with Thief Gold. |
| In the store to buy today | Yes, US$6.99 on GOG with Thief Gold |
| Can be downloaded again if you already bought it | Yes |
| Disc runs with no patch | Partly The installer fails on current Windows without a workaround, and the original engine has stability, rendering and cutscene problems. |
| Disc runs with the final patch | Partly Official patch 1.33 keeps the original engine. The fan-made NewDark engine update removes the CD check and runs on current Windows. |
| Playable offline today: campaign | Yes |
| Playable offline today: local multiplayer | Does not exist |
| Playable offline today: DLC | Does not exist |
| Has online features | No Single-player only. |
| Online servers running today | Does not exist |
| Playable offline today: online multiplayer | Does not exist |
Online
Plays offlineYes
Staff and cast
- Staff
Role Name Developer Looking Glass Studios Publisher Eidos Interactive Director Greg LoPiccolo Producer Josh Randall Designer Tim Stellmach Programmer Tom Leonard Artist Mark Lizotte Writers Terri Brosius, Laura Baldwin, Ken Levine Composer Eric Brosius
Credits
- Publisher
- Eidos Interactive
- Developer
- Looking Glass Studios
- Director
- Greg LoPiccolo
- Released
- 1998-12-01
- Age rating
- ESRB M
- Region
- US
- Time to beat
- about 12.5 hours
Spotted something that's wrong? Tell me and I'll check it.