Developer: OtherSide Entertainment
Platform: PC (Reviewed)
Genre: Action, Simulation
Publisher: Megabit Publishing
Thick as Thieves is a stealth co-op adventure game that throws players into the dangerous world of high-stakes burglary and tactical heists. The game is developed by OtherSide Entertainment and published by Megabit Publishing. The game takes inspiration from classic stealth-focused experiences while delivering its own unique multiplayer twist through teamwork, gadgets and thievery. This review was done on PC during the game’s co-op playtest phase.
Set within the shadowy streets of an alternate-history 1910s Scottish city called Kilcairn, the game instantly nails its atmosphere from the very beginning. Right away, players are introduced to strong narration and comic-book-style cutscenes at the beginning that really pull you into the criminal world. It feels dramatic and mysterious.
The overall story of the game is a nice setup. You play as a thief working for the Thieves’ Guild, carrying out risky contracts while searching for valuable heirlooms and hidden secrets scattered throughout the city. Even though the game focuses heavily on gameplay and replayability, the setting itself feels rich with personality. The old-timey Scottish-inspired environment mixed with neon lightning and arcane secrets gives the game a unique identity. It almost feels like a mix between classic stealth games and a comic-inspired fantasy crime.
Thick as Thieves does a fantastic job of introducing players to its stealth systems. The tutorial is surprisingly detailed and explains everything clearly, from movements to objectives. Stealth is absolutely everything here. You constantly need to monitor how exposed you are to light as well as how much sound you are making. Guards can hear footsteps, notice suspicious activity and quickly become a serious threat if you run around recklessly. What makes the gameplay really tense is the punishment for failure. If guards kill you during a mission, you will lose all the loot gathered, though at the very least, you will be resurrected again.
The controls and gadgets also add a lot of flexibility to each mission. As you progress, you unlock different tools and equipment that allow you to customise your playstyle. Smoke grenades can help create quick escapes, grappling tools allow access to elevated areas, and throwable objects can distract guards from pathways. Sneaking behind enemies to knock them out quietly never gets old, either. The game gives you freedom in how you approach situations, which makes every heist feel rewarding.
While the game can be played solo, the co-op experience is definitely where Thick as Thieves shines the most. Playing with another player adds this really fun layer of coordination and panic that makes the missions far more exciting. Planning route together, watching each other’s positions on the map, and trying to escape with valuable loot creates tense moments. The game also does a nice job at keeping teammates connected through visual indicators and map tracking systems. During our co-op playtest, the online functionality itself worked smoothly without any major connection problems.
The art stands out as it’s a mix of cartoon-inspired character designs with semi-realistic environments. It actually reminded me a little of the visual style seen in Escape Academy, except with a much darker and more atmospheric tone. The neon lights reflecting through narrow alleyways, the old-fashioned guard uniforms, and the gloomy streets all work together beautifully. Kilcairn feels alive, especially when exploring its detailed interiors and hidden pathways. The buildings themselves are extravagant from both the inside and out. The game currently offers two playable thieves, including The Spider and The Chameleon. The soundtrack is subtle with a little haunting vibe. The music itself does not really add much to the game; environmental sounds stand out. Guards whistle to themselves, birds caw in the distance, wooden floors creak beneath your feet, and NPCs mutter little bits of dialogue while patrolling.
The gameplay loop has great replayability, which would be perfect for some players and a bit boring for others. Each mission plays a bit differently in terms of what you need to collect. The blueprint-style map system is also incredibly useful and stylishly presented, allowing players to study room layout and plan routes. That said, there are definitely moments where the game could improve its pacing. Some rounds can feel a bit too long, especially when searching for final objective items without much guidance (During our first playthrough, such cues were missing, but it seems the developer later added main objective symbols, making gameplay more straightforward). For instance, during one session, my co-op partner and I spent around twenty minutes searching for a missing jewel that started to drag the mission.
We also encountered a confusing situation involving the loot portal mechanic. After completing our objectives and reaching the exit, depositing loot through the portal appeared to remove the main objective gems needed for mission completion, causing the entire round to fail. It was unclear whether this was intentional or simply a bug, but it definitely felt frustrating after such a long mission. Since this was part of a playtest, though, these issues feel fixable rather than game-breaking.
We are very thankful to have received another code to play the game in co-op. Moody, the other player, had the following to say, “It was a fun experience overall, but I do wish the game offered a few more hints or clearer guidance on what exactly needed to be done and where to go next. At times, things became a little confusing, especially after collecting the loot. We thought we had completed the objective correctly and sent everything out, but the game still counted the mission as failed. Despite that confusion, the gameplay itself was really enjoyable.”
Whether playing solo or teaming up in co-op, Thick as Thieves offers a tense and rewarding stealth experience filled with creative heists, satisfying progression, and immersive gameplay. The unique gadgets, atmospheric world, and high-stakes missions make every run exciting. With more updates, maps, and content on the way, Thick as Thieves has the potential to become a standout co-op stealth game, so it is definitely worth checking out
Overall: 7/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
