TOP 10 HEIST GAMES OF ALL TIME

 Let's take a look at the most exciting heist titles, from Grand Theft Auto 5/Online to Thief Gold and Sly 2: Band of Thieves.

Let's take a look at the most exciting heist titles, from Grand Theft Auto 5/Online to Thief Gold and Sly 2: Band of Thieves.

Stories about grand heists have always resonated with readers, viewers, and now even gamers. After all, it is much more interesting (and safer) for us to cheer for bright characters who cross the line of what is permitted than to commit a crime on our own. Each of the stages of fictional robberies (planning, the robbery itself, and the escape) turns out to be exciting in its own way, and the richer these stages are in detail, the more interesting it is for us to watch what is happening.

This also applies to video games, in which we have the unique ability to control every aspect of virtual heists. In them, everything depends on our imagination, ingenuity, and creativity. So, here is a selection of the best robbery titles that make you feel like a skilled thief.

Perfect Heist 2 (2021)

This is a multiplayer project with online matches where you can play both as a team of robbers and as a police squad. The main goal of criminals is to rob a bank as quickly as possible and not fall into the hands of the servants of the law. To do this, you can use a lot of tricks (for example, change into the uniform of bank employees to confuse the cops). And the police will have to figure out which of the people in the bank is not a threat, and who needs to be arrested.

Regardless of which side you choose, the composition of the squad in each match will almost certainly be unique, with 32 classes and 20 types of weapons provided for players to choose from. The gameplay itself can be described as a virtual mixture of "Cossacks-robbers", hide and seek, and "Mafia", which is ideal for a group of friends.

The Marvelous Miss Take (2014)

The main character Sophia inherits a priceless art collection from her aunt, which soon ends up in the hands of robbers. In the company of her friends, she goes in search of this collection, learning interesting details about her legacy along the way. At each level with an isometric view, we need to steal another museum exhibit, trying not to catch the eye of the guards. All 25 levels can be completed as one of three unique characters.

Each character has its own set of skills, strengths, and weaknesses that affect the gameplay dynamics and approach to passing. All this, coupled with a peppy soundtrack, pleasant visual style, and an abundance of gadgets, makes each heist truly exciting.

The Swindle (2015)

This steampunk game is set in an alternate version of London in the mid-19th century. The main task of the protagonist of The Swindle is to prevent Scotland Yard from launching an advanced version of artificial intelligence called the Devil's Basilisk, which can put an end to the actions of all robbers (including the protagonist).

We have exactly 100 days to loot as much good as possible from randomly generated locations, after which we are waiting for the grand final robbery. In between missions, you can upgrade your skills and purchase new equipment. And if the hero gets caught by the guards or dies, then a completely new character will take his place, but this will not reset the game's progress. Separately, it is worth noting the visual style of The Swindle, reminiscent of voluminous panorama books.

Operation: Tango (2021)

The game is made in the setting of a high-tech future, which mixes elements of stories about spies and plots about robberies. In the role of a hacker or a field agent, we will have to use advanced technologies to penetrate the most secure points scattered around the world. With the help of data collected during robberies, we save humanity from some hidden threat.

You can play Operation: Tango only in online cooperative mode, where you can not do without a microphone, which is needed to communicate with a partner. The gameplay here is built exclusively on teamwork, without which robberies are doomed to failure. Interestingly, it is not at all necessary to buy two copies of the title for a cooperative game: just buy one and send an invitation to a friend so that he can run Operation: Tango on any platform for free.

Crookz: The Big Heist (2015)

Set in the 1970s, Crookz: The Big Heist revolves around a team of thieves who plan to pull off a series of heists, culminating in their biggest ever case. It has everything you expect from a game in this setting: funky music, colorful criminals, and scenery soaked in the spirit of that time.

Before each mission, we can customize every little thing in the team of our wards - from their appearance to equipment. On locations with an isometric view, we can pause the game at any time in order to plan the further actions of the squad. After that, it remains only to watch how the perfect robbery goes.

Payday 2 (2013)

Before each task, we select the available missions in the CRIMENET system, which contains locations for potential robberies - from jewelry stores to art galleries. There are no limits here: if you feel that you are ready for the most difficult robberies, you may well take them on. Each mission involves four players (if you wish, you can make robberies in the company of AI partners).

Payday 2 includes a huge amount of DLC with new weapons, maps, cosmetic improvements, and gameplay modifications. Many of these DLCs are crossovers with other games and movies, giving you the chance to play as iconic characters. Moreover, Payday 2 also has a very realistic VR mode. If you've always wanted to be the hero Robert De Niro from "Heat" as he escapes the police through the streets of Los Angeles after a robbery, then you should definitely check out Payday 2.

Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine (2013)

This is a top-down heist simulator with a very interesting mechanic: during missions, we see only those parts of the map that the characters themselves see. The rest of the map is presented in the form of a blueprint with the main objectives, and we need to choose the most suitable squad members for the task, relying on these blueprints.

From the start of the game, four classes of characters are available to us, and as the missions are completed, this number will grow. The story campaign here is divided into four acts, where the narration is conducted on behalf of different team members. You can go through it both in single-player and in local or online co-op.

Grand Theft Auto 5 / Grand Theft Auto Online (2013 / 2015)

The story mode of GTA 5 includes five major robberies involving the main characters of the story. Each of them can be done in several ways by connecting various minor characters to the case. The chosen strategy will further determine how robberies will affect the game world and what their consequences will be.

GTA Online offers eight robberies, designed for a company of 2 to 4 players. You can only access them at level 12 after you purchase an apartment with a special room for planning robberies. Once you've completed both requirements, Lester will call you. You can make robberies on one of three difficulties, on which the final amount of reward depends. These missions are a key part of the online mode, and thanks to their versatility, they can be called the most in-depth heists in gaming. This is not surprising, because we are talking about the golden classic from Rockstar.

Sly 2: Band of Thieves (2004)

The sequel to Sly Cooper is perhaps the best part of the entire series. Set two years after the events of the first game, Sly 2: Band of Thieves sees our beloved band of thieves confront the Klaw gang who have stolen pieces of Clockwerk and are planning to use them to rule the world. Of course, this adventure could not do without Inspector Carmelita Fox chasing the heroes.

In total, the game has nine episodes with picturesque and different locations, each of which is a small sandbox with an open world. Among other innovations, it is worth noting the ability to play for other members of the gang, as well as the mechanics of pickpocketing. The game gives you the opportunity to feel like the fourth member of the Cooper Gang, and this is an experience like no other.

Thief Gold (1998)

This is a classic title dedicated to the adventures of an experienced thief who is trying to prevent the forces of evil, who are about to plunge the world into chaos. Thief was one of the first games to have sounds, lighting, and sophisticated AI as part of the game mechanics, which is why it looks quite decent even by today's standards.

The Gold version of Thief has a lot of innovations, including three additional story missions, five new enemies, as well as noticeably prettier graphics. Thief laid the foundation for a whole genre that is still going strong.