A stealth series set in a dark fantasy world, Thief made its debut in 1998 with Thief: The Dark Project, a game that earned universal acclaim upon release, both from critics and from stealth video game fans. Putting players in the silent boots of the titular master thief, Garrett, Thief: The Dark Project sees players sneak around a variety of Middle-Ages-inspired structures, from manor houses to castles to some more fantastical environments, and steal an assortment of riches. A simple premise, Thief: The Dark Project and its two sequels - 2000's Thief: The Metal Age and 2004's Thief: Deadly Shadows - thrive on their high level of player freedom, letting the player complete objectives in any order and any way they see fit.