
Physical combat is possible but noisy and quite deadly. Gameplay focuses on stealth: the player is advised to stay in the shadows (the user interface includes a "light gem" indicating how visible the character is), avoid being heard, and avoid guards or find means to distract them. Thief is a first-person game, using the Dark engine (also used in System Shock 2). Equipped with a wide range of equipment (lockpicks, blackjack, bombs, a bow and different types of special arrows), Garrett must use stealth and cunning to accomplish the twelve missions of the game. Thief is an action/adventure game featuring Garrett, an orphan raised by a secretive organization called the Keepers and trained to become a professional burglar.
