Best Spy Games Of The Last Decade, Ranked

Spy thrillers are everywhere on TV and in movies right now, with series like James Bond, Mission: Impossible, Kingsman, Jack Ryan, The Night Agent, Slow Horses, and Killing Eve becoming hugely popular. However, fans of spy-themed video games haven’t had as much to celebrate. Several popular game franchises, including Splinter Cell and Deus Ex, have been stalled, the planned reboot of Perfect Dark was cancelled, and iconic series like Metal Gear Solid appear to have ended without any new games currently in development.

There’s still plenty to look forward to for fans of spy games. In 2026, we’re expected to see the release of the new James Bond game, 007: First Light. Ubisoft is also still working on a remake of Splinter Cell, the classic Deus Ex is getting remastered, and Hideo Kojima is creating a new, secretive spy-themed game called Physint.

Despite challenges in the genre, the last ten years have still seen some excellent spy games. Developers experimented with different approaches, creating both large, detailed games with intricate gameplay and smaller, more charming titles full of personality. Here’s a look at some of the best spy games released in the past decade (up to and including 2015).

We’re only looking at games centered around espionage – think spies, conspiracies, secret missions, and hidden groups. Games that focus on stealth but don’t have these core themes aren’t included, even if they’re somewhat related.

Honorable mentions:

Okay, so these games might not be the absolute best spy games out there, and they don’t always feel purely focused on espionage. But as a fan of the genre, I think they’re still worth checking out if you’re looking for something with a spy theme – they definitely deliver on that front!

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (remake, excluded from main selection in favor of new original releases)
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint
Operation: Tango
Sniper Elite 5
Assault Spy
Deceive Inc.
Skin Deep
SpyParty

7. Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise

Stylish and Charming Point-and-Click Puzzle Adventure for All Ages

OpenCritic Rating: 80/100
Steam User Rating: 95%
Average Playtime: 6 Hours

Though brief, Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise is a delightful and memorable experience. This all-ages spy game focuses on clever puzzles and hidden secrets – there are over 150 to discover! Its charming 1960s style, with a retro-futuristic look inspired by classic spy adventures like No One Lives Forever, keeps things feeling fresh and fun.

In Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise, you take on the role of Agent A, a skilled infiltrator who must use their wits, memory, and a variety of gadgets to navigate a complex and puzzling hideout. With 35 distinct environments to explore and solve, the game offers clever puzzles and a unique structure that goes beyond a standard point-and-click adventure, making it a surprisingly enjoyable experience.

6. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 & Black Ops Cold War

Spectacular Campaigns That Explore New Ground for the FPS Series

OpenCritic Rating: 83/100
Steam User Rating: 40% (Black Ops 6), 80% (Black Ops Cold War)
Average Playtime: 10 Hours (Story Campaign)

While this year’s Black Ops 7 didn’t quite hit the mark, last year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 offered one of the best single-player campaigns the series has seen in ten years. This praise is specifically for the story mode, as overall player reviews aren’t as positive. Black Ops 6 broke from the usual Call of Duty formula of constant action, focusing instead on stealth and espionage. Players spent as much time sabotaging operations, gathering evidence, and hacking systems as they did fighting with guns.

Some of the exciting missions in Black Ops 6 involve carefully planning and carrying out a casino heist as a diversion, using stealth and misdirection, and completing sabotage missions with open-ended goals – like convincing or blackmailing people. The game emphasizes gathering intelligence through tools like cameras, adding to the feeling of being a secret agent and making each mission unique. If you enjoy this style of gameplay, the Black Ops Cold War campaign is also a great choice. It’s set in a similar time period and features similar themes, characters, and a focus on espionage in both its story and missions.

5. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Admirable Efforts Marred by an Unsatisfying Resolution

OpenCritic Rating: 81/100
Steam User Rating: 75%
Average Playtime: 30 Hours

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a strong conspiracy game that’s held back by its disappointing ending. It feels incomplete, as if it was setting up a continuation of Adam Jensen’s story. While the gameplay and graphics are better than Human Revolution, Mankind Divided ultimately feels unfinished, especially since the story and suspense are building right up until it ends.

Despite prioritizing stealth and infiltration over immediate action, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided continues to be a must-play for fans of spy and espionage games. Its intricately designed levels, immersive dystopian world, and complex story—filled with conspiracies and hidden truths—make it stand out. Some players might even appreciate that the game doesn’t offer easy answers, instead presenting unclear motives, shifting alliances, and a sense that powerful figures are secretly controlling everything.

4. Phantom Doctrine

A Demanding XCOM-Like Experience for the Most Hardcore Spy Fans

OpenCritic Rating: 73/100
Steam User Rating: 74%
Average Playtime: 60 Hours

Phantom Doctrine offers a unique take on the spy genre, combining strategic turn-based combat with a strong focus on stealth and espionage. Set during the height of the Cold War in 1983 – an ideal setting for a serious spy thriller – the game effectively uses the East-West conflict to create a tense atmosphere. It strives to capture the feel of classic spy films, immersing players in a world of secret agents, counterintelligence, and hidden operations.

Phantom Doctrine delivers a complete spy thriller experience with detailed global maps, a lengthy campaign based on real history and secret government operations, and diverse covert missions like surveillance and interrogation. Combat is deep and strategic, favoring careful planning over simply overpowering enemies. Despite some imperfections, it’s a potentially overlooked gem for fans of XCOM. Players can also put their skills to the test in a challenging online multiplayer mode where they compete against others.

3. Invisible, Inc.

Endlessly Replayable Spy Fun of the Highest Caliber

OpenCritic Rating: 83/100
Steam User Rating: 90%
Average Playtime: 30 Hours

Klei Entertainment, the creators of games like Don’t Starve and Mark of the Ninja, crafted a fantastic spy experience with Invisible, Inc. This game is full of challenging missions you’ll want to play again and again. It’s constantly putting your agents in danger, which can be frustrating, but also incredibly rewarding. Invisible, Inc. cleverly breaks down the traditional stealth genre, offering deep and intricate gameplay that relies on cooperation, customization, and careful planning to create real tension, even though it’s played in turns.

Every time you play Invisible, Inc., it feels fresh because you can heavily customize your character’s skills, equipment, and programs. The game also randomly generates levels, enemy placements, dangers, and loot, ensuring no two runs are the same. This creates a thrilling balance between unexpected situations and careful strategy, forcing you to think on your feet while still valuing good planning. The game offers five different ways to play, and while it can be incredibly difficult, that challenge is what makes it so addictive.

2. Hitman: World of Assassination

Two Decades of Refinement Yield Spectacular, Engrossing Results

OpenCritic Rating: 84/100
Steam User Rating: 86%
Average Playtime: 80 Hours

The Hitman trilogy is considered one of the greatest stealth-action game series ever created, deeply rooted in the worlds of conspiracy and espionage. While guns play a small part, the core gameplay revolves around careful observation, gathering information, and meticulous planning. Players spend hours disguising themselves, manipulating NPCs, sabotaging equipment, learning guard patterns, and studying security systems – all to eliminate their targets with precision and professionalism.

The Hitman: World of Assassination trilogy offers incredible replay value thanks to its diverse and detailed locations around the world. Each location provides plenty of freedom to approach missions creatively and complete objectives in different ways. The constantly updated Elusive Target system adds even more variety. This makes the game a perfect experience for players who enjoy stealth and intrigue. It’s easy to see why IO Interactive was chosen to develop the new James Bond game – they’ve truly mastered the art of the spy thriller with Hitman and are now ready to create a Bond experience unlike anything fans have seen before.

1. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

An Ultimate Espionage Game to Conclude the Legendary Series

OpenCritic Rating: 93/100
Steam User Rating: 91%
Average Playtime: 80 Hours

Released in late 2015, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (and its introductory chapter, Ground Zeroes) is widely considered the best spy game of the last ten years. While it barely makes the cut-off, no other game in the genre has quite reached its level of quality. The Phantom Pain offers a deep and complex gameplay experience, a bold story, detailed environments, and plenty of unexpected moments, making it a must-play for fans of open-world games, stealth action, and espionage.

With expansive open-world maps and incredible freedom, The Phantom Pain rewards players for trying different approaches over many hours, consistently unlocking new gameplay options and strategies. The game’s gripping story, filled with suspense, recognizable characters, and unexpected twists, will keep both new and veteran players engaged. Metal Gear Solid 5 stands out with its incredible tactical depth, customizable equipment, and unique tools, making it not only the best game in the series, but one of the most impressive spy games ever made.

2025-11-24 06:06