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I don't really enjoy mainstream. Growing up, unlike most people, I've always preferred hidden gems over modern trends. I especially liked underrated titles from the 1980s to 2000s. Those eras had a kind of lasting originality I rarely see in today's world. Nowadays, most things feel rushed. When something becomes popular, it often loses what made it uniquely special. Most works are made to please the masses rather than to create something with depth and meaning. I'm more into niches.

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Meditative, hypnotic, exotic, otherworldly, and dreaminess with avant-garde soundscapes similar to Coil's Stolen & Contaminated Songs. Experimental industrial metal including mechanical, harsh, and crushy rhythms with existential weight similar to Godflesh's Pure. Cyber industrial metal featuring melodic tones and dynamic vocals similar to Fear Factory, Mnemic, or Sybreed.

Top 10 Music
1. Coil – Stolen & Contaminated Songs (1992)
2. Coil – Worship the Glitch (1995)
3. Godflesh – Pure (1992)
4. Godflesh – Post Self (2017)
5. Fear Factory – Archetype (2004)
6. Mnemic – Passenger (2007)
7. Sybreed – The Pulse of Awakening (2009)
8. Breach the Void – The Monochromatic Era (2010)
9. Shadow Domain – Digital Divide (2018)
10. Logical Terror – Sides Of The Unknown (2023)
Full List [rateyourmusic.com]

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The medieval period is described as a time of intellectual darkness. Thailand's meditative spiritual life through authentic perspectives. Japanese body horror pushing the limits of the human body and identity. Avant-garde works challenging audiences with transgressive shock. Dystopian sci-fi portraying societal collapse. Post-apocalyptic depicting the aftermath of the fall of civilisation.

Top 10 Films
1. The Name of the Rose (1986) [www.imdb.com]
2. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010) [www.imdb.com]
3. Tetsuo 1: The Iron Man (1989) [www.imdb.com]
4. Tetsuo 2: Body Hammer (1992) [www.imdb.com]
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Full List [www.imdb.com]

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Ancient Rome depicted with historical accuracy. Lost-like mystery doesn't explain everything with each character having their own motivations.

Top 10 Shows
1. I, Claudius (1976) [www.imdb.com]
2. Rome (2005–2007) [www.imdb.com]
3. Plebs (2013–2019) [www.imdb.com]
4. Lost (2004–2010) [www.imdb.com]
5. The Leftovers (2014–2017) [www.imdb.com]
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Full List [www.imdb.com]

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Stealth with light, sound, and the player similar to Thief. Walking sim navigate isolated, brutalist environments similar to NaissanceE. Dungeon-crawler mind-bending similar to Arx Fatalis. Sword and sorcery similar to Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.

Top 10 Games
1. Thief 2: The Metal Age (2000)
2. Thief 1: The Dark Project (1998)
3. Thief 3: Deadly Shadows (2004)
4. The Dark Mod (2009) [www.thedarkmod.com]
5. NaissanceE (2014)
6. Sanitarium (1998)
7. Arx Fatalis (2002)
8. Dark Messiah of Might and Magic (2006)
9. Ultima Underworld 2: Labyrinth of Worlds (1993) [www.gog.com]
10. Ultima Underworld 1: The Stygian Abyss (1992) [www.gog.com]
Full List [backloggd.com]

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🌒🏰👁️🗝️🕯️

If I had to choose only one game series, it would be Thief, the pinnacle of the stealth genre.

There's something really satisfying about slipping through shadows, listening for approaching footsteps, stealing priceless treasures, and vanishing without any trace. Every careful step makes you explore while staying alert to everything around you.

Thief was the first stealth game built around light, sound, and the player. Stealth here isn't just about being unseen, it's about seeing. It teaches you patience and observation over aggression. It makes you feel like a vulnerable yet clever human rather than a superhero. That's why, unlike other stealth games, Thief is considered pure stealth.

The City blends gothic architecture with steampunk elements, filled with noble manors, abandoned cathedrals, and haunted crypts. Divided by magic, religion, nature, and technology, it's rich in literary and mystical depth. Factions like the Keepers, the Hammerites, the Pagans, and the Mechanists struggle for control. All of these show parallels to aspects of our own world. Here, patience is your most powerful weapon, and shadows are your closest allies.

The protagonist, Garrett. He's not a hero, and he's not trying to save the world, loyal only to himself. He's intelligent, cynical, snarky, and darkly humorous. As for the soundtracks, they're unmatched and perfectly match the atmosphere.

With its innovative mechanics, rich world-building, and twist-filled storytelling, Thief is unlike anything else. Thanks to voice actor Stephen Russell, composer Eric Brosius, and everyone at Looking Glass Studios for creating this masterpiece.

For over two decades, the community and fan missions have kept Thief's spirit alive. It's influence is still visible in modern stealth and immersive sim games. Without it, titles like Dishonored, Gloomwood, and countless others wouldn't exist.

To me, Thief isn't just the best game series ever made. It's a timeless work. It gives me a feeling I can't really explain. Nothing else has made me feel this way. It haunts you forever, even long after you stop playing.

If you're interested in the Thief series.
Thief series reviews

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Thief is a pure stealth series set in a dark gothic steampunk world, featuring Garrett, the master thief. The games focus on sneaking, avoiding enemies, and completing missions undetected. They provide an immersive experience with freedom in how you approach each mission.

Thief series.
Thief 1: The Dark Project (1998)
Thief 2: The Metal Age (2000)
Thief 3: Deadly Shadows (2004)

Essential unofficial patches.
TFix for Thief 1 [www.ttlg.com]
T2Fix for Thief 2 [www.ttlg.com]
Sneaky Upgrade for Thief 3 [www.ttlg.com]

Optional mods.
Mod list [www.ttlg.com]

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The Dark Mod is a free, open-source pure stealth game and a spiritual successor to the Thief series. Once a total conversion for Doom 3, it's now a standalone game. It comes with three official missions, including a training mission. It's built around community-created missions.

The Dark Mod.
The Dark Mod (2009) [www.thedarkmod.com]

Optional unofficial patch.
The unofficial patch [forums.thedarkmod.com]

Optional mods.
Mod list [forums.thedarkmod.com]

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Fan missions for Thief 1, Thief 2, Thief 3, and The Dark Mod are custom missions created by the community since 1999. There're over 1500 missions available for all games. The number continues to grow to this day. They expand the game worlds with new stories, characters, and maps beyond official content. They keep the Thief series and The Dark Mod alive and constantly growing.

Latest modern fan mission loader.
AngelLoader [www.ttlg.com]

Fan missions widely regarded as canon.
T2X: Shadows of the Metal Age (2005) [www.ttlg.com]
The Black Parade (2023) [www.ttlg.com]

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I love daylight missions more than dark ones. Those set in mediterranean or tropical settings, or generally meditative environments.

Top 5 Fan Missions
1. Stowaway (2000) [www.ttlg.com]
2. The Quiet Heat (2006) [www.ttlg.com]
3. Melancholy in Porto (2009) [www.ttlg.com]
4. Midday Eclipse (2009) [www.ttlg.com]
5. Tribal Breeze (2009) [www.ttlg.com]
Full List

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Alongside veteran members, newcomers are starting to learn how to create their own missions.

DromEd for Thief 1 and Thief 2.
DromEd various tutorials
An absolute beginner's guide [nickdablin.wordpress.com]
DromEd Discord [discord.gg]

DarkRadiant for The Dark Mod.
Dark Radiant tutorials
The Dark Mod Discord [discord.gg]

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More Thief-likes. Sorry for the non-English sources. You should translate them if needed.

Lists
All games
All films and books

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If you consider yourself a real Thief fan, avoid the 2014 / 2025 reboots. They've nothing to do with the original Thief games. They feel like cash-grabs that exploit the IP and disrespect its legacy.

Why you shouldn't play Thief reboots.
Thief reboot reviews

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What keeps Thief alive is its dedicated community, still creating new missions to this day.

Various Thief videos.
Thief special

Voiced by Stephen Russell.
Garrett quotes

Composed by Eric Brosius.
Thief 1 soundtrack
Thief 2 soundtrack
Thief 3 soundtrack

Some shadows were never
meant to be illuminated.
Thief is one of them.

TAFFER!

Quick note. I'm independent from any community. Just introducing my favourite game series.

Hope this guides your journey.

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