Let’s face it—when it comes to gaming, we all have a little bit of kleptomania in us. Whether it’s piles of gold sitting in a locked safe or an innocuous wheel of cheese justbeggingto be taken, games that let you steal offer a special kind of thrill.
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Anyone who’s taken part in a little virtual pick-pocketing knows that it’s rarely just about the loot—it’s the sneaking around, the anticipation, the perfect thrill ofalmostbeing caught. And sometimes? It’s just about stealing the literal shirt off someone’s back, just to prove you’re able to.
In honor of all the virtual kleptomaniacs out there, we’ve put together a list of all the best games that let you live out your sticky-fingered fantasies. Fromfantasylands filled with treasure chests to massive cities where everything’s up for grabs, these titles all embrace the joy of taking what doesn’t belong to you. No judgment here, just endless five-fingered discounts!
11Sea of Thieves
A Sea Full of Treasure
Sea of Thieves
Few careers allow you to steal as much as a pirate (except maybe tax collectors), which makes it the perfect job for kleptomaniacs.
In Sea of Thieves, you’re not just allowed to steal, you’re outright expected to. As a pirate sailing the open seas, your job includes more than just going on quests and digging up buried treasure; it’s stalking other enemy ships, sneaking onto them, and making off with everything that isn’t bolted down.
One of the best parts about Sea of Thieves is that you’re not just stealing auto-generated loot from mindless NPCs;you’re stealing hard-won loot fromother players.This makes the payouts that much more rewarding, and the stakes that much higher.
Whether you choose to go the up-close-and-personal route or rely on stealth, robbing other players blind is the whole point of the game. From bombing ships and stealing whatever floats to hiding in barrels like a cursed little goblin, stealing in Sea of Thieves is as creative, lawless, and wildly chaotic as you could ever hope for in a pirate game.
10Starfield
Shoplifting in Space
Fextralife Wiki
you’re able to pretty much guarantee that any major Bethesda title is going to have theft mechanics in place, and Starfield is no exception.
You can expect the usual pick-pocketing, looting, and sneaky shoplifting that Bethesda games have become known for, but Starfield takes it one step further.
While this game allows players to steal their fair share of pocket change and knick-knacks, the game really shines in its contraband system. Contraband items are highly illegal and extremely risky to smuggle, but if you do it right, you could easily become the richest thief on this side of the galaxy.
From stolen artwork and tech to drugs and harvested organs, the contraband market is as varied as it is illicit, and black market clients are willing to pay top dollar for anyone willing to risk the journey.Smuggling illegal goods past unsuspecting guardsfeels like pulling off a massive galactic heist every time, and the money that your customers line your pockets with is a pretty good bonus.
9Fallout 4
Post-Apocalyptic Pick-Pocketing
Once the apocalypse happens, all bets are off in terms of ownership; after all, who’s paying attention to what belongs to whom in the wasteland? Everything the light touches is yours, Simba, and all you’ve got to do is reach out and stuff it into your pockets.
Bethesda didn’t pull any of its punches with Fallout 4’s criminal possibilities, especially when it comes to stealing. Once you’re out of Vault 111, the world becomes your very own thrift store. If it’s lying around, it’s fair game. And if it’s not? Well, just crouch, wait for the NPC to look away, and swipe it anyway (yup, it’s really that easy).
And, of course, you can’t forget about the pick-pocketing, lock-picking, and safe-cracking possibilities; they’re practically endless! Whether you’ve got your eye on a valuable trinket, a wallet, or even somebody’s lunch, it’s free for the stealing.
Fallout 4 doesn’t just let you get away with being a public menace, it practically encourages it. Of course, there’s always the risk of being caught, but in a world full of bloodthirsty mutants and merciless raiders, hardly anyone can blame you for coming down with a bad case of sticky fingers.
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8Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Medieval Swindling
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
If you’re looking for a game where stealing feels less like a mini-game and more like a medieval career path, then Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is your jam. This isn’t your average “press button to loot” kind of RPG; almost every theft is a full ordeal, complete with real-time lockpicking, sneaky infiltration, and, of course, the constant threat of being caught.
What makes thievery in this game so compelling is just how realistic and downright risky it feels. Breaking into a merchant’s home late at night to steal his wares? That’ll take some careful planning.Want to pickpocket someonemid-conversation? Then you’d better be putting some major points into those skills, or else prepare to get publicly humiliated.
Even attempting to sell your stolen goods in this game feels like trying to sell snake oil to God. You never know when someone’s watching, so every act of theft feels like a massive risk. It all just makes stealing that much more thrilling, so who could really blame you if you decide to snag a trinket or two off of an unsuspecting citizen?
7Assassin’s Creed Unity
Thief by Day, Assassin by Night
Assassin’s Creed Unity
While mostAssassin’s Creed gameslet you steal a little here and there, Unity is the one that really lets you go full street rat.
Set in an overcrowded and restless Revolutionary Paris, this game gives you an in-depth stealth system that allows you to weave through dense crowds, duck behind market stalls, and relieve unsuspecting citizens of their coin purses, all without breaking stride.
Unity also features a proper, beginner-friendly pick-pocketing mechanic, allowing players to flawlessly swipe valuables with a well-timed press of a button.
And unlike some of the other entries in the series, Unity actually makes stealing feel rewarding; you can go so far as to chain it into your assassination routes, or use it to make a couple of extra bucks on the way to your next target.
While it’s not exactly an open-ended sandbox of larceny like some other titles here, it’s the best choice if you’ve ever wanted to live out a Les Misérables fantasy with better parkour, fancier jackets, and more theft than a low-security Walmart.
6Dishonored 2
A Stealth Fanatic’s Dream
Dishonored 2
In terms of stealth and sneakery, Dishonored 2 sits right up there with the Assassin’s Creed series. As you can imagine, this does wonders for its pickpocket potential.
Like most of these games, Dishonored 2 gives you a long leash when it comes to thievery, allowing you to get your greedy hands on pretty much anything your little klepto heart desires.
But if this game advocates for anything, it’s that if you’re going to steal, then you might as well look good doing it. Sure, it lets you pilfer everything from gold to knick-knacks, but what’s the point of it all if you can’t dress up like the Phantom of the Opera at Mardi Gras?
With an impeccable fashion sense, a set of powerful abilities, and an unshakable sense of kleptomania under your belt, you’re ready for anything in Dishonored 2, whether it’s taking down throne-stealing usurpers or stealing everything in sight. Becoming a menace to the public isn’t just an option in this game, it’s part of the whole experience!
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5Divinity: Original Sin 2
Top Down, Turn-Based Burglary
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Made by the creators of Baldur’s Gate 3, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a masterpiece of tactical strategy, turn-based combat, and stealing everything but the shirts off of people’s backs.
This game lets you venture out into the fantastical unknown as a party of up to 4 players, which makes pulling off heists and robberies that much more rewarding. Each character has the potential to become a world-class thief, and the only thing stopping you from robbing the world blind is your carry limit.
Depending on which races and classes you fill your party with, NPCs will respond differently to you, which you’re able to use to your advantage when it comes to burgling strategies. Whether your party is made up of flesh-eating elves or sneaky lizards, everyone has the potential to become a walking five-finger discount machine.
You can steal straight from the NPCs themselves, or you can follow them home and take everything that’s not nailed down. Whatever floats your boat. And that’s only the petty stuff; you wouldn’tbelievethe criminal activity this game lets you get away with further down the line. As long as your moral compass can take it, Rivellon’s pockets are deep—and begging to be picked.
4Baldur’s Gate 3
The World is Your Treasure Chest
Baldur’s Gate 3
In Baldur’s Gate 3, stealing isn’t just a mechanic—it’s practically alifestyle choice.
Whether you’re looting a noble’s bedroom, swiping potions from a vendor’s shelf, or stealing someone’s pants mid-conversation (yes, that’s possible), Baldur’s Gate 3 makes being a kleptomaniac feel like a legitimate tactical roleplay option. Bonus points if you quicksave first and pretend the timeline where you got caught doesn’t count.
Thanks tothe game’s detailed stealth mechanicsand turn-based structure, thieving in this game is the perfect blend of strategy and chaos. You’ll find yourself timing every movement down to the letter, checking every line of sight, and swapping party members left and right to verify you get the biggest payout possible.
Oh, and don’t forget the loot-stashing mule character who stands just out of sight with like 37 wheels of cheese and someone’s family heirloom stuffed in their inventory.
And even better yet, there are certain companions who will actuallyjudge youfor your sticky fingers, making theft feel like a real part of your character’s identity. If you want a game that truly lets you build a raging kleptomaniac character, then Baldur’s Gate 3 should definitely be on your wishlist.
3The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
A Kleptomaniac’s Dream
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
In Skyrim, if something exists, then you’re able to probably steal it—and if you can steal it, then you probably will.
Books, jewelry, silverware, keys, entire wardrobes, wine, andyes, even cheese wheels; literallyeverythingis up for grabs. Tamriel’s doors are wide open to sticky-fingered adventurers, and the best part? The game actively rewards you for your small acts of villainy, and even has entire skill trees constructed around thievery.
From the moment you sneak through your first locked door, Skyrim rewards theft with XP, skill upgrades, and, of course, the occasional bounty on your head. The stealth mechanics are simple yet wistfully familiar: crouch into the shadows, keep an eye on that little eyeball icon, and swipe everything that isn’t bolted to the floor.
As soon as you’ve taken all that you’re able to carry, make out like a bandit before any guards can start sniffing around and start asking questions. I swear I could repeat the whole “You have committed crimes against Skyrim and her people. What say you in your defense?” spiel in my sleep.
And if you wanted to take it a step further, then you can always join the Thieves Guild and climb the ranks of Skyrim’s criminal elite. Become the greatest thief Tamriel has ever known, complete with an inventory full of cheese and a guild of misfits who applaud your every unlawful act.
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Become the John Wick of Thieves
If there’s one game on this list wherestealing is literally the entire point, it’s Thief. Whether you’re playing it for the amazing storyline or to soothe your raging kleptomania, the goal is always the same: sneak into dark places, avoid detection, and leave with everything that isn’t nailed down. And even then, you might try prying it loose anyway.
You play as Garrett, a ghost-like professional known as the Master Thief, who survives by living in the shadows and honing his skills to become a living legend among the City’s residents. Nothing is out of your reach, from the most inaccessible treasures to the best-kept secrets; there is nothing they can hide from you that you won’t find.
The game’s stealth mechanics are incredibly immersive, putting extreme emphasis on light, sound, and even clever route memorization. You’re not a warrior, and fights are punishing, so stealth isn’t just optional—it’s survival. Even as skilled as you are, every heist has the potential to go sideways, so don’t go counting your chickens before they hatch.
Whether you’re more of a “shoot poisoned arrows first, ask questions later” kind of thief or prefer a more strategic approach, you get to decide the kind of Master Thief you’ll become. Every heist, operation, and stealth mission is yours to plan, so choose your tactics carefully; not every game can be won with the same method.
