Thief

Garrett can take on guards in direct combat, but his main strategy is stealth. The system is based on dodging attacks with a designated button and placing blackjack hits at the right moments. However, since he's no fighter, he usually has little chance against multiple enemies. His main weapon of choice is stealth, which relies on shadows and timing attacks. Garrett can also use his environment to his advantage, such as by using a painting or bookshelf to find hidden switches.

Between missions, Garrett can find loot in the city by keeping an eye open, but the most lucrative option is taking optional side missions. These missions often involve retrieving specific objects, which require Garrett to use his thieving skills to succeed. There are also various shops where Garrett can stock up on equipment, such as arrows, food items, and tools.

Garrett has two magical abilities at his disposal: the swoop move allows him to quickly move forward, while focus slows down time and unlocks useful perks like faster lockpicking or easier combat. These perks require focus points, which can be bought with money. The game also features difficulty modes, including options that disable certain features or make the game more challenging.

Additionally, there is a challenge mode that re-uses some of the game's mission areas and adds special objectives. This mode aims to achieve high scores on leaderboards by collecting loot within time limits.

The PlayStation 4 version of the game uses the DualShock 4 gamepad's light bar to emphasize the effect of being in the shadow or exposed to the light, adding a new layer of immersion to the gameplay.