Video games tend to steal your time, and heart, however, these guys steal much more than those two things.

Video game thieves, sorry, “Treasure Hunters”, are some of my favorite characters to mess around with. Whether it be for their fun, quirky personalities, or for their agility stats, here’s my pick for the top 5 video game thieves. Beware spoilers for the following games. Final Fantasy VI, Uncharted, Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, Final Fantasy VII, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Nathan Drake, The Uncharted series. (2007-2017)

Nathan Drake is everything I adore in a video game hero. He has an amazing sense of humor, fun controls, and is definitely not the worst to look at. In Uncharted one through four, you play as this lovable character as he travels through places like London, Panama, and India just to steal ancient relics, which typically involve some sort of power.

And normally, he’s just trying to stop the bad guys from getting it in the first place. In the fourth game, we see him living a normal life, until the call to thieve for the greater good calls again. 

Sly Cooper, the Sly series (2002-2013)

Sly Cooper is an anthropomorphic raccoon thief, who just wants to become a master thief. Now, I’ve personally only played the first game, so this section will be discussing the first game in the Sly franchise. Sly, in Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, played the same as any other 3-D platformer did in his time, but with a little more agility and speed, as you’d expect from a thieving raccoon.

The story in the first game is that Sly’s family was a great band of thieves who followed the rules in the Thievius Raccoonus. However, other thieves stole the book from the Cooper family, and it’s sly’s job to take it back. Sly gets new abilities with every piece of the lost document you find, with abilities like rolling and dashing. His character is also very entertaining, and Sly Cooper was definitely a fun time. Please bring this series back!

Locke Cole, Final Fantasy VI

Final Fantasy VI is often argued with Final Fantasy VII as to which title was superior. Both featured a futuristic look on a series that was known for using more medieval settings. After the opening mission with Terra and her kidnappers, Locke Cole is introduced to us early in the game. He’s introduced as a thief, sorry, “TREASURE HUNTER!”.

Our boy Locke has a beautiful design, an amazing skill set, and just a good story overall. A member of a local revolt, with ties to the royalty in Figaro, it’s no surprise that Locke was one of the best characters. Plus, in Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, Locke is one of the best DLC in my opinion and plays smoother than most anyone else.

Karliah, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)

Let’s preface this by saying that Skyrim is huge. Seriously, you could put 200 or more hours in and still have stuff to do. Most players probably haven’t even got to the Thieves Guild’s end quest in Riften, let alone even met Karliah.

Karliah is a member of the Thieves Guild or was until she was framed for Mercer’s murder of Gallus Desidenius, the former guildmaster. She was exiled for the crime until she saves us after Mercer tricks us and attempts to kill us. It turns out that Mercer, Karliah, and Gallus were all Nightingales, protectors of the Skeleton Key of Nocturnal.

A key with the power to open any lock in existence. Mercer stole this key after killing Gallus, making Nocturnal not too happy with him. Anyways, you kill Mercer, Karliah rejoins the guild, and you become Guildmaster. 

Yuffie Kisaragi, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Kingdom Hearts series (1997-2021)

Yuffie Kisaragi. If you’ve read my coverage on the trailer for the Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, then she shouldn’t need any introduction. However, for those who haven’t, here’s a small recap. She’s a Wutai operative sent to take down Midgar. Top tier materia thief, and just fun. Her personality is childish and excitable. In the 1997 original when you encounter her, it’s during a fight, but before the fight, she steals all of your materia. Materia is magical orbs that grant the user magical abilities. After you beat her, she joins your party, and you get your materia back. But later she leaves your party and does it again! Taking all of the materia with her! And as much as I love Yuffie, she is quite the headache for doing this. Her playstyle in the new Remake Intergrade looks remarkable, and I can’t wait for her to join my party. As long as she doesn’t pull that whole materia thieving again.

There were so many options for this list, and too many Final Fantasy thieves to narrow it down. Do you agree with my picks? What thieves did I forget?