Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
Quick menu
Experience one of the most critically acclaimed stealth-action games of all time. Uncover a conspiracy that hits close to home and stop World War III.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® is a stealth, action and third person game
developed by Ubisoft Montreal
and published by Ubisoft.
Released on August 27th 2009 is available only on Windows
in 5 languages: English, French, German, Spanish - Spain and Italian.
It has received 5,133 reviews of which 4,785 were positive and 348 were negative resulting in a rating of 9.0 out of 10. 😎
The game is currently priced at 9.99€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® through various videos and screenshots.
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- Supported OS: Originally released for Windows 7, the game can be played on Windows 10 and Windows 11 OS
- Processor: Intel Pentium III or AMD Athlon, 1.4 GHz (Pentium IV or Athlon 2.2 GHz recommended)
- System Memory: 256 MB of RAM or above (512 MB recommended)
- Video Card: 64 MB DirectX 9.0c compliant graphics card (128 MB recommended)
- Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compliant sound card (EAX 2.0 or higher recommended)
- DirectX Version: DirectX® version 9.0c or higher
- Hard Disk: 4 GB available hard disk space
- Supported Peripherals: Windows compatible mouse and keyboard, joystick for Solo and Co-op modes
- Multiplay: Broadband with 64 Kbps data transfer upload rate (128 kbps recommended)
- Note: For the most up-to-date minimum requirement listings, please visit the FAQ for this game on our support website at: .
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Splinter Cell Chaos Theory AKA the Greatest Stealth Game Ever Made ⚠️ Please note: This review is only half. The continuation is in the comments below as I wasn’t aware of the characters limit (yes, I’m stupid) From all of the dozen of games I played over the years, only a few resonated with me and got stuck lingering in my head. Upon hearing the end credits music and seeing all of the talented names who made this masterpiece, I knew that it too just got a place on my list of games I won’t forget. Context To understand why Chaos Theory is so special, you need to understand the making of this game and the team behind it. The original Splinter Cell game that came out in 2002 for the original Xbox was called “stealth action redefined” and indeed it redefined the stealth genre. With a burning passion, Ubisoft Montreal cooked a game so atmospheric with its music and visuals, but most importantly so ahead of its time with revolutionary stealth gameplay mechanics, where the gameplay loop was revolved around both the sound you make and the dynamic light of the environment. It was one hell of a game. Sure… it had its drawbacks such as the janky platforming or the forced action sequences. Nevertheless, it sold well enough to convince Ubisoft to greenlight not just one, but two new mainline games. The second game in the series (Pandora Tomorrow) was developed and released two years after the first one by a different studio. Ubisoft Shanghai took the first game and built on what was already good. As much as I adore Pandora Tomorrow and find it a bit underrated, it just wasn’t a better game than the original overall (it’s pretty close though). Meanwhile the original developers (Ubisoft Montreal) were quietly cooking the masterpiece that is Chaos Theory. Gameplay & Level Design Compared to the previous titles, every single aspect in this game was cranked up to eleven, and the most refined one is gameplay. The gameplay is just ridiculously fun. Right from the start, you’re given multiple ways to tackle obstacles and enemies. You can distract enemies or remain unseen by using environmental lights, either by shooting the light source or using your laser to disable it for a few seconds, letting you slip right past them without them ever knowing you’re there. Or you can use the sticky camera to lead them away, or even shoot gas at their face to get them out of the way. This scenario only shows three of your gadgets, and you have many more. Each one of your gadgets has at least one or two different uses. Combine that with the cool moves that Sam can perform from grabbing and climbing ledges, holding along pipes (which you can take down an enemy while Sam’s legs facing up like Spider-Man), sticking to walls with your back, hanging up with your legs wide open, and sliding down passing a whole levels with zip lines. All these endless possibilities are not useless, and you constantly find new ways because of one thing, level design. The level design and mapping of the levels is genuinely great. The moment you start a level you instantly see multiple routes you can go with, and a lot of the time there are unique sequences for each route itself. If one is a straight up obvious entrance like a door for example, it will be more guarded with soldiers and cameras in a lit area. You can go there by cutting the power supply temporarily, or take a not so obvious route like going to the roof and climbing down. This is just one little decision you unconsciously make within a few seconds. And each time, the game responds with something you can find or do. I don’t remember a single place where I went for it only to not find anything. Although something I noticed (which is my biggest complaint of the game) is that the good, memorable levels are in the first half of the game. While the second half is not bad, it’s obviously worse than the first. I played the game about a week before writing this and I still remember every room on the bank level, yet I forget most of the late levels. I especially remember the bank level, as it was the highlight of the game for me. All of these elements perfectly blend together to create the best moment to moment stealth gameplay I have ever seen. Sound Design & Music Sound design can single-handedly BREAK or MAKE immersion, and it’s here where Chaos Theory thrives. My ears tickle every time I hear “tck… tck… click,” that soft metallic lock-picking sound scratches an itch in my brain I never knew I had. And there’s the iconic night-vision sound that you hear at least 3 times every 5 minutes or so throughout the whole game, somehow it’s satisfying each and every time, and it never gets old, that should tell you something. On top of that, the random fans or generators you find which directly affect gameplay, they can cover your footsteps sound so you can move faster without the enemy noticing you. Your footsteps sound will vary not just by your speed, but based on the kind of floor surfaces as well. Recklessly walk on a hard metal floor and you will get caught, but walk on a soft mattress on the other hand, and you officially have a footsteps silencer. The knife material cutting sound, the hacking sound, and so many others to name. I can go on and on forever. But you know what sounds even better? The insane music. It absolutely had no right to be that good, but it did. I can’t talk about the music without mentioning the composer of the game, Amon Tobin. In no world would Chaos Theory have been this good without this guy. I’m not exaggerating when I say his music elevated the game to a level of perfection. He took the dark vibe of the game and twisted it with his own jazzy, smooth style, only to channel it straight to my soul. It also achieved something I find rare in spy themed music. It made me feel like an actual spy without it being generic spy music. I don’t know how to describe it, you just have to listen to it. It never fully fades away, and it’s always present, quietly fading in and out. While it doesn’t take over the gameplay, once it’s gone you instantly realize something is missing. Also, every level has its own track, and each track has four different layers stacked on top of each other depending on the enemy’s state. As enemies notice something, hearing your footsteps, or when you straight up get caught, more layers fade in, which is absolutely genius. Basically, sounds in general are one of, if not the strongest element in the game, which is wild considering every aspect of this game is as good as it gets. Writing & Characters I didn’t care about the story when I played the first two games, all I needed was the objective of the level with few dialogues between Sam and Lambert, and that was more than enough for me. As I lost interest with the story after seeing how the game handled the storytelling. Not saying it was bad by any means, it just wasn’t the reason I continued playing the series. As Chaos Theory’s story goes, I didn’t care either, if I’m being honest, but it was way better than the first two games. Every plot has enough building with it being grounded with the world rules. But what I was most pleasantly impressed with the writing is the character dynamics and their dialogues. Unlike the previous games, all the characters have a... character, funny enough. Especially Grimsdottir, her relationship with Sam was so wholesome.
Expand the review
A legendary stealth game. Splinter Cell stealth mechanics and levels refined to almost perfection. This review will basically act as rating boost and also so my love for this game and the series is on record here on Steam. Multiplayer is still alive thanks to the efforts of fans. Check out Enhanced SCCT Versus on Github: [url=https://github.com/Joshhhuaaa/EnhancedSCCTVersus]https://github.com/Joshhhuaaa/EnhancedSCCTVersus For even more PC port fixes, highly recommend this guide: [url=https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=728093866]https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=728093866
Expand the review
Tested on Steam Deck OLED! Still the gold standard for Splinter Cell and stealth in general. On the Steam Deck OLED, Chaos Theory feels tailor-made for portable play. It automatically supports 1280×800 16:10, with proper aspect ratio and crisp visuals. Runs flawlessly at 60 FPS, even on max settings. Cinematics are full-speed, sound design is intact, and load times are near-instant. Menus are slightly awkward - D-pad doesn’t navigate, but the analog stick works fine. Battery life: about 6 hours at 60 FPS, or 5:15 Hours at 90 FPS. No Ubisoft Connect, no login prompts, and no tinkering required. Everything just works - and the stealth feels smoother than many modern games. Verdict: The definitive Splinter Cell experience. Perfect on Deck. Check out my video review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Se5clo8cQ
Expand the review
It's still good after 20 years... One of the most finest, perfectly developed and meaningful games to me as the face of the genre alongside with MGS series. 10 green lights out of 10
Expand the review
If you have not played this, please do. It's a pure stealth experience which doesn't really exist in modern gaming, at least in the mainstream. It's my favourite stealth game I've played with Dishonored and Hitman being just below it in my ranking. The mechanics still hold up to this day.
Expand the review
Similar games
View all
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction™
In this stealth-action thriller, Sam Fisher investigates his daughter’s death, only to uncover a betrayal by his former agency. Now hunted, he races against time to thwart a terrorist plot threatening millions.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell®
Enter the world of cinematic stealth action with Splinter Cell, the game that propelled the genre to cult status. You are Sam Fisher, an elite covert agent in the NSA's top-secret division: Third Echelon.
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist
In this stealth-action thriller, a terrorist group known as the Engineers launches the Blacklist, a series of escalating attacks on US interests. Only one man can stop them: legendary covert agent Sam Fisher.
Hitman: Contracts
Enter the world of a HITMAN - a world of crime, sin and greed. Delve into the mind of Agent 47 and encounter his greatest adversaries, completing the work that made him so brutally efficient and shaped him as an assassin. Eliminate your targets by any means necessary. There are no rules... only the contract, signed in blood.
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
Enter the realm of a retired assassin, forced back into action by treason. You may be a hired killer but you still have a sense of loyalty and justice. Visit the dark recesses of a world corrupted by crime, greed, degradation and dishonor. And a past that catches up with you.
Hitman: Codename 47
As the enigmatic Hitman, you must use stealth and tactical problem solving to enter, execute and exit your assignment with minimum attention and maximum effectiveness. For a price, you have access to the most devious devices, but how you use them will determine if you retire as a millionaire or get permanently retired.
Hitman: Blood Money
Money Talks. Silence Pays. Prepare to Make a Killing. When assassins from Agent 47's contract agency, The ICA, are eliminated in a series of hits, it seems a larger, more powerful agency has entered the fray. Sensing he may be a target, 47 travels to America, and prepares to make a killing.
Death to Spies: Moment of Truth
The Most Mysterious Secret Service Agency of WWII This is a third-person stealth-action game describing the activities of the SMERSH, the most mysterious secret service agency of World War II. Moment of Truth is a sequel to the popular stealth action title Death to Spies.
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier™
In Ghost Recon Future Soldier join an elite team of highly trained, cut-throat special-ops soldiers. Armed to the teeth with unrivalled combat technology, Ghost Recon takes you to the globe’s most deadly warzones to hunt down the highest value targets.
METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES
World-renowned Kojima Productions brings the Metal Gear Solid franchise to Steam with METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES. Play as the legendary hero Snake and infiltrate a Cuban military base to rescue the hostages. Can you make it out alive?
Thief: Deadly Shadows
You are Garrett, the master thief. Rarely seen and never caught, Garrett is the best that ever was. Able to sneak past any guard, pick any lock, and break into the most ingeniously secured residences. Garrett steals from the wealthy and gives to himself, making his living in the dark and foreboding City.
Hitman: Absolution™
The original assassin is back! Betrayed by the Agency and hunted by the police, Agent 47 finds himself pursuing redemption in a corrupt and twisted world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® is currently priced at 9.99€ on Steam.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 9.99€ on Steam.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® received 4,785 positive votes out of a total of 5,133 achieving a rating of 8.99.
😎
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® is not playable on MacOS.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® is not playable on Linux.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® is a single-player game.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® does not currently offer any DLC.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® does not support Steam Remote Play.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory®.
Data sources
The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.
Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 22 April 2026 06:21 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 23 April 2026 03:24 |
| Steam price | 29 April 2026 04:45 |
| Steam reviews | 28 April 2026 03:51 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory®, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory®
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory® compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
40
Developer
Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher
Ubisoft
Release
27 Aug 2009
Platforms